The latest M7CL replaces the 48 internal mic pre-amps with two EtherSound ports, keeping the MY card slots free for other uses such as multitrack recording, the Dante communication protocol or the use of Waves effects plug ins. A third port also allows permanent connection of the console to a computer while using EtherSound in 'ring' mode.
To make setup quick and easy, the M7CL-48ES auto-configures its connection to the Yamaha SB168-ES stage box and it features the updated V3 software, recently introduced for all M7CL consoles.
Another new product on show at Frankfurt is the MY8-SDI-ED interface card, which offers from eight to 64 I/O channels (depending on the console and number of cards used) of HD-SDI embedded audio signals.
Compatible with all of Yamaha's digital mixing consoles / DME series digital mixing engines, the card features one HD/SD-SDI input, two HD/SD-SDI outputs (same signal), and one thru-output (reclocked). Each card is able to de-embed up to two of the four audio groups (four channels per group; total eight channels), multiplexed in an HD-SDI signal, and to embed two audio groups into an HD/SD-SDI signal for output.
In addition to these highlights, a full range of Yamaha Commercial Audio amplifiers, loudspeakers, mixers and audio processors will be on display, with company staff on hand to discuss and demonstrate. A product they will be actively seeking industry opinion on is the company's new Thin Light Flexible (TLF) loudspeaker technology.
TLF is a prototype technology which has produced "a revolutionary and highly versatile loudspeaker", which Frankfurt will see demonstrated for the first time outside Japan.TLF is around 1mm thick and highly flexible, allowing it to be hung and rolled up like a poster. It's also extremely light and the additional attached cloth layer can be printed with any image or design, using a printing process such as silk screening or an inkjet printer.
Acoustically, the technology is highly directional, emitting flat audio waves which mean sound can only be heard when the listener is standing directly in front of the speaker. Any number of TLF speakers can be hung side by side, with minimal 'crosstalk' from one to the next.
The technology also produces a gradual decay curve which, together with the high directivity, means the possibility of feedback is virtually eliminated, compared with traditional loudspeaker design.
With many potential applications in the retail, advertising, public information and leisure markets, Yamaha is keen to gauge reaction to the technology.
(Jim Evans)
