One of the first UK rental companies to take delivery of Yamaha’s CL5, video and A/V specialist Central Presentations Ltd (CPL) was keen to be an early adopter of the digital mixing console: ‘The compact size and weight for 72 channels is a no-brainer,’ says CPL MD, Matthew Boyse. ‘It is a truly multi-purpose console that will fit neatly into any space and transport very easily.’
CPL already has a large stock of LS9 and other Yamaha desks. One reason the CL5 was chosen is that it runs on the same operating principals as these, so all their engineers who are used to working with Yamaha digital consoles will be able to use the CL5 immediately, and quickly familiarise themselves with its many advanced features.
The CL series is the first Yamaha console family to run natively using the Dante digital audio network protocol, with connections between Dante elements via Cat5e cable reducing overall weight and truck space requirements.
Other Dante devices can be connected to the network keeping the domain completely digital, and in this context, CPL’s CL5 was supplied with two Yamaha RIO-3224-D stage racks giving 64 inputs and 32 outputs which connect via Cat5e in a daisychain or redundant star-network. Up to eight RIO stageboxes can operate on the same network, including the smaller RIO1608-D, providing excellent expansion and audio distribution potential.
Via Dante, the console is also optimised for very straightforward live multitrack recording using Steinberg Nuendo Live, which is supplied with the system and runs on Mac or PC, or any other DAW.
‘The CL5 is the largest in Yamaha’s new family of consoles titled CL,’ says James Lawford, Sales Manager at LMC Audio Systems, who supplied the console. ‘With the CL3 and CL1 differing only in the size of worksurface and number of input channels, CPL will be able to leverage the capabilities of the CL series across the broad range of work that it carries out, with the same processing features, detailed worksurface layout and ease of use in the smaller consoles as in the CL5.
‘The availability of the RIO-1608-D stage-box, and the move towards Dante by other third-party manufacturers, will allow CPL to harness the power of a fully integrated digital audio network, working across standard Cat5e cabling and Ethernet switches, future-proofed with the move towards AVB, and with the reliability, ease of use and wide industry acceptance of a Yamaha console.’
Developed in collaboration with Rupert Neve, the CL Series includes a Premium Rack with a Rupert Neve Designs five band Portico 5033 equaliser and a Portico 5043 compressor/limiter. Up to eight Premium Rack devices can be assigned, including VCM technology emulations of other classic analogue devices.
In addition to further CL5 purchases, Boyse also has his sights set on Yamaha’s new CL1 and CL3 variations, which will become available late summer, the idea being that the company will stock the full CL range.
CPL has arranged with LMC to provide training days for both full-time and regular freelance engineers and technicians.
More: www.cplav.com
