So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

The taller the console, the wider the case when on its wheels, making it more stable. There's lots of mixers (mainly little ones) out there for which the case needs to be over-sized just so the damn thing won't fall over if you look at it funny. The high ass end makes the console easier to use, and gives more room for I/O, card slots, internal PSU, etc.

I agree on this and will add: With the typical Soundcraft VI/Midas Pro2/now Yamaha CL mixer layout you can in many cases legally place the thing in the aile behind the last row of seats at theatres, etc. Also, there are so many cool options for having the casemakers build an extra compartment sitting above the fader tray in transit, making the doghouse smaller.
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

Has any one seen a high res photo of the layer buttons. Fully customizable layers would be a great feature (like iLive, SD*, ...).

Philip

Zoom in on on this one Gives you a pretty good shot of all the buttons and controls. I talked to our regional Yamaha Rep today for about an hour, and he said that the "custom" layers are fully customizable.
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

As much as I would have liked to see a PM2D state-of-the-art flagship it makes sense in my mind to expand on the middle model for now (which after all is where the new series takes it's name from). However, in usual Yamaha style, the numbers don't make sense... I think they should have named the new desks something like M1CL, M4CL and M9CL.

The current CL line is NOT the PM1D replacement/s we've been waiting for. That console is still in development, and will be released when it's ready. My Yamaha rep has told me that Yamaha Japan wanted to release the PM1D replacement when they issued that white paper about next gen digital consoles and networking a couple years ago, but that Yamaha North America told them absolutely not until it is completely ready. But I think that with these consoles, we can now more clearly see the direction that they are going. And it's interesting (and a very good thing I think) that they chose Dante as their network protocol rather than Ethersound or MADI, or one of these others. And there should be coming support for AVB should it ever fully materialize since Dante is AVB compliant, or enabled, or whatever.

The pricing mentioned earlier in the thread is what I got for MSRP for the CL5 and RIO 3224. And we should start seeing the CL5 and the RIO 3224 stage box by the beginning of May.

I'm still a little befuddled at where this will leave the M7 and the 5D though, considering that the CL5 has more inputs, outputs, DCAs, and a smaller foot print, and much lower cost.
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

I agree on this and will add: With the typical Soundcraft VI/Midas Pro2/now Yamaha CL mixer layout you can in many cases legally place the thing in the aile behind the last row of seats at theatres, etc. Also, there are so many cool options for having the casemakers build an extra compartment sitting above the fader tray in transit, making the doghouse smaller.
I don't mind so much on the CL5 sized desks where it's already big. Having the case an extra 6-8" thick for smaller surfaces like the CL1 especially are unfortunate for us van folks, where that cargo space matters. This is one of the big advantages of the GLD - a decent amount of processing in a very small box.
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

My real quandary now, is whether to push forward with my M7CL-48ES and the SB168 stage boxes as a monitor console. Or whether to push for a CL5 and a couple of the RIO3224 boxes as a replacement for my FOH console, and them move the PM5D to monitor land (albeit with three or four MY Dante cards).
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

Mike,

Could you discuss the gain sharing algorithm a bit more.
- How audibly seamless is it?
- Can all consoles actually affect the analog mic pre?

This looks to be a really cool system? How soon will dealers have prices and inventory?

Thanks

Philip

From:

CL Series | Mixers | Products | Yamaha


"What are the CL series Gain Compensation algorithm and the benefit?
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Compensation gain is applied at the digital stage of I/O rack and can work to compensate the analog gain changes by moving in the opposite direction, which allows multiple CL consoles to take the compensated (stable) input signals. The compensated signal is also delivered to other Dante devices such as computer and other consoles equipped with Dante, because the gain is compensated at the I/O rack stage, not in the console."
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

Bet you'll start seeing some good pricing on used M7CL-ES/SB-168ES systems once the CL3 nears release. :)

My real quandary now, is whether to push forward with my M7CL-48ES and the SB168 stage boxes as a monitor console. Or whether to push for a CL5 and a couple of the RIO3224 boxes as a replacement for my FOH console, and them move the PM5D to monitor land (albeit with three or four MY Dante cards).
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

My question: Can I use that 32x16 (& 4 AES?) digital stage box with my LS9-32?

This may be relevant:

From:

CL Series | Mixers | Products | Yamaha

"Is Rio compatible with existing consoles (e.g. PM5D, M7CL) using Dante-MY16-AUDs?
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Yes. Thanks to the Dante-MY16-AUD card planned firmware upgrade, HA on Rio can be controlled from existing consoles in AD8HR emulation mode. This upgrade is expected during Summer 2012."



"Can existing consoles (e.g. PM5D, M7CL) be added to CL + Rio systems and benefit from the Gain Compensation function?
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Yes. Existing consoles fitted with Dante-MY16-AUD can be connected to the same Dante network if audio routing is set by Dante Controller. All consoles can receive compensated audio from Rio when CL console’s Gain Compensation is activated. Note that only CL consoles can adjust HA gain."





"Is Gain Compensation available for a system which consists of only existing consoles and Rio (i.e. no CL console)?
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No. Existing consoles can’t have Gain Compensation if there is no CL console in a system: in that case, Rio will work in “AD8HR emulation” mode."



"Are our existing Stage-boxes compatible with CL?
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Yes, of course. Stage-box solutions such as SB168-ES and AD8HR+NAI48-ES are compatible with CL consoles via slots, up to 48 channels. (Gain Compensation function is not available with those devices.)"
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

Part 2 to that is, is it digital ONLY ( ala M7cl48 ES)? please let there be XLR connectors on the back of this new console...

not to swerve, but what are people doing about com,dmx etc. with cat 5 / digital snakes? all I can think of is you have to run a small multipair, and if you're doing that, whats the point of a digi snake ( other than leaving the audio on stage). Is that the only advantage at this point ?

Our Digico snake has 4 madi, 4 cat5, and 8 xlr (4 each way) for com, dmx etc...
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

Another related and interesting announcement is the support for simultaneous operation of StageMix on a iPad and Studio Manager on a PC or Mac (Advanced operations beyond the console: CL StageMix and CL Editor - YouTube). I wonder if that will be retrofitted for the LS9 and M7?

It would be nice, but my guess is no.

Note that CL Editor does not connect via the DME network driver. I'm guess its a limitation of the network to midi in the consoles that they can't over come to run multiple devices as even the CL series is still 1 iPad.

Philip
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

[RANT]
Blech. Don't give me 24 auxes and 8 matrices, give me 32 busses all with the functionality of the matrices. Don't give me 8 Fx and 32 graphs and 8 premium processors, give me 48 rack devices which can be any combination of those things.
Digital console designers don't get it. They're still stuck in the analogue world.
[/RANT]

I basically agree with you - don't try to over-categorize things. But how can you have everything be a matrix? What then would feed those matrix outs?

But interestingly enough on the two different racks... our Yamaha district manager said that they used different DSP for the two different types of effect. Standard Yamaha stuff for the regular rack (which can also be more graphics), and then SHARC chips for the Neve/VCM rack.
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

I basically agree with you - don't try to over-categorize things. But how can you have everything be a matrix? What then would feed those matrix outs?
Other Matrices, Channels and the Left/Right/Mono.

But interestingly enough on the two different racks... our Yamaha district manager said that they used different DSP for the two different types of effect. Standard Yamaha stuff for the regular rack (which can also be more graphics), and then SHARC chips for the Neve/VCM rack.
MORE graphics? I need less (no) graphics and more FX. Think IEM monitors.
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

I'm still a little befuddled at where this will leave the M7 and the 5D though, considering that the CL5 has more inputs, outputs, DCAs, and a smaller foot print, and much lower cost.

No kidding.
I suppose they will keep the M7 and 5D around as long as there is still a demand for them rather than kill them immediately, but surely sales of both of these products is going to decline quickly once the CL's are out in the wild.

Interesting to hear that this is NOT the "PM2D" announcement many of us expected. That makes sense I guess, particularly given that whitepaper, as the CL series checks some of the whitepaper boxes but doesn't fall into Yamaha's whitepaper statements such as:

"...
it is clear that for larger projects there is now a demand for higher levels of system functionality in terms of audio and control, distribution, DSP and user interfacing options. These are required to support the ever increasing size and complexity of live productions for music, theatre, broadcast and corporate events.

...new component-based networked audio systems will enable consultants, installers, sound designers, rental companies and end users to configure the type and scale of mixing and routing systems they require to match exactly the requirements for their specific live sound application."
 
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Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

Nice. Really nice.

Always glad to help out. :)

Actually I was thinking along the lines of matrixes feeding each other, but then there's the risk of creating feedback loops.
Which of course you can do in other places, so it's not like it really matters that much. When we had a Midas Pro2 in a few weeks I found that they'd made it impossible to feed effects returns back to aux sends... to prevent feedback loops. I'm pretty sure a tech with your shows would be somewhat unhappy with that "feature".
 
Re: So we get new Yamaha desks? CL series

Always glad to help out. :)
Thanks, Scott. :)

Actually I was thinking along the lines of matrixes feeding each other, but then there's the risk of creating feedback loops.
Which of course you can do in other places, so it's not like it really matters that much. When we had a Midas Pro2 in a few weeks I found that they'd made it impossible to feed effects returns back to aux sends... to prevent feedback loops.
It'd be pretty simple to have the software not allow a bus to send to itself.
I'm pretty sure a tech with your shows would be somewhat unhappy with that "feature".
I'm not quite sure what you mean there, but I'll assume it's just another of your "digs"... :)