As a clear market leader in monitoring systems for professional environments, Genelec has taken its Smart Active Monitors to a new level of accuracy thanks to its tight integration of calibration software and hardware. This approach has long been an industry standard due to their exceptional imaging, uncolored performance, and tight integration with GLM system calibration software – which allows accurate studio monitor calibration for level, distance delay and frequency response. This ensures the entire monitoring system is tailored to the room to produce mixes that translate reliably, whatever the playback system.
Genelec is celebrating over 40 years of designing and manufacturing active loudspeakers and 15 years of its Smart Active Monitoring technology, which allows studio monitors to be networked, configured and calibrated for the user’s specific acoustic environment. Each Smart Active Monitor or subwoofer is equipped with advanced internal DSP circuitry, which tightly integrates with the GLM (Genelec Loudspeaker Manager) software application, running on Mac or PC. GLM’s reference microphone kit allows the user’s acoustic environment to be analyzed, after which GLM’s AutoCal feature optimizes each Smart Active Monitor for level, distance delay, subwoofer crossover phase and room response equalization, with the option of further fine tuning by the user.
With the latest GLM 4.2 update, powered by the fast and precise AutoCal 2 automatic room calibration algorithm, Genelec also introduces a host of new features, including the GRADE Room Acoustic Report, remote control of key parameters, and improved symmetric calibration of groups of monitors and subwoofers.
By using the information gathered during the AutoCal calibration process, the GRADE report makes GLM the first calibration software in the world to give users a complete analysis of their room and monitoring system performance, in line with the best practices – including ITU-R BS.1116 recommendations. The report, which as an introductory offer is available free of charge throughout 2022, provides specific observations and advice on any acoustical issues, helping users and studio designers alike to fine tune the room’s acoustic treatment, adjust monitor and listener positions, and optimize bass management.
The report analyzes a wide range of variables including frequency response accuracy and early vs. late sound at the listening position, time of flight accuracy, early reflection structure, and a complete room acoustic analysis. These all combine to identify the reasons for any inaccuracy in sound color, the precision of stereo imaging, the degree of listener envelopment, subwoofer and bass management performance, and more.
By introducing MIDI remote compatibility, GLM 4.2 also creates a faster, smoother monitor control experience with both DAWs and control surfaces, allowing external tactile control of key functions including playback volume level and the activation of mutes, volume presets, bass management and monitor groups.
And for the increasing number of users embracing immersive audio, GLM 4.2 can calibrate both huge and compact monitoring systems alike, enabling listening distances right down to 50cm (20 inches). The calibration group ID and subwoofer group ID features improve the way that selected monitors can be calibrated as symmetric groups, and multiple subwoofers can now work together in highly flexible topologies.
"For over 15 years we’ve been refining the performance and user experience of our Smart Active Monitoring series to provide our customers with truly scalable, future-proof monitoring systems that can grow with the user whenever their requirements change," comments Genelec Managing Director Siamäk Naghian. "These new additions not only help the customer get the very best out of their room via the GRADE Room Acoustic Report, but they make any transition to the world of immersive monitoring cost-effective and painless. More than ever, Genelec continues to represent a secure long-term investment for audio professionals the world over."
www.genelec.com
