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.
Combined with SoundID, the ORIA Mini simplifies and streamlines monitor calibration. Setup involves connecting the Mini to your computer and monitors, launching SoundID Measure, and following the guided measurement process, which takes about 20 minutes. SoundID then generates a correction profile that transfers automatically into the Mini. You can store multiple profiles – for example, one flat, accurate reference, plus others simulating a smartphone speaker, car stereo, or mix cubes. All the options available in SoundID, like customized EQ curves and virtual environments, are included as part of a profile.
The Mini calibrates one stereo monitor pair with or without a subwoofer. Its onboard bass-management controls are used to optimize a subwoofer before measurement with SoundID. If you prefer not to use SoundID, you can manually measure your monitors using Room EQ Wizard or Smaart and then use the Oria Control app to build your own EQ, level trim, delay, and bass management settings for each output channel. Once calibration profiles have been transferred into the Mini, it can run standalone, powered by a USB-C power adapter. The stored profiles can be recalled via the front-panel Profile button. When used as a full monitor controller, it remains connected to the computer running the Oria Control app.
I’ve integrated the ORIA Mini into my own stereo setup and installed it in two commercial studios in Los Angeles, all with excellent results. With 32-bit processing and a dynamic range that likely exceeds the rest of your hardware, the audio quality is superb. The device can be set up and forgotten about, or you can take advantage of its features via app control or its simple front panel.
The ORIA Mini bundle, which includes SoundID and the measurement mic, costs $450; the Mini alone without SoundID is $299. Existing SoundID owners can simply purchase the Mini and the $99 add-on license. Before this system, room-calibration hardware typically ranged from $1,000 to over $5,000. The ORIA Mini keeps pace with these solutions while sacrificing nothing.