In this video I talk to Krzysztof Tonn From Hum Audio about the new N-Trophy console and LAAL limiter. Two exceptional works of art in the audio industry. Hear what Krzysztof has to say in fine detail straight from the man who built and designed them.
The Hum Audio N-Trophy 16-channel analogue mixing console is a true masterpiece of audio engineering and design, seamlessly marrying classic and contemporary recording technologies. This exceptional console, meticulously crafted over three years of relentless development, is a testament to its creators’ unwavering dedication and innovative spirit.
Comprising two 8-channel modules and the master module, the N-Trophy was conceived with a clear mission: to transcend existing boundaries and redefine the possibilities of analogue recording and mixing.
Its exceptional audio path, painstakingly optimized to deliver the highest sound quality and musicality, sets the N-Trophy apart. Every component, from custom-designed audio transformers to discrete opamps and a six-band passive EQ, has been chosen carefully to ensure pristine audio reproduction. The THD Stage and Tube Optical Compressor, with their innovative detection and compression circuits, adds a level of sonic creativity that has been unmatched in analogue consoles.
To enhance the user experience, the N-Trophy addresses the common pain points associated with traditional analogue consoles. Despite offering various creative sound-shaping tools, its signal path remains remarkably short. The revolutionary zero-loss Summing Matrix, featuring direct channel connections, distinguishes it from consoles relying on traditional long-summing bus architectures. The outcome is a pristine audio path that retains clarity and transparency even under extensive processing.
Powering the N-Trophy is a classic linear power supply equipped with a custom double-shielded toroidal transformer, effectively acting as a power conditioner to ensure ultra-low noise performance. The +/- 24V console power supply guarantees ample headroom for dynamic and expressive recordings.
However, the true strength of the N-Trophy lies in its remarkable versatility. It offers an extensive range of creative sound-shaping tools, catering to the diverse needs of music producers and engineers. Whether you’re working on classical recordings that demand precision and detail or modern genres requiring earth-shaking, saturated, and colourful sound, the N-Trophy adapts seamlessly to your requirements.
This console is more than mere equipment; it’s a creative partner. It empowers artists and engineers to focus on the art of music production, providing a seamless and enjoyable experience. It represents a fresh approach to modern music recording and production within the analogue domain, acknowledging the strengths of digital tools while embracing the unique qualities of analogue processing.
Moreover, the N-Trophy’s modular design offers unparalleled flexibility. Studio owners can start with a modest setup and expand organically, avoiding the constraints of fixed-configuration consoles. The freedom to arrange and integrate individual channels into the console frame ensures that the N-Trophy evolves with your studio’s growth.
Ease of use is at the heart of the N-Trophy’s design philosophy. It simplifies installation and servicing, eliminating the need for technical expertise. Thanks to a straightforward and intuitive process, even those with minimal experience can confidently replace modules.
The N-Trophy is highly adaptable to various studio environments. It can be divided into separate bays and installed anywhere in your control room, accommodating small spaces and larger configurations with up to 64 channel strips. This flexibility extends to studio integration, with the console offering onboard and remote patch bay options, allowing users to choose the best solution for their setup.
With moving fader automation controllable by DAW, the N-Trophy streamlines the mixing process, enabling users to draw automation curves directly onto DAW tracks without navigating complex menus or software within the console itself. This simplicity and efficiency empower engineers to realize their creative visions effortlessly.
Furthermore, the N-Trophy embodies power efficiency and silence, addressing the growing importance of energy conservation. Users can selectively power off components, including the tube compressors, when not in use, conserving energy and extending the lifespan of critical components. The passively cooled 3U rack power supply ensures quiet operation, making it suitable for placement anywhere in your studio setup. A single 3U unit can power consoles with up to 32 channel strips, with larger setups requiring two units.
The Hum Audio N-Trophy isn’t just an analogue console but a game-changer representing the pinnacle of audio engineering and design. It delivers unmatched sound quality, creative flexibility, and user-friendly features, seamlessly bridging the gap between analogue and digital to empower artists and engineers to realise their creative visions. With its modular design, thoughtful user experience, and commitment to environmental responsibility, the N-Trophy symbolises the future of analogue recording and mixing.
HUM Audio are extremely excited to introduce the new LAAL (Look Ahead Analog Limiter).
An innovative idea of the detection and limiting process have allowed HUM Audio to achieve a new standard in analogue mastering.
One of the strongest advantage of the design is a fully analogue (200 microseconds) delay line to obtain a “look ahead” ability. Thanks to this. the detection circuit is able to react to even the fastest peaks. The detection circuit can react to even the fastest peaks.
LAAL is extremely effective in this task, allowing the reach of great RMS levels when required, but with minimal side effects and without compromising the sound quality. Tracks will preserve low-end energy and punch in a wide gain attenuation range.
LAAL does not use any soft clipping or similar process to artificially raise RMS levels. All magic happens in the sophisticated detection and gain circuits.
LAAL takes the maximum care in the quality of the master. Another extraordinary and unique feature of the limiter is the DYNAMIC TRANSIENT function. It regenerates transients proportional to the limiting level. In a few words, great RMS levels can be achieved with minimum side effects. It plays a major role in preserving space and detail in the sound.
The final addition is a STEREO WIDTH circuit that works differently and is more musical comparing to similar processors. You will perceive a nice increase in the spaciousness of the tracks, but you won’t lose low-end energy in the centre of the stereo image. It’s also fully mono compatible and it can also be used as two independent mono limiters if required.
The LAAL is very precisely calibrated with better than 0.1dB accuracy in L/R channels and keeps the output level exactly. The detection circuit is thermally compensated which ensures stability and repeatability of results in all studio conditions. Input and output levels can be set with a resolution of 0.2dB as well as six different release times: from 2ms to 100ms.
HUM Audio took maximum care to choose every single component in the LAAL audio path for sound quality, noise-free performance and sound quality. Absolutely no compromise.
They also developed the ultra-stable, classic linear power supply with an audiophile grade custom toroidal power transformer with a large reserve of power. It is double-shielded and works as a power conditioner, ensuring a large headroom and the very clean power required for the most critical mastering tasks.
Main features of LAAL:
All discrete analogue signal path
Very high headroom (+/-24V int. powering)
Analogue LOOK AHEAD circuit
Variable STEREO WIDTH function
DYNAMIC TRANSIENT function
Variable Release Time (from 2ms to 100ms)
Highest quality audio transformers
Precision led metering (0.5dB steps)
Peak Hold function for gain reduction meter
Precision input/output setting (0.2dB steps)
Stereo link for detection
Limiter Bypass
Hard Bypass
Rotary step switches for all control knobs
SPECIFICATIONS
Self-noise A-weighted: -102dB (at 0dB IN/OUT setting)
THD+N absolute: 0.026% (1V RMS, 1 KHz at max gain reduction)
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 30KHZ (±0.3dB)
Maximum input level: +22dBV
Maximum output level:+28dBV
Input XLR, balanced, impedance 10KΩ
Output XLR, balanced, impedance 75Ω
Power consumption: max. 70 Watts
Weight: 9.4kg (11.6kg packed)
Dimensions: 19″ rackmount – 3U
W x D x H : 484 x 314 x 133mm (packed = 600 x 400 250mm)
In the box: LAAL with Custom shielded mains cable.
