MESSE08: Mixing It With Yamaha

US Eight busses all come at once with the IM8 Series of analogue live sound consoles 14/03/08

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1:42 mins

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Yamaha has launched a brand new range of affordable, eight bus analogue mixing consoles, introduced in response to requests from many live sound engineers for a small format analogue console with advanced features, but at a highly competitive price. The new IM8 Series is based on Yamahaâ€™s highly successful PM series analogue console design, and the company say that it sets a new benchmark for the quality and facilities versus price point ratio of consoles designed for small and medium-sized events.
Three versions will be available, featuring 24, 32 or 40 channels, all, say Yamaha, featuring the same world class build quality and rigorous testing procedures as the PM series consoles.
Built for great sound, total control and superior reliability, the IM8 series delivers an impressive feature set, including microphone preamps which inherit technology from Yamahaâ€™s top-line professional consoles, designed to deliver low-noise, transparent amplification with the widest possible range of dynamic / condenser microphones and line-level signals. Built-in channel compression is a premium feature usually only found on the most expensive consoles, however the IM8 range features Yamahaâ€™s innovative â€˜one-knobâ€™ compressor on all mono input channels. Unlike compressors with multiple controls, the one-knob compressor means you can simply dial in the amount of compression you need, quickly and intuitively. All mono input channels feature balanced XLR and TRS phone jacks, with individually switchable +48V phantom power, 26-dB pad switch, gain control, pan pot and four band EQ with sweepable mids. Also provided on each mono input channel is a phase switch and 80 Hz high-pass filter switch. Stereo input channels provide L and R phone jack inputs, phono jack stereo pairs, input gain control, balance control and four band EQ. All input channels also feature eight individual AUX send controls that can be switched in pairs for pre- fader or post-fader operation, plus noiseless full-length faders for level control, three-segment input level meters and mute switch.
The Master section provides individual linear AUX send faders for each of the eight AUX busses, each with three-segment level meter for visual level confirmation. Four Mute Master switches instantly mute or un-mute all channels on which the corresponding Mute switches are engaged, allowing you to configure up to four different channel mute arrangements. This allows multiple bands or multi-microphone productions to be handled with ease. Comprehensive talkback and pre- / post-fader monitoring facilities are also provided. The IM8 series consoles feature four matrix outputs that can be fed signals from all eight groups, plus the stereo and mono busses. Individual level controls for each source bus are provided for each of the four matrix outputs, along with a master matrix level control. The matrix is a convenient and configurable system for providing additional output mixes for any number of utility applications, for example extra monitors, dressing room feeds, lobby sound and more. The range also embraces the world of digital audio, thanks to the included USB port, which allows direct digital recording and playback with the supplied Cubase AI4 audio workstation software. Finally, an external power supply maximises the performance of the consoles. For added peace of mind, dual power supplies can be used for failsafe operation. Filling a large gap in the analogue mixing console market, the Yamaha IM8 series will bring new levels of production finesse to a wide variety of smaller and medium-sized venues and touring productions which need high quality and reliability, but at a highly cost-effective price.
Specifications

24/32/40-channel frame size (IM8-24/32/40)
Low-noise Mic/Line Preamplifiers
80Hz channel high pass filters
Switchable 48v Phantom Power
26dB Pad
One-knob compressor on all mono channels
4-Band EQ (HF shelving, HF-MID peaking
LF-MID peaking, and LF shelving) with EQ ON switch
8 group buses
8 AUX Sends pre/post
4 Stereo AUX Returns
Fully featured 11x4 Matrix
4 Mute groups
Direct Outs in each mono channel
Channel/groups/stereo/mono-Inserts
100mm fader (mono channels)
60mm AUX Send fader
2-track monitoring
Sophisticated Talkback section
4x12 points LED meter
External redundancy power supply (PW8) and power supply link cable (PSL1010) optional,
Cubase AI4 Included
USB In/Out

Pricing and Availability:
IM824 (24 channel): Â£3198
IM832 (32 channel): Â£3998
IM840 (40 channel): Â£4498
IM8 series will be available in the UK from late June 2008.
More information: