ProAudio Review - May 2008 - (Page 22) LIVE | REVIEW by Richard Alan Salz surprisingly sturdy given its partially plastic construction. Unlike some other (considerably more expensive) consoles I’ve recently used, there is no wiggle in the pots of the MG124cx, nor does it feel cheap. The MG124cx offers six microphone inputs on XLR jacks with available phantom power. The first four channels of the Yamaha console are what I would call ‘dedicated’ microphone channels; the next two channels in line can be used as mic inputs or stereo line inputs. The main input channels feature a good sounding three-band EQ, peak reading LED, gain, pan, aux (switchable between pre and post), effects, and PFL switch in addition to a nice feeling 60mm fader. An unexpected (and most welcome) feature in a console at this price point is the inclusion of four compressors. Although they are of the simplest design possible — they offer just one knob for adjustment! — they actually sound good and operate in the analog domain. I found them quite useful for drum overheads and vocals. It’s too bad they didn’t include a stereo compressor that could be patched across the main outputs. The effects quality is probably about what you’d expect from an inexpensive live sound console, which is not to say that the overall quality level of onboard processing hasn’t vastly improved over the years; it’s more that the choices in effects (there are 16 available) are typical in the types of effects that are included. The eight available reverbs are all usable to some degree, the ‘room’ presets being my favorite. Also included are echo, flange, phase, chorus, auto-wah, and an awful distortion preset Additionally, there are two stereo channels, which devoid of microphone inputs are for line level stereo signal use. They are configured in a similar way to the main inputs, although they lack the midrange EQ. Also cool are the lighted channel selection switches. They look and feel like they were lifted from a multi-thousand dollar console — nice touch, Yamaha! The Master section of the console has the faders for the stereo mains and ? subgroups, also present are a two-track input, headphone/monitor level, global phantom power switch, effects send and returns, the YAMAHA continues on page 24 ➤ Yamaha MG124cx Small Format Mixer Yamaha offers high-quality, low-cost mixer with built-in digital effects … and a lot more. Let me be honest: I love high-end, boutique electronics. Show me something with 1/ 4” anodized aluminum faceplates or polished rosewood sides and I’ll be a happy guy. On the other hand, while those aspects of big-ticket products are nice, they’re hardly necessary for functionality and there’s truly nothing worse than a product that’s all show and no go (to borrow a phrase from the automotive world)! Still, high-end construction and materials often seem to accompany many great sounding products. Given my feelings, why am I so impressed with a mixer that carries an MSRP or $379? | FEATURES No one who has been in the audio indus- APPLICATIONS Live sound, desktop recording KEY FEATURES 12 inputs total including 6 microphone inputs; onboard effects processor; four analog compressors, lighted channel selectors; two track inputs. PRICE $379 CONTACT Yamaha | ☎ 714-522-9000 ➲ www.yamaha.com try for any length of time could possibly be unaware of Yamaha’s dominance at the upper middle (and top end) of the live sound console market. I remember working with a small format Yamaha console in the mid 1980’s and being very impressed with its clean sonics and good build quality. Yamaha has now produced a console at the bottom end of the market that incorporates many of the things they’ve learned along the way. The MG124 console is available in two variants: the regular MG124c and the MG124cx. The difference between them being the inclusion of a stereo digital effects processor in the ‘x’ version reviewed here. As you would expect at the console’s price point, the construction materials are not of battleship-grade quality, but the console feels 22 | ProAudio Review | May 2008 www.proaudioreview.com http://www.yamaha.com http://www.proaudioreview.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.