KLANG has announced the combined release of its new KLANG:kontroller, a hardware controller that is compatible with all KLANG immersive in-ear mixing processors, and its new processor, KLANG:vokal, bringing a whole new level of personal monitoring to musicians. KLANG:kontroller Serial Number 1 – along with a new DiGiCo Quantum225console and a DiGiGrid MGB MADI to SoundGrid Interface – is also one of three great gifts that three lucky winners received today as part of DiGiCo’s New Year New Hope competition.
“This is the first hardware product designed specifically for the musicians,” says KLANG founder and CMO, Pascal Dietrich. “While many of our users love the KLANG:app, we had received many requests for a standalone hardware controller that offers the same mixing functionality, combined with a powerful, studio-grade Dante headphone amp.”
KLANG:kontroller does just that. It delivers fast tactile user control of channels, groups and immersive mixing via an intuitive interface. “KLANG:kontroller is really simple to use, even for absolutely non-technical musicians,” adds Dietrich. “The displays provide clear colour coding and channel names which makes handwritten and mostly outdated name tags, as well as dialling though all the channels to find the one you are looking for, obsolete.”
Relative DCA group mixing and full single channel control via eight push rotary encoders provides important, fast access. “The ability to customise the groups is particularly useful for musicians,” Dietrich continues. “With eight rotaries, musicians can quickly balance their in-ear mix. This is fast, safe for the ears and it massively speeds up the mixing workflow during a gig without requiring any profound mixing know-how.”
The studio grade headphone amplifier delivers crystal clear audio for in-ear monitors and high impedance headphones, with both 3.5mm (1/8”) as well as 6.3mm (1/4”) stereo TRS connectors. Two XLR outputs can be connected to, for example, wireless in-ear transmitters. Installation friendly features like Power over Ethernet, remote setup via the KLANG:app and automatic Dante routing are set to streamline any stage or orchestra pit. KLANG:kontroller gives musicians full control of all relevant functions, while the engineer can still overview and control all mixes via the KLANG:app or DiGiCo SD or Q series consoles.
Its dedicated User Presets, plus USB import and export, ensure easy changeover for multiple musicians – each musician can save his or her own presets, which can then be imported into the KLANG:kontroller, allowing the unit to be used by any number of musicians without the need for time consuming set up each time.
To perfect the immersive experience, binaural ambient microphones are built into the unit. These can be blended into the immersive in-ear mix, along with a local stereo aux input for, for example, a click track or playback from a phone. The mix can be sent back to the Dante network or, alternatively, the ambient microphones or aux input can be shared with other musicians.
While KLANG:kontroller is designed to integrate with all existing devices, KLANG is also releasing a new immersive mixing processor. This compact 1 RU processor, KLANG:vokal, impresses with a dedicated feature set that allows up to 12 musicians to pick up to 24 mono or stereo channels out of 64 Dante and MADI inputs. For example, mixes can be sent out via MADI to a console or via Dante to KLANG:kontroller. Based on KLANG’s powerful, new generation, ultra-low latency FPGA core, KLANG:vokal offers 12 mixes of 24 mono or stereo inputs at 48kHz and 96kHz, including the company’s revolutionary Root-Intensity EQs. This makes KLANG:vokal and KLANG:kontroller the perfect match for any House of Worship or theatre application.
