MW Series Mixing Studio

Getting the music that's in your head out into the real world doesn't have to be difficult. In fact, with Yamaha's new MW10 and MW12 USB Mixing Studio, making great music is easier than ever before. Combined with the powerful Cubase LE audio/MIDI sequencing software, the MW Mixer provides a comprehensive tabletop studio setup for the solo recording musician and for the travelling producer/arranger.

High-quality multi-track mixing/recording systems don't get any simpler than this. Along with its versatile mixing functions, the MW features a true plug-and-play USB audio interface – giving you a fast, no-nonsense way to get quality audio tracks into your computer. With Cubase LE, it's also an advanced, all-in-one solution that turns any computer into a complete, top-flight recording system.

Connect the MW to a USB terminal on your laptop or desktop computer, and you've got an instant, high-quality audio recording studio in-a-box.

The MW delivers true plug-and-play USB audio input/output interfacing, and lets you easily mix your audio sources down to two-track stereo for recording to computer.

The MW package includes Steinberg’s Cubase LE – a cross-platform software that provides a complete audio/MIDI recording solution, along with video playback and music notation capabilities. A low-latency ASIO driver is available for free download at our website, giving you optimum performance and letting you use VST plug-in instruments and effects in real time. Cubase LE has over 40 built-in VST instruments and effects, but you can add more as your needs grow.

The MW10 gives you a total of 10 inputs, including four ultra-low-noise mic preamps. The MW12 has even more – 12 inputs, with six mic pre amps. These high-performance balanced inputs also have a phantom power switch, allowing you to take advantage of the superior sonic quality of professional-level condenser microphones.

These mixers accept just about any source you want to plug into them, with a full variety of input connectors – including balanced XLR, 1/4" phone jacks and RCA pin jacks. Comprehensive sound shaping is also onboard with pan controls, 3-band EQ and 80 Hz high-pass filters (to cut hum and low-frequency noise) on each channel strip.

The MW provides insert patch points – for two channels on the MW10, and four on the MW12 – letting you put external compressors and EQ into the signal path, and process your vocals or guitar as needed.

These versatile mixers are also fully equipped for your external processing and monitoring needs. Two AUX send/return buses let you apply further signal processing on each channel – for example, with your favorite external reverb and delay units, or other effects devices.

In addition to the main stereo outputs, the MW features separate headphone, control room and recording outputs as well, giving you plenty of options for a wide range of monitoring and recording applications. And visual monitoring of the output level is made accurate and easy with the bright 12-segment level meters.

The MW12 has all the USB studio features found on the MW10, but packs even more mixing power, control and flexibility into its compact package. Foremost are the 12 inputs, including six balanced XLR inputs (for microphones), and four stereo line input channels. The MW provides separate inserts for Channels 1 – 4, letting you route the incoming signals through your favorite processors before mixing and recording.

The MW12 also uses long-throw faders instead of knobs for easy level control. The two AUX Sends each have separate knob controls, and the AUX 1 bus can be configured pre- or post-fader, useful for setting up an independent monitor mix. The MW12 also has Master Send and Return controls for maximum control over the AUX buses.

Separate Group buses 1 and 2 give you further flexibility in creating sub mixes. And a convenient PFL (Pre-Fader Listen) switch lets you monitor an incoming signal (in your headphones, for example) without having to boost the level of the channel.

Cubase LE is a full-featured music production software based on the award-winning Cubase SX and SL programs. It gives you up to 48 simultaneous audio tracks and 64 MIDI tracks, plus a variety of VST plug-in software synths and effects, as well as full VSTi compatibility, with support for up to eight VST instruments.

Cubase LE combines powerful audio and MIDI recording features with professional editing and effects, and is compatible with both the Mac and Windows PC platforms. Since Cubase LE projects are completely upward compatible with the professional level Cubase SX and SL, you can still use your LE songs if and when you decide to upgrade.

Cubase LE is the perfect way to enter the world of computer-based recording, giving you all the tools to produce professional level recordings – quickly and easily – while providing a system that you can expand into the future!

After you've installed and launched Cubase LE for the first time, you’ll need to make a few configuration settings – such as selecting the ASIO driver, enabling inputs and outputs within Cubase LE, etc. Once you've done this, the MW can be used for recording every time you open Cubase LE.

Open a new project in Cubase LE, and set up for recording. Select or create an audio track (stereo or mono), open the Mixer window, and turn Click on (for a metronome guide). Set the start point for recording, too.

Now start recording (from the Transport panel), play or sing the part, and stop when you're finished. Play it back and add other parts to it as needed, building up a complete song part-by-part.

Once you have several different parts – all on different tracks – call up the Mixer window. Use the faders in the Mixer to control the balance of the parts, and use the Pan controls and EQ processing to adjust the sound as needed.

Inspiration can come at any time. But it can also leave – if you have to spend too much time fiddling with your equipment. Not so with the MW. With the included Cubase LE software, the MW gives you a simple yet comprehensive system for recording all your musical ideas to computer – and recording your moments of inspiration before they have a chance to leave!

Plug in a guitar, a microphone, a keyboard, even a CD player. Use the three-band EQ to tweak your sound, and connect your favorite effect device to the send/return jacks for further processing. The familiar mixer layout lets you stay in your comfort zone and work efficiently. Recording to Cubase LE is a breeze, too – especially with the downloadable low-latency ASIO driver, which lets you use your plug-in software synths and effects in real time.

The MW is also ideal for collaborating with others. Just bring it along with your laptop and guitar, and you've got a complete, portable mobile studio – ready to go anywhere and record with anyone.

Music is a succession of magic moments – made even more magical and exciting when you get several musicians and singers together. The MW lets you capture those moments, mixing down the performance of several backup singers or instrumentalists and recording them directly to a two-channel stereo track in Cubase LE.

With the MW and a laptop, the whole world becomes your personal recording studio. Portable, self-contained, flexible, comprehensive – the MW mixers give you virtually everything you need to make great recordings. Since Cubase LE gives you 48 tracks of audio to work with, you can build up songs part-by-part and easily create professional sounding arrangements.

Use the MW as a keyboard submixer when you play live, or use it as a utility mixer for events, gatherings and small rehearsals – and even record these events direct to stereo on your computer.

If you're a DJ and have a standard two-turntables-and-a-microphone setup, the MW can help keep your beats flowing. The MW has enough connectors for bigger live rigs as well – letting you add a couple of synths and a CD player, and still have room for more.

The big-brother MW12 is even more capable, handling up to 12 simultaneous inputs. It features a paired bus (Group 1/2) for assigning channels to a separate grouped output. There's also a PFL (Pre-Fader Listen) switch that lets you conveniently cue up tracks – so you can monitor the sound of a source through your headphones before letting your audience hear it.

At home, use the MW with Cubase LE to record your personal mixes, then burn them to CDs for your friends and fans. This system is perfect for creating custom remixes, too. With the full audio editing capabilities of Cubase LE – including automatic tempo matching and stretching of audio parts – plus multi-track recording of up to 48 tracks, you've got all you need to record, edit and mix your musical masterpieces.