Yamaha DM 2000 as monitor console

[kristianjohnsen]

Hello.

I'll be mixing monitors on a DM 2000 for the first time next month and I'm starting to plan out how to do this in the best manner and I'd appreciate your input.

Listening wedge: Is there a "control room" output or whatever that can be fed from to the solo bus to save me from connecting the listening wedge to the headphones output?
When cueing up mixes, is there a clever way to do this other than to just solo the AUX master in question? It would be cool to automatically bring up the same aux on faders as the one I'm listening to. So far, I was planning on using the four user layers and just putting the AUX masters in use first on every one so they're easy to get to, but it will take me a few pushes to: Solo correct aux > select input layer > select aux mode for faders> select correct aux > make the adjustment > repeat for next tweak, but I'll manage. (Can I even assign the same faders to more than one user layer bank? Perhaps my "home" should be the master layer for easy cueing of outputs?)

Do you normally have the auxes all set to post fader and the channel faders set to zero? This to quickly raise/lower something inn all auxes without fiddling with the gain control or "att".

Apart from that I was planning on controlling the actual mixing functions like I would from FOH otherwise using sends-on-faders.

How do you usually route FX in this situation?

Anything I've grossly overlooked?

Thank you very much in advance for any ideas.

Kristian Johnsen

 

[Tom Manchester]

Re: Yamaha DM 2000 as monitor console

Listening wedge: Is there a "control room" output or whatever that can be fed from to the solo bus to save me from connecting the listening wedge to the headphones output?

>>Yes, the DM2K has a lot of monitoring control and output options. There is a pair of XLR's on the back for a cue output (I think it's called "Large" , and the big white knob near the lower right of the surface controls the level.

When cueing up mixes, is there a clever way to do this other than to just solo the AUX master in question? It would be cool to automatically bring up the same aux on faders as the one I'm listening to. So far, I was planning on using the four user layers and just putting the AUX masters in use first on every one so they're easy to get to, but it will take me a few pushes to: Solo correct aux > select input layer > select aux mode for faders> select correct aux > make the adjustment > repeat for next tweak, but I'll manage. (Can I even assign the same faders to more than one user layer bank? Perhaps my "home" should be the master layer for easy cueing of outputs?)

>>I've just been using the master layer, but if you find a cooler / easier way to do it, let me know!

Do you normally have the auxes all set to post fader and the channel faders set to zero? This to quickly raise/lower something inn all auxes without fiddling with the gain control or "att".

>>I usually run pre fader only because the DM2K is limited in the number of auxes it has (8 built in omni outputs, you could get more auxes out of it with a D/A card or ADAT). For larger shows, not having to run the stereo layer at unity allows me to squeeze out one more stereo mix for sidefills or IEM's

Apart from that I was planning on controlling the actual mixing functions like I would from FOH otherwise using sends-on-faders.

>>I tried using the row of knobs to do aux sends, but I find it way more intuitive to use sends on faders after using them on so many other yamaha boards. It's faster and gives you a better visual of relative levels.

How do you usually route FX in this situation?

>>I just throw them on Aux 11 / 12 and bring them back on any convenient open channels. My DM2K is expaneded out to 40 mic pres, so I just return them on something like ch 45 / 46.

Anything I've grossly overlooked?

>>There are only 6 available built in 31 band GEQ's, so if you need more you will have to use the output parametrics or carry an external rack of hardware EQ's

 

[kristianjohnsen]

Re: Yamaha DM 2000 as monitor console

>>Yes, the DM2K has a lot of monitoring control and output options. There is a pair of XLR's on the back for a cue output (I think it's called "Large" , and the big white knob near the lower right of the surface controls the level.



>>I've just been using the master layer, but if you find a cooler / easier way to do it, let me know!



>>I usually run pre fader only because the DM2K is limited in the number of auxes it has (8 built in omni outputs, you could get more auxes out of it with a D/A card or ADAT). For larger shows, not having to run the stereo layer at unity allows me to squeeze out one more stereo mix for sidefills or IEM's



>>I tried using the row of knobs to do aux sends, but I find it way more intuitive to use sends on faders after using them on so many other yamaha boards. It's faster and gives you a better visual of relative levels.



>>I just throw them on Aux 11 / 12 and bring them back on any convenient open channels. My DM2K is expaneded out to 40 mic pres, so I just return them on something like ch 45 / 46.



>>There are only 6 available built in 31 band GEQ's, so if you need more you will have to use the output parametrics or carry an external rack of hardware EQ's

Hello Tom.

Thank you for your insights, I will keep all this in mind and let you know how I go

Just to share and compare:

My DM 2000 has an interesting mix of mini-YGDAI cards:

8 channel analog line in dB 25 which is connected to 8 channels of RME preamps.
16 channel ADAT I/O connected to two ADA 8000s.
8 channel analog line out dB 25 connected to a 8 XLR "whip".
8 channel analog line in TRS used for either wireless mics or outboard FX.

This gives me a total of 48 preamps and additionally 8 line ins as well as 32 line outs + master out - a very flexible mixer as it turns out!

PS: I have deviced a very convoluted, yet entirely plausible way of getting sidechain filtering on the channel gates. (You have to burn some ADAT I/O to do it, though - basically you loop out from a ADAT out and back into an ADAT in. Basically you split an input into the channel you are using and another unused and unassigned channel. This channel's EQ becomes the sidechain EQ and the direct out (post EQ) is fed into yet another channel which is assigned as the key channel for the channel you are actually gating - phew) :

 

[kristianjohnsen]

Re: Yamaha DM 2000 as monitor console

>>Yes, the DM2K has a lot of monitoring control and output options. There is a pair of XLR's on the back for a cue output (I think it's called "Large" , and the big white knob near the lower right of the surface controls the level.



>>I've just been using the master layer, but if you find a cooler / easier way to do it, let me know!



>>I usually run pre fader only because the DM2K is limited in the number of auxes it has (8 built in omni outputs, you could get more auxes out of it with a D/A card or ADAT). For larger shows, not having to run the stereo layer at unity allows me to squeeze out one more stereo mix for sidefills or IEM's



>>I tried using the row of knobs to do aux sends, but I find it way more intuitive to use sends on faders after using them on so many other yamaha boards. It's faster and gives you a better visual of relative levels.



>>I just throw them on Aux 11 / 12 and bring them back on any convenient open channels. My DM2K is expaneded out to 40 mic pres, so I just return them on something like ch 45 / 46.



>>There are only 6 available built in 31 band GEQ's, so if you need more you will have to use the output parametrics or carry an external rack of hardware EQ's

Hi again, Tom.

The gig where I'll be using my DM 2000 as a monitor desk hasn't been yet but I had the chance to spent some quality time with my DM 2000 this weekend and have come accross some things that might interest you:

If you hit the "display" button on the "SOLO" section you get a menu where you can select "AUX/SOLO LINK". If you do so, pressing whatever AUX is selected on the top left hand side of the desk a second time will solo that AUX. Hitting the button a third time will "unsolo" it.

I haven't looked into the details, but apparantly, it's possible to route AUX 11 and 12 to the STUDIO MONITOR out which gives you another two physical monitor outputs.

Also, I have discovered a way to route two AUXs to the STEREO OUT XLRs: Insert two AUX outputs to the inputs of an unused FX engine and put the effect in "bypass". Then insert the outputs of the FX engine to the master out. This little trick allows a signal to "jump buses" and will give you yet another two physical outputs

Best regards,

Kristian

 

[Simon Ryder]

Re: Yamaha DM 2000 as monitor console

Umm, I wouldn't want to. It is a seriously unintuitive board. Try to get an M7 or PM5 instead. The DM2k sounds good but it is a serious PITA to use.

 

[kristianjohnsen]

Re: Yamaha DM 2000 as monitor console

Umm, I wouldn't want to. It is a seriously unintuitive board. Try to get an M7 or PM5 instead. The DM2k sounds good but it is a serious PITA to use.

The gig was two weeks ago and went real smooth

 

[Tom Manchester]

Re: Yamaha DM 2000 as monitor console

The gig was two weeks ago and went real smooth

It has it's limitations, but used within it's means, the DM2K is not really any better or worse than any other digital board. As a predominantly Yamaha Digital company, I find it about the same as using any of the other consoles once you get used to the layout. I provided for a well known national rap act about a month ago and the DM2K worked great for that. 4 downstage wedge mixes, stereo sidefills, stereo DJ fill, and 1 Stereo IEM mix, all with no time for a soundcheck ;-)

 

[Dave Stevens]

Re: Yamaha DM 2000 as monitor console

Umm, I wouldn't want to. It is a seriously unintuitive board. Try to get an M7 or PM5 instead. The DM2k sounds good but it is a serious PITA to use.

I've done many international tours with a DM2k as well as a big show here in town. If you can work within the limits of the aux bus I/O it's not a bad choice. One of the reasons we used it was it fit through the cargo door of an A320 and the bay of the bus. In the cases where we couldn't bring one there are tons of them in Europe. Get the V2 software so the auxes fader flip and solo when you hit the button and it makes it much easier.

 

[kristianjohnsen]

Re: Yamaha DM 2000 as monitor console

It has it's limitations, but used within it's means, the DM2K is not really any better or worse than any other digital board. As a predominantly Yamaha Digital company, I find it about the same as using any of the other consoles once you get used to the layout. I provided for a well known national rap act about a month ago and the DM2K worked great for that. 4 downstage wedge mixes, stereo sidefills, stereo DJ fill, and 1 Stereo IEM mix, all with no time for a soundcheck ;-)

Hello Tom.

I forgot to say so before; thanks for your initial hints earlier in this thread! I also "discovered" a few things in the process of preparing for the gig - as I'm sure you saw earlier, also

Best regards,

Kristian