Yamaha REV500 Digital Reverb
January 16, 1997
Yamaha Corporation of America announces the release of the Yamaha REV500
Digital Reverberator. Using the same high-quality third-generation DSP chip as the flagship ProR3
reverb, the REV500 is a remarkable value for the musical instrument, recording and sound
reinforcement market at an approximate retail price of only $500.
"The REV500 offers extraordinary performance for the price," states Jim Presley, marketing
manager, Professional Audio Products Department. "It competes with units many times its price.
Yamaha has applied new digital power technology to reverbs at two price levels and we're out to
re-calibrate the market's expectations for reverb performance."
The REV500 offers tremendous power due to the incorporation of the new Yamaha DSP3 chip. This
third generation DSP yields 32-bit internal processing which results in a denser, richer reverb with
very smooth decay. The REV500 features 20-bit A/D and D/A oversampling converters (44.1 kHz
sampling rate) for high dynamic range (96 dB typical) and extremely low noise. With independent
left and right channels, the unit offers true stereo reverb processing, unlike some pseudo stereo
reverb units.
Included in the REV500 are two built-in sound sources-snare drum and cross stick- which can
be used by the end-user to easily set reverb parameters without an external signal source.
Additionally, the REV500 includes a built-in demo. Using the internal sound sources, the REV500
automatically plays a sampling of its 100 effects while the large LCD display prompts the customer
with scrolling text. "Dealers can make use of the unit's built-in self-demo capabilities which take the
user through the piece and allow them to hear the different effects," adds Presley. "All that is
needed on the dealer floor is the REV500 and a set of powered speakers or monitor system. No
external sound source is required."
The REV500 is easy to use with a large custom LCD display and dedicated rotary controls for the
four most critical reverb parameters. When parameters are adjusted, the display instantly projects
a graphic representation of decay, pre-delay times and frequency content of the reverb. The display
graphics make changes in the REV500 programs visually apparent as well as to train the user on
the relationship between reverb components and their effects.
To make the selection of reverb programs as easy as possible for the end-user, the 100 preset and
100 user programs are categorized into four sets of 25: Halls, Rooms, Plates and Special Reverb
Effects.
Professional connections are furnished on the REV500 which include balanced XLR and 1/4-inch
phone jack connections to allow easy hookup to pro or semipro gear. Input and output levels for
each channel are switchable between - 10 dB and +4 dB. Level setting is simplified on the REV500
with a dual level control and two four-segment LED level meters.
The REV500 is in the same family as the flagship ProR3 reverb which also uses DSP3. The ProR3,
with a suggested retail price of $ 1,299, has more parameter control, two kinds of EQ to enhance
the effect, instant access to effects using a 10-key keypad, and built-in dynamics/noise gate which
can be applied to any effect. Both units are the first application of Yamaha third-generation DSP,
notes Presley, the same DSP chip which was applied to mixing functions making the revolutionary
02R Digital Mixing Console possible.
The REV500 is designed to be fully MIDI-compatible. It supports real-time parameter control via
MIDI Control Changes and program selection via MIDI Program Changes. MIDI Bulk Dump is used
for user program backup.
Optionally available for the REV500 is a footswitch which can be used to mute the reverb effect or
select reverb programs. The effect selection order is determined by the MIDI Program Change Map. For more information on the REV500, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Audio, Guitar, and Synthesizer
Division, Professional Audio Products Department, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; or visit Yamaha's website
at http://www.yamaha.com.
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