Yamaha AW4416

[Dayve]

Hope this is the right place for this.

 

Anyway, at school we have a Yamaha AW4416 (lovely digital mixer). We have done a few recordings on it (we being me, the only person whos ever used it).

 

Anyway, I want to connect it up to a computer, ive never done this sort of stuff before so I dont know what you can actually do :|

 

Anyway, what I want to know is how I can connect it up to the computer and what I can make it do. I would like to be able to et songs and tracks of the mixer to the computer somehow and also use Cubase or w/e and have the two in sync. Obviously id need a new soundcard - can someone advice me of what I can do, how, and what soundcard I would need.

 

Also, this is all the connections the desk has - http://www.harmony-central.com/Newp/WNAMM0...416RE-large.jpg

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

[Bobbsy]

Since the Blue Room deals specifically with the technical aspects of the theatre and entertainment industries, this might not be the best forum for a question which is, in effect, about recording. You might try a different forum such as http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/index.php? .

 

That said, the other "problem" with your question is that you have several different options and you haven't provided enough information about what you wish to do to come up with a firm recommendation. Several of the options I can see for you are:

 

-Simple analogue stereo recording using the phono "Record Out" jacks.

 

-Simple digital stereo recording using the Coaxial outs to a suitable sound card

 

-Four channel analogue recording using the Omni outs and a suitable 4 channel sound card

 

-Up to 16 channel (though 8 is more realistic with your simple desk) digital recording by purchasing an 8 or 16 channel option card (MY-8AT or MY-16AT) with ADAT outs and an ADAT adaptor (RME, Frontier Designs, Marian Marc A, etc.) card for your PC

 

The choice really comes down to what you're recording, how you want to do it....and how much cash you have.

 

Bob

[Dayve]

Ok, ill explain exactly what I want to do a bit more.

 

Basiclly, I want to use this mixer at school to record a variety of differnet genres of music including rock bands, acoustic performances and choirs etc. The lot really. I want the mixing desk to be working with something like Cubase so that I can record something and control it via the desk and Cubase. Also, I want a way of getting saved songs which are on the desk already which we have done before into Cubase (each track etc).

 

Hope that makes it a bit more clearer.

 

In terms of a budget, whatever really, the school will pay for it so I aint too bothered but not mental money. Around £300 mark would be about max but I can be streched but lower would be prefered.

 

Hope thats better,

 

Thanks.

 

Oh, I did try and post on that forum but it wouldnt let me register so yknow.

 

Ty, Dave

[broadcast_techie]

Firstly as you haven't mentioned any option cards and the image you refer to is of the base unit then I'll presume that is what you have.

 

I could be making it up, but there may be a way of taking the hard disk, plugging it into your pc and editing the audio from there, however I can't find anything on the Yamaha websites (there are several) and this is an old desk with limited support.

You can control the desk via Midi, but this is in realtime only, not in post, and you can use the desk to control a Protools... etc. setup, but not transfer the audio.

 

Here's the manual: http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/pa/eng...rs/AW4416E1.pdf

 

From what I remember of using this desk it was a case of using the onboard editing functions (which I'm told are fun) then mastering the final CD...

 

If you want to use it as a field recorder and editor then you'll have to live with just that. IF you're desperate to Cubase you may as well purchase a 16 channel firewired desk like this: http://www.studiospares.com/pd_385120_ALES...%20FIREWIRE.htm

 

Kris

[Bobbsy]

Well, you have several things to consider:

 

1. How many input/output tracks you want/need.

 

2. How to route that number of tracks between your board and your computer

 

3. Control options between the board and the computer.

 

With the flexibility of even a prosumer board like the AW4416, there are lots of options open to you, but one scenario could be:

 

-Buy a Yamaha MY8AT expansion card for the board, estimated cost about £150. This will give you 8 ADAT inputs and outputs via Toslink.

 

-By a Marian Marc A PCI adaptor for your PC, estimated cost £100, which will allow these ADAT ins and outs to interface with your PC

 

-Visit THIS SITE and download the Yamaha template for MIDI control between your board and Cubase.

 

Mental edit: while typing this, I see broadcast technician has made some other suggestions. As you can see, your problem is that you have quite a few options and need to consider in more detail what you want to do and what is best for you.

 

Bob

[Dayve]

Cheers

 

What exactly would I be able to do with midi as we already have midi cards at school (http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audi...e2496-main.html)?

 

Thanks

 

Dave

[Bobbsy]

That's a useful bit of information you haven't mentioned before.

 

Just for the record, that M-Audio card would allow you to work with four tracks a a time on your computer by using the Omni outs. You'll have to set the internal routing on the mixer to make the omni outs the sources you need. If four tracks at a time are enough (and analogue is satisfactory...which it should be with the M-Audio card) then no expenditure is needed.

 

As for the MIDI, in this case it can be used not as an instrument source but rather as an interface between Cubase and your mixer. I'm not a Cubase user so I can't say exactly what controls are included on the template, but it will be along the lines of allowing fader moves on the Yamaha control level changes on tracks within Cubase.

 

At this stage, I think you need to do some reading of the various manuals and see where you want to go.

 

Bob

[Ben Langfeld]

You could also go for the MY16-mLAN card. This would probably work out cheaper than ADAT as it connects to your computer via firewire, and the chances are that you'll have a firewire card already, and if not they only cost about £20. This allows you 16in and 16out plus MIDI all over two firewire cables. Lovely!

[Bobbsy]

Yup. The mLAN is yet another option. The only caution I have on that one is that, on several Yamaha-oriented boards there seem to be frequent posts about problems getting this option set up properly. I've not used one myself so I can't comment on whether these problems are real or just operator issues.

 

Still more reading for you to do!

 

Bob

[Dayve]

Many thanks for all your help, got some options to go to the school with.

 

Thanks for all your help.

 

Dave