Hedd Audio has updated its Hedd Ctrl loudspeaker control software expanding the capabilities of the virtual monitor control Mk2/Bass system by per-band bypass of the parametric EQ, adding smarter device sorting, enhanced speaker highlighting and updating immersive format labelling. Additionally, handling of IGMP snooping on network switches has been improved to increase the stability of speaker connections.
This Version 2.0.1 update adds to the capabilities of Hedd Ctrl, which supports full remote management of Mk2 speakers and subwoofers of up to 250 loudspeakers.
Hedd Audio Mk2 range monitors offer the ability to adjust sound through features such as zero-phase filters, the Hedd Lineariser, and closed and ported modes for distinct sonic characteristics. EQ, phase alignments and delay functionality allow users to manually correct the room.
Hedd Ctrl is designed to be an extension of the Mk2 monitors and subwoofers as well as a powerful software for all immersive set-ups. These features no longer need to be set on the backplate of each loudspeaker but can be remotely adjusted via Hedd Ctrl from the sweet spot of a studio. The software grants additional control, improves workflow, and fine-tunes the listening system. A 12-band parametric EQ for global, group-dependent, or per speaker customisation is at hand, just like system-wide phase alignment and a special zero-latency recording mode.
The update allows users to individually bypass each band of the equaliser, making A/B comparisons much easier. Version 2.0.1 also fixes EQ input issues and a scaling bug that some users experienced. For larger Ctrl-based systems with up to 250 speakers, improved handling of IGMP snooping on network switches helps support more reliable speaker connections.
Hedd Ctrl provides labelling of all connected units, as muting and soloing. A customisable auto-sleep and wake-up feature enables individual standby configurations. Additionally, loudspeakers can be arranged in groups simplifying scaling of a system according to different playback formats such as 2.1 or 7.1.
It also makes frequency crossovers and distributions easy to check, for example by grouping the speakers into surrounds, front, rear and LFE.
All settings in Ctrl can be saved as presets, so the system can be quickly set up for different applications with a few clicks. The update enhances that capability by visually highlighting loudspeakers whose back panel Lineariser switch is not set as required for Ctrl operation. Especially in larger and more complex monitoring systems, this new feature helps identify misconfigurations quickly. Hedd Audio has also improved the immersive setup workflow of Hedd Ctrl by adding assignment labels and device sorting to match the relevant standards.
Version 2.0.1 of Hedd Ctrl includes a matching firmware update for currently supported speakers – Type 05 Mk2, Type 07 Mk2, Type 20 Mk2, Type 30 Mk2, and the Bass 08 and Bass 12 subwoofers. The speaker firmware update is required for the new Ctrl features to work correctly.