FRANKFURT, Germany — The Yamaha CL Series of digital consoles, widely credited with raising the bar in live digital mixing, were launched in Frankfurt in 2012. At ProLight+Sound 2014, Yamaha launched the QL Series (the QL5 is pictured here). The new consoles inherit such CL features such as all-in-one mixing, processing, and routing capability, but are targeted for small to medium scale live tour sound, house of worship installations, corporate AV and speech applications.
As with the CL Series, the Yamaha QL Series includes circuitry and components that have been designed and selected with care, achieving outstanding audio purity from input to output. With a solid, sonic foundation it is possible to take full advantage of built-in premium internal processors such as legendary Yamaha VCM technology and the Portico 5033/5043 created in cooperation with Rupert Neve Designs to shape and create as required. For a wide range of speech applications, built-in Dan Dugan Sound Design automatic mixing provides optimum channel balance while allowing the mix engineer to concentrate fully on the overall sound.
“When Yamaha learned about my process, they thought it would be good for us to get together, states Dan Dugan. We collaborated on making a plug-in card that would go into Yamaha mixing boards, and it has been very successful. Then we decided to go one step further and build Dugan automatic mixing right into the new Yamaha QL. I am very excited about giving more Yamaha customers the opportunity to use my auto mixing.”
Significant features include port to port routing via built-in R Series input/outputs that can patch any input port to any output port so the QL console can function as a remote I/O device for any other QL or CL, touch and turn knob operation, and direct file compatibility between the new QL and CL Series Digital Consoles (no need for Console File Converter to exchange files). Yamaha QL consoles feature large touch-panel displays that make up a remarkably smooth, efficient control interface. In addition to ample analog input and output capacity, the QL Series features the same onboard Dante audio networking protocol that provides broad connectivity in CL consoles.
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“The new QL Series brings the powerful features and quality of the CL Series to smaller applications along with additional enhancements not typically found in digital mixers in this price range,” states Marc Lopez, marketing manager, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. “These new enhancements will enable the engineer to use a sophisticated system that improves the overall operating experience.”
Remote control via an iPad with Yamaha StageMix as well as online/offline QL Editor Software for MAC and PC computers adds even more refinement to an already state-of-the-art operating environment. Yamaha QL 1 and QL5 consoles feature 16/32 built-in Mic/Line Analog Inputs, 18/34 faders, 8/16 built-in Analog Outputs, 32/64 + 8 Stereo input mixing channels capability, and 16 Mix + 8 Matrix (or 24 mix total) + Stereo + Mono Outputs. The built-in Dante interface (Daisy-chain or Redundant modes) provides a 64×64 matrix for the QL5 and 32×32 for the QL1. All consoles feature two MY Card Slots, 8-space Premium Rack, 8-space GEQ Rack, 8-space Effects Rack, and one license of Dante Virtual Soundcard is included.
Yamaha QL consoles are compatible with Nuendo Live (sold separately) and feature Nuendo Live Control, MIDI/GPI Control Ports, and two-track direct to USB and multi-track recording playback capabilities. The QL1 is also rack mountable (RK1 rack mount kit sold separately).
The Yamaha QL Series will be available in early April 2014 at an MSRP of $8,499 for the QL1 and $16,499 for the QL5.
For more info about Yamaha’s QL Series, go to www.yamahaca.com or visit Yamaha at NAB booth #C2143.
