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Neumann RIME (Reference Immersive Monitoring Environment) is a virtual immersive monitoring solution made specifically for Neumann headphones that puts you in the sweet spot of a world-class 7.1.4 studio. Using real-world acoustical data and AMBEO virtual acoustics algorithms, RIME allows you to hear your mixes as they would sound coming out of real speakers, so you can mix confidently and accurately in immersive formats such as Dolby Atmos and Ambisonics using only a pair of headphones.
While Neumann isn’t the first company to develop a virtual monitoring plug-in for immersive audio, RIME is different. In classic Neumann fashion, the engineers behind RIME perfected every detail in order to deliver the most accurate virtual monitoring experience possible. And instead of giving you a handful of different room and speaker options with wildly different acoustical profiles, RIME gives you one reference-quality listening environment engineered for the flattest, most accurate sound possible. Finally, because RIME is optimized specifically for Neumann headphones, you can always be sure that you’re hearing your mix accurately.
We recently sat down with Jonathan Ruest at Neumann to get the inside scoop on how RIME came together and how it can help you revolutionize your immersive mixing rig.
"RIME is the latest evolution of the Neumann monitoring ecosystem," said Jonathan. "One of the core strengths of this ecosystem is consistency. Every monitor, regardless of size, is voiced to deliver the same sonic experience at its recommended listening position. The NDH headphones follow the same philosophy and are designed to match the monitor family’s sound signature when calibrated with MA 1. RIME takes this a step further."
Like other virtual monitoring plug-ins, RIME uses binaural impulse responses to simulate how your mix would sound coming out of real speakers in a real room. What sets RIME apart is the way these impulse responses were captured—from end to end, Neumann painstakingly optimized every link in the signal chain to deliver the most true-to-life sound possible. Here’s what went into creating RIME:
Capture Chain
First, Neumann’s acoustics experts built a dedicated reference-quality room with ideal dimensions and acoustical treatment to eliminate issues such as standing waves and phase cancellation. Then, they configured the room with Neumann KH Series monitors in a 7.1.4 array, representing the most common configuration used for Dolby Atmos mixing. The system was then calibrated with the Neumann MA 1 Automatic Monitor Alignment Microphone to achieve a neutral frequency response in the room.
To capture the acoustical profile of the room and the spatial positioning of the monitors, Neumann engineers recorded a series of impulse responses using a Neumann KU100 “dummy head” microphone (lovingly named Fritz) plugged into a Neumann MT 48 interface. These impulse responses measure the slight differences between sound waves arriving at Fritz’s left and right ears, which are then used to virtualize the sound of your mixes in that same room.
Playback Chain
Using state-of-the-art AMBEO virtual acoustics algorithms, RIME virtualizes your immersive mix and outputs a frequency- and phase-accurate binaural signal representing how it would sound on real speakers in a real room. RIME even accounts for the size of your head and the distance between your ears to provide the most lifelike sound possible.
To ensure consistency at the playback stage, RIME has been optimized specifically for Neumann NDH Series headphones, eliminating all possible variables in the signal chain. Thanks to Neumann’s careful attention to detail, using RIME is the closest experience you can have to actually mixing in a professional 7.1.4 room.
For all the painstaking attention to detail that went into it, RIME itself is incredibly easy to use. All you need is the plug-in and a pair of Neumann NDH 30 or NDH 20 headphones (although a Neumann MT 48 interface is recommended, as its headphone outputs are specifically tuned for Neumann headphones).
"It’s a unifying reference tool for professionals working across multiple rooms, traveling frequently, using a full immersive setup, or just beginning to explore immersive audio without a rig of their own," said Jonathan. "It brings all of these scenarios together by providing a single, reliable point of reference so your mixes translate clearly no matter where you are."
Here’s a step-by-step guide on getting up and running with RIME:
Session Setup
First, create a 7.1.4 master bus in your DAW session and insert the RIME plug-in. If you’re using the Dolby Atmos Renderer plug-in or an Ambisonic decoder, make sure RIME is inserted after it. With RIME running, you’ll only see a stereo output on channels 1 and 2 of the master bus—that means it’s working as intended, converting your multichannel mix into a binaural signal.
Plug-In Setup
Inside the plug-in, the first step is to specify your mixing format and the headphones you’re using. First, click the “Setup” drop-down and select 7.1.4 (or another format, such as 7.1). Then, under “Headphone Profile,” select the NDH 30 or NDH 20 profile to match the model you’re using.
Finally, click the gear icon to access Settings and customize your Interaural Time Difference (ITD). All you need to do is measure the circumference of your head and the distance between your ears, then enter those values and click "Calculate." (This menu is also where you’ll enter your license information.)
Plug-In Overview and Controls
RIME’s main window displays a top-down view of your speaker configuration, along with a sidebar showing the output levels and Solo and Mute controls for each speaker. Alternatively, you can switch to a 3D view by selecting “Enable Room View” in the Settings menu.
The Ambience slider at the bottom adjusts the blend of room sound in your headphones, with a default middle setting that is perfectly balanced. The high and low shelves alter the bass and treble if needed, but these are best left flat. There’s also a +10 dB LFE option in the Settings menu if you need to calibrate your LFE level manually. If you’re using an OSC-compatible head-tracker device, you can activate it under the Head Tracking section. Lastly, the Master Gain control provides final output level adjustments.
Mixing With RIME
Mixing is the easiest part of using RIME. Once you’ve set it up once, you can essentially ignore the plug-in and mix in Dolby Atmos or other immersive formats as you normally would. When you want to check your mix in stereo or 7.1, simply change your downmix settings in the Renderer and select the corresponding format in RIME. Because RIME is inserted after the Dolby Atmos Renderer, it doesn’t affect your mix at all—it simply gives you the experience of hearing it on real speakers in a real room.
"While RIME is designed to support immersive audio production, it’s just as powerful in stereo workflows," noted Jonathan. "It helps overcome one of the biggest challenges in mixing on headphones—ensuring your mix translates accurately to speakers. Wherever a creator needs a realistic, speaker-like representation of their mix, RIME delivers."
Most professional mixers agree that you really need to hear your immersive mix on speakers in order to do your best work. But when that’s not possible, RIME gives you the next best thing: precise and lifelike virtual monitoring based on real sound captured in a real room. Whether your space is too small for a 7.1.4 set-up or you simply need to make immersive mixes on the go, this plug-in and a pair of Neumann headphones put you right in the sweet spot of a world-class room.
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