Neumann has released RIME (Reference Immersive Monitoring Environment), a software solution for Neumann headphones that enables monitoring of immersive audio formats in reference quality on headphones as an alternative to a multichannel loudspeaker set-up for when this is unavailable or when working on the go.
‘Immersive audio is the new standard,’ sates Neumann CEO, Yasmine Riechers. ‘Streaming services favour content that can be enjoyed in spatial audio formats such as Dolby Atmos or Sony 360 Reality. More and more DAWs now offer immersive audio capabilities, and engineers, producers, and musicians alike are eager to explore these new possibilities. Reliable monitoring is essential for this.
‘With RIME, we’re offering an integrated solution that meets these evolving needs, providing a more cost-effective and mobile alternative to loudspeaker-based monitoring solutions. Our NDH headphones have the same carefully balanced sound as our studio KH studio monitors, making it easy to switch between the two. With RIME this unique benefit extends to immersive monitoring as well.’
RIME is a plug-in for all major DAWs on Mac and PC (VST3/AU/AAX) and is typically used on the output or monitoring bus. It converts multichannel formats to binaural audio, retaining surround and height channel information, enabling users to monitor and mix content in formats such as Dolby Atmos using headphones.
It captures a real purpose-built studio room using reference-quality Neumann equipment throughout. Ii references immersive set-ups of Neumann KH Line loudspeakers and subwoofers fine-tuned using MA 1 automatic monitor alignment. The three-dimensional soundfield was captured using the KU 100 binaural head microphone connected to Neumann’s MT 48 audio interface to ensure pristine sound quality throughout the entire signal chain.
‘As RIME is made for Neumann headphones exclusively, this perfect signal chain extends all the way to the user,’ explains Product Manager Jorma Marquardt. ‘Our NDH 20 and NDH 30 headphones are manufactured to extremely tight tolerances. And of course, we know all their acoustic parameters. Using groundbreaking Ambeo algorithms, we are able to realise true immersion with unmatched sonic consistency and razor-sharp 3D localisation.’
Unlike alternative solutions that offer a multitude of options and different sounding virtual spaces, RIME is easy to use and reproduces one reference room as a single source of truth. ‘RIME is not a simulation but captures an optimal control room in ultimate quality,’ Marquardt says. ‘RIME sounds real, because it is real.’
RIME also supports OSC compatible head tracker devices to create a listening experience that responds to the user’s head movements. Moreover, RIME can also be used for stereo playback to enjoy a loudspeaker-like listening experience without the ‘in-head’ localisation typically associated with headphones. This feature enables users to check mixes for loudspeaker compatibility using Neumann headphones.
RIME makes immersive audio accessible and easy to handle, and enables mix engineers to work anywhere. Likewise, artists can now approve immersive mixes using NDH headphones, without visiting a physical studio.
More: www.neumann.com
