The first of a new generation of large-format digital mixing consoles. In the 40 years since Yamaha built its first professional mixing console, each new generation of consoles has become a market standard. With Yamaha's launch of the RIVAGE PM10, a new era of live sound consoles begins.
For more than a decade, Yamaha's PM1D and PM5D digital mixing consoles have been essential around the world for large-scale live music productions: tours, festivals, musicals, events organized by city councils, corporate events, etc. The RIVAGE PM10, which brings even higher levels of quality, flexibility, functionality and reliability to the iconic PM name, is a new flagship for the brand that will once again redefine the digital mixing console market. The RIVAGE PM10 includes many of Yamaha's innovations and is a true milestone in the large-format digital mixing console market. In designing the RIVAGE PM10, the most important thing was the pursuit of the best possible sound. This is achieved with the recently developed RY16-ML-SILK hybrid microphone preamplifier.
This unique design features an analog section that delivers an even, natural sound, even at high gain levels. It is combined with a 96 kHz, 24-bit A/D converter, and with Yamaha's enhanced VCM digital modeling of Rupert Neve Designs transformer circuitry and the renowned Silk processing. The sound engineer can have a completely transparent input path or, using the Silk Red and Blue modes and the Texture control on the console's selected channel, get very creative with the color and character of each particular input.
With the RIVAGE PM10, Yamaha has taken its collaboration with other manufacturers much further. In addition to forging a closer bond with Rupert Neve in developing the RY16-ML-SILK, new VCM models of the Rupert EQ773, Rupert Comp 754, Rupert EQ810 and Rupert Comp 830 are introduced. Yamaha has also collaborated with TC Electronic to include two amazing reverbs: the VSS4HD room simulation and the highly creative "NonLin2" stereo reverb, as featured in its well-known System 6000 units. Yamaha has also worked closely with Eventide to add the H3000-Live UltraHarmonizer as a future standard feature of the RIVAGE PM10 system. The system is controlled through a user interface that will be familiar to all users of Yamaha consoles while offering even more flexible operation.
One of the most important and attractive aspects of the RIVAGE PM10 control surface is a full Selected Channel section. This was a key element of the PM1D and PM5D consoles and is a fundamental aspect of the RIVAGE PM10's user interface design. 24 of the control surface's channel strips line up almost perfectly with the two 15-inch touchscreens, while the rotary encoders have "horseshoe" ring indicators for optimal visibility. If needed, a third display can be added via a DVI connector. Other innovations include greatly improved Scene functions, dual monitor buses, the ability to use up to 384 effects processors at once and four USB connections for data storage, mouse and keyboard control, and two-track USB recording.
The backbone of the RIVAGE PM10 system is Yamaha's newly developed TWINLANe ring network, which can handle up to 400 audio channels at 96 kHz, 32-bit over distances of up to 300 meters. TWINLANe can connect up to eight RPio622 units and, at launch, up to two CS-R10 control surfaces and up to two DSP-R10 systems.* The RPio622 has six of Yamaha's new RY card slots, into which three different types of I/O card can be inserted, providing up to 96 mic preamps per rack. In addition, the RPio622 and DSP-R10 feature the new HY card slots (two and four, respectively) for more I/O**, while all three hardware components of the system have two of Yamaha's familiar MY card slots. With the CS-R10 control surface also providing 8 x 8 local analog I/O and 8 x 8 AES3 I/O with sample rate conversion, the fully expanded RIVAGE PM10 system can accommodate more than 3,000 I/O. A new optional HY-Dante card can be used to integrate multitrack recording or other hardware, including other Yamaha digital consoles. In short, the RIVAGE PM10 is one of the most powerful and flexible digital mixing systems developed to date. "For several years, the market has been wondering when Yamaha would launch a new advanced digital console for large-scale productions. We have always said that, when it happened, it would set a benchmark in the market similar to the one set by the PM1D and PM5D in their day. So I am extremely pleased to say that, with the RIVAGE PM10, that moment has arrived," says Chihaya 'Chick' Hirai, Director of the Pro Audio Business Unit, Yamaha Corporation, Japan. "We believe the RIVAGE PM10 will be another milestone in the history of digital mixing consoles. This system will be the most flexible, the easiest to use and the most reliable for all major events. We look forward to presenting the RIVAGE PM10 to sound engineers and inspiring them with the dawn of a new era for live sound digital mixing systems."
* Can be expanded with a future update. ** Only one HY card slot is required on both the RPio622 and the DSP-R10 to connect the units to the TWINLANe network.
