Yamaha has launched exciting new additions to its range of professional audio products, the RIVAGE PM5 and RIVAGE PM3 digital mixing systems. The launch of two new control surfaces and two new DSP engines gives sound engineers greater choice and flexibility to deliver optimum sound in a much wider range of applications, democratising high end audio as never before.
The Yamaha RIVAGE PM series is highly regarded by professional engineers for its outstanding sonic quality and flexible control. RIVAGE PM10 and RIVAGE PM7 are already established as industry-leading digital mixing systems and now the new, physically smaller RIVAGE PM5 and RIVAGE PM3 systems add new levels of versatility and scalability to full RIVAGE PM system functionality.
The choice of two DSP engines with different mixing capacities, plus now a total of five control surfaces, gives engineers remarkable scope to create systems ideally tailored to a wide range of applications.
The core components of the new RIVAGE PM5 and RIVAGE PM3 are the CS-R5 and CS-R3 control surfaces. Both feature the same fader configuration as the rest of the RIVAGE PM series, with three bays of 12 faders each. The combination of touch screens and selected channel controls offers functionality and intuitive operation familiar to RIVAGE PM series users, while also offering easy entry for users of Yamaha’s CL and QL series consoles.
The commonality of fader configuration also means the same layout can be maintained when using different control surfaces, for example on different days of a tour.
Designed with multi-operator use in mind, the CS-R5 for RIVAGE PM5 systems features three 15″ ultra-sensitive, extra bright capacitive touchscreens, suitable for daylight viewing, and a condensed selected channel section for smooth, intuitive operation. To maximise the advantage of the screens, the depth of the control surface has been reduced to bring them and the controls within easy reach for comfortable, stress-free operation while also improving sight lines.
Meters located beside each fader offer precise dynamic metering and outstanding visibility, making fine adjustments easy. At just 42kg, the CS-R5 control surface is also remarkably lightweight, being easily carried and manoeuvred by just two people.
The CS-R3 for RIVAGE PM3 systems packs full RIVAGE PM series functionality and performance into a console that measures just 1145mm wide, making it the most compact in the series, perfect for reducing seat kill in venues where the best performance is essential but space is at a premium.
The CS-R3 has a single touch-panel display and condensed selected channel section of the same type used on the CS-R5. A comprehensive range of physical controllers also makes the CS-R3 a great choice for monitor applications.
The ‘brains’ of any RIVAGE PM system is the DSP engine. The two new units comprise the DSP-RX (120 inputs, 48 mix buses, 24 matrixes) and the DSP-RX-EX (288 inputs, 72 mix buses, 36 matrixes).
If you start with the DSP-RX and later need more capacity, a DEK-DSP-RX expansion board can be added to upgrade the DSP-RX to full DSP-RX-EX specifications. The new DSP engines also allow DSP mirroring* – two DSP-RX engines or two DSP-RX-EX engines can be used in mirrored configuration for situations where failsafe redundancy is required. If a problem occurs in one DSP engine, the second one takes over so the show can go on.
All RIVAGE PM systems use the same DSP engines*, the same I/O racks, and the same firmware. This means that, whatever control surface is used, the sound, features and basic operation remain consistent.
The system’s Dual Console function makes it possible to use a second control surface as a sidecar. Any control surface can be used for a Front of House mix, as a monitor console or a sidecar, depending on the user requirements.
Like the flagship RIVAGE PM10 and PM7, the PM5 and PM3 offer direct compatibility with two audio networks: Yamaha’s TWINLANe – which can simultaneously carry up to 400 audio channels with extremely low latency – and Audinate’s Dante, which is standard in CL and QL series digital consoles and a range of other Yamaha pro audio products.
The RIVAGE PM5 and PM3 fully inherit the underlying Yamaha RIVAGE PM philosophy that any compatible I/O rack can be used to capture the on-stage sound accurately, without colouration, allowing creative touches to be added as required.
Firmware version 4.0 for the entire RIVAGE PM series will be released simultaneously with the RIVAGE PM5 and PM3 hardware. It provides a number of important user interface and function updates, including increasing the I/O count of RIVAGE PM7 to 144 inputs and 36 matrix outputs and the addition of the premium SP2016 reverb plugin from Eventide. As well as a large selection of top-quality presets, the SP2016 allows detailed editing for engineers who want to customise their sound.
”The lush, distinct reverbs of the original Eventide SP2016 have been used in countless hit records for nearly 40 years. The original reverb can be heard on albums by Adele, Mariah Carey, Eminem and more,” said Ray Maxwell, Eventide Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Eventide is honoured to partner with Yamaha to bring the signature reverbs from the SP2016 (Room, Stereo Room and Hi-Density Plate) to the RIVAGE PM series with V4.0 software. Users will have a faithful recreation of the original rack processor using state of the art analogue component modelling to capture the unique sound of this widely acclaimed reverb.”
Firmware version 4.0 also allows control of L-Acoustics’ L-ISA systems. For every mono or stereo input channel, L-ISA Objects or Groups can be controlled direct from the RIVAGE PM control surface.
Masahiro Ikeda, Senior General Manager of the Yamaha Professional Audio Business Division said: “The availability of two DSP engines with different mixing capacities, plus the two new control surfaces, offers greatly expanded flexibility to create systems that are ideally suited to applications of just about any scale.
He added: “Together with the RIVAGE PM10 and PM7 systems, Yamaha now has a mixing ecosystem which will deliver the ultimate flexibility, performance and expandability demanded by the highest level events to every space – from the biggest stadiums and festivals right through to compact theatres and clubs – where space should not mean compromising on sound. And all including the ease of use and reliability that Yamaha is renowned for.”
He concluded: “We believe these new products are a true game-changer, and will continue to develop and add features to the RIVAGE PM series based on feedback from end users. We will also continue to work with third parties to add premium plugins, like the Eventide SP2016 reverb.”