Yamaha DM5 Product Launch
Creating a Complete Digital Product Launch for Yamaha Music
Launching a confidential new product required more than simply producing a film.
Yamaha Music needed a complete launch experience that could introduce its new DM5 range to the press before opening it up to the wider public.
White Video was approached to produce a 15-minute launch film for the new product range. Following an initial meeting and site visit at Yamaha, we developed the creative approach from the ground up, creating storyboards, visual references and a studio concept designed specifically around the products.
Alongside the video production, our digital team developed a bespoke online platform to host the launch, giving Yamaha a complete solution for both the content and its delivery.
The Brief.
The DM5 range was still confidential, so the entire production needed to take place within a controlled environment ahead of the official public launch.
Following our initial site visit, we created a detailed filming brief and storyboard showing how Yamaha's existing workspace could be transformed into a purpose-built studio environment. The concept incorporated three Yamaha presenters, dedicated product sequences and a dramatic reveal of the new range.
The launch itself would take place in two stages. Press were given initial access to the bespoke platform, where they could watch the presentation and ask questions live. The same platform would then be used for the wider public launch the following week.
This meant the project needed to work as one joined-up production, combining creative development, filming, motion graphics and digital delivery.
Bringing the Idea to Life.
Rather than approaching the project as a conventional presenter-led corporate film, we wanted the visual treatment to reflect the importance of the product launch.
White Video took on the Director of Photography role and brought in specialist lighting support to develop the look of the set. We also incorporated an automated camera slider and jib crane, giving us controlled cinematic movement across both the presenter and product sequences.
Lighting became a key part of the creative concept. For the main product reveal, the DM5 range was initially held in silhouette before the lighting levels were gradually raised and the stage lighting faded up, creating a dynamic reveal of the products.
A similar technique was used for the seated presenters, helping create a consistent visual identity throughout the film rather than simply placing presenters against a conventional corporate backdrop.
Production & Execution.
The production was delivered across three days.
Day one focused on constructing the studio set and completing the lighting design. The lighting was carefully planned so the core setup could remain in place throughout the production, allowing us to move efficiently between different scenes without unnecessary delays.
Day two was dedicated to cinematic product filming, using the automated slider, jib and controlled lighting to capture the DM5 range.
On day three, we filmed the three Yamaha presenters using autocue, alongside jib crane handovers and the establishing, introduction and closing sequences required to bring the complete film together.
Our in-house motion graphics and animation team then created visual overlays and supporting graphics to reinforce key information throughout the presentation.
Creating the Digital Launch Platform.
The project extended beyond video production.
Our digital team created a bespoke online hosting platform specifically for the DM5 launch, allowing Yamaha to control how and when the new product presentation was released.
Press were given access first, providing an opportunity to watch the presentation and ask questions live ahead of the official launch. A week later, the platform was opened up for the public launch of the range.
Combining the film and digital platform meant the different elements of the launch could be developed together, giving Yamaha a single production partner across the creative, video and digital delivery.
Collaborative Post-Production.
With a 15-minute presentation and a significant amount of product information to communicate, Yamaha remained closely involved throughout post-production.
We invited the client into our editing suite to work directly through the timeline with our team. This allowed us to review the structure, messaging and individual sequences together and make decisions efficiently while ensuring the finished film accurately represented both the products and Yamaha's objectives for the launch.
The Result.
The finished project brought together creative development, set design, cinematography, specialist lighting, presenter filming, product sequences, motion graphics and bespoke digital delivery.
Despite the short lead time, we moved from the initial location scout to a fully developed filming schedule within a week before delivering the three-day production and collaborative post-production process.
The bespoke platform then provided Yamaha with a controlled environment for the initial press launch and live questions, followed by the wider public release the following week.
Yamaha's European Marketing Manager, Karl Christmas, said:
“With a recommendation from a colleague, we asked White to produce a 15-minute corporate video for us at very short notice. On the same day, we were scouting filming locations and within a week we had a well-executed filming schedule in place. The filming and editing team were an efficient joy to work with and the end results were applauded both inside and outside our company. We won’t hesitate to use them again.”
Karl Christmas, European Marketing Manager, Yamaha Music
