Genelec has announced the 9320A Reference Controller, providing a bridge to its new Unio Audio Monitoring Service Platform.
‘Unio brings together all the benefits of Genelec Smart Active Monitors, GLM 5.0 calibration software and Aural ID 2.0 technology to create seamless integration between professional in-room loudspeaker and headphone monitoring services,’ the company explains.
‘With flexible connectivity, a reference grade headphone output and tactile hardware control of Smart Active Monitors, GLM and Aural ID, the 9320A provides a compact hub for both static and mobile professional audio monitoring applications.’
Underpinning the Unio platform is Genelec’s range of Smart Active Monitors, which use auto-calibration and cloud computing to enable the production of accurate, reliable mixes that translate consistently to other rooms and systems. For professional headphone users, Genelec’s Aural ID technology provides a personal and truthful headphone listening experience with the sense of space and imaging provided by good in-room monitoring. By combining a calibrated Smart Active Monitoring system and professional headphones with Aural ID, users’ mixes translate reliably between monitors and headphones.
With the introduction of Unio and the 9320A, users can integrate these technologies and services via a single intuitive mobile desktop device, and view the entire system via the user’s own MyGenelec account. As a bridge to Unio, the 9320A offers management of multiple Smart Active Monitoring systems from stereo to immersive and beyond, and comes complete with a factory-calibrated reference microphone to allow automated system calibration and control of key GLM software features.
The 9320A can control up to three separate monitoring systems and headphones, and each system can operate at a calibrated listening level, according to EBU R128, ATSC A/85 or SMPTE RP200 standards. While the 9320A can support any active loudspeaker system – such as one or two ALT stereo sets – it crucially provides instant one-click access to a vast number of extra monitor control features built into Genelec’s Smart Active Monitoring family.
The headphone output of the 9320A displays high linearity and dynamic range, and allows users to combine their choice of professional quality headphones with the latest Aural ID 2.0 headphone plug-in. Users can therefore experience accurate, reliable and completely personal headphone monitoring while simultaneously measuring sound exposure, to ensure safe listening.
Additionally, the 9320A allows integration with any DAW or audio interface, and with its analogue, AES/EBU and USB connectivity, the 9320A can connect directly to stereo monitoring systems (with and without subwoofer), providing monitor control and doubling as a high quality A/D and D/A converter for both monitors and headphones.
The introduction of Unio and the 9320A coincides with the latest GLM 5.0 loudspeaker manager software release, which provides support for both the 9320A and the flagship 8381A free-standing main monitor. GLM 5.0 employs sophisticated cloud computing, enabling Unio to integrate a range of reference audio monitoring services, including intelligent room analysis, in-room system calibration, monitor control and personal audio monitoring.
‘Audio professionals in music, broadcast, postproduction and game audio are increasingly wanting the flexibility to work wherever and whenever they want, even if that sometimes involves unpredictable and challenging acoustic environments,’ says Genelec Managing Director, Siamäk Naghian. ‘To be able to switch instantly between well calibrated in-room and headphone monitoring without any interruption in workflow is crucial to this way of working, and so we see Unio and the 9320A as powerful tools in creating a next-generation reference monitoring system.’
More: www.genelec.com
