The best way to set up multiple speakers in a studio is
via a ‘Monitor Controller’ and one of the most reputed
brands in professional audio just released a brand new
model that has more than few tricks up its sleeve. Cut - The cutter will simply mute all outputs of Nero. This
button can be extremely helpful during loud MIDI hangs,
accidental microphone feedback or digital glitches as it
allows you to quickly cut all signals going to your monitors.
Audient NERO Mono – The mono button allows you to hear
your playback in collapsed mono.
Audient Nero is simply, a reversed mixer. It takes
the input from your audio interface and distributes
it to a selection of multiple sets of speakers at the
same level, all controlled by one big volume knob and
allows you to switch between speakers seamlessly.
Features
Inputs – Nero can take up to three stereo inputs from
three separate devices which allow you to playback
audio from, on three sets of speakers at the same level.
It has two balanced stereo TRS inputs and an aux input
with 3.5mm or RCA options. The aux input can also be
fed a digital signal using a SPDIF or Toslink connection
that is capable of sample conversions up to 192kHz.
Apart from the regular stereo inputs, the Nero also
has a ‘Cue’ input and a ‘Talkback’ input. The cue input
allows you to send a signal that you want only on the
headphones like a click track or a demo backing track.
The talkback input is equipped with phantom power
so you can even connect condenser microphones. And
in case you don't have any spare microphones lying
around, Nero has a built in talkback microphone
for the most convenient and clean setup.
Outputs – Nero offers three balanced stereo TRS outputs
that you can connect to three pairs of speakers. It also
offers a separate balanced mono output for a subwoofer,
which is one the best features as this separate sub output
allows you mix and match the subwoofer with any of
the three connected stereo monitors and even allows
you to monitor just the sub for low end monitoring.
Nero also offers four built in amplified headphone
outputs, each with a separate level controller and the
ability to send the Cue and Talkback signals to them.
Nero will allow you to set the levels you are outputting
to your speakers at the time of initial setup so
you can ensure that when you switch between
speakers, the levels will remain consistent.
Additional Features
Dimmer - The dimmer simply lowers the levels of all
outputs from Nero to a desired set level at the push of
a button without disturbing the main volume knob.
Polarity Flip – The polarity flip will phase flip the left stereo
signal when used alone and when used in conjunction
with the mono button, will remove all center information
and allow only the stereo fields through the circuit. This
button is extremely useful to phase check your stereo mix.
Even more features
The Nero has a few more features that make it fit
your workflow better. For instance, the Dim, Mono,
Polarity and Cut buttons can be set to latch or toggle
mode and the speaker selectors can be paired together
to each other. You can also set the Sub button to be
automatically toggled with desired speaker selections.
Conclusion
The addition of a monitor controller to your setup is
one of the most facilitating steps you can take towards
becoming a better mix engineer or producer. Once
you add such a device in your setup, it becomes one
of the most essential features in your workflow.
It is really up to you if you want all your speakers
to be studio monitors or not. I suggest you keep
as much variation as possible to ensure your mix
translates well on a wide variety of speakers.
With the availability of four headphone outputs you can
even connect simple 2.1 desktop speakers so you can
also monitor on consumer grade speakers on the fly.
For me personally, my first monitor controller was one
of the most notable equipment that helped me become
a better engineer. Great and expensive studio monitors
are definitely a good investment, but you won’t be able
to understand them as well if you can't hear them in
comparison to other speakers and hear exactly how they
sound different. My suggestion, before you break your bank
on expensive monitors is, get yourself a Monitor controller
and a set of decent speakers. Connect every other speaker
that you have lying around and work your way up.
Mukul Jain
(Chief Engineer/Proprietor at
Ferris Wheel Studios)
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
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