All About Yamaha's DM7 Mixing Consoles

Posted by Laura Strommen - SoundPro on Jan 30th 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes

The DM7 Series from Yamaha is a family of mixing consoles characterized by flexibility, functionality, and the ability to evolve as your audio needs change. In this article, we’ll be delving into the DM7 Series’ design, features, and intended applications. In addition, SoundPro reached out to one of our DM7 Series customers to get real-life feedback on what makes this gear special.

THE DM7 DIGITAL MIXER SERIES

The intuitive user interface of the DM7 mixers makes them simple to operate, and their comprehensive suite of powerful features equips them for high performance in an impressive range of audio environments. Meanwhile, their compact design ensures that each DM7 model is easy to incorporate into sound setups of myriad shapes and sizes. Designed to deliver intuitive operation, reliability, and superb sound to achieve a maximum level of performance, the DM7 Series offers four purchase options:

SoundPro Account Manager Shawn Tallard reached out to Joe Hasik to get an end-user perspective on the DM7 Series. Hasik is President of HQ Production Audio, a company that specializes in providing AV to rentals and live events, as well as professional installation. Shawn recently helped Hasik with an order for the DM7C and followed up with him to find out how it was working out with HQ Production Audio’s various projects.

ST: What are your top 3 favorite things about the DM7C?

JH:

1.The layout of the console is such that you are presented with everything you need upfront, with a more detailed setting never more than a screen away.

2.Sound quality is impressive, beating out similar-sized consoles at similar or higher price points.

3.Workflows are built around the user experience, meaning that a reasonably experienced operator can go from a factory clean board to a fully laid out and operational show quickly and with little effort. Folks making their first foray into the digital realm will feel a bit overwhelmed at first but will rapidly feel comfortable with the functions and abilities of the console. Experienced Yamaha operators will rapidly find that the DM7 series makes their previous experiences with other console families pale in comparison.

DM7 SERIES DEFINING FEATURES

After decades of Yamaha’s developing best-in-class technologies, the DM7 Series combines the greatest elements of leading digital mixing systems with innovative new features in a powerful, ergonomic, flexible, and expandable package. These professional digital mixers deliver next-level efficiency and agility for the most creative sound engineers.

Powerful Channel Strip
Extensive plug-ins and new effects
Advanced GUI for intuitive control
Configure the ideal DM7 system to suit your workflow
Utility screen for streamlined performance
Advanced Selected Channel View and Visible Overview
Compact and lightweight construction for easy setup and transport
Split Mode turns one console into two mixers
"Assist" lets you focus your creativity
Dante interface for high channel count and flexible connectivity
Versatile USB connection
DAW Remote for efficient audio production
Redundant power supplies for serious reliability
PY slot for expansion cards

The standard DM7 mixer processes 120 input channels and features 32 local inputs and 16 local outputs. The DM7 also comes with software for VST Rack Elements and Steinberg's Nuendo Live DAW. Meanwhile, its smaller counterpart, the DM7C, processes 72 channels and has 16 local inputs and outputs each. Both mixer types boast up to 144 in/out Dante networking at 96kHz, as well as 48 mix, 12 matrix, and two stereo busses.

Sound Quality You Crave

Push your creativity to its fullest potential. The DM7 Series delivers four varieties of channel EQ

from Yamaha’s flagship RIVAGE PM Series and a cutting-edge FET Limiter and Diode Bridge Compressor. For even more customizable options for your sound, DM7 and DM7C mixers incorporate 64 channels of Dan Dugan auto-mixing, a DaNSe dynamic noise suppressor, a Dynamic EQ, and a suite of Yamaha's acclaimed Virtual Circuitry Modelling (VCM) plugins.

Precision Control Over Your Mix

See all the information about your audio at a glance. The DM7 standard mixer boasts two large (12.1”) multi-touch screens that boast Yamaha’s familiar “touch and turn” knobs for easy familiarity with the controls, while the DM7C model crams the same functionality into one screen. For enhanced visibility of your settings and controls, a Selected Channel View displays information about each channel for quick parameter access, an overview screen offers analog-style operation, and a histogram display helps manage head amp levels.

Intuitive operation sets your audio projects up for success. A breakthrough feature of “Split Mode” allocates input channels, scenes, and mix busses allows you to divide functionality on a single mixer so it functions like two separate units. Additionally, DM7’s “Assist” function automatically suggests head amp adjustments along with naming and fader balance to further streamline your mixing workflow beforehand. A redundant power supply ensures you perform with confidence, knowing the DM7 will reliably and consistently give you the quality you require.

Take control in a way that makes your mixing easier. An Open Sound Control server function that lets you control your DM7 setup from OSC-compatible devices. Other time- and effort-saving tools are supported, such as DM7 Editor, DM7 StageMix, MonitorMix, Console File Converter, ProVisionaire Control, and ProVisionaire Touch. This selection of software and apps equip you for preparing your shows offline, wireless mixing, monitoring, and control over your system and peripheral gear.

ST: Are there any little-known hacks or features that pleasantly surprised you?

JH:

1.Sequentially patching I/O at any step (Dante, input, output, Auto mix) makes setting up for larger events a breeze.

2.Setup libraries for various Dante device mounts make switching between rigs a pleasure, rather than slogging through reconfiguring the desk every time you get a different wireless rack or stage box.

3.Custom Naming templates for channels that include useful icons for quick and easy identification seem like an unnecessary luxury at first until you quickly name a dozen channels without ever typing a character.

SCALE AND EXPAND YOUR SYSTEM WITH DM7

Great connectivity and versatile installation let you set up the DM7 however it will work best for you. On the mixers’ rear panels is a USB-C port with 18 input/output audio interface functionality. For sound setups that are short on desk space, the DM7 Compact is a great choice that can be installed in a standard 19” rack.

The incorporation of DM7-EX and DM7-EX Compact systems adds two additional faders, user-defined controls, a jog wheel for DAW control, scene memory, panner, and monitor controls. These expansion units come bundled with Broadcast Package and Theatre Package software upgrades:

Broadcast Package - Includes 5.1 Surround support, Mix-Minus, Audio Follow Video, and Loudness Meter
Theatre Package - Includes Actor Library, DCA Scene Grid, and AFC Image control

(These packages are not included with the DM7 or DM7C but can be purchased separately for these units as well.)

Compatible Interface Cards and Expansion Components

The DM7 Series is compatible with first- and second-generation Yamaha R Series I/O Racks, while other products in the DM7 Series allow you to easily expand and adapt your setup. For example, the CTL-DM7 provides more tactile encoders and faders for increased flexibility.

IDEAL APPLICATIONS FOR DM7

Choose a mixer that is adaptable to how you mix in the present—and how you may need to mix in the future. DM7 consoles excel in a wide array of use cases, such as broadcasting, streaming, and music production, as well as live hybrid events and concert performances.

ST: In what applications would you think it would best meet its full potential?

JH: This console shines in situations where an engineer is in a multifunctional mixing situation. Examples include mixing FOH and monitors for a band or in-room content and streaming content for a corporate meeting. Being able to split the console and operate it as two smaller desks with the same physical I/O is a function that sounds limiting at first, but shines through as an amazingly easy way to make the most of the staggering 72 inputs and 48 mix outputs that the device is capable of. Even leaving the console in single mode and utilizing the A and B stereo outputs still allows for a massively flexible single mix position in just about any application.

CONCLUSION

Building on Yamaha’s previous expertise, the DM7 Series offers a user experience that surpasses expectations, while its sonic performance meets the most stringent demands of audiences and audio professionals. Engineered to deliver high-quality audio and intuitive functionality in the present, this series has been designed with scalability in mind so you can future-proof your audio setup. Using DM7 Series’ versatility and its comprehensive toolkit of features, you can build your mixing workflow to meet your personal preferences and the specific application’s requirements.

To learn more about Yamaha’s DM7 Series, e-mail info@soundpro.com or call 800.203.5611 for personalized advice from the SoundPro experts.

Special thanks to Joe Hasik of HQ Production Audio for taking the time to discuss this product series! Photos of DM7C in action provided courtesy of Joe Hasik.

Laura Strommen – Content Writer

Laura has been on the SoundPro team since Summer of 2021. Before that, the main mixer she knew about was the handheld kind used for making chocolate cake.

Shawn Tallard – Account Manager

Starting in the AVL industry right out of college, Shawn brings over 25 years of experience to SoundPro. He’s a singer-songwriter/musician with two albums released under a pseudonym, licensing songs to major networks.