YAMAHA TF1 Production Console

When you need extra precision for an EQ or other adjustment, the Touch and Turn knob is always available next to the touch panel. There are also four User Defined Knobs below the panel that can be assigned to control compressor threshold, EQ gain, or other parameters you need for quick and direct access during mixing. The knobs always affect the selected channel.

Like the CL series consoles, operation is based around the Overview and Selected Channel windows. The Overview display shows the parameters for eight channels at once, while the Touch & Turn Knob provides direct access to gain, 1-button EQ™, 1-button COMP™, gate threshold, effect send level, pan, and other parameters. Touch the highlighted parameter a second time to switch to the display for the selected channel, when you need access to the detailed parameters for more precise control.

Working with manufacturers of microphones, such as Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and Shure, as well as renowned engineers, musical instruments, speaker systems, and in-ear monitors, the Yamaha Research Team focused on creating a series of shortcuts that will be effective in a wide variety of situations for live sound. Armed with these practical presets, even the novice engineer can get very close to the ideal sound, while experienced engineers will appreciate the significant time savings where they can provide starting points for further tweaking. QuickPro Presets can be searched by instrument type and recalled quickly and easily. Presets include HA gain, EQ, Comp and other settings, right down to channel name and color. 1-button EQ and 1-button COMP can be used with QuickPro Presets, providing a super-simplified way to adjust the sound. The channel output preset library includes parameter sets optimized for Yamaha Amplified Speakers, with different variations to match different environments and sizes. Presets are provided for in-ear monitoring too. All of these can be used when time is tight, but they are also great starting points for manual fine-tuning. Configurations created from the presets or from scratch can be saved as additional presets too.

With our versatile digital TF and exceptional Yamaha Speakers, these presets allow engineers at any level of experience to take advantage of our combined technical ability for fast, simple and effective sound passages in performances that sound incredible. Engineers can focus on mixing quality audio instead of chasing problems. It’s an incredibly powerful solution.

The scene memory features banks A and B, each capable of storing up to 100 scenes. That’s a total of 200 scenes that can be configured and immediately recalled whenever needed. A number of scenes are pre-programmed to give users an advantage: scenes with the 1-button COMP and 1-button EQ controls assigned for the simplest possible operation, and scenes with the 1-button features disabled for experienced engineers who may want to follow an established process. The banks are great for organizing different types of scenes: one for scenes categorized by type of music, and another by type of event, for example.

Two input banks and one output bank are provided, and the Group bank can be selected simply by pressing both INPUT bank buttons simultaneously. The GROUP bank allows the levels of multiple channels to be controlled from a single DCA fader. There is also a CUSTOM fader bank where you can assign any input, output and DCA group to any fader.

When the Group bank is selected, all the other faders in the DCA masters from 1 to 8 function as roll-out faders. Selecting one of the DCA groups instantly rolls out the input channels belonging to that group. This function is useful and makes it easier to adjust the level and other parameters of individual channels, while using the eight DCA faders for the overall mix.

A display panel located above each channel fader shows the assigned channel name or ID, the port name, and the current fader setting. Phantom Power Status as well as Gate and Comp can also be displayed. The color bar showing the assigned channel brings visual convenience, and prevents small errors when fader banks are changed or scenes are recalled.

The TF5 has 33 motorized faders, the TF3 has 25, and the TF1 has 17. All the rear panel inputs have individual faders for their Status, and can be checked at a glance, and can be directly and immediately accessed by the control.

The SENDS ON FADER controls instantly bring up the AUX or FX levels specified above on the faders for easy checking and adjustment. When a SENDS ON FADER button is engaged on the master faders acts for the bus as the corresponding one, then the AUX levels can be checked and controlled without having to switch fader banks.

The top of the panel has been designed to function as a “rest” for iPad, set list, memos, and/or other small items. The panel is made up of three sloping sections that give the operator maximum visibility and access.

Frequently used parameters such as compression threshold and gain EQ, for example, can be assigned for direct, immediate access when needed.

Assign mixer settings you use frequently to these six buttons for instant access, such as scene recall directly with one touch.

Several inputs or effects can be cut (muted) with a single operation.

A dedicated effects channel offers ON/OFF switching for ease, cue monitor ON/OFF switching, level adjustment, and effect parameter editing.

– ST IN section: In addition to allowing digital playback from an iPad or iPhone or recording/playback with a USB device, you have fingertip control of BGM playback and other audio files.* When using a USB storage device for recording, use a hard disk drive or other high-speed device. (USB memory drives are not guaranteed to function properly.)

The TF Editor application for Windows and Mac computers offers a complete interface for offline editing and console configuration, with scene features, preset management and keyboard input on named channels. As well as being able to adjust to offline consoles at any time and place, TF Editor can be used online at the same time as the TF StageMix and MonitorMix applications. A Windows 8 PC with a multi-touch screen can use the same signals as on the console itself. And if you’re using Wi-Fi, a PC can act as a remote mixing device. Up to three devices running the TF Editor or StageMix can be connected simultaneously.

TF StageMix is an iPad app that offers wireless control of TF series consoles, allowing remote mixing while the engineer listens from the audience point of view, in front of floor monitors, or any other position. It can also be used on the console as an extension of the interface itself. The TF StageMix interface is designed for operation and flow similar to the physical console display, making it easier than ever to refine the mix from any location.

The MonitorMix app for the TF Series allows individual wireless mixing of Auxiliaries (AUX) from up to 10 iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android devices simultaneously. Each artist can have individual control over the Auxiliary tracks assigned to them, without having to deal with complex settings or parameters. They can also create personal group settings for even easier adjustments: all levels on just one fader, for example. Up to 10 devices running MonitorMix can be connected at the same time, in addition to the three devices running TF Editor or StageMix. Even large bands can have the personalized control they need, reducing demands on the sound engineer.

No specialist programming knowledge is required. The intuitive interface makes it easy to create faders to control volumes or buttons to turn channels on and off, for example. You can also position photos or other graphic elements on the tablet screen as required to create original control panels, tailored to each application and user. In addition, ProVisionaire Touch and ProVisionaire Control control the CL/QL/TF series digital mixers, the MTX and MRX series processors, the PC-D/PC-DI and XMV series amplifiers, the R series (ADDA) and the Tio1608-D I/O rack, the DZR-D series loudspeakers, the DXS XLF-D subwoofers and the TD Nexo NXAMPmk2 controller. It’s easy to combine so many parameters on one screen.

The TF series consoles feature new versions of Yamaha’s acclaimed D-PRE preamplifiers. Preamplifiers play a significant role in defining the sound of the final mix, which is why Yamaha engineers have spared no effort in developing the D-PRE design and ensuring that all the nuances and subtleties of the original signal are effectively captured. The circuit is based on the inverted Darlington configuration, which achieves great, clear, precise amplification with low noise and signal distortion at all levels. While some preamps are built specifically to impart a personality, the D-PRE Preamp has been carefully designed with a wide frequency response that maintains the tone and nuance of the original sound so that the essence of the artist’s art is captured and remains intact.

In addition to EQ, Compressor and Gate on each channel, the TF consoles offer up to EIGHT Effect machines simultaneously for extensive sonic control. Fixed FXs 1 and 2 feature the same type of SPX processors that have become standards in live sound and recording applications, offering 19 programs ranging from reverb and delay, modulation effects such as flanger and chorus, to multiband (3-band) compression. The EDIT panel switch opens the effect in the Display where detailed parameters such as reverb time and delay feedback can be adjusted as required. The remaining 6 processors are available in the stereo auxiliaries (AUX 09/10 to 19/20). All effects other than reverb are available. Multi-band compression is ideal for in-ear monitor level control, delay can be used for speaker alignment, and other applications. And since these Auxiliary tracks can be sent to the main stereo output, effects can be used to complement the available input channel treatment when FX 1 and 2 aren’t enough. AUX 1 ~ 8 and the main outputs include the same 4-band parametric EQ as provided on the input channels, and 31-band Graphic EQ (12 FLEX). Both types of EQ are invaluable for optimizing the speaker response, eliminating any feedback and enhancing the sound result.

You can use the same Delay processor mentioned above in the Ins FX (located in the stereo auxiliaries). In other words, in addition to the 4 Matrix with this function, you can add even more delay towers, if necessary, via the effects located in Auxiliaries 9/10 ~ 19/20. Simply locate Output Delay in the list of 19 programs in the library of each stereo aux.

Steinberg’s Nuendo Live recording software is supplied free of charge when you purchase the TF Series digital mixer. Nuendo Live is software suitable for multitrack recording in live sound applications, concerts, concert halls and festivals. It offers practical operation, which is an advantage in live sound environments, high reliability and a wide range of features that offer professional performance and efficiency. In addition to multi-track recording, Nuendo Live offers a virtual sound check when artists are not available. Many users will benefit from the advanced multitrack recording and virtual sound check features that this powerful combination of hardware and software provides.

The Tio1608-D is an Input/Output Stagebox, equipped with the Dante network audio protocol. It has 16 combo microphone inputs (XLR + P10) and 8 line outputs. The Tio1608-D’s preamps can be controlled remotely from a TF Series Mixer. Connecting a Tio1608-D on stage to a TF console in the mixing position requires only a CAT5e network cable to carry low-latency, high-quality audio. With the Tio1608-D there’s no need for those bulky, heavy, “jellyfish” multi-cables. What’s more, the basic patches are pre-programmed for quick and easy configuration. Up to three Tio1608-D units can be connected simultaneously, providing high performance and expandability up to 40 inputs and 24 outputs. Network connections can be daisy-chained when Tio1608-D units are used with a TF series console, eliminating the need for network switchers.

The NY64-D is an input and output expansion card for TF Series consoles, which allows the transmission and reception of up to 128 channels (64 in / 64 out) of uncompressed 48 kHz 24-bit digital audio data via a Dante™ audio network. Used in conjunction with the Tio1608-D it makes it possible to create a versatile Stagebox system with up to 48 inputs and 24 outputs.

The RK5014 Rack Mount Kit (14U) can be used to mount the TF1 console on standard 19-inch EIA equipment, typically used in live sound, studio, and installation applications.