Building on over 20 years of expertise in analogue console heritage, the Nero Desktop
Monitor Controller has been designed to give you control where you need it most.
Featuring a comprehensive range of I/O, console style monitor control, precision matched stereo
outputs and more...Nero allows you to take control of the different devices in your setup,
and will quickly become the core of your studio.
You don’t require any drivers or a computer to work with Nero, simply connect it between
your audio interface or other audio sources and your speakers
using the connections on the rear panel.
Lets start with the inputs…
There are four stereo inputs on Nero. Source 1, Source 2 and Cue come in on TRS jacks on
the rear of the unit, which you can feed from your audio interface or other line level sources.
The Cue input is designed to be used for artist headphone mixes, however it can be simply
used as another input like sources 1&2 if you'd like.
The Alt input can actually be fed from 3 different sources
switchable with the ALT input button.
Firstly there is an AUX analogue input which
comes in on RCA or mini-jack connections, great for connecting Hi-fi gear or portable
devices such as phones or mp3 players.
You can then use the AUX trim to balance the level with your other sources.
Next is the Coaxial SPDIF and the optical SPDIF which accept digital
signal up to a sample rate of 192kHz.
The Alt input LED will indicate the connection status of the digital input,
flashing when not connected, and solid orange when a valid signal is present.
The level of the current input is displayed on the meters above the main volume knob.
Reference your mixes on up to three sets of speakers with the Main, Alt 1 and Alt 2 outputs.
Connect your speakers using the TRS connections, easily adjust the volume using the main volume knob
and quickly switch between your speakers using the output select buttons.
Nero uses our custom attenuation matching technology, giving you precision matched monitoring
for your left and right channels at all volumes, avoiding any deviation or skewing of your
stereo image, and letting you mix with confidence.
Nero provides a number of "Smart Touchpoints" that allow you to access advanced functionality
and customisation. The Smart Touchpoints are buttons that when held down, will enter into
a setup mode and allow you to change the internal workings of Nero, without the need for dedicated
buttons crowding the top panel. Just press the button again to save the settings and
return Nero to regular function.
The Output Smart Touchpoints give you extra control over your speaker setup. Once activated,
you are able to quickly trim the level of the alt outputs to match your main output
by simply adjusting the volume control.
Or, if you want to use a mono speaker as one of your outputs, you can press the Mono Button,
and it will sum your signal to mono automatically when using that output.
Nero also has a dedicated assignable Sub Output which can be set to automatically activate
on certain outputs by using the Smart Touchpoints. However this doesn’t prevent you from auditioning
the sub with any of your speakers outputs
as it can also be momentarily switched on and off at any time.
It’s easy to check your mixes for mono compatibility using the Mono Button, and using it alongside
the Polarity Button will allow you to use sum and difference monitoring, essentially
removing the centre of your mix, and letting you hear the hard panned elements, great to
check that your reverbs and delays are sounding as they should for example.
Use the Cut and Dim controls to either completely cut the speaker output, or reduce the level
of the output without the need to adjust the main volume knob and disrupt your listening level.
The amount that the signal is dimmed by is customisable by activating the Dim Smart Touchpoint
touchpoint, then adjusting the main volume knob to achieve the desired reduction.
Nero has a monitoring grade headphone amplifier on Headphone Output 1, with connectors on
the front of the unit in both quarter inch, and mini jack connections.
There are also 3 foldback headphone amps for sending to artists when recording.
All headphone outputs are independently routable.
By default, the monitoring headphone amp on the front of the device follows whichever source
you are listening to on your speakers, however with any of the headphone outputs
you can press the Source Smart Touchpoint and route any of the inputs, as well as talkback
to that individual headphone output.
Talkback opens up communication between you and the artist at the touch of a button.
Providing you have talkback routed to a headphone output
all you need to do is press the Talkback Button and start talking.
Nero has a built in talkback mic on the top left of the unit
however you are also able to plug in your own mic using the XLR connection on the back.
Use the switch to change between the internal mic,
an external mic,
and an external mic that requires phantom power
then adjust the level of the talkback mic using the knob just above the button to
ensure that the artist can hear you clearly.
To save all of your routing settings once you have set them up, all you need to do is
press two of the output buttons simultaneously,
which will cause the Dim and Cut Buttons to flash indicating that your settings have been stored.
Nero will now recall all of your routing even when turned off and turned back on again.
Nero has been designed to provide unrivalled functionality, with a variety of connectivity
and routing flexibility, as well as looking and feeling great as part of your studio.
If you want to find out more about Nero, please visit audient.com/nero