Whether working in a commercial facility, or small independent studio setup, the need for monitor control is essential. With many engineers working without a console, the only question is what that control should look like. We look at one solution.

Any drawbacks of working with a console are quickly countered by its ergonomics, and monitor control is a good case in point. Whether signals are in the section itself (as in traditional consoles), or happening on remote I/O (as with dedicated remote-and-rack style controllers), having buttons and knobs on hand for everyday monitoring tasks is invaluable as anyone using them will confirm.

Hardware Control - The Good

Perhaps the biggest advantage of a hardware monitor controller is its immediacy and tactile control. When things go wrong (such as software crashes or potentially damaging sudden loud noise), being able to kill speakers or headphones immediately, and independently of the software is non-negotiable. In addition, if the controller is analogue there is true zero-latency operation, not to mention the fact that the computer doesn’t even need to be on for it to work.

Hardware Control - The Bad

Adding any physical intermediary between input and output has its drawbacks. The first is the lengthening of the signal path, introducing the opportunity for degradation of the audio. In practice, this can be negligible, but even if the controller itself performs well, analogue cabling remains fallible to noise and/or hum. Extending the signal path can also increase the total amount of cabling used.

Software Monitor Control

When the audio interface physical inputs and outputs are available, all switching and level control can happen in the box using a software monitor controller. As well as using existing I/O for physical sources and destinations, such a controller can pick up virtual outputs as well such as those from the DAW, or system sounds. While this forgoes the piece of mind from an analogue ‘end-stop’, it keeps things safe from analogue signal degradation, while reducing costs from circuitry and cabling. All with no penalty on desktop or rack real estate.

Watch how we use GingerAudio GroundControl ROOM to take advantage of keeping things virtual. We configure the controller to handle a handful of sources and destinations, before configuring the icing on the cake: real buttons thanks to an unused pad controller and the wonders of good old fashioned MIDI…

GroundControl ROOM features in full:

• FREE to download and use. Pro upgrade path available.

• Use audio interface’s I/O for sources and destinations.

• Virtual drivers – allows you to get audio from system sound and other applications. You can read more about GroundControl’s free solution for virtual audio streaming here

• Remote control with Key Commands/MIDI learn.

• Easy way to toggle between 5 sets of monitors (including sub and headphones).

• Insert AU plugins on any input/output/main section.

• Level control for each input/output/main out.

• Mute, mono, dim buttons on main out.

• Peak meter for input & output level.

• Cue mix for recording monitoring.

New for Version 2:

• Up to 5 input sources - A/B test your mix to compare with your reference from any source such as Apple Music, Tidal, Spotify, or YouTube.

• LUFS & True Peak meters.

• Flip L/R, phase inverse, stereo vs mono image, mid vs sides image

• Panning with versatile pan law options.

• Reference level presets, listen to your mix/music in your favourite levels

• Double precision floating point processing for extremely high fidelity audio sound.

• Master clock sync capabilities.

The Path Of Least Resistance?

In the mixer-less studio, engineers in all but the most basic of setups must have dedicated control of their monitoring that goes beyond the ubiquitous ‘volume’ knob on the front of an audio interface. High quality all-in-one desktop boxes, as well as rack-and-remote solutions are plentiful, however for some these will not be practical or will divert budget away from more pressing needs.

Utilising existing I/O on an audio interface for a software controller neatly reduces cost and shortens the signal path in one swoop. For those who like their buttons and knobs, these can also be implemented using a suitable controller. For some, that will sound like a good idea for those working in the mixer-less studio.

GroundControl ROOM 2 is Mac only and available to download now for free. The Pro version is priced $79 with a 15% introductory discount for a limited time. You can try the Pro version for 14 days, free of charge.