Neumann’s MA 1 is an integrated hard/software tool for acoustic calibration and room correction of Neumann studio monitors jointly developed with the Fraunhofer IIS institute for audio signal processing.
The system comprises an individually calibrated Neumann measurement microphone and the corresponding software for Mac and PC, and ensures best possible monitoring quality in any environment – from acoustically untreated bedroom studios to professional control rooms.
‘The Neumann studio monitor portfolio is experiencing an enormous increase in demand – in some cases more than 60 per cent compared to the previous year,’ explains Ralf Oehl, CEO of Neumann.Berlin. ‘According to user feedback, one of the main reasons is that our monitors have the highest acoustic consistency on the market – different models deliver identical mixing results in varying listening environments. This is of crucial importance, especially when different decentralised monitoring processes are involved. To further perfect this advantage for our customers, automatic room correction is the next logical step
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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.’
MA-1 is available for all DSP-controlled stereo systems of the KH line (currently the KH 80 DSP as well as the analogue 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,’ explains 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.’
The MA 1 guides the user step-by-step through the measurements, and analyses the respective listening environment. The resulting correction data is stored and processed directly in the DSP-controlled monitors.
‘This handling advantage is extremely important to us,’ Wolff. asserts ‘The user does not have to load a plug-in and deactivate it again for audio export, nor is potentially bug-ridden driver software required. After the alignment, the familiar workflow remains completely unaffected – except for the drastically improved sound.’
KH 80 DSP stereo pairs can be controlled directly by the software. All other non-DSP-equipped stereo pairs in 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 benefit not only from an extended bass response, but also from the room correction and the phase linearization of the analogue loudspeakers.
‘The MA 1 is the beginning of a new era in Neumann monitoring,’ Oehl says. ‘The feedback from our test listeners has been very promising. Starting with a simple user interface and a focus on stereo systems we will extend the user guidance and functionality with updates, based on our customers’ wishes. This will include an expansion to multichannel systems.’
The software contained in the MA 1 package is available for macOS and Windows 10. The MSRP of the MA 1 package including a Neumann measuring microphone is priced at €249.
