Neumann is making the process of mixing a little easier thanks to their new RIME (Reference Immersive Monitoring Environment) software. RIME enables users to monitor immersive formats like Dolby Atmos in reference quality, providing an excellent alternative when a multichannel loudspeaker setup is unavailable or when working on the go.
“Immersive audio is the new standard. Streaming services favor 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,” said Yasmine Riechers, CEO of Neumann.
“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. How it works is RIME converts multichannel formats to binaural audio, retaining surround and height channel information, thus enabling users to monitor and mix content in formats such as Dolby Atmos using headphones.
RIME captures a real purpose-built studio room using reference-quality Neumann equipment throughout. For added realism, RIME supports OSC compatible head tracker devices to create a listening experience that responds to the user’s head movements.
RIME can also be used for stereo playback to enjoy a loudspeaker-like listening experience without the in-head localization typically associated with headphones. This feature enables users to check their mixes for loudspeaker compatibility using Neumann headphones, allowing them to mix with confidence that their tracks will translate perfectly to all playback systems.
