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Yamaha CL5 72-channel Digital Mixing Console

32-channel CL Series Digital Mixer with Centralogic Control Surface, Virtual Circuitry Modeling Technology, and Remote Control via Tablet or Computer

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Yamaha CL5 72-channel Digital Mixing Console
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Smart Solution for Broadcast and Live Sound

Designed to excel in live sound and broadcast applications, the Yamaha CL5 digital mixer delivers outstanding sound quality and impressive show control. Connect Rio series stage boxes (not included) for up to 72 mono and eight stereo mixable channels, with 32 channel faders and two master faders for control. Built-in Virtual Circuitry Modeling created by Rupert Neve Designs gives you access to Neve Portico 5033 EQ and Portico 5043 compressor/limiter processors, plus other spot-on emulations of classic hardware processors. And built-in Dan Dugan automatic mixing makes it easy for any operator to optimize microphones and effectively fight feedback. In short, world-class sound is easily attainable with the Yamaha CL5 digital mixer.

Sleek Interface, Amazing Sound Engine

Centralogic UI for straightforward control

Instead of forcing you to sift through endless, complicated menus, all of the CL5's mix controls are accessed via just two displays: Overview and Selected Channel. The Overview display, which is the CL5's default display, gives you a standard view of an 8-channel group that you select via the Centralogic navigation keys. These keys, laid out just like an 8-channel group on a console, let you easily bring any group of eight channels to the central controls with a single press of a button. The Selected Channel display gives you in-depth control by letting you zoom in on the channel of your choice to adjust its individual parameters, such as preamp gain, dynamics, and EQ.

Refined sound quality

Right from the inputs all the way through, CL Series consoles are designed for optimum sound quality. Every aspect of the signal path has been refined, from the individual components and power supply to the grounding scheme, circuit layout and even mechanical construction. Even the AD/DA master clock and FPGA clock signal routing have been engineered to deliver the most musical, high-fidelity sound possible.

Premium effects rack with analog character

Yamaha's Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) technology allows for ultra-accurate digital emulations of classic analog hardware processors. CL Series consoles come equipped with VCM models of the renowned Neve Portico 5033 EQ and Portico 5043 compressor/limiter. You'll also find stellar-sounding emulations of legendary hardware processors like the 1176, LA-2A and EQP-1A. In all, you get over 50 effects and processors to apply to inputs, outputs or busses. From adding character to individual tracks to making groups and busses sound larger than life, CL Series consoles deliver studio-quality processing for stage and broadcast.

What it means for you: You can make complicated mix adjustments fast, tap into world-class processing without setting up a rack of hardware, and enjoy amazing sound quality at every gain stage.

Advanced Tools to Mix with Precision

Scenes, output delays, DCA groups and more

With up to 300 Scene Memories available you can save and recall complete console setups, saving you serious time in repetitive mixing applications. Built-in Input and Output Delays offer up to 1000ms delay to compensate for phase issues and room tuning. You can group multiple input channels to 16 DCA groups for more convenient mixing, and any channels can be assigned to any of 8 mute groups for instant muting or dimming. For power users, 16 user-defined keys allow you instant access to Tap Tempo, Set by Selection, or any other imperative functions that don't have a dedicated button on the console.

Faders you'll want to mix with for a lifetime

The faders on CL Series consoles feel comfortable and responsive under your fingers at any angle. Yamaha added non-slip inserts for smoother fades, and the sculpted edges help give you a better view of the fader scale.

Set up your show and mix remotely

Use the CL StageMix application to turn your iPad into a wireless remote control to set up and operate your CL Series console. It goes far beyond tweaking channel faders — you can manage scene data, edit patch lists and channel names, configure I/O settings and more.

What it means for you: You'll be able to manage high channel counts and complex productions efficiently, set up your show on your iPad before you get to the venue, and you'll have the tactile response precision mixing demands.

Networking and Recording Options

Flexible networking with Dante

CL Series consoles and I/O racks communicate via Dante, allowing you to create fast and efficient audio systems that can be as simple or as complex as you need. Up to eight I/O rack units can be connected to any CL Series console, from anywhere in your facility. Dante also makes it easy to set up redundant primary and secondary lines for each device, crucial in live sound and broadcast applications.

Expand your input channel count with Cascade Link

Yamaha offers expansion cards for CL Series consoles that allow them to be cascade-connected. When you require a larger number of input channels, expanding your rig is as easy as connecting another CL Series console with a single cable.

Ample recording capabilities

Yamaha's CL Series consoles offer maximum flexibility when it comes to recording. Seamless integration with Nuendo Live is built in, and the Dante Virtual Soundcard software supports direct multitrack recording to any DAW. For a simple stereo recording of your show, just connect a USB flash drive.

What it means for you: You can scale your system to whatever size you need, extend the size of your control surface by simply adding another mixer, and you'll have truly professional solutions for multitrack recording.

Scale Your System to Size

Connect up to eight Rio I/O units

Yamaha CL series consoles communicate with Yamaha's Rio I/O boxes via Dante, allowing for fast and efficient system design for live sound and broadcast. Up to eight I/O units can be connected to your CL series console, and you can place them anywhere that you need in your facility. All Rio I/O boxes support redundant connectivity for maximum reliability.

Set up your network fast and easy

One reason sound engineers love Dante is that it sets up quickly — in most cases, all the devices on the network are recognized and configured automatically. And all signal patching can be done on your CL series console, no separate computer interface required.

Yamaha CL5 Digital Mixer Features:

  • 32-fader digital mixing console
  • 72 mono and 8 stereo mixable channels
  • Connect up to 8 Rio series stages boxes (sold separately) for I/O
  • Touchscreen display for intuitive control over the Centralogic user interface
  • Built-in Dante interface plus 3 MY-card slots for digital expansion
  • Control port for computer control (wired or Wi-Fi)
  • Portico 5033 EQ and Portico 5043 compressor/limiter processors designed by Rupert Neve Designs
  • Dan Dugan automatic mixing system easily optimizes microphone gain and fights feedback
  • Nuendo Live and Dante Virtual Soundcard licenses included

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Digital
  • Channels: 32 + 2 master faders, 72 mono channel mixing plus 8 stereo channels
  • Inputs - Mic Preamps: 8 x XLR
  • Phantom Power: 8
  • Outputs - Other: 8 x XLR (line out)
  • Inputs - Digital: 2 x RJ-45 (Dante)
  • Outputs - Digital: 2 x RJ-45 (Dante), 1 x XLR (AES/EBU)
  • Busses/Groups: 16 send Mix bus, 8 send Matrix bus
  • Inserts: Internal
  • Talkback: 1 x XLR
  • MIDI I/O: In/Out
  • Data I/O: 1 x D-Sub GPI (15-pin female), 1 x Ethernet
  • Headphones: 1 x 1/4"
  • USB: 1 x USB Type A
  • Computer Connectivity: Ethernet
  • I/O Expansion Slots: 3 x Card slots available (DSP cards or mini-YGDAI cards)
  • Word Clock: In/Out
  • Faders: 26 x 100mm faders
  • EQ Bands: 4-band parametric channel EQ, 31-band Graphic EQ, 15-band flex EQ,
  • Effects: Reverbs, Delays, Modulation, Premium Rack compressor modeling and more
  • DAW Control: Yes (via Dante)
  • Height: 11.75"
  • Depth: 26.25"
  • Width: 41.5"
  • Weight: 79.4 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: CL5

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Customer Reviews

Write your review
Rated 5/5

Slick, user firendly

This board is really nice and intuitive. The offline editor is great and saves a ton of time if you don't have the board on you during a tour.
Rated 5/5

Fantastic Console

Awesome console to busk or tour on. Incredibly easy to use, sounds great, and it's very robust. Well done, Yamaha.
Music background: FOH/Monitor Engineer, PA tech, and bass player.
Rated 4.5/5

Great console

Of course you can patch between scenes. Console sounds great with lots of functionality. Not sure what the other guy is talking about or who he talked to at Yamaha but the soft patch is saved as well as being about to patch between different snakes altogether or any combination there of
Music background: Experienced
Rated 4/5

Good For The Money

This console is a very good console and can be user friendly with it's custom fader banks. The sound quality is good and the preamps are quiet. It sounds way better than the M7CL did. It's 100% better than their old consoles in this price range. It has a lot of capability. I prefer more faders, but custom banks get around that usually. You can add soundgrid or record easily. We use soundgrid and Aviom cards. We have had a couple glitches. However, never while operating it and a restart fixes it. It's not straight forward to use, but you can figure it out quickly if you're a professional. If you are starting from scratch, you've got a lot of learning to do. If you're really wanting an upgraded sound, I think Soundgrid goes such a long way in giving you more options on this console.
Music background: Professional Audio Engineer (10+ years)
Rated 3/5

Great console that will get the job done, but there are some mehs about it.

It sounds great! The non insert based eq's and compression are fair, but everyone knows that. If you can't mix a band with those eq's and compression then???? you really shouldnt go for the inserts ANYWAYS NOW WITH MY GRIPES WITH THIS THING.


-It is not sample aligned or time aligned. You can't do "true parallel" compression with this console or else you will run into phase issues. I know there are work arounds but it's always an altered version of that input (NOT A COPY)

-I wish there were more Rack slots in general, I know there is a total of 16 and soundgrid is an option but running theatrical shows and concerts on this board with just 16....eh I always ALWAYS MAX IT OUT.

-You can't see when you are clipping your inputs at first glance, even if you switch to metering from the input side. What I mean is you have to either go to a compressor or EQ in order to see if you are clipping the input of the channel because the meters on this console suck and will show you that they aren't clipping, even when they are.
It's a bit annoying because you could be having fun mixing but then 15 minutes in your mix starts to lose clarity and dynamics and just starts to sound dull, cloudy and meh and....oh..yup clipping the input...'


I'm sure I complained about many other things regarding this console in the past, but I honestly would use it again. I have my gripes with it, but the fact that I can put an LA2A on my vocals without soundgrid is pretty flippen awesome.
Music background: Audio Engineer
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