Multichannel Extension for 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.

• For Quad, 5.1, 7.1, 5.1.4 and 7.1.4 setups
• Works with all network-enabled KH Line studio monitors
• Room-adaptive target curve
• Upgrade license for existing MA 1 hard/software solution
• For Mac and PC