want is a static visual target to get to stuff in a hurry. This is the psychology behind POP groups: navigation by user-configurable groups of related inputs. Most of our users think POP groups are the best thing to feature on a mixing console since VCAs. Add to that the advanced Nav modes, and most people are literally amazed at how easy it is to efficiently control 64 input channels from eight faders.” “It’s all about the guys who
want routability between different devices,” says Kenning. “Our customers are buying into the Roland package, and our customers are happy for us to keep protocols in-house and optimise all of our features. Ultimately that’s what delivers the bundle to the end user correctly. The first question we’re always asked is ‘how easy is this to operate?’ – so that’s a top priority.” Ayres reckons it’s all good
news for rental and production companies. “The smaller size
Two Midas PRO9 and a Midas PRO2C console front of house along with XL8, PRO9 and PRO6 consoles were used for the Diamond Jubilee concert in June
and lower weight is a win-win combination: less space and weight in shipping has great efficiency, cost saving and environmental benefits,” he confirms. “One of the things you lose in making a smaller console is faders: most customers are very happy with fewer faders and are well used to switching between fader layers
and controlling their consoles remotely from small portable devices, like the iPad running Soundcraft ViSi Remote. The more compact a console is, the more fader layers you might need. For users who require more dedicated channel faders, we do offer larger consoles.” Hervé de Caro agrees that you can go too far. “Our customers
are most impressed by the fact that we never reduce the comfort and the access to the main commands. Making some compromise between compactness and flexibility is not our policy. We would never reduce the efficiency of the console just to make it more
‘wow, it has everything I need, I can afford it, I already know how it works, and I know it’s going to give me reliable service for a number of years’. Sometimes the response from live sound engineers is: ‘now I can fit my complete PA system in just one truck’. Since
is a challenge”
“Going to a compact design without making any compromise on our DSP algorithms and audio quality Hervé de Caro, Innovason
compact. It’s a daily tool on which you spend hours and hours. Comfort and flexibility are essential.” Last word to Andy Cooper,
manager of the Yamaha Commercial Audio Support Centre for Europe, who is relishing market reaction to the CL series. “The general response from customers is
introducing the StageMix iPad app for LS9, M7CL and CL series, the smaller of these mixers have become even more attractive: even with a rackmount mixer like LS9-16, you can have a nice touchscreen with the added advantage of remote wireless control. Many larger consoles don’t have this ability!”n