The heart of Ambient Sound is Yamaha's award-winning 02R Digital Recording Console, hailed the world over for setting the standard in professional digital mixing.
Despite its small appearance, the 02R is more versatile, cleaner sounding and easier to use than any console that came before it. Period. And you will appreciate the time saving automation capabilities it offers. No more will you have to wait for an engineer to try to set up the almost perfect mix you had last time you were in the studio; with the press of a button, everything is back to where you left it - levels, EQs, effects, everything. Instantly. Even the movements of the faders during the take.
The 02R features 40 input channels (24 analog and 16 digital), 8 output busses (analog/digital), 16 direct outputs, and 8 auxiliary sends. A single 02R can handle digital mixdown of up to 32 tracks. All input channels feature independent 4-band parametric equalization and dynamics for module functionality on a par with million-dollar professional consoles.
Dynamic Real-Time Automation is available for the faders, channel on/off switching (muting), panning, and EQ. The 02R also offers real-time SMPTE or MIDI time-code based recording and mixdown automation with full automation of all faders (including the AUX send faders) and mixing parameters. In addition, all console settings can be stored in "snapshots" for instant recall of every mix parameter.
64 scene memories can be used to store snapshots of all console fader and parameter settings, and these scenes can also be handled as events for automation. Off-line editing allows scene memory, EQ, effect, and channel library recall to be specified in precise frame increments. A fader recall safe function makes it possible to specify the faders which will be available for unaffected by snapshot recall, allowing for real-time automation with manual control.
The 02R provides extensive digital signal processing capabilities on all 40 channel inputs and 2 stereo effect returns for total creative control. Precise response tailoring is easy with 4-band full parametric equalization on all inputs. Full 4-band parametric EQ is included in the stereo output stage for even further creative control.
Dynamics processing is provided on all 40 input channels. 5 processor types are individually selectable for each channel: compressor, gate, ducking, expander, and a combined compressor/limiter/expander. A "channel library" function allows all settings for a single channel to be saved and recalled as required. Data can also be copied from a source channel to any other specified channel. Individual processing on each channel offers the type of extensive dynamics control previously only associated with much larger, extremely expensive high-end consoles.
Dynamics processing is also available on the 8 buss outputs as well as the stereo outputs. Both individual track processing and overall compression can be applied as required to satisfy any recording situation.
The 02R sports an expensive range of on-board digital effects, including reverbs, delays, echos, chorus effects (including Yamaha's "symphonic," for an extremely rich chorus effect), phasing, flanging, auto-panning and tremelo as well as vocal doubling and pitch shifting. Once again, effects processing is available on all 40 input channels and settings can be stored for later recall and automation.
EQ, dynamics and effect settings can all be saved in memory for instant recall whenever needed. A large user memory area is provided in addition to a powerful preset library. These settings can also be handled as events within an automation program. An "undo" function instantly recalls the settings prior to a save operation, making it easy to try out new settings without losing all previous data.
100-millimeter motorized faders offer exceptionally smooth operation and precise control.
Up to 4 fader groups, in which a single fader controls multiple specified faders, and 4 mute groups can be set up as required. This allows convenient control of multi-source "sections" for significantly enhanced operation ease and efficiency. For convenient handling of stereo signals, the EQ and other channel parameters of adjacent channels can also be linked for simultaneous control. Panning can be independent or linked, as required.
The 02R is equipped with MIDI IN, OUT, THRU and MTC IN terminals. MIDI program change numbers can be used to simultaneously switch 02R scene memories and programs on external effect devices, while system exclusive data can be used for precise sequence control of all mixing parameters.
All analog inputs employ high-precision, high-resolution 20-bit linear AD converters with 64x over sampling. The stereo and control-room monitor outputs feature 20-bit linear DA converters with 8x oversampling. Dynamic range at the stereo outputs is a very impressive 110 dB. 105 dB from the MIC/LINE inputs to the STEREO OUT connectors. This type of performance is what digital recording is all about.
Yamaha custom-developed 32-bit signal processing LSIs and twin RISC CPUs provide unprecedented sound quality and fast response speed.