Although the original 02R console incorporated a few assignable, physical EQ and pan controls, the functionality was limited and required a lot of button pushing and interaction with the central LCD screen. Dedicated controls are available for the EQ and dynamics sections, panning, routing and so forth and a large bank of buttons provides instant access to a variety of system display screens. The need to delve around in LCD menus is greatly diminished and much more of the desk's functionality can be controlled directly through the new assignable control panel and the various arrays of buttons - some of which can be customised to access functions specific to particular applications.
Photo: Mark EwingAnd it is the user interface which is the most important aspect of this new desk - the result of feedback from experienced 02R users around the world. The new Selected Channel control section and User Defined Keys dramatically change the console's design compared to the original 02R, and significantly speed up operation.
That's not a facetious comment though by matching the footprint, Yamaha have made it easy for customers to upgrade without having to commission expensive new studio furniture - this really is a drop-in replacement with considerably enhanced functionality and a much improved user interface.
The Big PictureĪlthough the new desk enjoys a similar name to its illustrious forefather, the 02R96 is, in reality, a completely new console sharing little bar the size of its footprint with the original. This new desk is priced very keenly in comparison, especially considering the general inflation over the last seven years. Despite all the advances, the 02R96 has been priced competitively in the UK and still bears comparison with the cost of the original 02R at its 1995 launch. Essentially a cut-down DM2000, the new desk is a replacement for previous 02R installations, but with updated and expanded facilities and features. The second console to be developed from the same technology is the exciting new 02R96. The first product of this new approach sees the light of day as the phenomenal new flagship DM2000, intended to meet the requirements of anyone who's outgrown the old 02R or who wants an up-market desk at mid-market prices. Yamaha have taken all these issues on board and, as well as upgrading the DSP side of things, the company have decided to improve their user interface to provide more hands-on operation and much less menu dipping. Furthermore, the whole concept and practice of digital console operation has evolved considerably since the launch of the 02R. Much of the 02R's original customer base has also developed to the point where it is looking for a more capable console to meet current and future business demands - such as surround sound and high-resolution digital audio.
Of course, technology is forever moving onwards and, despite a major mid-life software revision and new interface cards, the 02R's capabilities were restricted by the standards of some of the more recent offerings from rival manufacturers. However, it has been argued that Yamaha didn't place as much emphasis on sound quality as they did on functionality and value - an issue which they have striven to address with the console's replacement.
It offered a unique blend of versatile facilities, a user-friendly control interface, and cost-effectiveness. The desk quickly became popular for countless project studios, small post-production houses, and theatres around the world. Photo: Mark EwingDuring its seven-year reign, the original Yamaha 02R (reviewed back in SOS February 1996) has been one of the greatest success stories of the digital revolution. After seven years, one of the most successful digital consoles has been completely overhauled, improving the sound quality and ergonomics, and catering for new high-resolution and surround-sound formats.