Two stereo inputs, stereo and headphone outputs, and a USB jack complete the unit’s connections. One of these inputs has switchable phantom power for using high-quality condenser microphones. The Audiogram 6 features 2 XLR combo inputs with preamps and one-knob compression for dialing in the desired sound from microphones and instruments. The Audiogram Series will be available in August, 2008 for $139.99 retail (Audiogram 3) and $199.99 retail (Audiogram 6). “The Audiogram Series has been carefully designed to make everything from set-up to recording as easy as possible,” said Yamaha’s Athan Billias. The Audiogram Series bundle together a hardware interface with audio inputs and outputs, software for recording and producing music, and a USB cable for connection to a computer. I can be just about anywhere working for an hour or two of battery life and that's a huge bonus.2008 Summer NAMM Show Update: Yamaha announced Audiogram 6 and Audiogram 3, two new Computer Recording Systems (aka digital mixers) designed to easily turn your computer into a tool for recording and editing audio from virtually any microphone, instrument or audio device.
Recording is easier and more portable as the unit is powered off my laptop. I'm getting better vocal capture than I get on a dedicated 16-track machine that cost over £3,000. Analog compression controlled by a knob, stereo and mono by a simple switch selector - a dedicated microphone channel with phantom power. The Yahama interface is really simple and intuitive. The onboard software effects are stunning - authentic reverb, echo and amplifier effects and much much more. Some of it I doubt I will use, but nevertheless, it is there if I need it.
I further selected Steinberg's modest upgrade (around £35) and was able to download Cubase 7 with a lot of additional functionality and track possibilities. I'm docking an otherwise 5-star revue for the hassle that I had to go through initially.
I was pointed to download both drivers from Steinberg and Yamaha - and it worked just fine. However, an e-mail to Yamaha was responded to by a phone call from their help desk within 24 hours. The downside - the drivers did not work and I spent several frustrating hours trying to get the system running properly and I'm by no means a techno-phobe. This interface is suprisingly powerful because of the Steinberg Cubase software and for a home studio this is a really good option. But if you don,t use MIDI keyboards, Audacity (free on the web) is an very easy to use alternative system that is a lot better than looks may suggest.
If you have weeks to set it all up and learn how to use even the basic features, then this would be a good comprehensive system if you use it all the time for music production. Confusing instructions, pages and pages of it, well written but badly put together. Very good hardware but a little extra information would make perfect. It would have saved me hours if they had noted this in the instructions. Yamaha do not mention this in the hand book even though Yamaha know there is a problem and that drivers are available free on the web site to fix it. It did work without drivers but not with the Cubase software they included (for some common type sound cards). Not a common type of lead! The other let down is that they say no drivers are needed. Standard guitar leads connect your guitar etc, but you need leads with two mono jacks at one end, and two RCA or perhaps stereo mini or 6.5mm jack to connect to a Hifi amp or CD player for example. All the inputs are 6.4mm mono jacks except for the mic / instrument inputs which double as XLR type as well as 6.4mm mono. It loses one star because there is little clue in the pre-purchase information as to which leads are needed to connect to other items. The Audiogram6 is a very well made piece of kit that has done everything asked so far, with no loss in sound quality. One for the Audiogram6, and one for the included software.