Yamaha M7CL

[newrob1]

Has anyone seen one of these yet? I'm a big fan of the PM5D and DM2000 and finally decided to buy a digi desk and this thing looks great! I have seen mixed info on the release date being from Oct. to Jan and just wanted to know if you guys had any ideas or opinions. Let me know.

[mischultz]

Originally Posted by newrob1

Has anyone seen one of these yet? I'm a big fan of the PM5D and DM2000 and finally decided to buy a digi desk and this thing looks great! I have seen mixed info on the release date being from Oct. to Jan and just wanted to know if you guys had any ideas or opinions. Let me know.

I have a PM5D that I've grown to enjoy immensely. I think if you're talking about a single purpose installation, the M7CL should provide 90% of the functionality. But if you were to have significantly different events in a single facility, that last 10% of flexibility might prove to be absolutely necessary. Mine's in a 2000 seat sanctuary that houses traditional and contemporary worship services along with two traditional concert series and the occasional pop/contemporary concert. Between monitor sends, recording and broadcast, architectural reverb control and various and sundry other smaller tasks, I don't know that I could use the M7CL because I'd give up 8 auxes/omnis and the main stereo bus is assigned to the omni outs as well (more like the DM1000/2000) so I'd be down another pair. But again, 14 busses plus the stereo should be more than sufficient for a single purpose room, and that does appear to be the main difference other than simultaneous effects (looks like the M7 runs 4 where I believe the 5D runs eight).

We also have a DM1000 on campus and regardless of where the analog hardware for the M7 comes from (The DM or PM line), I think the Yamaha preamps are a little underrated. Very neutral, very quiet and they really let you get on with the job without any fuss.

Hope this helps.

Michael

[newrob1]

Actually, the M7 will do 8 effects simultaneously. Do you know if the M7 uses the same pre's as the 5D(and doesn't the 5D come with pre options?) I am considering the purchase for a touring "corporate" console. Typically there are 4 podium mics, 16 RF channels, 8 to 12 channels of playback, recording feeds, etc. Different venues each week, but the same variation of inputs show after show, also with a retail $ of only $20K it seems very flexible. I do the shows with the 5D when available but can't afford 40 or 50 grand and I would like to invest in something that would make me more consistent and not worry about what the production company is going to provide, you know. Anyway, thanks for the input. I just saw a maxed out DM2000 with a $5000 studio desk/workstation for $12,000 in Vancouver, but it seems like the M7 may be a better ticket and newer technology.

[mischultz]

The language on the Yamaha site seems to indicate four, plus four engines for additional EQ:

Effects and graphic equalization are indispensable for most live sound applications, and having them built in is one of the many attractive features that only digital consoles can provide. The problem, sometimes, is finding them. Not so in the M7CL: just touch the RACK button on the display and the virtual effect and EQ rack pops right up for instant, easy access. A few quick touches on the screen and you can easily patch effects or graphic EQ into any channel and output. Another touch or two and you can get right inside the effects for detailed editing. The M7CL lets you use up to 8 signal processors simultaneously – normally that’s up to 4 effects and 4 graphic EQ units. But since the effect units can also function as graphic EQs, you can use more EQ units if you don’t need all 4 effects.

But whether it's four or eight, you're still getting gating and compression on all the inputs and outputs, so it's going to be pretty potent.

In any case, if you have a consistent show that falls within the parameters - especially on the output side - of the M7, I think it's a screaming deal. It's not that different an investment from what you'd make on a 48 channel A&H or Soundcraft. The analog side is comparable if not slightly ahead and you're getting another rack's worth of stuff (at least) in the bargain. I don't know where they pulled the preamps from, but I think they've finally hit a good plateau in terms of their digital R&D, where they've made back enough from the DM and PM consoles that they can offer the M7 without necessarily having to recoup that investment directly.

Best of luck, and happy hunting -

Michael

[fifthcircle]

There are 8 effects modules that can be whatever you want... Each effect can be stereo if desired and EQ's can be split via the Yamaha flex-15 (two 15 band eqs that opperate like 30 band eqs).

Pres are closer in quality to DM2000 than PM5D. 5D has one one preamp- it is the PM1D that has options as to the pres used... The 5D does come in 2 versions- one with a gain pot for the pres and the other with the "remote control" where the gain of the pre is stored in the scene memory.

Th M7CL looks to be a pretty cool board- 48 ins, the ability to run FOH, 4-6 monitor feeds and still have effects left over for reverb, etc... Ran through it at the west coast premiere at Hollywood Sound. I'm hoping that some of the local rental companies will have them for my smaller clients.

--Ben

[newrob1]

I want to buy one and am reading conflicting release information. Can anyone verify availability?

[paultools]

I have read that there's a month back-order, but some have been delivered.
Check the PSW forum... do a search... a few threads there

[fifthcircle]

Yes-

Hollywood Sound here in LA has one of the first ones. Almost rented it a couple weeks back... Quite a hip little board.

--Ben

[huub]

Hi all,
I'm considering using 2 m7cls for an upcoming live to air music job with limited budget..

Any opinions?

Thanks!

Huub

[Roland]

Originally Posted by huub

Hi all,
I'm considering using 2 m7cls for an upcoming live to air music job with limited budget..

Any opinions?

Thanks!

Huub

Yes, it's a good little board for the money, though I feel a little bit noisy. Digico D5/SD7 etc, Digidesign Venue (if you can get them in your budget) would be a better option if it's for broadcast.

Regards


Roland

[Remoteness]

I have used two M7CL48s together a couple of times this year with no problems.

Make sure you have the digital I/O cards, so you can slave one desk to the other digitally.
We recently use this scenario in Dallas, TX with very good results.

We included a Klark Teknik XL88 matrix mixer to combine the two monitor outputs.

We kept both the main and slave desks' monitor section open.
We were able to solo each desk accordingly with a couple of button taps.
You only had to mute the main console's monitor section when you soloed the slave desk.
The slave console only had the omni outputs going to the main desk digitally, so we were able to kept the slave desk's monitor section open all the time.

[jeremyglover]

i've only used them live but i think yamaha make the worst sounding digital boards. allen and heath, soundcraft and digidesign sound much better to me and were more user friendly.

[bishopthomas]

I'm wondering if you could rent one console that will fit your needs for the price of two mediocre consoles that you will have to fumble with to get what you want out of it. I don't know how long your snake run is but factor that in to (digital snakes are MUCH easier to run than 96 channels of copper).

[huub]

Well, you're right, but in this case, it's a floating podium, where I would mix 80 channels from the podium, sent wirelessly to the main broadcast truck.. A couple of meters of copper to the desks will be no problem.. However, I will very much try to get (demand in fact) a Lawo with stagebox on fiber.. I am realistic and have to consider an alternative.. Renting a m7cl is only about 250 euros per day...
Also, although I kind of hate yamahas, I am sure I can work on them really quickly (that's the nice thing about yamahas, if you've ever worked on an o2r, you'll be fine on any of their desks)

[huub]

Kay all;

I'll be mixing a fun new years eve broadcast on 2 of these the next two days, so some questions for you all:

How are the onboard fx?

Are the mini ydga cards the same as the ones in DM1000s?


Thanks!

[bishopthomas]

Use the X series EFX. They're at the bottom.

[fifthcircle]

The Rev-X efx are usable depending on what you are mixing, but they aren't great. They are the same ones you'll find on a 5D or a 1D. I bring outboard effects when I mix on Yamaha consoles.

And the yagdi cards are in fact the same ones from the DM1000/2000/O2R96/O1V96/PM5D/LS9 (did I forget any?)

--Ben

[huub]

Thanks!

[Northernaudioman]

Although I don't think the M7 is the best sounding digital desk out there by a fair margin, I recently had one of ours out on a classical show with a very well renowned opera singer and my word did it sound fabulous, and I mean world class - no outboard, no toys, just a great pair of ears, which served to remind me that it's the person behind the desk that makes it sound great and not the kit!

Have a wonderful show - the M7 is a great desk that is very easy to use.

EDIT - it wasn't me behind the desk!

[huub]

Well, in the end the music stayed within 48 channels, I added a small analog mixer for ambience mics.. Went pretty well, fine mixer really.. sounds fine too..
Here's a pic of the floating podium.. We used an FM transmitter to send the mix to the truck doing the tv program, analog, so no delay..