Crookwood Products: Master 1 iMon 

The Master 1 iMon is a comprehensive mastering desk for small to medium mastering rooms. It has analogue and digital routing, monitor and record paths, analogue and digital inserts, and is very cost effective. It uses precision parts for an accurate and clean sound.

An Master 1 iMon Control Panel.

Downloads

• Master 1 iMon Block Diagram (26K, pdf)
• Master 1 iMon User Manual (600K, pdf)
• Master 1 iMon Rack and Front Panel Picture (570K, jpg)
• Master 1 iMon Front Panel Picture (1024K, jpg)

All About the iMon   

iMon stands for Intelligent Monitor. The Master 1 iMon is a cost effective quality box for mastering  up to 2 analogue and 4 digital sources. It has 3 digital inserts and 3 analogue inserts that can be put into a record path, in any order, plus full monitoring over 3 sets of speakers and headphones. It has all the features you'll need for accurate stereo mastering in a small room.

The iMon is configured so that you can listen to any device, analogue or digital, and at the same time you can choose a machine to record from, sending the output to all the other digital machines. You can then insert in any order upto 3 digital and 3 analogue pieces of gear into this record path.

It has a calibrated precision analogue monitor with A/B trimmer so you can hear exactly what you're doing, not level differences or electronic distortions.

It's based on our igloo range - the most powerful and flexible monitor/ routers available, and uses the same processing cards. By optimising the features set, we've kept the price low, and the iMon's represent good value for money. If you need additional features however, the igloo's will satisfy all your needs - please call us for more details.

The iMon has all it's audio IO on multiway connectors on a 1U box, which can be mounted remotely from it's control panel. We can provide XLR breakout cables or XLR patches if you prefer them. In addition you can specify other parts from the igloo range including precision VU meters & talkback options.

Key Features   

Inputs & Outputs

• 2 balanced analogue and 4 transformer isolated digital inputs. These inputs can be monitored, and used as a source for a record path. You can also monitor the output of the console, and the output of the analogue inserts.
• 3 digital outputs for distributing the mastered output to record machines.
• 3 digital and 3 analogue inserts can be inserted in any order in the record path. The analogue inserts use relays passively without any other electronics in the way.
• Each source can be trimmed to remove level differences between them as you monitor, so you can A/B them accurately

Speaker Controller

• 3 speaker outputs plus a 120 ohm headphone output.
• Each speaker or headphone output has a individual output level.
• Precision volume control, stepped and repeatable, with dB levels shown in an LCD panel.
• Balanced buffered, analogue meter output, pre volume control.
• Cut left, cut right, mono sum, mono difference and phase reverse checks, plus swap left and right channels.
• Master cut and dim. Dim level can be preset

Mechanics

• The iMon is based around two 1U 19" steel boxes, with no front panel controls, and multiway audio connectors on the rear panel. These racks holds the audio processing cards, power supply and control processor.
• A separate compact control panel is connected to the rack by a small data/power cable, and can be remotely mounted 7M (22ft) away from the rack. Further distances can be accommodated if a small, optional local power supply is used.
• A  backlit film label is used to label each button (IO connection). This label is visible in poor or good light, providing excellent signing. We can provide a MS Word template to allow you to print your own labels so you can label your panel to your needs.
• The compact panels can be mounted into studio furniture, or optionally into a 4U 19" space, or into a wooden pod, freestanding on the worktop. They are only 3cm (1.5") deep, so are very easy to fit.

Options

• Crookwood AD and DA's. Crookwood SRC based AD's and DA's can be supplied instead of using external converters. These precision converters run the converter off a stable local clock, using a high grade SRC to interface data rates to the outside world. The result is a very high performance, jitter free converter.
• Local Power Supply. The front panel is normally powered from the rack. if the rack is more than 7M (22ft) away, we recommend using a small local PSU to power the front panel separately.
• Talkback Panel. This matching panel allows you to talk to a destination. It can mix talkback with a stereo cue feed, or replace it. A compressor on the talkback mic amp increases intelligibility.
• VU Meter Panel. This matching panel houses 2 large precision Sifam VU's. An impedance matched meter attenuator allows you to ensure the VU's work within their range, no matter what your house operating levels are. Click here for more details.
• Mounting Kits. The remote panel can be mounted into a 4u 19" space, or into a movable wooden pod placed onto the worktop. 

Technology   

We've been making remote controlled audio devices since 1992, and have got quiet good at them. The key to making a great audio device is the choice of circuit elements to do the remote bit. We chose relays from day one, which while expensive and bulky, are the perfect device - no distortions, delays, frequency or level limitations (within reason!). We use relays for all switches and gain elements. The gain circuits in particular act as stepped, switched attenuators, giving perfect repeatable control.

One of the benefits of remote control is that you can place the relays exactly where you want them on the circuit board. Normally with a conventional design, you have got to lay out the front panel first, and then squeeze the electronics around the front panel knobs and switches. Or use lots of wire to join the front panel to the electronics. Now by being able to design the way you want, the whole circuit becomes much smaller and linear - a definite boost for sound quality!

Our digital routing is done with discrete logic parts to provide a high specification router. Transformers are used on input and output for complete digital isolation. They are the same parts as we use in our Digi iRou routers, and route digital audio transparently.

The other unusual feature is our addiction to fully balanced circuitry. Normally designers just put balancing circuits on the inputs and outputs of a box. We keep our circuits fully balanced from input to output, making the design completely symmetrical. This advanced symmetry means that any distortion generated by the design on the hot phase, are matched by an identical distortion, generated in anti-phase on the cold phase. This approach removes the distortions by simple subtraction. 

What other design features have we got? Every element of the design has been thought about in depth, but here's a few other details:

• High quality front panel components. The knobs and switches on the front panels are high quality, log life-time parts. You can feel the difference between these parts and those on other competitor's products.
• Wide frequency response. In order to get good HF distortion figures, you need a high frequency response. However too wide allows RFI to enter the box. We use a wide frequency response, tailored by passive rolloff filters for RFI protection.
• Local Power Supply. Each audio processing card has it's own power regulators, spreading the load across several cards for better heat management. The local regulators also provide better power performance, than one big regulator, powering the whole device, as is common in most other pre amps.
• Intelligent control. There is a small processors on each processing card. This processing power lets us do lots of little clever things, like muting the  outputs when you change speakers (stops big thumps).
• Wide AC power range. The iMon has been designed to work of a wide range of power supply variations. This means the iMon is less susceptible to brown outs on the mains power.
• AC Power filter. An expensive power filter is used on the power input to stop mains spikes and noise from getting into the audio.
• Modular design. The whole electronics are based on modules, making them easy to upgrade, repair, fault find and exchange.

Specifications   

Electronics

• Noise. >-96dBu at any gain.
• S/N. >123dB (better than current 24 bit converters)
• THD. >0.003% @ 0dBu from DC to 20kHz, 80kHz bandpass filter.
• Max Ip Levels.  +27dBu.
• Max Op Level. 27dBu on output: clips on output first.
• Frequency Response. <0.03dB @ 20kHz, -3dB @ 400kHz and 0.5Hz, any gain, ref 1kHz.
• Digital signals. 32-192KHz single wire to 24bits, 24MHz signals. Each output is fully buffered.

Mechanical

• Weight 12Kg
• Dimensions. 5Hx50Wx40D cm, controller is 17Hx20Wx3D cm.

Prices   

The GBP £ prices below, are the retail price, ex VAT, FOB Crookwood. Please note that the price you pay from a dealer may be different due to carriage costs, import duties, local taxes and currency conversions. The dollar and euro prices are for information only: you should check with a dealer or with current currency rates for an accurate figure:

FAQ   

Can I use unbalanced -10 inputs with the console?

Yes. The input trimmer will let you boost the level for monitoring, so you can compare this -10 input with normal balanced sources.

Can I drive unbalanced inputs with a iMon?

No. The design of the true balanced amplifiers mean they must drive a balanced input. Anyway, it's unwise to run a length of unbalanced cable, due to ground noise injection.

Can I form a digital record path and monitor at the same time?

Yes! The digital router doesn't make any assumptions about what is routed. The digital monitor switching works over the top of the transfer router, and doesn't effect the record routing.

Can I send a digital output to multiple machines at the same time?

Yes! Each digital output is fully isolated and buffered, and the transfer router automatically drives 3 machines.

Why have you got multiway connectors instead of XLRs on the rear panels?

The rack hardware comes from our igloo range, and we use multiway connectors because of the large possible density of connections. With the Master 1 iMon, there are 64 connections required, which would have taken up 4U of rack space instead of the 2U of the iMon.

Can I upgrade the iMon if I want to go to 5.1 in the future?

Yes! The modular nature of the igloo rack and cards, means that we can upgrade and expand your console at any point. You'll be offered a full refund on every part we can re-use in your new console configuration.

 

---

Copyright Crookwood 2004. This page last updated 11/04/2005 . All manufacturers trademarks are respectfully acknowledged.
Contact Crookwood on Sales@Crookwood.com