KRK Ergo Studio Monitor Room Processor

zZounds' Take on KRK Ergo

In the typical home studio, room acoustics are somewhere south of perfect -- even after you've installed a few corner bass traps and foam wall panels. If your room is ringing at 250 Hz, a mix that sounds good in your studio might sound muddy or hollow on other systems. That's why KRK has developed their hardware-based room correction system called Ergo (Enhanced Room Geometry Optimization): to measure and fix your room's "problem frequencies." The system combines the Ergo monitor controller/audio interface, a KRK measurement microphone, and calibration software to help you diagnose and treat these issues. KRK's Ergo is designed to improve any listening environment, so you can mix in confidence. What can Ergo do for your room?

Analyze This

Connect Ergo to your computer via the included FireWire cable, and patch it in between your monitor speakers and your computer's audio interface (or your console), via Ergo's S/PDIF or analog 1/4-inch inputs. Plug in the included measurement microphone, turn up your speakers, and run the included ErgoCal software, based on Lyngdorf's RoomPerfect system. The program will play tones, sweeps, and pink noise through your monitors, guiding you through the process of "shooting your room" from a series of mic positions. Ergo's 1024-band phase-accurate filters specifically look at 20 to 500 Hz, the low and low-mid frequencies most affected by your room's size and shape. Once it's gathered enough information and the calibration is complete, Ergo saves its settings within the "magic black box" itself, so you can disconnect FireWire and run Ergo independently with the included power supply. Unlike other room-correction software, Ergo puts zero strain on your computer's processing power.

Ergo, a Monitor Controller

In addition to a dedicated chip that does nothing but crunch room-correction algorithms, Ergo's sleek, black, 7-inch-wide metal case houses a simple monitor controller with a large, smoothly operating analog volume knob. "A" and "B/Sub" buttons switch between two sets of monitors, or you can use them to control a subwoofer separately in a single 2.1 system. The third button toggles between Global/Focus modes: Global corrects for your room's frequency-domain problems over a large area, while Focus is optimized for best results at the main listening position. Hold this button down for two seconds -- until you see a flashing light -- to bypass Ergo's room correction entirely. If you're running monitors during tracking sessions, bypass Ergo for the lowest-latency monitoring, and enable it again for mixing. And of course, because headphones aren't affected by your room's acoustics, Ergo's headphone output always bypasses room-correction, and it has a separate thumbwheel volume control.

The Cleanest Signal Path

Audio pros are always picky about what they put in their signal chain. That's why Ergo's DSP section, D/A converters, and analog signal path are designed to be as clean and simple as possible. Its analog inputs have a gain control and -3 dB clip indicator that you can use to maximize the level coming from your DAW for the best signal-to-noise ratio. Even better, the S/PDIF input allows you to feed Ergo a digital signal up to 96 kHz, minimizing the number of conversions your audio goes through on the way to your speakers. You can also get into Ergo digitally via FireWire -- and it's even possible to use your Ergo as your sole bus-powered FireWire audio interface, if you only need two line-level analog inputs for recording (say, if you're recording live DJ sets, or running two microphones from a separate preamp).

A Magic Black Box?

KRK acknowledges that Ergo isn't designed to replace a room that's properly outfitted with foam, bass traps, or other acoustic treatments. However, it's the low and low-mid frequencies that are most difficult to control with foam, and that's what Ergo specifically targets. While professional studios are built with angled walls and ceilings, most homes (and most home studios) have parallel walls that encourage standing waves, low-frequency modes and room resonances. Ergo can detect your problem frequencies and attenuate them with phase-accurate filters, making your listening position accurate, and bringing your mix into detailed focus. Ergo...the KRK Ergo is a room-correction solution that nearly any home studio can benefit from, and its stereo FireWire interface and monitor-controller features are just icing on the cake.

Features:

- Measures and corrects low and low-mid frequency problems from 20-500 Hz
- ErgoCal software for Mac or PC is based on Lyngdorf's RoomPerfect system
- Focus or Global modes -- correct for your listening position's "sweet spot," or correct over a wider area for a group of listeners
- Bypass Mode -- hear the difference Ergo makes
- Large analog volume knob
- Headphone output
- Includes measurement microphone with XLR to 1/4-inch adapter
- Supports "A" and "B" sets of speakers -- or control your mains and subwoofer separately
- Small footprint -- about the size of a DVD case
- FireWire audio interface with 2 line-level inputs

Manufacturer's Description for KRK Ergo Studio Monitor Room Processor

A great mix starts with a great recording room. But when it comes to achieving the most accurate mix, your room may have the upper hand. Like any room, your studio's acoustics include offending frequencies and room reflections, and none of these are helping your mix. Getting a handle on these problems has traditionally meant the installation of soft foam or fabrics, and that's a great start. But now you can get even closer to a perfect room, and a perfect mix, because the future of studio sound is here, and it's called ERGO.

You have issues -- you need ERGO

KRK, long known for highly accurate studio monitors brings you ERGO (Enhanced Room Geometry Optimization). ERGO is for the recording engineer, DJ, or musician that monitors in less-than-perfect acoustic conditions. Isn't that most of us? ERGO is a digital room analysis/correction system designed to measure and analyze phase/frequency problems within a listening environment. The powerful digital signal processor in the ERGO unit processes audio to correct for the offending issues. So, you can stop worrying about your studio's acoustics and start focusing on your mix!

ERGO's high-end sound quality makes it perfect for the discriminating audio professional, while the affordable price puts it within reach of the typical recording hobbyist. Every studio needs an ERGO, because even the most accurate monitor in an imperfect room isn't going to solve mixing problems, but ERGO will. ERGO also makes your mix translate from the studio to different environments. How good is a great track that only sounds great in your room? With ERGO, your mix sounds great everywhere you, or your fans want to hear it. Want better sound, and in more places? Put an ERGO in the mix.

ERGO is a digital room analysis/correction system and consists of the ERGO unit, a microphone, and control software. These three pieces are used to measure and analyze phase/frequency problems within a listening environment.

Smarter than your average gear

Room correction products aren't new, but thank goodness ERGO is. While conventional room correction systems utilize simple analysis and limited bands of EQ (often fewer than 8), ERGO uses multiple measurements and proprietary algorithms to create a 3D image of the room, and then applies 1024 dynamic filters to control the audio environment. Our 3D model allows users to preserve the "good" characteristics of the room, while correcting the bad... ERGO doesn't color the sound or produce an artificially sterile environment. ERGO produces the best mix for a given room; a mix that will translate better to other listening environments, since it was mixed in a "perfect" room.

The sophisticated room analysis and correction system within ERGO, called "RoomPerfect" was developed by Lyngdorf Audio in Denmark after many years of R & D work. The patented algorithm in the system compares many measurements and corrects for phase and frequency problems using thousands of filters, not just a few. The result is the most accurate mix. ERGO, analyze this!

Plays well with others

ERGO integrates with all PC and Mac-based computer recording systems. In these environments ERGO appears as a standard PC or Mac Firewire audio interface, so setup is easy and compatibility is assured. With ERGO's analog inputs you can still use whatever non-computer based recording hardware you are currently using without having to re-configure your system. In an analog mode ERGO sits between your existing recording interface or mixer and your speakers. ERGO also integrates with Pro Tools by allowing a S/PDIF signal to be digitally connected. Assign the S/PDIF output of your Pro Tools rig as your main Left/Right outputs, then connect ERGO, and experience perfect sound. And because all processing resides in ERGO no overhead is needed from the computer audio system.

A brain and a great body

If the sophisticated room analysis wasn't enough, ERGO can help around your studio in other ways too. Ergo can switch between two sets of full range
monitors, or two monitors and a subwoofer via its front panel controls. Switch easily between monitors or monitors and sub systems. Each set of speakers will
have their own correction filters. ERGO also provides a choice of selecting between two stereo audio streams through the headphone output. While ERGO's large volume control delivers ultra-smooth response of ERGO's A/B/Sub outputs. ERGO has your connections.

Finally, ERGO is all about quality construction. From its sturdy anodized aluminium case and die-cast end-caps, to its use of 120dB SNR converters, ERGO feels and sounds solid and robust. Smart and strong, ERGO is the perfect solution in an imperfect world. zZounds is an authorized dealer of KRK products.

Processing:
- 400MHz Blackfin DSP
- RoomPerfect Algorithm Sample Rate - 96KHz
- Room Correction Frequencies 20-500Hz
- 1024 tap FIR filter for room correction

Audio Spec:
- Audio Spec A/B Speaker Select and Control
- Stereo Audio-In
- S/PDIF In (32KHz-96KHz)
- 118dB SNR and Dynamic Range
- THD+N -100dB

Firewire Spec:
- Mac, WDM, and ASIO Driver support
- FireWire Recording Interface Capable
- Simultaneous 4 in, 6 out

Mechanicals:
- Illuminated Controls
- Measurement Microphone
- Headphone Output

Dimensions:
- ERGO: 180mm (7") x 55mm (2.2") x 107mm (4.2")

- Microphone Length: 197mm (7.75")

Weight:
- ERGO: 610g (21.5 oz)

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging

Base Item

Shipping Weight: 3 lbs

Shipping Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 5 in