Audio Tracks; Virtual Tracks; The Stereo Track - Yamaha AW2816 Owner's Manual

The track structure of the AW2816
This section explains the track structure of the
AW2816. The recorder section of the AW2816 han-
dles three types of tracks: audio tracks, virtual tracks,
and the stereo track.

Audio tracks

These are the physical tracks on which recording and
playback is performed, and are also referred to simply
as "tracks." When the AW2816 is in the default state,
the outputs of buses 1–8 are patched to the inputs of
tracks 1–8/9–16, and the outputs of tracks 1–16 are
patched to monitor channels 1–16, allowing up to six-
teen tracks to be recorded simultaneously. (However
since there are only eight mixer input channels, only
eight input signals can normally be recorded indepen-
dently.)
However, the number of tracks that can be played
back simultaneously is affected by the number of
tracks that are being recorded simultaneously. If you
increase the number of tracks for simultaneous
recording, tracks will automatically be muted accord-
ingly.
The following tables show the number of tracks that
can be simultaneously recorded and simultaneously
played back, and the number of tracks that will be
muted in each case, for 16 bit and 24 bit songs.
• 16 bit song
Number of
Number of
tracks played
tracks recorded
back
simultaneously
simultaneously
0–8 16
9–16 0
• 24 bit song
Number of
Number of
tracks played
tracks recorded
back
simultaneously
simultaneously
0 16
1–2 14
3–4 12
5–8 8
9–16 0
For example with a 24 bit song, if you set four tracks
to record-ready mode, four tracks will automatically
be muted. (Unrecorded tracks will be muted first.)
Note that for either a 16 bit or a 24 bit song, setting
nine or more tracks to record-ready mode will cause
all tracks to be muted, so that it will no longer be pos-
sible to monitor the track playback.
In either case, simply defeating record-ready mode
will not defeat track muting. To defeat muting, you
must access the METER screen ( P.351) and turn off
muting for each track, or use the [ALL SAFE] key. (If
you use the [ALL SAFE] key, muting and record-ready
mode will be defeated simultaneously for all tracks.)

Virtual tracks

These are virtual tracks that can be selected. On the
AW2816, one virtual track 1–8 can be selected for
each audio track 1–16, and used for recording/play-
back.
The following illustration is a conceptual diagram of
virtual tracks. The horizontal rows correspond to
audio tracks 1–16, and the vertical columns to virtual
tracks 1–8. The shaded areas are virtual tracks that are
currently selected for recording/playback.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
For example if you are recording a solo part on a
Number of track, you can switch virtual tracks while recording
tracks muted
multiple takes, and select the best take later.
0

The stereo track

16
The "stereo track" is independent from the "audio
tracks." It is used mainly as a master track for creating
an audio CD. The AW2816 provides one stereo track
Number of
for each song.
tracks muted
The input of the stereo track is always connected
internally to the output of the stereo output channel.
0
You can record the stereo bus signal simply by putting
the stereo track in record mode.
2
While the stereo track is being recorded, audio tracks
4
1–16 can only be played back, and cannot be
8
recorded. When the stereo track is played back, the
stereo track output is automatically assigned to moni-
16
tor channels 1/2. During this time, audio tracks 1–16
are forcibly muted, and cannot be unmuted.
Operation section
Audio tracks
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
2
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