Yamaha DM3chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Several users report the touchscreen requires multiple taps to register and struggles with glare and brightness outdoors, forcing some to pair an external iPad for editing instead.

@higltypig

6:40 - yeah, that's not a responsive screen (and that's better than the other one you mentioned!?) To be honest I've just bought one of these and am very glad I have an ipad too. With the ipad it's a great experience but the desks screen is too laggy. It's also not really bright enough for outdoor events. Ipad fixes that too.launch

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July 28, 2023

@drummerboy100jh

Nice review, thanks.\nI have been waiting for a real world review and it just proved what i needed to know at 7:08 time, the touch screen fails to respond to your touch, having to touch a particular parameter 3 times to get it to respond is ridiculous thats the same problem with the tf mixers. Did you find that it happens regularly on other sections of the touch screen? Hopefully yamaha will fix that with a firmware update.launch

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May 1, 2023

@jkirchheimer

Don’t really get, why companies still try to sell touch screens as the cool thing. They are always worse than what people are used from their Tablets and phones, and their haptic is the worst thing you can have on a device, where you quickly want to change values. That’s a mixer. It should be used in live context. Who wants to touch around on a screen to hopefully hit the correct 10x10 pixels to either look for that knob, that’s not lit, or move the finger and hope for the best, that you don’t make it worse…. On really really small devices (like the 1010bluebox) I can get it, but anything else? Why use this, instead of one that’s controlled by an iPad, that has a 1000times better touch screen AND is something you can move around with?launch

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April 6, 2023

@dasczwo

Great. It has a shaving mirror. Please manufactures, take back all those glossy screens and give me my good ol matte screen back. Looking forward using this outside. Daytime. Have a nice summer!launch

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April 6, 2023

Multiple commenters want direct multitrack recording to USB or SD card without needing a computer, a feature offered by competitors like the QSC TouchMix, and are disappointed it's missing.

@adriansmithmusic

The lack of multitrack recording to usb stick is a shame, would be great if they added that in a firmware update.launch

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November 14, 2023

@AntonioRockGP

It's a shame any company remembers 2 key features:\nMultitrack recording direct to memory card or usb\nSome easy system to play Multitrack backing tracks with click track.\n\nMy ideal mixer would play backing tracks from usb and record a multi track of the band on SDCard at the same time.\n\nAlso, the backing track function would need footswitch control for starting the next song in the queuelaunch

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April 7, 2023

@JaxGuitarPlayer

This does look interesting and glad to see a new mixer being released. SOmethings that stand out missing but perhaps just not explicitely stated in the vid. No android tablet support like QSC Touchmix (and many other digital mixers have)? No Parametric eq on outputs (only graphic)? No multitrack direct to usb recording option (like touchmix, ui24 and several other digital mixers such as ah qu and sq series offer)?launch

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April 6, 2023

@IslandDigital

Too bad it doesn’t have multitrack on SD , THAT would make it self contained recorder and perfect without needing a computer at all !launch

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April 6, 2023

Multiple reviewers feel the DM3 is overpriced compared to the Behringer Wing or X32 Compact, which offer more channels and features for similar or lower cost.

@mrdali67

The major selling point of the DM3 and DM3S is it works seamless together with Cubase, no old school Mackie HUI and it's name that means \"build to last\". But I agree both the X32 and Wing compact have more features than the Yamaha. I'm mainly concerned with the quality of the board. I would assume the Yamaha have the advantage there, the X32 compact is 2/3 the price of the DM3s and the Wing compact is same price as the DM3 so you get much more especially with the Wing, just hope the Quality is better than the X32 Compact. I really like the compact design of the DM3, but it lacks several features like midi interface, and you have to choose the more expensive DM3 to have the Dante expandability if you need more channels. I don't but I would have liked a build-in SD recorder. On the other hand I really don't want to sit with a defective X32 in 2-3 yearslaunch

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June 15, 2025

@mrdali67

I know you pay for the brand reputation and better integration with Cubase, but honestly the DM3 is way too expensive considdered how much more you get in a behringer X32 or Presonus series 3 Mixers. it can be expanded via Dante but then you will want the DM7 instead anyway if you seriously need that ammount of channels. It must be possible to design a new controller that works seemles together with cubase instead of the one that got discontinued if all people need is a physical channel strip controller instead of having to pay that much for a very stripped down Digital mixer. The quality of the product really have to mean something when you get twice as many channels and more versatillity in a Presonus/Midas or Behringer mixer if the mixer ability is also counted in. Thats just my opinion. Yamaha is not even trying to be competitive here and the DM7 system ... those prices is only for real pro's that knows what they want and where money don't matter 😅\n\nAs for the Mackie HUI control .. yes its possible to set up, but a more modern API is is really needed and I have seen pro's that is not happy to rely on even expensive controllers that rely on the old Mackie API. I know it's hard to be poor and want to work like the pro's. But really hope Yamaha / Steinberg could come up with just a \"reasonable\" quality controller where the fader works seemlessly together with cubase to take over the old one they had .. I forget what the model name was. The cheapest multi controller propably is a presonus fader port but same problem it will work with the Mackie HUI but not seemless integration with which tracks and what controls is active. If the DM3 was betwen 1/2 and 2/3 of the current price it might be of interestlaunch

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April 19, 2024

@RayR

I still trying to figure out what this console is for. The cost and feature set is limited compared to competitors. Is the sound quality that much better that it justifies the extra cost... Any DAW integration.. probably not. Having used a lot of it's competitors I doubt it. Nothing stood out to me interface wise either. I'll just stick with my Behringer Wing. I'm stick shocked at how good that console is for the price.launch

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February 5, 2024

@edukacja2485

well... it looks like this mixer is absolutely pointless... I mean it can do basically all the same as behringer xr18. Of course you'll get physical faders - that's great. But when you'll consider Dante equipped version and Tio1608 the overall price is like 10x more than xr18. And I bet behringer has got much better sounding reverbs 😅launch

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April 6, 2023

Users cite the lack of dynamic EQ, de-esser, feedback suppression, and Dugan auto-mixer as significant gaps compared to competitors, with one calling it a no-go even for small gigs.

@igorzavalnyi5341

No dynamic EQ, Deesser, and only 3 stereo auxes make this console a no-go for me even for small gigs. At this price point, especially, Behringer Wing is a better option.launch

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December 11, 2025

@jovanbunjevic1723

Drew,\n\nAre you able to route/remove the Delay (FX2) from the LR and send to the Reverb (FX1)? Like you’ve shown us in the past with the M32R? If yes, how would you do it?\n\nA video on virtual soundcheck setup with DM3-D and a video on using the new “Inserts” feature on V2 would be cool. I can see a lot of potential for Waves Superrack to be utilized to solve for the lack of Dugan Auto Mixer and using plug-ins live. Not sure about the latency though - might be too high.\n\nYamaha got a lot of things right with this board but still missing a few key features here or there that could’ve made it a X32/M32 killer, IMO. I love mine tho.launch

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July 12, 2024

@evensteve284

I'm really thinking about getting a DM3. One major concern for me is that the DM3 seems to be missing feedback suppression. This could be a deal breaker because I mix and record a lot of a cappella groups where you have a semicircle of 15 to 20 singers around a condenser microphone. You've got to crank it up! I don't mean that it has to be at a rock band level, but you're micing a voice; not a drum kit or a guitar amp. The feedback suppression saves my butt every time. It's a \"must have\".\n\nI've used the QSC TM16 and I'm now using a A&H CQ18T. The mic preamps in the QSC are really bad! When you get home and start to mix the recording you're dealing with distortion between 2 / 5K. LOTS OF IT. I've been doing this for years and I know all about proper gain staging. The mix is vocals only so there's no place to hide the distortion. The pres in the A&H are better, but not by much. I seem to have much more headroom with the A&H so I can be more gentle with the pres. But the distortion between 2 and 5K is still there.\n\nBoth the QSC and the A&H have a feedback suppression feedback option.\n\nI really want to move up to the DM3 but without the feedback suppression I'm screwed. I'd have to buy a separate unit to fight the feedback. Not good!launch

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November 21, 2023

Not all inputs are combo jacks, which commenters feel is a poor design choice for a mixer at this price, limiting flexibility for synths and other 1/4-inch gear.

@daemonelectricity

\"This is going to be more useful to a project studio.\" Honestly, no, and I'm surprised to hear this coming from Nick. Unless you're recording a live band with mic'd up amps and drums, it's more likely that the viewers of this channel are going to have mostly synths and drum machines and need lots of TRS 1/4\" inputs. Yamaha does consistently make quality stuff, but this is surprising. Combination jacks would've been the way to go across the board. They've greatly limited the application of their product by not providing them.launch

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November 13, 2023

@PostingCringeOnMain

It's always nice to see more digital mixers getting more affordable. This is still a huge chunk of change for most people, but since moving to a digital mixer I would really not like to have to go back to an all analogue job. I think the major lacking point on this one is the lack of 3/4\" ins because I mostly record synths into mine so it's a no from me, but aside from that it looks great.launch

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November 13, 2023

@joesalyers

Bad design on the Inputs and outputs. All inputs should be combo jacks by default always it cost pennies to do it that way. On the outputs the problem is it would only have 3 stereo monitor mixes since 2 of the outputs 7 & 8 have to be used as your Font of house L/R. So if you are in a 4 or 5 piece band you will either share a stereo mix with people or have a terrible MONO mix in your in ears. All of these small mixers over $1200 should have at least 5 stereo monitor mixes so 10 mono outputs for monitors and a dedicated L/R out for front of house mains. But it's Yamaha and they still think its 1985. Don't get me wrong Yamaha makes gear that lasts for decades and I own a ton, but for $1700 it should have a more actual functionality and less of the useless high tech junk. The TF Yamaha mixers are nice and have great i/o even on the small TF-1 model, which is 16x16 for $200 more than the DM3 with Dante. Yamaha ALMOST made a mixer worth buying but it really needs a couple tweaks or a 24 channel version. 96K is a must in 2023! This helps with latency as well has EQ cramping but the lack of i/o is such a bummer. I would have bought 2 of them if it had just a couple more little tweaks to the inputs and outputs!! Come on Yamaha don't be like everybody else and be don't stingy with i/o!!launch

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April 6, 2023

With only three stereo aux/monitor mixes available, users in 4-5 piece bands report having to share mixes or accept mono in-ear feeds, which some call a dealbreaker at this price point.

@igorzavalnyi5341

No dynamic EQ, Deesser, and only 3 stereo auxes make this console a no-go for me even for small gigs. At this price point, especially, Behringer Wing is a better option.launch

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December 11, 2025

@joesalyers

Bad design on the Inputs and outputs. All inputs should be combo jacks by default always it cost pennies to do it that way. On the outputs the problem is it would only have 3 stereo monitor mixes since 2 of the outputs 7 & 8 have to be used as your Font of house L/R. So if you are in a 4 or 5 piece band you will either share a stereo mix with people or have a terrible MONO mix in your in ears. All of these small mixers over $1200 should have at least 5 stereo monitor mixes so 10 mono outputs for monitors and a dedicated L/R out for front of house mains. But it's Yamaha and they still think its 1985. Don't get me wrong Yamaha makes gear that lasts for decades and I own a ton, but for $1700 it should have a more actual functionality and less of the useless high tech junk. The TF Yamaha mixers are nice and have great i/o even on the small TF-1 model, which is 16x16 for $200 more than the DM3 with Dante. Yamaha ALMOST made a mixer worth buying but it really needs a couple tweaks or a 24 channel version. 96K is a must in 2023! This helps with latency as well has EQ cramping but the lack of i/o is such a bummer. I would have bought 2 of them if it had just a couple more little tweaks to the inputs and outputs!! Come on Yamaha don't be like everybody else and be don't stingy with i/o!!launch

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April 6, 2023

Users report issues such as global (non-independent) pan linking across mixes and inability to stereo-link channels for CUE grouping, which limit flexible mixing workflows.

@sheltonswinimer6891

Have the DM3 ….bought from this video….here is the issue. I set my stereo IEM as Aux 1 and 2 with LINKED PAN\n\nWhen I go into my IEM output, and then adjust my vocal and say pan it to the left. It actually pans that vocal to the left in the mains and all other auxes.\n\nSeemingly the pan is global in this unit which is really unfortunate. \n\nThoughts?launch

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November 17, 2025

@dcarmich00

I own a DM3D and love it, but one issue is that you can't stereo link channels as you can on the TF Series. (Currently, I'm using the FX return channels for my two stereo synths in the studio, but when you link two mono channels as a group you can't CUE them as a group.)launch

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July 8, 2024

At least one user reported a failed internal power supply on their unit, requiring a costly repair shipment despite normal use with the supplied power.

@kayoizm1

I love it but I got a bad one apparently the internal power supply blew. SMH just never turned back on (yes I only used the supplied power).$ 2,000 for the unit 5$00 for a case .. had to send it ground so I dont have to pay $300 for shipping almost could have just got a A&H SQ5. Now who knows when I will get it back. @yamahalaunch

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January 3, 2024