This is one kick-a--- system. Very sturdy, I've spend only a month with it and it gets better and better. It still blows me away. I do mostly acoustic piano and guitar recording with vocals - but it is capable of so much more. the sound quality of the internal hardware is exceptional for this price range. Though this system will interface with most professional studio software packages, pro tools, Sonic, Cakewalk pro-- It has its own software built in. Once you overcome the learning curve associated with testing and trying out the features and functions the system becomes intuitive. I would not recommend this system for someone not willing to devote time to learning the manual. It comes with some excellent presets for compression, reverb, EQ.and much much more. You can create your own presets also. Will interface with most existing hardware equipment. Study this tool. It is the best value in the marketplace for home professional recording studio in a box. Comes with exceptional sequencer. Still much more to learn.

Classical, folk, popular, vocal, guitar, piano, bass

Just a hair below perfect. I had it for 2 days and put together 2 complete tracks with a 5-piece band. Super sound! Libraries REALLY help.

Great guitar effects. Still trying to figure out the vocal effects. EQ and mastering library are very helpful.

So far so good.

I don't know how much more value for the money you can get. This is the tops.

GREAT SUPPORT FROM YAMAHA. I had a few dumb questions in the beginning, called Yamaha and got calls back within hours from a rep who walked me through everything I needed. Awesome support.

Every band needs this.

classic rock, party music

owned this for several years - recorded live and using pre=sets. either way sounds the balls.

everything you'll need to end up with an album quality recording.

bit of a learning curve, but once started it flows easily from function to function.

put together well.

had a BR 8 before this. the 16g tops any portable digital recorder i've seen or heard. played mix-down for a major studio in Boston - they wanted to know where i recorded it. top-notch.

haven't needed it.

beautiful. portable, easy to set-up and use.

musician, recording engineer

all styles

Like most Yamaha equipment I have used the sound is clean and open. What you record is what you get back. Don't let the 16-bit fool you. The sound quality would give some 24-bit machines a run for their money.

The direct input for guitar is very useful and the built in amp sims are pretty good and easily tweaked to suit your taste. The set of control knobs for reverb, pan, and compression are very handy and save alot of jog wheel spins and menu madness.

Controls feel solid though the faders could be a bit smoother. The case is aluminum and feels much more substantial than competitors made of plastic.

As good or better than anything else you can by for a grand. Plenty of tracks, good effects, excellent sound quality, all in a well built package. I looked at every DAW close to this price range. Yamaha outdid them all.

After six months of ownership...no problems at all so far.

I couldn't wait to get one when they first came out. It as met or exceeded all my expectations.

Country, Contemporary Christian, Rock

I think it sounds very very good.

Probably a 9.5 It has some really great functions including sample library and mastering library. These really help in the total process.

Very good on this aspect.

Look at the price of other systems versus the quality and features of this one and I would say that there is no doubt about this.

haven't used it. They do have a good web site and there are many web sites about this system. From the qulity that I've seen so far, I can only assume that their support will be a 9.

I couldn't wait to get rid of my Boss BR-8 in order to buy the AW16G.

rock, christian rock

Honestly a 9.5, the sound is very shapable, considering the price of the machine

I find the sampler to be somewhat a chore to deal with, largest complaint with the sampler is the triggers. Factory set guitar sounds usually need tweeking to get a really good sound. All together very satisfied though.

With the cdrw drive there is a screw hanging out the bottom that has scratched the work surface it is on. Could just be mine?

tons of features for the price

The only time I contacted them they left a detailed message on my machine, emailed my some literiture and tried to contact me every day for a week. Service is outstanding!!! Very knowledgable and thourough

More practical than sexy, but I like girls more than machines

Experimental electronic, gothic and metal influenced

I have only had this unit for about a month, but I will tell you the sound is awesome for the price.. I have heard others and in fact owned other MTR's, but this one certainly is radio quality.

The features are too much to list here, but the feature list is better than some 2000$ machines out there. I also was lucky to get a nice Yamaha travel case and a MXL V63M condensor mic free with purchase... The most useful feature I found was the ability to add EQ and Processing to individual tracks which is a huge bonus for the price. The only feature I wish it had as some other folks agree as well is USB support..

This thing is rock solid, metal casing (do you believe it).

This unit is well worth the 1000$ price tag.

Never had to use it.

I think this unit is well built and it looks good also.

Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Active Musician

Old School Metal, Rock, Blues

The sound is quite good. It's more than enough to record quality CD's which you can be proud to send out, share, etc. But wait, it's so much more than just something to record with. And this is where I particularly like the AW16G ... To put it in words, the device has completely replaced my Marshall Amplifier and Speaker Cabinet. I haven't used them in months. After years-and-years of searching for that particular "tone" I could call my own ... I found it inside the AW16G. So much so, that I now use the AW16G exclusively for "live" performances (e.g. gigs) since it's such an intricate part of my personal sound and (among other things) is infinately easier to carry than a large amplifier. I tried everything else (literally) and there's just no comparison when I talk about that amazing "tone" that is capable in the AW16G (people in the audience have actually commented on my tone). Mind you, there are some other devices <also> in the chain, e.g. I use a Rocktron - Voodu Valve Online and a Mackie DFX12 mixer. More I don't need ... This blows the doors wide open in tonal quality and sound.

I especially like the parametric equalization. I like the useful and functional library of effects, amplifiers, rhythm's and other settings, etc. I also like the fact that the unit is dual voltage (110/220) which is nice depending on your travelling / location. Quite honestly, the AW16G has everything I could think of in a digital recording device. Now I realize that's a rather broad and unspecific statement. So maybe I should rather say that there's no feature I required insofar as recording or playing (live) which the AW16G did not provide me. Now these features, may not be entirely intuitive or easy to use, but they are there and once you experiment and become familiar ... You will find the device more than capable of capturing your musical expressionism and creativity.

I've never had any problems at all with the device after nine months of almost daily use for several hours at a time. I even found a hard shell case that is especially made for the AW16G from Thon (I think I'm spelling it correctly). Let me also go on the record by saying that YAMAHA makes quality musical products. I've had several YAMAHA musical products in the past 20 years and they all (each and every one of them) has provided me with years-and-years of functional and rugged enjoyment. I would not say that if I did not mean it ... My next digital recorder will <also> be a Yamaha.

Well you know ... $1000.00 dollars is a good deal of money. But yeah, the product is really worth it. I tend to be prudent in my spending (you should be too) and therein, I spent many months researching various devices. Forget the competition, I chose "quality" over everything else because of my experience with Yamaha products. And to my surprise, not only did I achieve the purchase of a "quality" product, but damn - it's absolutely "feature rich" too.

Never had to use YAMAHA support so I can not say how good or bad they are. I think it speaks highly of the company that their products don't often need support. I've found several web pages (support groups) offering tips & tricks for the AW16G.

I bought it once, I would buy it again based on my experience with the product. I may not by the sexiest product on the market, but you'd be a fool to purchase on looks alone ... Especially since the object of the purchase is to produce quality, semi-professional music and have the component last for several years (at a minimum). You wouldn't be fair to yourself if you didn't a good hard look at the AW16G before purchasing. I did (months of research) and in the end, it was Yamaha that got my money. And 9 months later, I still feel good about it.

Digital is Digital...and this is a digital recorder that sounds fine. Effects sound very nice and the EQ is quite handy too....I am only useing this for tracking and then trancfering and for this I have come across no problems at all...

it does not come with a milkshake maker :) ...but it does everything you need it to do. USB port would have been nice more XLR inputs would not have gone a miss either Virtule tracks are very cool and easy, Nice EQ for tweeking on the way in.

feels strong in a nice metal case (not plastic) its nice and small but still all laid out well. Feels like effort and time have gone into it to make sure it runs well and wont let you down...unlike a few others

well for what it is and what you pay for it I cant find another multitrack of this quality that does what it does, there have been no corners cut here and everything has been screwed in nice and tight..just like all Yamaha stuff

seeing as i have not needed it i say its Great! ...I cant see Yamaha not having good support though.

this helps me make music with no problems and it fits on my desk nice and sounds nice...

Rock

This is the best thing out there. The Fostex cant touch this machine and the Korg d1600 cant compare or out beat this machine. I mean the manual is perfect, Working this machines reminds me of my old 4 track tascam cassett so darn easy but the sound quality is surperb. I have had 20k studios ask me where I am doing my recording and I reply at home in my basement with my AW16 and PC. Why do you think other boards have Disscussion forums b/c their machines are plague with problems and you need to have a degree. come on and join the aw16 family

The best features are the Naviagtion. Just push a buttom close your eyes it even tells you when something is wrong. YOU CAN NOT GO WRONG WITH THIS MACHINE

the worst aspect is the price, to dam low....lol. this thing has a magnetic shield yes place it beside your pc no problem. and its a nice size machine ruggit

for 1099.99 it is a clean steal i would buy this for atleast 1500. I could not believe the price comes with sonar dvd manual and cdwr build in.

dont need the company for the aw16 there is a group out on msn cant remeber the group name but hell this thing is awesome so far i dont need them dont care there is nothing to talk to them about but, they better not discontinue this product...lol

i have it and my ladies is mad b/.c my hands are all over the yamaha now