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PM1D- Where's it going?


lifeisacabaret

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So...the PM1D is getting on for a decade old (released 2001 I think) and there's now a version 2, but even thats a couple of years old now....so does anyone know whats happenning with upgrades/new firmware/software for the PM1D, or if there is a whole new console on the way to replace it or run alongside...

 

Anyone?

 

 

Cheers!

 

J

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The PM1D has never really sold as well as Yamaha wanted it to. It's too big and expensive for mid-sized jobs and at the top end was outshone in many people's eyes by the Digico D5 and more recently the Digidesign Venue for festival and touring jobs. I can't remember the last time I saw one being used outside of a TV studio.

 

It's a very difficult market. Look at the the Midas XL8 for an example of a potentially very good product failing to capture market share.

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Yamaha's new flagship digi console

 

Its comming...... I got to help choose its fader tops when I was in Japan last year.

 

;-)

 

I dont get the time I would like to blog audio stuff but here is a peek of the Yamaha factory from my camera. Wanna see PM5D and M7CL's being built?

 

http://markaudio.blogspot.com/

 

If you think this is cool. You wanna see the piano factory. Oh ... My .... God!

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Slightly OT, but...

 

I was amazed to see that the PM1D was released in the early 2000s. In my mind I was sure it was an even older console than that.

 

I'm convinced I saw a prototype of a large-format digital console on the Yamaha stand at NAB in Las Vegas in the late 1990s....1998 I think.

 

Does anyone know if they started showing the PM1D that far before the actual release or, if not, any idea what console I might have seen (and even played with a bit)?

 

Or am I just going mad? (Don't answer that!)

 

Bob

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I can't remember the last time I saw one being used outside of a TV studio.

You need to have a wander around Londons westend sometime - The PM1D still dominates large sections of the theatre market. Shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Sound of Music, Zorro, Prisila Queen of the Desert, Joseph and the Amazing Technicoloor Dreamcoat, Cabaret, and Fiddler on the Roof all use them.

 

Theatre tours including Starlight Express, Evita, Dreamboats & Pettycoats and Thoroughly Modern Millie are also on the PM1D. Some of the biggest shows in the world are 1D driven - Disneys Tarzan being a great example although admitdly it uses three of them.

 

To give you an idea, the westend musical market is ROUGHLY split :

 

20% PM1D

20% Digico D5T

20% Cadac J-Type

10% Digidesign Venue

10% PM5D

20% Assorted Other Stuff

 

Hope this helps.

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I can't remember the last time I saw one being used outside of a TV studio.

You need to have a wander around Londons westend sometime - The PM1D still dominates large sections of the theatre market...

Fair point, I was originally going to include theatre in that post. My perception over the last couple of years, though, is that the PM1D doesn't have the market share of theatre shows it once. I have seen a lot fewer on touring shows than there were some years ago.

 

As far as the West End goes, there seems to have always been a trend towards the esoteric since the production budget might allow this where perhaps regional or touring shows don't always have the option. I guess any feature rich console is likely to get a fair bite of the cherry even if the cost is prohibitive to other users.

 

I imply no criticism of the PM1D, it's a fabulous desk and has aged very gracefully. Had they suited the kind of work we do, we would have had them in preference to a number of consoles ended up buying.

 

The top end of this industry remains a very small market that is guided as much by brand loyalty and perceived quality as it is by functionality and affordability. For that reason the PM2D will have to be very very special to succeed and it sounds like it might just be that special. Given their history of innovation I'm looking forward to seeing what Yamaha R&D have thought up this time.

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Slightly OT, but...

 

I was amazed to see that the PM1D was released in the early 2000s. In my mind I was sure it was an even older console than that.

 

I'm convinced I saw a prototype of a large-format digital console on the Yamaha stand at NAB in Las Vegas in the late 1990s....1998 I think.

 

Does anyone know if they started showing the PM1D that far before the actual release or, if not, any idea what console I might have seen (and even played with a bit)?

 

Or am I just going mad? (Don't answer that!)

You're not barking yet Bob. I first saw the PM1D in 1999. I think I first used one on 2000. There is certainly a replacement for the PM1D on the horizon, my understanding was 2011, but that could mean we will see pre-production versions as early as PLASA or AES. If not, probably next year.

 

Mac

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Slightly OT, but...

 

I was amazed to see that the PM1D was released in the early 2000s. In my mind I was sure it was an even older console than that.

 

I'm convinced I saw a prototype of a large-format digital console on the Yamaha stand at NAB in Las Vegas in the late 1990s....1998 I think.

 

Does anyone know if they started showing the PM1D that far before the actual release or, if not, any idea what console I might have seen (and even played with a bit)?

 

Or am I just going mad? (Don't answer that!)

 

Bob

 

The company I worked for took delivery of a pre production PM1D (one of eight) in late 99' or early 2000, can't quite remember.

They did private demos of the console at Radio City Music Hall during AES in NY in 99'

 

/J

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