Neumann may have just changed the game for producers and mixing engineers working with immersive audio. The company’s new plug-in, RIME – which stands for Reference Immersive Monitoring Environment – allows users to monitor and tweak immersive audio formats using a pair of headphones.
If you’re unable to get into the studio, RIME is able to emulate a multichannel speaker setup. Designed to work exclusively with Neumann headphones, the plug-in converts multichannel formats to binaural audio. In theory, it makes it easier for producers to monitor Dolby Atmos, for example, if they’re working on the go.
RIME is easy to use, as it places your track within a single reference room that you can see on your screen. You can then see where each speaker is in the room, and experiment with audio levels emitted from each corner of the immersive set up.
The studio room captures the genuine ambience and feel of a real, purpose-built studio room. Neumann engineers captured the sound with an immersive setup of Neumann KH loudspeakers and subwoofers, which were then fine-tuned using MA 1 automatic monitor alignment. The three-dimensional sound field was captured with a KU 100 binaural head microphone, which was then ran through Neumann’s MT 48 audio interface.
According to Neumann, this setup should ensure “pristine sound quality throughout the entire signal chain”.
The plug-in also supports OSC compatible head tracker devices, meaning it is able to respond to a listener’s head movements during playback. As Neumann explains, the technology doesn’t just benefit producers and audio professionals – it also allows casual listeners to enjoy a surround-sound listening experience.
“RIME is not a simulation but captures an optimal control room in ultimate quality” Product Manager Jorma Marquardt explains. “RIME sounds real, because it is real!”
“Immersive audio is the new standard,” he continues. “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. 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. It provides 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 available now for £85, with the option of a 14-day free trial. It is compatible with all major DAWs on Mac and PC.
