Yamaha Debuts Flagship PM1D Digital Console
September 28, 1999
Amidst longtime industry-wide speculation that the company
would be releasing a new digital board at the 1999 AES, Yamaha finally confirmed
the rumors by unveiling the PM1D, a large-format digital mixing console designed
specifically for live and installed sound applications. Yamaha made the historic
announcement of its new flagship desk at a private presentation in the Weill Recital
Hall of New York's Carnegie Hall on September 23 to an exclusive international
audience of industry media, consultants, commercial dealers and Yamaha engineers
who had flown in from Japan especially for this epic event.
The PM1D mixing console is a totally digital system which performs all mixing
and audio processing functions completely in the digital domain with 32-bit internal
processing for superior audio quality. The CS1D Control Surface operates the DSP1D
digital audio engine, which can be located with the control surface or "remoted"
to the stage or other convenient location. Configurable in both 48- and 96-channel
versions with 48 mix busses, 24 matrixes and 12 DCAs (Digitally Controlled Amplifiers),
the system utilizes top-quality 28-bit A/D and 27-bit D/A conversion. Dual inputs
on each channel provide 96 inputs for the 48-channel system and 192 inputs on
the 96-channel version.
"Yamaha is extremely proud to present the PM1D all-digital sound reinforcement
console for the next millennium," states Tim Takenouchi, manager of overseas
sales & marketing department, Professional Audio Systems Division, Yamaha
Corporation. "We feel it represents the best the industry has to offer from
a manufacturer well-recognized as a leader in both large-format live sound boards
and in small-format digital consoles."
The console is highly advanced in many aspects. For one, at a shade over half
the weight (260 lbs.) of comparable analog consoles, its compact, streamlined
configuration is ideally designed for easy transport and positioning-a very important
factor especially in touring situations. The dimensions of the CS1D are as follows:
13.9 in. Height x 38.6 in. Depth x 75 in. Width.
Set-up of the PM1D is light-years ahead of its analog counterparts with Ethernet-based
communication system connections that provide fast, easy setup and minimum cabling.
All console-to-stage control signals are carried via one 68-pin cable (per 32
channels) and three Ethernet-type cables.
The PM1D is designed primarily for live and installed sound applications including:
- Touring Sound Reinforcement-Fast, easy setup and strike, combined with versatile
features and unmatched sound quality are indispensable for touring in the 21st
century.
- Houses of Worship-As congregations become larger and more sophisticated, so
too are the production values required for large-scale, high-fidelity performances.
- Live Theater-Programmability and instantaneous total recall allow for dramatically
enhanced theater sound reinforcement.
- Concert Hall-Concert applications require the highest in sound quality, which
PM1D delivers.
- Broadcast Facilities and Mobile Trucks-The PM1D's portability and superior
features make it an excellent choice for live/location broadcast applications
as well as fixed facilities.
"PM1D is the natural evolution and marriage of Yamaha's expertise in providing
the best in large-format live sound consoles and innovative digital consoles,"
remarks Larry Italia, national sales & marketing manager, Commercial Audio,
Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division. "Besides,
people have been asking me about it for some time and now I can finally say, 'Here
it is!'"
The PM1D offers live sound engineers all of the benefits that recording consoles
have offered for years: programmability, repeatability and instantaneous total
recall of all parameters. Features include: total recall, undo, off-line programmability,
central control, graphic parameter readout and advanced user interface. Up to
1,000 scene memories can be stored. In the event of a control surface disconnect
or power failure, the system will still pass audio, so emergencies can be averted.
"This console fulfills the wishes of everyone who ever wanted a large
format, high-end, all-digital mixing console," comments Daniel Craik, product
manager, Commercial Audio, Yamaha Corporation of America. "Every parameter
can be stored and recalled-from the head amp trim down to the six-band parametric
EQ on the outputs. This console will rock the sound reinforcement, broadcast and
live theater worlds. There is nothing like it in the market that can compare with
these features."
One useful feature of the CS1D Control Surface is the implementation of dual
inputs on each channel (A and B). This is advantageous when large numbers of inputs
are needed and where some are only used occasionally. It's a perfect feature for
festival situations with two or more stages. Another type of situation that can
benefit is the large complicated show with many small acts performing such as
the Oscar and Grammy award shows. A/B assignments can be stored in scene memory
so the correct input is automatically switched when the scene is recalled.
Other channel features include remote control of head amplifier gain from
the control surface. Head amp gain trim settings are recallable. In the case where
multiple control surfaces are used which share I/O (e.g., FOH, remote truck and
monitor board), the main DSP1D mix and processing engine can be configured with
a simple switch to select which surface controls head amp gain. Additional channel
features include a very powerful virtual channel, 4-band fully parametric EQ,
dynamics processing on every channel, user-definable number of aux sends, effects
processors and graphic EQs.
Digital I/O Options
The PM1D is an easily expandable rack-based system that allows the addition
of I/O modules to create the ideal system depending on requirements. The system
is based upon the following expandable racks and modules:
- LMY2-ML card contains two channels, each with an A and a B input for Microphone
or Line levels, and 48-volt phantom power.
- LMY4-AD contains 4 Line level inputs on each card.
- LMY4-DA is a digital-to-analog output card that contains 4 channels of output.
- The AI8 is a three-space rack that will accept either the Mic/Line card or
the Line-only card.
- AI8-ML8 designates an AI8 rack filled with 8 LMY2-ML Mic/Line cards for 16
channels of I/O, each channel with A and B inputs.
- AI8-AD8 designates an AI8 rack filled with 8 LMY4-AD cards for a total of
32 Line level inputs.
- AI8-ML4AD4 designates an AI8 rack with four LMY2-ML cards and four LMY4-AD
cards.
- AO8 is a rack unit that can hold up to 8 D/A cards.
- AO8-DA8 designates an AO8 rack filled with 8 LMY4-DA cards for a total of
32 outputs.
- DIO8 is a special rack that will interface up to four Yamaha mini-YGDAI cards
with the PM1D system.
For more information, visit Yamaha's web site at www.yamaha.com
or www.yamaha.co.jp/product/proaudio/homeenglish/. |
