Martinsound Introduces MonitorMAXNew Stereo Monitor Controller adds multiple source selection and talkback to consoles and DAWs, and enhances MultiMAX EX July 24, 2001
Martinsound, Inc. debuted its MonitorMAX Stereo Monitor Controller at the NAMM Summer Session. MonitorMAX is the latest addition to Martinsound's growing line of MAX multichannel monitoring solutions and may be installed as a standalone unit or in tandem with the MultiMAX Multiformat Monitor Controller to further enhance its capabilities.
MonitorMAX adds multiple stereo source monitor selection and talkback capabilities to multi-room production environments and is the perfect companion for any mixing console or digital audio workstation that lacks the ability to route monitor sources and control room talkback to headphone or speaker cue feeds in the studio. Ten stereo sources, eight at +4dB and two at -10dB, may be selected to separate Cue (studio) and Monitor (control room) outputs. A third stereo output may be used to feed MultiMAX or a pair of external meters.
MonitorMAX may be tightly integrated with MultiMAX, adding the ability to route talkback or additional stereo sources to the multiformat monitor controller via MonitorMAX's third output, and to accept MultiMAX's stereo downmix output, for example, as an input for routing to MonitorMAX's Cue or Monitor outputs.
The unit is supplied as standard with a remote control with LCD window for menu access to setup parameters or level and mode information. The MonitorMAX rack unit includes all necessary input and output connectors and incorporates a talkback microphone preamplifier.
Sensitivity of the two -10dB inputs can be adjusted, via the setup menu, from 6dB of loss to 12dB of gain in 1dB increments. The ten stereo source switches are menu-selectable to be additive or interlocking (canceling the previous selection). Mute, Dim and Mono switches plus a level control are provided for the Monitor output, together with switch selection of an alternate pair of monitors. The Cue output includes a Mute switch and a separate level control.
The two level controls are also used to set the talkback microphone levels to the Cue and Monitor outputs. When routed and enabled, the talkback switch dims the relevant output by 20dB. External switches may be added to enable, via MonitorMAX's setup menu, talkback to the unit's separate outputs. Further, when integrated with MultiMAX, external logic lines may be interconnected to enable Dim, Mute, Talkback To Cue and Talkback To Monitor, and MonitorMAX's talkback sense output is available to control MultiMAX's external dim or external mute logic. For more information, visit their web site at www.martingsound.com. | 
