Tag Archives: Yamaha AG06

NAMM 2023: Yamaha AG08

Posted on by

Products for NAMM 2023 continue to trickle out. Here is the new Yamaha AG08 Live Streaming Mixer.

The AG08 is an extension of the successful AG06MK2 and AG03MK2 streaming console mixers. I use a MK1 AG06 every day and appreciate the number of I/O and control options that it offers.

Yamaha AG08 Live Streaming Mixer

Yamaha are definitely chasing the live streaming and pod-casting hot trend. The AG08 has:

  • Eight channels
  • Six sound pads (trigger sound effects)
  • Voice changer
  • DSP effects: voice changer/amp sim, comp/EQ, reverb/delay, ducker, maximizer
  • Priority ducker on channels 1 and 2
  • Maximizer for boosting gain
  • Five 60mm faders (3 assignable)
  • 24-bit, 48 kHz Multi-channel audio recording and playback
  • External 12V power or USB C bus power (switchable)
  • Phantom power on channels 1 and 2
  • Dimensions: 11.5″W x 8.8″D x 3.5″H
  • Weight: 4.9 pounds (2.2kg)

It’s all controlled by the Yamaha AG08 Controller app for IOS. (Same is true for AG06 and AG03.) You can find all the specs and manuals on-line now.

The industrial design is quite clean and colorfully pretty. Don’t like white? Yamaha offer the AG08 in black, too. It’s a tad big for my desktop and a little too much functionality for me. However, it appears to be built like a tank. Hope it can survive the occasional coffee spill. 🙂

The AG08 comes with the usual Yamaha software bundle including Steinberg WaveLab Case. WaveLab Cast may be aimed at the pod-casting community, but I find that it does a lot of everyday audio chores without the expense of full WaveLab.

AG08 MSRP is $831USD. Yes, “831”.

Copyright © 2023 Paul J. Drongowski

Steinberg WaveLab Cast bundle

Posted on by

This deal is too good to go unnoticed. If you bought a Yamaha AG03 or AG06 mixing interface, I hope you saved (or used) the Cubase AI download access code. It’s your ticket to a free copy of Steinberg Wavelab Cast.

Yamaha added Wavelab Cast to the AG series software bundle during August 2021. You can download and activate WaveLab Cast even if you are an existing customer.

Fortunately, I’m a pack-rat and saved all the paperwork with the AG06. Wavelab Cast looks to be a fast way to touch up live recordings among other uses. The Track Inspector offers a menu of the most common audio tune-ups: denoise, de-ess, EQ, reverb, etc., featuring no-brainer one-knob control.

My only wish is a written (PDF) getting started guide. The PDF manual is a reference manual and isn’t organized well for getting started. At a minimum, a beginner user needs to know about the “Audio Montage” and how to get audio clips into the Audio Montage pane. Audio Montage isn’t discussed until Chapter 10! Also, one should know that the audio editor mainly twiddles bits (errr, samples) and that effects are applied through Audio Montage.

Please don’t let these quibbles slow your roll to a free copy.

I’ve been using the Yamaha AG06 as my desktop mixer and audio interface. It has performed reliably over the past several months and I feel comfortable recommending it even though the internal tech is a little bit behind the Steinberg UR22c (its closest alternative in the Steinberg product line). I like the small mixer format and the audio I/O options. Plus, the AG06 has been dead quiet when attached via USB to an HP desktop computer and its schmutzy (noisy) power. The AG06 has a separate 5V external power port for mobile operation, too.

Cash in!

Copyright © 2021 Paul J. Drongowski