Yamaha has recently unveiled their IM8 Series of Medium/Large Format Analog Consoles. It seems to have everything any club in America will need, and more.
With a similar base feature set to a Midas Venice (a little less in price, a little less in features), there are key differences and slight nuances that make this my new venue of choice for any small/medium sized venue. The IE8 is now officially the Cadillac of the low/mid range analog consoles.
Why?
- “One Knob” compressors on each Mono Channel (I’ll have to get hands on on one to give any real review of this feature)
- 8 Aux Sends, for Monitors from FOH.
- USB Record Out, 2 Track.
- Front-Panel 1/8th Inch In, for zie iPod. Its the little stuff that really counts.
Now, past the little goodies, here’s the feature set.
- 24, 32 or 40 Mono Channel Chassis
- XLR or TRS Input, TRS Direct Out Per Mono Channel
- +48V Phantom, 26dB Pad, 80 Hz HPF, Phase Reversal Per Channel
- “One Knob” Compression Per Channel
- 4 Band EQ, Sweepable High Mids and Low Mids, Fixed Highs and Lows
- 8 Aux Sends w/ Internal Pre/Post EQ and Paired Switching of Pre/Post Fader, 60mm Faders
- 3 LED Signal Metering
- 100mm Channel/Group/Stereo Return/Master Faders
- 8 Sub-Groups
- 4 Stereo Returns
- 4 Stereo Aux Returns (Pans, Not Faders)
- 4 Mute Groups
- 4 Matrix’
- LCR Outputs, Each w/ Fader and Assignable on Channels and Groups
- L/R Stereo 1/8″ cable In for iPod/Music Player
- USB Audio Out
This is just the general Features List, there are more such as 2 Track In/Out (Analog), ect ect…
As far as bang for buck, this console is it. With a price just a little higher than a Midas Venice, and a feature set that challenges the Midas Verona, I’d take this console any day over the two.
Now if only Yamaha could fix their flying fader issues (i ride faders, sometimes they get loose and fly away from me).
What about the sound? Yamaha passes down their technology (like most console manufacturers) from their higher end consoles, to the low end. This works out quite nicely for the low end, and all comparable versions of Yamaha consoles have sounded A-OK to me, and I’m sure this hasn’t changed.
Yamaha IM8 24 Channel = MSRP $4,799
Yamaha IM8 32 Channel = MSRP $5,799
Yamaha IM8 40 Channel = MSRP $6,499
