Yamaha Corporation today announced new additions to the company’s professional audio lineup—the RIVAGE PM5 and RIVAGE PM3 Digital Mixing Systems—giving sound engineers greater choice and flexibility to deliver optimum sound in a broader range of applications.

The systems feature new CS-R5 and CS-R3 control surfaces, along with the DSP-RX and DSP-RX-EX DSP engines. These refinements add new levels of versatility and scalability to the Yamaha RIVAGE PM series, which has earned a stellar reputation for its outstanding sonic quality and flexible control.

The CS-R5 control surface for RIVAGE PM5 systems features three large touch screens and a condensed selected channel section that contribute to smooth intuitive operation. The physical depth of the console has been significantly reduced for more comfortable operation and improved sight lines. The CS-R3 control surface for RIVAGE PM3 systems packs full RIVAGE PM series functionality and performance into a console that is only 45” wide, making it the most compact console in the series. Both new control surfaces feature the same fader configuration as the rest of the RIVAGE PM series, with three bays of 12 faders each. The combination of touch screens and selected channel controls offers functionality and intuitive operation that are familiar to RIVAGE PM series users while offering easy entry for CL and QL series console users.

The new DSP-RX engine provides 120 inputs, 48 mix buses, and 24 matrices, while the DSP-RX-EX engine has 288 inputs, 72 mix buses, and 36 matrices. The availability of two DSP engines with different mixing capacities, along with the two new control surfaces, offers greatly expanded flexibility for creating systems that are ideally suited to applications of just about any scale.

The new hardware will be released simultaneously with firmware version 4.0, providing several control and function updates across the entire RIVAGE PM lineup, along with Eventide’s premium SP2016 reverb plugin.

The CS-R5 and CS-R3 control surfaces are core components of the new RIVAGE PM5 and RIVAGE PM3 digital mixing systems. The CS-R5 has three large touch-panel displays and a condensed selected channel section, while the CS-R3 features one large touch-panel display and a condensed selected channel section for smooth, simple operation, making it the most compact RIVAGE PM series console in the line.

A reduction in the CS-R5’s control surface depth puts the three large touch-panel screens within easy reach for comfortable operation while simultaneously improving sight lines. The meters located beside each fader offer precise tracking and outstanding visibility that make fine level adjustments easy. At just 93 lbs., the CS-R5 control surface is also remarkably lightweight and can be easily carried and maneuvered by just two people.

The CS-R3 has a single touch-panel display and condensed selected channel section that work together to deliver simple, intuitive control that will be familiar to current RIVAGE PM series users, and easy for users coming from CL or QL series consoles. A comprehensive range of physical controllers makes the CS-R3 a great choice for monitor applications, too.
The DSP engines—the “brains” of any RIVAGE PM system—are much smarter with this latest release. The new DSP-RX engine provides 120 inputs, 48 mix buses, and 24 matrices, while the DSP-RX-EX engine provides 288 inputs, 72 mix buses, and 36 matrices. A choice of two DSP engines with different mixing capacities, plus a total of five control surfaces including the two new models, gives engineers ample flexibility to create systems ideally tailored to a wide range of applications. If they start with the DSP-RX and need more capacity later, they can easily upgrade the DSP-RX to full DSP-RX-EX specifications with a DEK-DSP-RX expansion kit. The new DSP engines also allow DSP mirroring: * two DSP-RX engines or two DSP-RX-EX engines used in mirrored configuration in situations where failsafe redundancy is required. If a problem occurs in one DSP engine, the second DSP engine takes over instantaneously so the show can go on without a hitch.

All RIVAGE PM systems use the same DSP engines, * the same I/O racks, and the same firmware. That means whichever control surface is used, sound, features, and basic operation remain consistent. The system’s Dual Console function makes it possible to use a second control surface as a sidecar. Any control surface can be used for FOH one day, as a monitor console the next, and then as a sidecar as the need arises. All models feature the same basic fader configuration with three banks of 12 faders, so that the same fader layout can be maintained when using different control surfaces on different days.

Like the RIVAGE PM10 and PM7, the PM5 and PM3 offer direct compatibility with two audio networks: the Yamaha TWINLANe network that can simultaneously carry up to 400 audio channels with extremely low latency, and the Dante audio network from Audinate that is standard in CL and QL series digital consoles and a range of other Yamaha pro audio products. The RIVAGE PM5 and PM3 fully inherit the underlying Yamaha RIVAGE PM philosophy: any compatible I/O rack can be used to accurately capture the on-stage sound, without coloration, allowing creative touches to be added as required.

Firmware version 4.0 for the entire RIVAGE PM series will be released simultaneously with the RIVAGE PM5 and PM3 hardware. Version 4 gives a significant channel count increase the CSD-R7 PM7 system by bumping the input count from 120 to 144 inputs and the matrix output jumps from 24 to 36. The mix output count remains at 60 but inputs can be sent directly to matrix outputs.

Firmware V4.0 provides a number of important user interface and function updates, including the addition of the premium Eventide SP2016 reverb plugin. In addition to a large selection of top-quality presets, the SP2016 allows detailed editing for engineers who want to customize their sound.

Ray Maxwell, Eventide’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing comments: “The lush and distinct reverbs of the original Eventide SP2016 have been used in countless hit records for nearly 40 years. The original reverb can be heard on albums by Adele, Mariah Carey, Eminem, and more. Eventide is honored to partner with Yamaha to bring the signature reverbs from the SP2016 (Room, Stereo Room and Hi-Density Plate) to the RIVAGE PM10 console with V4.0 software. Users will have a faithful recreation of the original rack processor using state-of-the-art analog component modeling to capture the unique sound of this widely acclaimed reverb.”

The RIVAGE PM5 and firmware version 4.0 are scheduled for release by summer this year. The RIVAGE PM3 will be ready by fall. Yamaha will continue to develop and add features to the RIVAGE PM series largely based on feedback from users in the field. We will also continue to work with third parties to add premium plugins like the Eventide SP2016 reverb included with this firmware release.

For more information about Yamaha Corporation of America, visit usa.yamaha.com