AUDIO ESSENTIALS
MONITORING AND MASTERING
DEAR REALITY DEARVR PRO 2 SOFTWARE £191/$199 dear-reality.com
GENELEC 8381A SMART ACTIVE MONITOR £29,999/$TBC genelec.com
Genelec is the brand many choose for large editing suites. The 8381A Smart Active Monitor system is a flagship, floor- standing, adaptive point-source design. Built for high-end audio recording and mastering, the 8381A intelligently adapts to any acoustic environment. It produces accurate mixes that translate to other rooms and playback systems. The 8381A system is acoustically coaxial down to bass frequencies and draws on technology developed for Genelec’s The Ones family of point-source monitors and the W371A adaptive woofer system. It boasts an ultra-wide frequency response of 20Hz to 35kHz. With almost 6kW of amplifier power and a maximum sound pressure level of 126dB – the highest ever achieved by a precision point- source acoustic design – it offers the most sophisticated features and specification.
To create a spatial audio production, you need sophisticated software that’s easy to use. Dear Reality’s new DearVR Pro 2 software is a successor to its popular DearVR Pro spatialiser, adding a stereo input including width control and new immersive Pro Tools formats. The plug-in also has new high- and low-pass filters for early reflections and late reverb, giving true-to-life sound. The software simulates a 3D space around the listener that can be adjusted, rather than one spherical plane with a fixed distance. Also included are realistic reflections and 46 virtual acoustic presets. The perception of direction, distance, reflections and reverb can all be altered. Filter modules, each with a high- and low-cut, reduce rumbling or harsh frequencies.
RODE NTH-100 HEADPHONES £126/$149 rode.com
SENNHEISER HD 490 PRO HEADPHONES £349/$399 sennheiser.com
Rode’s NTH-100 professional over-ear cans are editing headphones that also work well on location for monitoring. They are comfortable to wear, as they have ergonomic earcups with memory foam cushions that use Cooltech gel. The earcup and headband cushions are made from Alcantara for comfort and the fully adjustable headband has a locking system for a custom fit that doesn’t slip. Audio is clear and well defined, which allows you to really hear what’s going on when editing. They give clear and precise sound, rather than a bassy thump for listening to music. These good-value headphones come with a detachable cable and dual cable attachments so you can use them in the left or right side. The 2.4m cable provided is long enough for most set-ups and has a locking connector.
Headphones for music are very distinct from reference studio cans. Sennheiser’s open-back HD 490 Pros feature particularly precise sound reproduction and a wide, realistic sound stage, giving accuracy for critical mixing decisions. The HD 490 Pros use ultralight voice coils for authentic sound reproduction. The low end is full, accurate and defined thanks to a special low-frequency cylinder. The open-mesh earcup covers reveal Sennheiser’s open-frame design, which minimises resonances and distortion. Transducers sit at a slight angle, emulating a monitor loudspeaker set-up, and the ear pads feature a soft comfort zone for glasses.
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