Yamaha CL Series Digital Mixing Consoles Receive 2012 Good Design Award

October 10, 2012. Shizuoka, Japan – The Yamaha CL series digital mixing consoles, released in March this year, have received Japan’s prestigious 2012 Good Design Award.

The Good Design Award is administered by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, a public interest incorporated foundation, and has served as Japan’s primary design evaluation and commendation program since 1957. For more than 50 years the “G mark” associated with the award has been a symbol of outstanding design quality in Japan and abroad.

The judges who selected the CL series for this respected award made the following comments: “The product is a digital mixer for use in live concert situations. It features a body that can withstand repeated transportation and setup cycles, and a user interface that is easy to understand while allowing speedy, error-free operation. In addition to simple, sturdy professional appearance, it features materials such as natural wood that provide a comfortable feel and temperature in areas that come into contact with the operator’s body, and a unique 3-dimensional fader knob configuration that contributes to fine, accurate controllability. The consideration given to the mixing engineers who will use the product is admirable. A free downloadable iPad application that allows an iPad to be used as a remote control unit for the console, facilitating sound checks and setup from any location in the concert venue, is another thoughtful feature that could only come from a company that is thoroughly familiar with the needs of the live sound environment.”

Masafumi Ito of the Yamaha Corporation Design Laboratory, who was in charge of the CL series design, responds: “It is a great honor that our exhaustive efforts to create a professional tool that would provide the best possible sonic experience for both audience and performers in concert halls and theaters has been recognized in this way. Although compact, the CL series consoles have a streamlined, dynamic form that incorporates numerous detailed design innovations, such as our new fader knobs, that contribute to comfortable, efficient operation. Our greatest hope is that engineers will use this technologically advanced platform to support and disseminate wonderful music and performances.”

We will continue to develop and deliver products based on the Yamaha Design Philosophy, providing our customers with the highest possible levels of design quality, value, and utility.

CL series 2012 Good Design Award details can be found online here:

Information on the Yamaha Design Philosophy is available here:

About Yamaha Pro Audio

Yamaha Pro Audio is known around the globe as a provider of innovative, top-quality solutions for the sound industry. The Yamaha lineup includes a number of world-standard mixing consoles, signal processors incorporating industry-leading DSP technology, power amplifiers based on energy-efficient drive technology, and an extensive range of speakers suitable for everything from live sound to commercial installations. Visit www.yamahaproaudio.com for the latest news and information.