Yamaha's new version of the M7CL-48 console was unveiled for the first time at ISE 2010. While similar to the M7CL-48 (and aesthetically almost identical) the M7CL-48ES features two EtherSound ports have replaced the 48 mic inputs at the back, making remote I/O easier.
The three MY card slots are now freed up to accommodate other devices, such as multi-track recorders. The console has been specifically designed for use with up to three of the SB168-ES EtherSound stage boxes, and a third port enables a permanent connection to a computer.
"We now have a kind of stage box remote system," said Ruben van der Goor, application engineer for Yamaha Music Europe.
"You don't need EtherSound monitor software to configure everything; you can do that with the software in the console. We did something slightly similar 10 years ago with the PM1D remote system, but of course the DSP was separate. Here, the DSP is still inside the console and only the I/O is external. The separate stage boxes really make this console a better investment for current M7CL users."
Yahama are also offering a free software upgrade for all existing M7CL users, firmware version 3.0, which includes a wide range of significant enhancements: sends on fader (in M7CL V3 editor) enables, for example, individual monitor mixes on stage to be adjusted remotely by an engineer from a tablet PC, VCM Effects (high quality compression, tape saturation and equalization) are now standard, there are additional Recall Safe parameters, and ST IN 1-4 (the stereo inputs) are now available for talkback. These changes have been made based on feedback from industry professionals.
The new console and the upgrade will be available from Spring 2010.
For more information, visit www.yamahaca.com .
