My professional life includes tuning acoustics and monitoring systems for both commercial and independent studios at every price point. The workflow always starts with acoustic treatment and monitoring geometry. The final step, and the icing on the cake, is electronic monitor calibration. This involves measuring the room with specialized software and applying EQ, phase, level, and timing adjustments to achieve not only an accurate sound from the speakers but one that the owner finds inspiring. While most studio owners understand monitor setup and basic acoustic solutions, electronic calibration has long been an expensive, technically demanding pursuit. Many calibration solutions cost several thousand dollars, not including the acoustician’s fee.
But Audient has released a system that can easily be set up by anyone who can boot a computer and turn a volume knob... and for less than half the cost of the most budget-friendly studio monitors. This system, called the ORIA Mini, has been in my test rotation for the last month across several setups. To be honest, I’ve been using the larger ORIA system as the calibration and monitor-control backbone of my Atmos system for about a year, so this lower-cost ORIA Mini – aimed at stereo monitoring – looked especially interesting.
The Mini can operate purely as a room-calibration processor or as a full-featured monitor controller via its included Oria Control app, which is controllable by mouse, Elgato Stream Deck, or Apple iPad. Calibration uses the bundled Sonarworks SoundID Reference software and measurement microphone. Sonarworks is a leader in room measurement and correction, and the ORIA Mini imports SoundID profiles directly into its onboard DSP, eliminating the need to run the Sonarworks plug-ins or systemwide software on your computer.
The ORIA Mini is a compact box – about the size of a typical two-channel interface. This device inserts between your audio interface and powered monitors or amplifier. Computer control and power utilize a USB-C connection, while left and right audio inputs use 1/4-inch TRS or SPDIF optical jacks. Left, right, and sub outputs also use 1/4-inch TRS jacks. The simple front panel features a single lighted button, an LED signal and peak indicator, as well as LEDs that display which of four presets is active.