Neumann Multichannel Extension MA 1

TRULY IMMERSIVE WITH NEUMANN PRECISION Immersive formats have become extremely popular in film, music, and other applications. Yet few control rooms are optimally suited to multichannel playback. MA 1 Multichannel Extension is thus an indispensable tool for precise room correction, realizing reference quality monitoring in surround and immersive setups with Neumann studio monitors.

RELIABLE MONITORING FOR MULTICHANNEL APPLICATIONS Traditionally, control rooms have been designed for stereo playback. Adding more speakers for immersive formats creates a whole new set of challenges. Many of the additional loudspeaker positions may be in acoustically unfavorable locations. Due to spatial constraints, it is often necessary to deviate from the intended loudspeaker positioning.

The Multichannel Extension for MA 1 is therefore an essential tool for achieving optimal sound under real-world conditions. But even in an audio control room designed specifically for immersive formats, precise alignment improves monitoring accuracy audibly.

MA 1 linearizes the frequency response and optimizes localization of the entire system. This is of particular importance in multichannel applications to avoid changing the sonic character when panning sources. Also, this prevents misinterpretation of sonic variations as directional information. After all, the human brain relies on head-related filtering to extract directional information. Consistent sound from all directions is therefore of the essence for precise and reliable multichannel monitoring and a truly immersive listening experience.

YOUR DIGITAL ACOUSTICS EXPERT Like the stereo version, the Multichannel Extension generates a room-adaptive target curve based on the measurements of your room, incorporating the vast knowledge Neumann engineers have gained in measuring and optimizing countless control rooms. The MA 1 algorithms detect room modes and automatically chooses the optimal filter type to correct acoustic problems in the best possible way. In addition, time-of-arrival differences are compensated for, resulting in a three-dimensional sound image with precise spatial resolution at the listening position.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS The Multichannel Extension requires an MA 1 measurement microphone and an installation of MA 1. Starting with MA 1 v2.0, Multichannel Extension is integrated into the software and can be activated via a licence key which can be purchased from one of our authorized dealers.

In the first version, only DSP-equipped Neumann studio monitors in Quad, 5.1, 7.1, 5.1.4 and 7.1.4 setups are supported. Support for other multichannel formats as well as analog KH Line monitors in combination with a DSP-equipped subwoofer will be added in future updates. AES67 versions are supported via analog or S/PDIF/AES3 connection. AES67 audio connectivity support will be added in future updates.

• Alignment of Multichannel system via the Multichannel Extension, supporting network- enabled monitors exclusively, in quad, 5.1, 7.1, 5.1.4, 7.1.4 layouts

• Smoother updates via new version notification. Download and update from within the app

• Introduction of licensing infrastructure to unlock feature extensions

• More targeted future development via analytics about speaker setup and app usage

• Easier troubleshooting when failing Output Leveling via display of problematic level readings

• Better overview via simultaneous display of Before and After Frequency responses

• Increased speed of measurement preparation and alignment saving

• More responsive Activate Alignment Checkbox on Chart Screen

• Help-Button: link changed to instruction manual hosted on website

• Improved workflow via greyed out Restart button after successful Output Leveling

• Improved backwards compatibility to setups and alignments created before MA 1 v1.5

• Additional user guidance introduced, including the following prompts:

- not to change the monitoring level after Output Leveling

- to disable Direct Monitoring in audio device

- to enable P48 if very low mic signal is detected

- how to change Auto StandBy settings for KH 750

- when exceeding Delay capabilities in correction for time of arrival

Studio monitors and microphone not included, software only.