at first blush... very nice

I haven't had much time to work with the unit, but I can give a set of first impressions. I'm running synths through it, and the board is completely transparent. I haven't put the Cubase integration through its paces, but the software installed fine (under Vista even) and Cubase sees the device. It's really nice having the mixer controls I'm used to and NOT have to have an additional piece of gear for computer audio IO. And built-in compression? SWEET!

So... sound: great! Integration: great! OVerall features: really great!

A few minor complaints: the build quality feels a bit cheap in places. The chassis is super solid, the plastic faders are smooth enough, and the connectors are rock solid. However, all the push buttons have an awkward responsiveness. There's an odd resistance to them, as if they are not set in the chassis quite right, and there's no satisfying "click" when pushed in, just a light. Knobs are comfortable but nothing to write home about. I know, I'm complaining about buttons and knobs, but I've used Mackie and Allen&Heath units, and they seem way more robust in this area.

Also, this unit is quite long (20+"?). Check the measurements and make sure it can fit on your desk. It feels like there's some wasted space around the top.

Minor quibbles aside, Yamaha once again delivers tremendous bang for the buck, and the usual low Sweetwater pricing + GearFest discount made it even bangier. :-)