So you run a DAW-centric studio setup — no mixing console, just your computer, an interface and some monitors. And you now want to add a pair of monitors, so you can A/B your mix between your mains and a pair of Auratone-style cubes for translation purposes.

You do your research and you’re looking at purchasing a monitor controller. Welcome to one of the most wildly diverse product categories in studio-land. At one end you may want to re-mortgage your house to purchase the Grace Audio Atmos-friendly controller (well over A$10k) while at the other end you can pay less than A$100 for a volume knob. 

The Monitor Pilot is a ~A$250 product and could well be the round peg you need for your round monitoring hole.

ALL ANALOGUE

For starters, Monitor Pilot isn’t an audio interface. It’s an entirely analogue product. It can handle up to three L/R monitoring destinations and toggle between them with a passive switch.

A 2m lead connects the I/O with the volume knob and the switching unit. Pop the I/O box under your desk or somewhere you can run your headphones to, as that’s an option as well — the third monitor destination can be your cans.

The volume knob is big with smooth travel and provides high resolution level control. The I/O box has trim control (one per output) to level match your monitors. The underside of the knob is rubberised, so it stays put.

Music Tribe (Behringer) has put a TC Electronic badge on this product. It’s hard to know what a TC product typically is these days (before TC was purchased by Music Tribe, it was already trending towards mostly being a guitar technology brand), but it’s good to see the logo on my desktop.

TURN UP

If you’re accustomed to turning your speakers up and down with a mouse, or reaching for a small pot in your outboard rack, then Monitor Pilot will be a real treat. If you want to switch between monitors but don’t need USB ports, a mic preamp, a dim switch, talkback mic, mono sum button, multiple headphone jacks with independent level controls etc., then the Monitor Pilot is doubtlessly something worth investigating.

The only slight reservation I have is the choice of colour of the big knob. Left to my own devices, I’d go with black. Oh, and it might have been nice to have the inputs on combi jacks rather than exclusively on XLRs. 

Monitor Pilot is a super-neat solution without a bunch of features superfluous to most production and mixing studios.

For years, recording and mastering studios, film, post and broadcast facilities, have relied on TC’s monitor controllers using units such as Clarity X, System 6000, BMC2 and Level Pilot. Now with Monitor Pilot, TC Electronics offers flexibility, transparent connectivity and direct access to volume level and stereo speaker selection right at your fingertips.

The controller can connect up to three stereo speaker sets on fully balanced, 22 dBu line level XLR connectors, as well as a pair of headphones on a ¼” TRS jack connector on the front panel. On the input side, another pair of balanced XLR connectors to connect to the main output from your audio interface. There is also the option of connecting media devices via the 1/8” mini jack connector on the front panel, which takes balanced as well as unbalanced signals depending on the device.

The Monitor Pilot is all-analog solution, so is completely computer independent. Its wired remote control combines a tactile interface with a tiny footprint and a solid rubber base. The I/O box can be mounted above or below the desk for access to the headphones output and 1/8” mini jack input. 

Product Features

• Multi-monitor switching control station for up to three sets of studio monitors and one set of headphones
• Easy access master volume control in elegant design with monitor switching controls
• Separated I/O housing and control panel for tidy cable runs and sleek aesthetic
• High-quality main studio stereo XLR inputs and 1/8″ TRS jack input for use with external media devices
• All stereo outputs include independent precision trim pots for calibrated listening
• High-quality passive switching to A/B between monitor sets
• All-analog signal path retains original audio quality
• High-grade aluminium desktop control housing with visual feedback of active speaker set
• Extremely easy to setup and use
• Universal wall wart included

TC Electronic has announced Clarity M Stereo, a hardware meter with an appealing price tag.

“Keeping your loudness, peaks and balances in check is vital for both pro and home studios,” explains Leon Mortensen, R&D manager at the Danish audio company. “With Clarity M Stereo all essential mix data is just a glance away.”

Designed to provide insight into the fundamentals of your mix, Clarity M Stereo is filled with all the dedicated stereo features, meters and visualisation tools known from the classic Clarity M.

On top of flexible connectivity and a fast offline mode, it has a wealth of music tools to analyse your mix for phase, balances, frequency distribution, loudness, clipping and mono compatibility.

Paired with its sturdy seven-inch display, DAW integration and presets, Clarity M Stereo is a solid addition to any console, home studio or mixing desk.

Clarity M Stereo features

• Stereo hardware meter
• Seamless DAW integration
• Precise real-time analyser
• Customisable vector scope
• Loudness Radar for measurements over time
• Offline plug-in mode
• Mid/side Balance-O-Meter
• Correlation meter
• Support for 96k digital stereo input
• Application specific presets
• Flexible display layout

Clarity M will go for US$250.

The TC Electronic DVR250-DT is part of TC’s Icon series of hardware-controlled effect plug-ins and brings the classic reverb sound of the EMT 250 Electronic Reverberator to your DAW. Like the original, the DVR250-DT marries hardware control with software processing and sounds great on anything from lead vocals and synths to drum hits and percussion.

The legendary EMT 250 has branded itself solidly into the very fabric of music in the hands of celebrated sound smiths such as George Massenburg, Kendrick Lamar, Nick Hook, Brian Eno and Bruce Swedien.

TC says the DVR250-DT is the perfect match for any track “that needs sonic perfection and a warm vintage vibe.” The hardware-controlled plug-in is available in VST, AU and AAX formats and includes built-in echo, delay, chorus, phasing and space effects.