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Yamaha continues to expand its range of digital consoles to accommodate lower budgets, with the introduction of the TF Series, which follows the CL and the QL Series. Also exhibited on the stand of the Japanese manufacturer was the PM10 Rivage digital mixing system – the flagship of the brand (see SLU) – and RSiO64-D, a rack of mini-YGDAI cards for inputs and outputs that accepts more than 30 types of cards .
TF Series digital consoles
The TF range includes three models of compact digital mixing consoles: TF5, TF3 and TF1, which offer 33, 25 and 17 motorized faders respectively and 32, 24 and 16 analog inputs on the rear panel.
All three are equipped with the new Yamaha D-PRE mic preamps with storable settings, a feature that is particularly appreciated in live performance, where it is necessary to make configuration changes quickly. These consoles operate with a sampling frequency of 48 kHz.
The TF Series offers the user a total of 48 mixing channels on TF3 and TF5, and 40 on the TF1, counting the analog inputs, the USB stereo digital inputs and the two effects returns.
As far as recording is concerned, TF Series consoles can record and play back up to 34 channels via USB 2.0 to a PC or MAC (using Nuendo Live), and two channels using USB media.
The TF Series consoles are equipped with a slot for the D-NY64 I/O expansion card, which allows them to send and receive up to 128 channels (64 in/64 out) within a Dante audio network.
Using the TF5 console with this card installed together with the new Yamaha I/O rack, Tio1608-D, it is possible to create a console/stage box system with up to 48 inputs and 24 outputs, counting the sixteen outputs on the console.
The color LCD touch screen permits multi-touch control of settings such as parametric EQ curves. The 1-Knob Com (for dynamics) and 1-Knob EQ (for equalization) functions make adjustments easy by allowing the user to touch only one encoder for control. Finally, another feature makes its debut, the “GainFinder”, which makes it easier to achieve the optimum setting of the input gain.
The TF Series also has powerful processing and effects. In addition to the parametric equalizer and the two dynamics processors on each channel, the console offers eight processors, two of which are globally accessible and offer the equivalent of industry-standard Yamaha SPX processors. The remaining six processors are available on the Aux buses 9/10 through 19/20. The Aux buses 1-8 and mains offer the same 4-band parametric EQ as the input channels, complete with a 31-band Flex12 graphic equalizer.
For less experienced users, Yamaha has included preset configurations (equalization, dynamic, gain, etc.) for the most common Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and Shure microphones, which have been developed in collaboration with these manufacturers and with renowned sound engineers (QuickPro presets). These offer good base settings for use with musical instruments and voices. The same system has been adopted for the outputs, with presets for in-ear monitors and for Yamaha powered speaker systems.
Finally, separate apps are available for wireless control of the mixing, for personal monitor mixes and for offline setup: TF StageMix for iPad, MonitorMix for iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, and TF Editor for Windows or Mac computers, respectively.
The RSio64-D I/O rack
RSio64-D is a Dante interface rack for Mini-YGDAI cards, which offers 64 inputs and 64 outputs. It is remotely controlled by the CL or QL Series consoles or via the R Remote software. Equipped with four slots, it can host more than 30 different models of Yamaha Mini-YGDAI cards. It allows the integration into a Dante network of a wide variety of input/output formats, such as AES/EBU or ADAT. It is not limited only to I/O cards, as it also accepts DSP cards, such as Lake processing or Dan Dugan automatic mixing.
Each of the Mini-YGDAI slots is equipped with a sample rate converter, which allows the connection of devices referenced to different clocks. Also, Rsio64-D supports Dante network redundancy (it includes primary and secondary ports), and has an input for external powering to guarantee power supply redundancy.
To facilitate its use as a format converter and router, presets are provided for seven basic routing configurations, including routing between the Mini-YGDAI cards. A rotary switch on the front panel allows direct selection of Dante/Mini-YGDAI routing, crossover routing from Mini-YGDAI to Mini-YGDAI or other options designed for a wide range of applications in broadcast or sound reinforcement.
More info on the Yamaha site: http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/europe/fr/products/mixers/tf/index.jsp
