The system consists of an individually calibrated Neumann measurement microphone and the corresponding software for Mac and PC.
German studio specialist Neumann.Berlin has announced the launch of the MA 1, an integrated hard/software tool for acoustic calibration and room correction, tailor-made for Neumann studio monitors. Calibration algorithms, jointly developed with a leading global institute for audio signal processing, the Fraunhofer IIS, promises greater monitoring quality in any environment – from acoustically untreated bedroom studios to professional control rooms.
The system consists of an individually calibrated Neumann measurement microphone and the corresponding software for Mac and PC.
“The Neumann studio monitor portfolio is experiencing an enormous increase in demand; in some cases, more than 60% compared to the previous year. According to user feedback, one of the main reasons is that our monitors have the highest acoustic consistency on the market; i.e. different models deliver identical mixing results in varying listening environments. This is of crucial importance, especially when different decentralized monitoring processes are involved. To further perfect this advantage for our customers, automatic room correction is the next logical step,” explained Ralf Oehl, CEO of Neumann.Berlin.
“Together with our partner, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS), we want to create our own absolute reference for room correction in studio monitors, regardless of whether it is for small home studios or large control rooms of the highest professional standards.”
Neumann’s Automatic Monitor Alignment is available for all DSP-controlled stereo systems of the KH line, i.e. currently the KH 80 DSP, as well as the analogue studio, monitors KH 120, KH 310, and KH 420 in combination with the subwoofer KH 750 DSP.
“It is an integrated system; all components are perfectly matched,” explained Portfolio Manager Markus Wolff. “This enables us to make much more accurate adjustments than third-party solutions since only we have a deeper knowledge of all system-inherent parameters of our monitors and can take them into account accordingly. In addition, the Automatic Monitor Alignment uses novel calibration algorithms that generate a room-adaptive target curve and make precise adjustments to correct the respective acoustic problem. Depending on your preferences, the target curve can be further adjusted manually to meet individual requirements.”
KH 80 DSP stereo pairs can be controlled directly by the software. All other – non-DSP-equipped – stereo pairs of the KH Line can be aligned by connecting them to the analogue outputs of the KH 750 DSP subwoofer. Owners of KH 120, KH 310 and KH 420 monitors thus benefit not only from an extended bass response but also from the room correction and – this is unique – the phase linearization of the analogue speakers.
The software contained in the MA 1 package is available for macOS and Windows 10.
