AKAI DPS16

[marius]

Is this a good unit? I hear a lot about the new Yamaha but I don't see anything about the AKAI piece. From what I understand, it has a larger HD (standard 10 gig) 16 and 24 bit recording and can record at DVD quality 96kHz. Along with that it has 250 levels of undo's verses 16, and 56bit internal processing versus the 32bit on the Yamaha unit. I don't want to sound like a sales man but I am very new at this and looking into investing some big bucks for a semi pro production studio.

Thanks

[FanaticMusic]

Some facts first : ( http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif)

1.) HDDs can be changed. Its up to you, which size you use. So that doesnt count for the specs, just for the price.
2.) 96Khz are ok if you need it, but the built-in 96Khz-converters in the Akai are definately not as good as the Yamaha 48Khz-converters.
3.) If you really need more than 16 levels of undo, please read the manual before http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif
4.) The Akai uses 56 bits only at the EQ-stages, and there Yamaha uses 54 bits not 32.

I tested both units. My opinions :

1.) The faders of the Akai are unfortunately s**t. They arent motorized too, but that wouldnt matter if they werent as bad as they are.
2.) They soundquality of both units is very good.
3.) The Akai-unit doesnt offer any PRO-outputs cabs. If you would like to output all 16 tracks at once, for the use with a different mixer, you have no chance to do so. They wouldnt sell their other devices, if they would do so. http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif
4.) The Yamaha-unit has 2 slots for additional cards, so you can e.g. insert 2 AES/EBU cards, and digitally output all 16 tracks at once to a pro-desk.
5.) The Yamaha-unit has better build-in FX, and 6 Additional FX-sends.
6.) The Yamaha-unit offers 24 additional Inputs BESIDE the 16 track-returns. So you can connect all your gear, like keyboards, FX-units, etc... without the need of any extra console.
7.) The Yamaha-unit offers denfinately more features, and is more usable if you plan to make semi-pro-recordings.


If I would have to choose, I would go the Yamaha-way.

http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by FanaticMusic (edited 12-06-2000).]

[marius]

Well, thank you very much for that. It helps a lot. However I am very very new at this stuff and do not understand all of the terminology yet. What does

"4.) The Yamaha-unit has 2 slots for additional cards, so you can e.g. insert 2 AES/EBU cards, and digitally output all 16 tracks at once to a pro-desk."

mean? Does this mean that I can output the tracks to a computer and then use something like the Steinberg software to further mess with it?

Thanks again for the help. I do appreciate your time.


[This message has been edited by marius (edited 12-06-2000).]

[FanaticMusic]

The Yamaha AW4416 has 2 slots, each able to have 8 Inputs and 8 Outputs at ONCE.
So when you use 2 Cards with digital ins and outs (AES/EBU is just the short name for an special digital format), you would be able to transfer all 16 tracks at ONCE out of the AW4416. If you just have 1 Digital-Stereo-Output, you are only able to digitally output 2 tracks at ONCE. (Like the AKAI)

In short words, the Yamaha-unit has much more Inputs and Outputs. http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif

P.S. : gettheyamahaandfeelgood!