M7CL FAQ

M7CL FAQ

Audio Quality

1. Does the M7CL have the DM2000 or the PM5D RH preamps?
   Neither, M7CL has an all new mic preamp design. All input channels, including the stereo inputs, have the same newly designed mic head amps tailored to the needs of live audio mixing. They are not the same as the PM5D but the same design team developed them.



2. What clock speeds are supported at what bit processing depth?
   48kHz and 44.1kHz are possible. Conversion is 24bit but internal processing is done at 32bit depth.



3. What dynamic range does it have? What is the output level?
   The preamps have a sensitivity of -82dbu (this is the lowest signal that can be boosted to reach the nominal level of +4dbu) and a maximum input level of +30dbu (higher inputs will cause distortion). The maximum output level before clipping is +24db. Internal switches can reset this to +18db to match other standards.



4. How about the quality of the built-in effects? Are the Add-On series available for M7CL?
   M7CL includes four SPX type multi-effects engines. As standard these include the latest REV-X reverbs as well as many various SPX style effects. Add-on effects such as the valve and VCA style compressors (YAMAHA VCM technology) in the Channel Strip package are not currently available but space in the library is reserved for them and they should be available soon.



5. How long is audio latency through the console?
   Latency is less than 2.5ms at 48kHz.

Features

1. Is the head amp gain recallable?
   Yes, all head amps are recallable (can have their values preset by scene recall) and M7CL can provide remote control of up to six Yamaha AD8HR recallable head amp/AD units as well.
   
   



2. How many inputs can I connect?
   M7CL-48 has 48 (or 32 on M7CL-32) mono mic/line input channels and 4 stereo mic/line input channels. Using mini YGDAI cards in the 3 slots you could connect more inputs of various types like ADAT, AES or analog but you can still only mix a maximum of 48 (or 32)mono and 4 stereo channels at the same time.



3. Are there 2TR digital inputs, like other Yamaha mixers?
   There are only analogue inputs on M7CL, but Mini YGDAI cards can be added for digital inputs. There is a 2TR digital output AES/EBU XLR.



4. Does M7CL support the use of all mini YGDAI cards?
   M7CL supports all current Yamaha made mini YGDAI cards except the MY16-mLAN. Additionally the AuviTran AVY16-ES Ethersound card, the Audio Service MY16MADI64 card and the Aviom 16/o-Y1 card are supported.
   
   



5. Why are there are only 16 output XLRs on the back?
   In addition to the L&R and Mono master busses, there are 8 matrix and 16 Mix Buses and a stereo or LCR cue buss. The sixteen XLR "omni" outs on the back are assignable to your chosen outputs. Remember sends to things like the internal rack of effects do not exit the console and so don't need XLRs. If you need more than sixteen actual outputs then you can add a mini YGDAI card with output sockets on it. (eg. MY4-DA). You can also send one output to multiple Omni sockets like an active split.



6. How many dynamics units (gates and compressors) are there?
   There are two dynamics units for every input channel and one for every output channel. The input dynamic unit 1 menu contains; gate, ducking, compressor, and expander. Unit 2 contains compressor, two different companders, and a de-esser. The output dynamic menu has the compressor, expander and the 2 companders.



7. What on-board effects are there?
   There is an internal rack of eight units. Any of the eight can work as GEQ, either as a mono 31 band or dual 31 band "Flex 15". Four can be Yamaha SPX type multi effects units including the latest Rev-X reverbs and all the usual parameter options. You can even set a key on the desk to act as a tap-tempo control for the delay time.
   
   



8. What is “Dual 31 band Flex 15GEQ” ?
   In a normal 31 band GEQ you can boost or cut as many of the 31 faders as you like. In a Flex 15 you can only boost or cut 15 faders at one time, but you get two independent channels. It's the same quality EQ and the same number of bands, just a limit on the number you can use at the same time.
   
   



9. What would happen if I attempt to tweak more than 15 bands on Flex15 GEQ?
   The 16th fader to be moved is locked out and will return to the zero line. On the screen the unmoved faders also change color to show they are unavailable for use. Any another fader can be zeroed to release the required fader. There is an "AVAILABLE BANDS" counter on the Flex-15 parameter pop-up.



10. Does M7CL have VCA groups?
    M7CL has 8 DCA groups which work in the same way as VCA groups. There are 8 DCA master faders available in the Centralogic section.



11. Does M7CL have mute groups, I don't see any buttons?
    There are 8 mute groups. There are no dedicated mute master keys, but “User Defined Keys” can be programmed to be mute masters. User defined keys 9 and 10 are pre-programmed to be mute group master 1 and 2. M7CL can also save scenes in which the only changes recalled are channel on/off changes, making many more mute options.
    
    



12. What is the Question mark icon in the Function Access Area for?
    This button is for the help menu available in V1.10 firmware. Please refer to M7CL V1.10 Supplementary Manual for more information.



13. Can I use the faders to control the internal GEQs?
    Yes, the Centralogic faders can be used to operate the GEQ.



14. Can I copy the setting from one GEQ to another?
    Yes. You can copy and paste settings to another graphic or copy settings to a library for future recalling. If you copy the current setting you can then modify it and use the [COMPARE] button to trial the new settings against the old before choosing which to keep. You can copy the setting between 31 GEQ and Flex15 GEQ if less than 15bands are adjusted.



15. Do the effects have to return to the ST IN stereo channels?
    No. The effects are routed to the four ST IN stereo channels by default but, you can easily return them to any input channel.



16. Some of the knobs turn in quite big steps, how do I get to the values in-between?
    By pushing the encoder in and turning at the same time you can access a finer resolution for the MIX and MATRIX sends and the OUTPORT setup pop-up etc.



17. Does M7CL have a digital attenuator on each channel?
    Yes, each input channel has a digital attenuator. This is found on the ATT/HPF/EQ pop-up. Control is from the first multifunction controller below the screen when this window is open.



18. Why do some screen buttons change from white to blue or black?
    White buttons are in the position described by the writing on the button. For example a white [ON] button is in the on position. A black or blue [ON] button is in the off position. Aux and Matrix screen knobs are gray when turned off. The EQ diagrams are green when on but grey when off.



19. When I am using M7CL to mix monitors where do I connect my listen wedge?
    To route the monitor bus to an Omni out on the back of M7CL press the headphone MONITOR icon in the Function Access panel. This produces the MONITOR pop-up from which you can access the Monitor out routing page by pressing the grey [---] button below the meter. The pop-up menu OUTPUT CH SELECT appears and from here you can select [MONITOR OUT] tab and [MONI L]. Repeat this for [MONI R] and [MONI C] if required.
    
    
    
    
    
    If you are using a single mono listen wedge then mono up cue signals with [MONO MONITOR] button. This can be found on the [MONITOR] screen, accessed by the headphones icon on the right side of any screen.



20. Is there a delay available on the headphone feed?
    Yes. This is to time align the headphones to the main PA when the FOH position is along way from the stage.



21. Is there a tone generator or oscillator to aid set up?
    Yes, there is a choice of tone or pink noise generator (with noise burst feature) accessed from the [MONITOR] (headphone icon) page.



22. Is the talkback head amp gain memorable & controllable?
    Yes and no! There is a dedicated talkback input on the front edge of M7CL with a non-recallable gain and a second talkback input from the input patch menu which is recallable by scene. The talkback can be routed to any output; this routing is not recallable by scene.



23. Can I cascade two or more M7CL consoles?
    M7CL does not have a dedicated cascade port but cascading (bus-linking) to /from other consoles can be achieved with Mini YAGDAI cards via slots. Cascading two M7CL-48s in this way can give a 96 channel mixer with 16 shared mix busses. MIDI can be used to link scene recall and DCA and other fader movements.

The Touchscreen

1. How durable is the touchscreen?
   M7CL touchscreen is designed to be touched! It is similar to the screens used in supermarket checkouts and fastfood stores where many thousands of repeated presses cause no problem. If you press the screen in the same spot 200 times a day, for 300 days in a year then the screen should last 150 years.



2. Can I adjust sensitivity of touchscreen?
   The pressure sensitivity is fixed but you can recalibrate the area that is sensitive if your touch does not appear to press the button.



3. Can I operate the touchscreen with devices other than my finger? (eraser on the top of a pencil, a ball point pen, screwdriver...)
   The touch screen works on pressure sensing and is designed for finger presses, but pencil erasers and other soft pointers will work. Sharp objects should be avoided as these could damage the screen surface and prevent operation.

USB Memory Devices

1. Where do I get a USB memory device and what kind of USB devices will work?
   Yamaha do not make and sell the USB flash memory devices, but these are widely available from computer and electronics stores and from many manufacturers. When choosing a memory device remember that; M7CL is USB1.1, so both USB1.1 and USB2.0 will work. Storage capacity must not exceed 2Gig. The disc can be formatted to FAT12 FAT16 or FAT32 but must not be partitioned. You can format a new disc in M7CL, but remember formatting an old disc erases all its memories.
   



2. What will M7CL do to other kinds of files on my USB device? Can it recognise PM5D files?
   M7CL will just ignore them as "unknown" file types. M7CL only recognises .M7C scene data files, M7U user key files and .PGM files which contain the M7CL firmware. It is not possible to transfer files from M7CL to other Yamaha mixers or visa versa.



3. How do I know when file transfer has finished and it is safe to remove the USB device?
   You can plug in the device at any time and remove it without any kind of unmounting procedure. However you should not rapidly remove the key after insertion or remove the USB device whilst data is being transferred. You can tell that the device is transferring data because M7CL will indicate ACCESS in the top left corner and the device led will flash rapidly.
   
   



4. How big are M7CL data files? How many megabytes do I need to have free in a USB storage device?
   User Key files (.M7U) are only about 30KB. An "all data" file (.M7C) with many scenes stored will be around 6 or 7MB. So, even a very small USB storage device like 32MB could store all the data for several shows.



5. What else can I use the USB port for?
   Nothing. The port cannot be used for connections to hubs, keyboards, computers etc.

Security Features

1. What is Administrator mode?
   M7CL can be set up to prevent access to certain features such as output or effects routing or even master fader level. In administrator mode all features can be accessed, passwords set and USB user keys created.
   
   



2. What is Guest mode?
   As default the guest mode is the same as the administrator mode, but the administrator can lock out certain features from the guest and the guest can have their own preferences selected from the USER SETUP menu. By applying a password to the administrator mode the guest is prevented from unlocking the restricted features. Typically the guest would be restricted from all internal re-patching, bus configurations, and access to the outport setup pages.



3. What is External User Key mode?
   In between the access levels of guest and administrator you can create key holders. Key holders could be given extra access such as the ability to re-patch but not the ability to pass this access onto the guest. The key is a file held on USB memory device.



4. What features can be locked out?
   The screen shows the features you can independently lock-out, down to an individual channel! Suggested uses are to lock-out the output patch and System Setup in an installation or the master faders to limit over all volume. Remember different User Key holders can have different access privileges.
   
   



5. Is it possible to unlock the console if I lose my USB key?
   M7CL is always unlocked by selecting "Administrator" mode and no USB key is necessary. If the administrator forgets the password the console must be initialized. This process involves powering down M7CL and restarting with special key presses, obviously audio will be interrupted and all stored data will be lost.



6. What would happen if a USB key is accidentally removed during the show?
   When a key is removed from M7CL access reverts to "Guest", no changes in audio will happen, but access to some features may no longer be available if "Guest" has the lowest access to features.



7. Does M7CL have external display output?
   There is no VGA or monitor display output but many features can be displayed on a computer running the Studio Manager software.

M7CL Editor; the External Computer Software

1. Do you have to connect M7CL to a computer to access all its functions?
   No. M7CL is a stand alone mixing desk; all functions are internal to it. M7CL Editor works in an external personal computer and is for creating or editing stored scenes and setups and can work online connected to M7CL as a remote controller.



2. What are the advantages of the M7CL Editor?
   One of the great advantages of M7CL editor is that you can configure the console; that is choose the routing, GEQ, effects and dynamics, do the naming and even configure a rough mix all on your computer away from the console. Instead of going to the M7CL for half a day with patch cables, you can do the work at home or simply recall a previously used version. Naming channels for example can be much quicker with a PC keyboard.



3. What things can be remote controlled with M7CL Editor and how?
   When M7CL is connected to a personal computer via the network port most setup and mix functions can be performed from the computer. M7CL software shows screen images of the buttons and faders on the computer and the controls can be clicked and dragged with the mouse.
   
   



4. Is the external software like Studio Manager for DM2000 or PM5D?
   Yes, M7CL Editor works within the Studio Manager host program just like PM5D and other consoles' Editors.



5. How much does Studio Manager and M7CL editor cost?
   Studio Manager and M7CL Editor are offered free. Copies and version updates are available free from the download page. There is currently no need to register your details.



6. Does Studio Manager and M7CL editor work on PC and Mac?
   No, there is no current Mac version of M7CL editor.



7. How does M7CL connect to the computer, can I use the USB port?
   The connection is via the network port on the rear panel. The USB port is not available for connection to Studio Manager. However files created in the editor can be transferred to M7CL with a USB storage device.



8. What else do I have to install?
   You must install DME-N Network Driver for connecting a PC to M7CL. Please check our download page for the latest version.

Extras

1. Does M7CL have a spare PSU?
   M7CL is supplied with a single internal PSU. For extra back up you can attach a PW800W as a back-up PSU and the console will keep running even if its internal PSU fails. PW800W and M7CL must be switched off when connections are made.



2. Is there a meterbridge?
   There is an optional meterbridge MBM7CL. All input channels have a meter, the meterbridge carries the output meters.



3. Does M7CL take the same MY expansion cards as other Yamaha mixers?
   Yes, there are three Yamaha MY card slots on M7CL and they take all current Yamaha MY cards except MY16mLAN.



4. Is there a dust cover?
   Yes.



5. Does M7CL work with Studio Manager?
   Yes, there is an M7CL editor that works in Studio manager. The cable connection is Ethernet. The software is available free from the download page.



6. Can I connect an external keyboard and mouse?
   No, you can only input names from the sample name library or with the on-screen keyboard.



7. Can I connect & control DME-N series to M7CL, like PM5D?
   M7CL does not have a dedicated cascade port or contain software to control DME-N. However M7CL outputs could be routed to a DME-N and controlled by DME designer running on a separate computer.