The machine is outstanding. That is, once you've waded through probably the most complicated, user un-friendly mind blowing instruction manual ever written!! There is no "getting started" section which I'd say most of us have come to expect when buying this kind of unit. I've had several recording set-up's over the past 20 years, from porta studios to ADAT to MD to HD, this is my first DAW and I really thought I'd bitten off more than I could chew..... However, I stuck with it and am I glad I did! The machine oozes quality, the effects are outstanding, the mixing facilties, gating and compression on every track etc. Above all the sound this unit produces goes far beyond anything else in it's price bracket, the demo is indeed dead, the sky is the limit!!

Highly recommended, but don't expect an easy ride, especially if this is your first experience of a DAW.

I'd done a lot of research into hard disk recorders before I settled on the AW1600. I'd considered the Korg D888, Boss BR1600, Fostex MR8 and Tascam 2488, but there always seemed to be problems or limitations with these: limited simultaneous recording channels, poor effects/EQ, no cd burner, lacking USB/firewire, reliability issues, 16bit recording only. The reviews seemed to back up my concerns and the AW1600 always came out on top. The AW2400 would always be the ideal goal but that's currently double the money, so I settled for the AW1600.

Although the AW1600 costs more, there's not much of a difference between the other models mentioned (maybe £50-£100) and in any case you get what you pay for - when producing professional demos and sending off commercial songs, is there room for too much compromise?

Having taken delivery of the AW1600 and messed about with it for a few weeks, I can say its living up to my expectations. Having read the manual several times (not the best instructions I've ever read, it has to be said - it lacks a quick start guide and I got bogged down in detail for each step of an operation), browsed the two excellent online support forums (http://forum.dijonstock.com and http://www.awinspire.com/) and watched (several times) the simply invaluable online tutorials (http://www.awinspire.com/tuts/tuts.php) I've been able to record several songs to a suitably high standard.

I'd never had any experience of hard disk recorders (or being responsible for recording) before so I consider this to be quite significant progress and testament to the thought and design of the AW1600!

I did find that some of the operation was still quite esoteric, so I invited my mate around who owns and runs his own professional recording studio (handy to know!!). I knew he'd love messing about with the AW1600 as he's owned several hard disk recorders in his life prior to getting his big studio. He was very impressed with the feature set but admitted that a few of the functions weren't quite as obvious and simple as they could've been. But we found workarounds and its not been a problem ever since.

The AW1600 has quite a steep learning curve and you have to WANT to get to grips with it. This is the main reason why they crop up on eBay every few weeks with £100 knocked off them - people who started out with the best intentions but needed something simpler. The AW1600 doesn't have one button which automatically sets everything up for you - this could be seen as a downside but its also what gives it its power, which I see as a benefit.

I really can't say anything negative about the product - it does what it says on the tin (and then some!) and is powerful and flexible enough to record my live 4-piece band in one go, whilst also happily sitting in a studio set up recording one or two tracks at a time. But you do need a flight case!