One of the problems with digital mixers is that they never have enough analogue inputs out of the box. For example, the Yamaha 03D desk is exceptionally popular, but if you use all 16 analogue inputs as tape returns at mixdown as I do, you never seem to have enough inputs left to act as effects returns or to carry submixes of MIDI instruments. Most digital desks are, however, expandable from their basic spec to get around problems like these, and so it is with the 03D and 02R. A digital ADAT interface card has been available to fit the YGDAI (Yamaha General Digital Audio Interface) slot on their rear panels for some time — but of course not everyone has equipment with an ADAT optical interface. Now Yamaha have come up with the CD8ADS, a single expander card that provides eight analogue balanced inputs, each of which can independently be set for nominal +4dBu or ‑10dBV operation by means of small slide switches located on the board itself. There are no input trim controls, so all level‑juggling prior to the channel fader has to be done at source.
Fitting the card and getting the mixer up and running again took well under five minutes and no problems were encountered — you just have to be careful to get the card in the guide slots before you push it home, and if it feels stiff, you musn't force it as this almost cetainly means that you've missed the slots. A few tests with audio confirmed that the new inputs perform just as well as the built‑in channels, and of course they also have access to all the usual channel EQ, aux send and routing facilities. If you have a Yamaha mixer with a free YGDAI slot and you need more analogue inputs, here's the answer — and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg either. This one stays in my mixer! Paul White