[Ken Fujimoto’s Digital Audio Laboratory]Big brother to Yamaha distribution mixer! 8ch input + multi-function “AG08” is sure to buy-AV Watch

On January 26th, Yamaha announced the live streaming mixer “AG08”, which went on sale on February 2nd. This machine is a high-end model positioned as a flagship model of the AG series, such as the already released “AG03mkII” and “AG06mkII”, and the price is 96,800 yen, which is quite expensive for this kind of equipment. Let’s introduce what kind of product it is, along with a sound quality check.

“AG08” with 8ch input. Boychen available for CH1

Yamaha’s AG series is a mixer that boasts many achievements and high popularity as a mixer for Internet distribution. The first-generation AG03 and AG06, which were in short supply, were completely unobtainable at the beginning of the corona crisis, and were sold at very high prices on online auctions.

After that, the AG03mkII and AG06mkII, which were introduced the other day, appeared as successors, and the “AG01” with a built-in microphone appeared. These were also difficult to obtain, but recently they are finally starting to appear in mass retailers, musical instrument stores, and online stores.

Meanwhile, the AG08, the flagship model that will be featured this time, was suddenly announced.

Similar to the AG03mkII and AG06mkII, white and black color variations are available, but if you put it side by side with the AG03mkII at hand, you will understand the difference in size. Compared to the AG03mkII, which has 3ch inputs, the AG08, which has 8ch inputs, is larger due to the larger number of channels, but the top panel is almost the same size as A4. It’s a size that doesn’t get in the way when you put it on your desk.

“AG03mkII” (left) and “AG08”

Then, is AG08 only different from AG03mkII and AG06mkII in input?

Of course, the number of inputs has increased, but more than that, the functional evolution has been large, and it has a unique aspect that is not found in mixers from other manufacturers, making it a mixer for personal computers and for distribution. Noda. Originally, AG03mkII and AG06mkII also had a lot of functions, but AG08 has more functions than that, so let’s follow the order.

First, looking at the 8ch mixer, there are 5 faders for CH1, CH2, CH3/4, CH5/6, and CH7/8.

Correspondingly, the input jacks are lined up on the rear, but CH1 and CH2 are combo jacks, and microphones can be connected to each. Each has a +48V phantom power switch so you can connect condenser microphones.

input jack on the back

Combo jack CH1 and CH2.Microphone connection possible

Supports connection of condenser microphones

However, CH1 and CH2 have slightly different roles.

CH1 is basically dedicated to the microphone (line input is also possible), and in addition to applying a compressor/EQ by turning on the COMP/EQ button here, turning on the VOICE CHANGER button is a “voice changer”. ” can also be used.

Voice changer also available

There are PITCH and FORMANT parameters on the left, so you can use these to change your voice. If you turn on the FX button, you can also use reverb and delay.

PITCH and FORMANT parameters

If you turn on the FX button, you can also use reverb and delay

At this time, by pressing the push-type knob, it is possible to change the mode from reverb, delay, reverb & delay, and adjust the amount with the knob. These settings can be preset with 4 buttons as CH1 PRESET. For example, it is possible to switch in one shot between settings for vocals with deep reverb and settings for changing voices using a voice changer.

Modes can be switched by pressing the knob

Preset switch button

Like CH1, CH2 can also connect a microphone, has an EQ/COMP button and an FX button, and can apply effects, but CH2 is not equipped with a voice changer function.

On the other hand, by connecting a guitar to the combo jack and turning on the GUITAR (Hi-Z) button, it will change to guitar input, and by turning on the AMP SIM button, you can apply an amp simulator. It has become.

CH2 can apply an amp simulator

The amp simulator can only be switched ON/OFF on the main unit, but by using the AG08 Controller app described later, the amp simulator can be adjusted in more detail. The app also allows you to make detailed settings for the aforementioned COMP/EQ, voice changer, reverb and delay.

CH3-8 are equipped with LINE/USB buttons

CH1 and CH2 are equipped with various effects as standard, and since these effects are all DSP-processed, the AG08’s feature is that it doesn’t put a load on the PC, but here’s where it gets interesting. In other words, CH3/4, CH5/6, and CH7/8 are the parts that show the true value of AG08.

First, looking at the input terminals from the outside, CH3/4 are standard jack line inputs, CH5/6 are RCA pin jack line inputs or 3.5mm line inputs, and CH7/8 are 4-pole input/output assuming smartphone connection. It is a terminal, and each input rises to the previous fader.

rear input

So far, it’s a very ordinary mixer, but the unique thing is that CH3/4, CH5/6, and CH7/8 are equipped with LINE/USB buttons. If set to the LINE side, the signal from the current analog input terminal will rise, but if it is set to USB, the signal from the PC side will rise.

LINE/USB button (above photo)

Here, looking at the output part of the Windows sound settings, there are three things written as “Yamaha AG08”, each independently as “CH3/4”, “CH5/6”, and “CH7/8”. can be selected by

Windows sound output settings

Similarly, looking at the sound output of Mac, there are “Yamaha AG08 Streaming / CH3-4”, “Yamaha AG08 Voice / CH5-6”, “Yamaha AG08 / CH7-8”, and “Yamaha AG08 DAW” is selected It is possible.

In other words, by setting the channel for each application, it will rise to the AG08’s fader separately.

Mac sound output settings

Originally, in the case of Windows, there were many multi-port audio interface channels that can be seen as separate drivers, but in the case of Mac, it is common to see them as one audio interface. It would be convenient to be able to set it up like a separate audio interface like this unit.

For example, CH3/4 can be set to sound from a music player, CH5/6 to sound from a game, and CH7/8 to sound from ZOOM.

In the case of Windows, these allocations can be set individually for each application by using the volume mixer in the sound settings, but in the case of Mac, there is no such function, so the sound setting function of the application can be used. The reality is that we have no choice but to rely on them. With an online meeting app like ZOOM or a DAW, you should be able to make such settings.

Windows sound settings.Can be set individually for each application

Mac version ZOOM setting screen

Convenient STREAMING button for distribution and 6 SOUND PAD

Along with the LINE/USB buttons, what you should pay attention to is the STREAMING ON/OFF switch above these three faders. Here, STREAMING means a signal sent to a PC by distribution such as OBS.

Before we get into that, I’d like to introduce a little bit about AG08’s mixes, which come in many forms. First of all, the main output or monitor output as a general mixer.

rear monitor out

That is the L/R of the Canon and TRS phone jacks on the far left of the rear panel. If you connect a monitor speaker or the like here, the sound mixed by the AG08 will come out.

The same signal goes to the headphone jack #1 on the top right of the top panel. MONITOR is assigned to this main monitor output, and headphone 1 volume adjustment knob is assigned to headphone 1 separately.

headphone jack

And as you can see, to the left of headphone 1 is the volume control knob for headphone 2, but with a slightly different signal than the monitor out/headphone 1.

The difference is related to the MIX MINUS under each volume adjustment knob.

MIX MINUS

MIX MINUS, as the name suggests, “minus the mix”, and when the CH1 button is turned ON, only the CH1 signal is turned off from the mixed sound. This button only affects the monitor out and headphone 1, so it has no effect on headphone 2. Conversely, when CH2 of MIX MINUS is turned on, the CH2 signal is turned off only on the headphone 2 side.

This is the mixed result of the sound coming out of the main unit, but apart from this, there are three types of signals sent to the PC. These are STREAMING, AUX, and VOICE, and the STREAMING ON/OFF switch determines whether or not to put them on STREAMING. The figure below shows this.

In short, depending on which driver (STREAMING, VOICE, or AUX) is grabbed by the app, the sound coming into the app will be different. For example, by sending STREAMING to OBS and assigning VOICE to ZOOM, you can send each other’s voices while conversing on ZOOM with OBS, but the other party’s voice will not be heard on ZOOM, so feedback For example, it is possible to have a smooth conversation without waking up.

Another convenient function installed in the AG08 is the SOUND PAD located at the bottom right of the front panel.

SOUND PAD

By default, the six buttons are assigned sound effects such as “Jajan!” You can record to each pad, and you can assign WAV, MP3, FLAC files by using the AG08 Controller app. However, there seems to be a maximum time limit of 5 seconds.

It is also possible to assign WAV, MP3 and FLAC files

The sample rate is limited to 48kHz.Excellent latency performance

Finally, I checked the input/output performance as an audio interface.

As usual, I used RMAA Pro to measure, but at this time I tried looping the monitor out, which is the main output, to CH3/4. The result is the image below.

After testing, I noticed that AG03mkII and AG06mKII support sampling rates from 44.1kHz to 192kHz, but AG08 is limited to 48kHz. This should not be a problem for distribution purposes, but it cannot be used when high sampling rates are required, so you need to be careful about that.

Another experiment I did was a latency test.

With the ASIO Latency Test Utility that I always use, I can’t make detailed settings and the sound loops inside, so I tried using the RTL Utility I mentioned earlier.

The AG08 uses the Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver like the UR22C, but there are three driver modes to choose from: Stedy, Standard, and Low Latency.

On top of that, here are the results of testing with the general 128 Samples and the smallest 32 Samples. Of course, this is also a test at 48kHz only, but the result of 3.833msec can be said to be an excellent result.

For 128 samples

For 32 samples

Although the price of 96,800 yen is not cheap, it is an overwhelmingly easy-to-use mixer for distribution, and there is no doubt that it is a device that greatly increases efficiency in setting and operation.

It has impeccable performance in terms of sound quality, so if you are thinking about improving the sound around your internet distribution, I think you can definitely buy it.