Introducing Yamaha’s ZG02 Game-Streaming Audio Mixer

Yamaha Professional Audio is excited to announce the January 31 release of the ZG02, the newest addition to the ZG series— a burgeoning lineup of dedicated live game-streaming mixing consoles that offers users a more immersive gaming experience through a combination of high-quality sound and essential game-based functions. Like its predecessor the ZG01, the new model offers all the features necessary for live game streaming and voice chat, yet with more of a focus on multiplayer application, and in a more compact design you can comfortably integrate into your desktop gaming setup.

Yamaha launched the original ZG01 in June 2022, signifying Yamaha's first-ever dedicated gaming interface for live-streaming gameplay and real time voice chat for game participants. Since the ZG01’s release we have been continuously observing and researching gaming trends and market demands by participating in exhibitions such as "TOKYO GAME SHOW” in Japan and “gamescom“ in Germany, as well as conducting our own surveys in order to build on the ZG01’s success and develop a new game streaming mixer that meets the requirements of a more diverse range of gaming enthusiasts and their respective applications.

The result, the new ZG02 live streaming gaming mixer—optimized for online multiplayer games and a wider range of playing styles, with more of a focus on functions that enhance communication and overall gameplay with other players and teammates than its predecessor the ZG01. The new ZG02 is also more compact in size and even more affordable in price, yet maintains the intuitive design, comprehensive features, and Yamaha's unique voice processing technology. Additionally, the dedicated "ZG Controller" remote app gives users more precise control of pertinent functions, and also provides a link function for crucial real-time volume adjustment.

Yamaha has also announced a valued collaboration with Elgato as of January 11, 2024 which will enable compatibility with their versatile Stream Deck devices by simply downloading the dedicated plug-in.. For gamers and game streamers of any kind, the ZG02 will prove an essential part of their everyday immersive gaming experience.

Optimized features for team communication

Designed specifically with multiplayer gameplay in mind, the ZG02 makes communicating with your team a dream. Users can easily and precisely control the sounds they want to hear, the sound of their own voice, and the sound they want to deliver to their audience via the simple, tactile controls of the ZG02.

3 knobs for intuitive player and game audio control

The ZG02 is equipped with three knobs for the three audio sources that influence your multiplayer gaming the most; your own voice, your team member’s voices, and all combined game audio. You can mix and control the levels of the voices you hear, and the voices your teammates and audience hear in real time, ensuring an optimal balance of volume that will have a dramatic effect on all aspects of your shared gaming experience.

One-touch access to sound FX

Three conveniently placed one-touch preset buttons near the center of the console give you instant access to three types of effects processing; for your own voice, for game audio, and for sound FX that will liven up gameplay considerably. So not only can you adjust individual voice output levels, you can also assign and adjust effects to add more realistic depth and dimension. Our advanced signal processing technologies can also give you an added advantage in game performance, for example, by adding effects to emphasize the sound of enemy footsteps.

Connect your favorite microphone or headset

The ZG02 supports microphone connections from a variety of terminals based on the current preferences popular with gamers and streamers such as headsets and condenser mics. We’ve also set three optimal microphone gain levels based on these preferences to make getting the perfect volume adjustments as fast and easy as possible. You can even switch to a speaker connection with a single touch of a button if you get tired of wearing headphones for extended periods of time.

A compact and affordable game streaming audio mixer

Gamers and streamers desktops can get pretty cluttered with computers, game consoles, keyboards, controllers, and any other equipment they feel is necessary for a comfortable, modern gaming lifestyle. With its attractive yet diminutive design, the ZG02 is smaller than a typical mixing interface and can even add to your gaming or work space’s aesthetic rather than overpower it. Integrating the superior sound quality and performance features of the ZG02 into your gaming or streaming ecosystem couldn’t be easier; simply connect to your gaming console and a power source via USB type-C, or if you’re a PC gamer just a single connection to your computer will power the unit. And with its more affordable price tag the ZG02 makes an ideal choice for both gamers and aspiring streamers alike.

Updated “ZG Controller” app adds power and flexibility

Just as the previous version of the ZG Controller app allowed more detailed adjustments of volume and various effect settings, the new version of the app will allow users to get the most out of their ZG02’s functionality. The update enables more precise parameter control and features a new “link” function that lets users adjust volume levels in real time during streaming using the ZG02’s physical knobs instead of the ZG Controller’s virtual controls for a more convenient and tactile experience.