New presets are available for TF now

Few weeks ago, we uploaded QuickPro preset files to the global Yamaha site. Each of download page shows additional information about the preset, such as expected position of a microphone. It can be a good resource for a mixing engineer who has just started live mixing.

They also include new vocal presets for popular Shure microphones. They are available only from the web site at this moment. Please download and use them.

To see how to transfer a preset file to your TF console, please refer to the link below.

Manage preset data with TF Editor

Shaun

RTA on EQ screen of TF series

RTA is available on PEQ or GEQ screen.
In the PEQ screen, please touch on the lower half to activate RTA.

Shaun

"Mono" bus on TF series available?

TF series has "Sub" bus instead of "Mono".
The Sub bus is designed little differently but you can use it as a Mono bus.

Open ASSIGN screen and bring Sub level to nominal (0.00), now the channel is assigned to the bus with same level as Stereo main bus.
(Actually, they may differ depends on PAN position.)

Advantage of this Sub bus design against Mono bus on an analog mixer is:

• Different level to the Sub bus, channel by channel.
  For example, sending more low end from a kick drum than a bass guitar because of a bass amp on the stage.
• Sub bus master level linked to Stereo main bus master.
  It means you don't have to take care of each of faders every time you change FoH level. The other automatically follows. (Do you remember there was a part to link fader caps physically. or, a rubber band...:-))
  To operate them separately, go to System Setup --> Bus Setup and turn Stereo/Sub Level Link off.
• LPF and 2-band EQ available.
  The high band of the EQ can be changed to another LPF. By using those two filters, you can actually create -24dB/oct LPF.

Many of us use an aux bus for sub-woofer send for flexible level control of each channel. But we don't have a aux master fader level linked with Stereo master. This is to solve the problem.
Any questions? Let me know.
Shaun

MonitorMix released

We have just release the MonitorMix app. It gives you control of your Aux send level and Pan in your hand.
Please check it and try. Local fader grouping is very handy.

Shaun

TF series FAQ

Yamaha global web site or US site provides FAQ for TF series. This may answer your questions, such as "What kind of controls or settings can you do with TF Editor?".
Please check it.

Shaun

ALL PRE/POST - CL, QL, TF, M7CL, LS9

How do I change the MIX1 (AUX1) to POST all input channels at once ?

CL, QL, M7CL, LS9:
Open the MIX SEND popup by pressing the TO MIX1 SEND LEVEL knob in the selected channel or overview screen. In the popup screen, you have "ALL PRE" and "ALL POST" button on the upper right corner.


TF series:
Select Output fader bank and select AUX1. Touch on the top of the channel strip to open SEND FROM screen. Press the [Menu] key below the screen and select All Pre or All Post command from the menu.

Panel Assistance with LED brightness setting

Do you look for a switch or a knob in a dark?
We work in a dark many times.

The Panel Assistance function glows all LEDs on the panel just a little to give you a hint of their locations. It was introduced with PM5D many years ago. And it is now available on TF series too.

PM5D:
Go to Preference 2 and turn "Panel Assistance" on to use this function. Only when brightness value is 5 or less, panel LEDs are dimly lit.

TF series:
Go to User Setup and open Brightness page. When Panel brightness is set to 9 or less, Panel Assistance is automatically turned on like the one in the picture.
Because of its LCD touch panel, OLED channel name screen, and keys with glowing function name, TF is easier to operate in a dark room.


Shaun

Modify Q parameter with Touch and Turn knob

Here is a quick shortcut of Touch and Turn Knob in EQ screen of TF series.

When normal PEQ mode is selected, Touch and Turn knob controls each of EQ parameters of the selected band.

• Push to switch target between Gain and Frequency
• Turn to modify value
• Turn while pushing the knob to fine-control Gain when Gain is selected, or modify Q parameter when Frequency is selected

Shaun

Backup your TF console data

 

Mixing data on your TF console, including Scene, Preset library, the current status of the console, System setup, etc., is automatically saved on the flash memory in the console. You don't have to save the data manually.

To backup the data or transfer it to another console, use a USB memory device. Plug it to the right USB port and open Save/Load screen. Then, touch [Save] to create a file.

Shaun

Manage preset data with TF Editor

 

Preset data can be managed on your PC with TF Editor software.

Export:

In TF Editor which is online with your console, you can drag and drop a preset item to your desktop to download a preset file. This is a good way to backup your original preset data one by one. 

File name: Its default name is taken from the title of the preset on the console. Because file name and title on the console UI are independent, renaming the file does not affect to the title shown on the console.

Import:

You can also drag a preset file to the Editor and drop it to upload the file.

Two or more files can be handled at once.

Yamaha is preparing to provide new preset files from the TF web site.
I have some useful ideas for channel preset. I would share them with you soon from this blog.

Shaun

Delayed speakers for TF series

Here is a setting for delayed speakers using a stereo aux bus.

Set feedback gain to "0", Wet/Dry to "100 (Wet)", all filters in the second page to "Thru", and High Ratio to "1.0". This gives you simply delayed audio output.
Assignment from input channels should be "POST" and at nominal ("0"). And make sure Pan Link for the stereo aux bus is turned on. (System Setup -> Bus Setup) Then, mixing balance will be same as the STEREO main bus.
 
The example above shows 30msec which gives signal delay for about 30ft (10m).

Please be aware of master output level of the system. Master fader for STEREO mains and the stereo aux are independent. For example, to boost system SPL by 3dB, you will push the STEREO master up by 3dB and the stereo aux master by 3dB. Or, create a DCA group for all input to change the level from one place.

This example can be found in Scene A98 for your reference.

Shaun

Operation on Overview screen of TF series

 

With the 1-knob functions and four User Defined Knobs, basic parameters of TF can be operated from the overview screen. 

Default function assignment to the User Defined Knobs below the screen is Gain, EQ, Gate, and Comp. "Gain" controls analog HA gain. If it is a digital input, it controls digital gain. "EQ" controls 1-knob EQ value if the channel have 1-knob EQ turned on. If 1-knob EQ is off, gain for the lastly selected band is controlled. Press the User Defined Knob to open EQ screen to modify details. "Gate" always controls threshold of Gate. "Comp" controls 1-knob Comp value if it is active. If 1-knob Comp is turned off, threshold is the target. 

Touch on the white box. Then, Touch and Turn knob is now PAN control.

These five knobs would help you to setup the console quickly in a busy show. And of course, assignment of the functions to the knobs is flexible.

Shaun

p.s. The Touch and Turn knob in the overview screen controls the same parameter which the User Defined Knob is assigned to. When you have different assignment to the User Defined Knobs, you still have quick accessibility of these parameters.

TF StageMix released

Few days ago, TF StageMix was released.
UI of the TF StageMix is similar to the UI on the console. Most of channel parameters, such as EQ, Dynamics, or AUX send, can be operated from the App in a similar way.
Some of screenshots are also available here. Please check it out.

Shaun

Tutorial at start up -- TF series

When you turn on a TF console at the first time, you will see 10 pages of quick tutorial and its language selection screen. It gives you idea of basic work flow on the console in nine languages.

The tutorial appears every time you turn on the console. If don't like it, just turn off "Show Help at Startup" option in Preference screen.

And you can access the Tutorial anytime from "Help" menu in User Setup screen.

Shaun

TF Editor V1.10 released

TF Editor V1.10 for Windows has been released.
TF Editor is primarily for off-line edit at preparation and online remote control at operating a console.

It is important for managing your preset files too.
While Editor is online, you can export or import preset files in Library screen. To import a preset file to your console, drug a source file to the Editor window and drop it in the list of preset library. To export a preset file from your console, select a preset in the list, then, drug and drop it to destination on your desktop.
Of course, you can pre-configure your Library offline. Drug and drop files between Editor and your local preset library. Then, save the whole setting as a console file or make the Editor online with synchronizing direction of "PC to Console".

When you install TF Editor to a Windows 8 tablet PC, it can be a wireless remote controller. It allows touch control similar to StageMix. Some of parameters are little small for touch control. We recommend to use StageMix for quick remote control but I think Editor is enough in some cases.

Since its UI screen is very much same as TF console, it could be a good tool to learn TF console operation.

Please download and try it!
Shaun

SCENE Direct Recall/Store with a User Defind Key

TF series have six User Defined Keys on the panel. Initially, They are all assigned to "SCENE Direct Recall/Store" function.

SCENE Direct Recall
Pressing a key lit in orange recalls a Scene memory setting shipped with the console. Pressing these keys shows you some of typical console settings. Of course, you can change key assignment to another Scene memory with your original settings.

SCENE Direct Store
When you press and hold a key, it stores the current console setting to a Scene memory assigned to the key. You can create or overwrite a scene quickly by this operation.

If you don't want to overwrite your Scene memory with this function, protect the Scene in Scene list screen.

Shaun

Yamaha Pro Audio - TF Community

We have opened TF Community in Facebook.
Yamaha will post official information there.

Shaun

Library for TF Input Channel Preset

TF is shipped with many of channel presets.
Press the "star" button located below the screen to open the library window.

Input channel preset recalls HA settings, EQ, Gate, Comp, Name, Color, Icon, and some of other parameters. Fader level stays as is.

Let me explain concept of the factory preset for input channel little bit.
HA gain is set little safer side. For example, Vocal preset for dynamic microphone is with HA gain set to +30. EQ is the key of these presets. I will explain it deeper in another post. Gate and Comp setting is also set to safer side. In many preset, Gate and/or Comp are disengaged. If it is engaged, threshold is set to minimum in Gate and maximum in Comp. Tweak the threshold based on your input signal. I spent long time to decide color assignment to each instrument because everyone has different preference. Our default is: Drums (blue), Guitars (purple), Keys (pink), Horns (light blue), Vocals (green), etc. Red is not used in factory preset. I reserved this color for your most important channel.

There are other groups of presets for Fx and output channel. They will be explained later.

We are going to add more preset very soon. They will be from Yamaha or partner microphone manufacturers and found here.


Shaun

Fader calibration

Faders on my console have chattering (vibrate when they are moved with a scene recall). Do they need to be serviced?

Usually, friction of a slider will be changed after running the console for several months, which depends on usage, environment, frequency of scene recalling, etc. Or the faders might have much dust inside. These may cause overshooting of fader position control. Please try Fader Calibration function of the console before contacting Yamaha service.

Please don't use any contact cleaner. It will remove special contact grease in a fader and make the situation worse.

(CL series and M7CL) While holding down the SCENE MEMORY [STORE] key of the panel, turn on the power. Press the FADER CALIBRATION button and follow the instruction in the screen.

(QL series) While holding down [SEL] key of master B, turn on the power. Press the FADER CALIBRATION button and follow the instruction in the screen.

(TF series) While holding down [Home] key under the LCD touch panel, turn on the power. Press the Fader Calibration button and follow the instruction in the screen.

(PM5D) While holding down the [ENTER] key of the panel, turn on the power of the PW800W power supply. Select "CALIBRATE FADER POSITION" and follow the instruction in the screen.

(LS9) While holding down the [SCENE MEMORY] key of the DISPLAY ACCESS section, turn on the power. Move the cursor to the FADER CALIBRATION button and press the [ENTER] key.

Updated on April 20, 2015 with QL and TF series.

See our engineers behind the TF series

Here is a picture with TF series engineers at the Yamaha HQ in Hamamatsu. The half of them were digital mixer experts but others were new at the time of the beginning.

I tried to maintain a good balance between challenges and traditions of Yamaha digital mixers in the TF series. The engineers helped me to realize it!

Shaun