Neumann.Berlin, the German specialist in recording studio equipment, presents MA 1, an integrated hardware and software solution for acoustic calibration and room correction, developed specifically for Neumann studio monitors.
Its calibration algorithms, developed in collaboration with the prestigious Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (Fraunhofer IIS), ensure optimal monitoring quality in any environment, from acoustically untreated home recording studios to professional control rooms.
The system consists of an individually calibrated Neumann measurement microphone and the corresponding software for Mac and PC
“Neumann’s range of studio monitors is experiencing strong demand, in some cases growing by more than 60% over the previous year. According to our users, one of the main reasons is that our monitors offer the greatest acoustic consistency on the market; that is, even when they use different models, they get identical mix results in different listening environments.”
“This is extremely important, especially when monitoring is done from different decentralized locations. With a view to further enhancing this benefit for our customers, the next logical step is an automatic room correction system,” explains Ralf Oehl, CEO of Neumann.Berlin.
“Together with our partner, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (Fraunhofer IIS), we want to create the absolute benchmark in room correction systems for studio monitors, whether for small home studios or large control rooms with the highest professional standards.”
Neumann’s automatic monitor alignment system can be used with all DSP-controlled stereo systems in the KH range, currently the KH 80 DSP, and also with the analog KH 120, KH 310 and KH 420 studio monitors connected to the KH 750 DSP subwoofer.
“It’s an integrated system in which all the components are perfectly matched,” explains Markus Wolff, Portfolio Manager. “This allows us to make much more precise adjustments than with other manufacturers’ solutions, since only we know all the parameters of our monitors inside out and can modify them appropriately. In addition, the automatic monitor alignment system uses completely new calibration algorithms that generate a target curve adapted to the room and make precise adjustments to correct the acoustic problem accordingly. Depending on the user’s preferences, the target curve can be adjusted manually for each specific case.”
Neumann room correction
Neumann’s decades of experience in calibrating studio monitors have been built into the software. Just like a personal assistant, the application guides the user step by step through the measurements and analyzes the listening environment; unnecessary cosmetic elements have been deliberately left off the screens. The alignment data is stored and processed directly in the DSP-controlled monitors.
“This practical feature is very important to us,” notes Markus Wolff. “Users don’t need to load a plug-in and then deactivate it when they want to export audio, nor a driver that might be riddled with bugs. Once the alignment is done, the usual workflow resumes with no noticeable change, except for the dramatic improvement in sound!”
KH 80 DSP stereo pairs can be controlled directly through the software. To align all other stereo pairs in the KH range that are not equipped with DSP, you just connect them to the analog outputs of the KH 750 DSP subwoofer. So owners of a KH 120, KH 310 or KH 420 monitor benefit not only from extended bass response but also from room correction and, something completely new, phase linearization of the analog loudspeakers.
As Ralf Oehl puts it: “The MA 1 automatic monitor alignment system marks the start of a new era in Neumann monitoring. Feedback from the listening test participants has been very promising. Starting with a simple user interface focused on stereo systems, we will gradually expand the user assistant and the features through small updates, according to our customers’ wishes. Multichannel systems are planned.”
The software supplied in the MA 1 package is available for macOS and Windows 10. The MA 1 package, which includes a high-quality Neumann measurement microphone, is priced at 249 EUR (suggested retail price)
In addition, to mark the market launch, Neumann is offering attractive kits that include KH range monitors and the MA 1 package:
• Monitor Alignment Kit 1 (1 KH 750 DSP + MA 1 package)
• Monitor Alignment Kit 2 (2 KH 80 DSP + MA 1 package)
• Monitor Alignment Kit 3 (2 KH 80 DSP + 1 KH 750 DSP + MA 1 package)
