Yamaha has introduced the new DM5 Series, giving engineers a mid-size option between the ultra compact DM3 and the larger DM7. The lineup includes the full size DM5 and the smaller DM5 Compact, both aimed squarely at live sound, corporate, theatre and broadcast workflows.
The full DM5 offers 60 mono input channels, 26 faders, dual 13.3-inch touchscreens, 32 local analog inputs and 16 outputs, while the Compact trims the footprint with 48 mono channels, 13 faders and 16 local inputs. Both operate at 96 kHz and include 64x64 Dante, 24 Mix buses, 12 Matrix buses, 12 DCAs and 18x18 USB audio.
One of the more interesting additions is Yamaha’s new Glass Keys interface, which combines physical controls with changing on screen labels depending on the task. The consoles also support PY expansion cards, optional Premium Rack processing, Broadcast and Theatre packages, and include 12 channels of Dugan Automixing; a feature that should get plenty of attention from anyone spending their week mixing panel discussions and a pile of lavs.
For corporate production, the DM5 could land in a very useful sweet spot: more console than a DM3 without having to jump all the way to a DM7.
On the Radar verdict: Expect to start seeing these at ballroom FOH positions and in rental inventories pretty quickly.
Now we just need to know how much they cost…and how many your favorite rental house is going to buy.
Clear comms. See you on the next one.
