Audient Reveals the New ORIA Audio Interface

Audient has revealed ORIA, an all-in-one audio interface and monitor controller designed specifically for multi-speaker arrays ranging from stereo to 9.1.6 setups – and everything in between.

“As immersive audio continues to become more prevalent across music, film, TV, game and VR production, our goal was to design a purpose-driven and affordable solution for those wanting to work in the immersive space,” says Audient’s Andrew Allen.

“ORIA is designed to prioritise immersive audio workflows, giving you onboard room and speaker calibration DSP, true immersive monitoring control and professional audio performance, alongside intelligent integrations with Sonarworks and Dolby Atmos.”

ORIA provides 16 outputs via TRS or AES, two dedicated relayed switched stereo outputs, two independent headphone outputs, BNC Word Clock in and out, as well as two Audient Console Mic Preamps, 16 ADAT inputs and an optional 16 input AoIP Dante card, which is ideal for large studio complexes and education facilities.

Designed with a dual purpose, ORIA is not only a powerful USB-C audio interface with 16 outputs, but it can also integrate into your existing studio setup as a standalone monitor controller via its ADAT Inputs or the Optional Dante Card.

Working with multi-channel speaker arrays requires a perfectly calibrated room and ORIA’s Advanced Speaker Processing lets users create up to 32 custom onboard calibration Profiles (presets) for any monitoring format, by utilising per channel 8-band EQ, Speaker Delay, Trim and Bass Management tools. Ensuring users’ rooms stay calibrated when monitoring different formats such as stereo, 5.1 or Dolby Atmos

Audient has also partnered with calibration experts Sonarworks to enable users to load SoundID Reference profiles directly into ORIA’s hardware giving users the ability to measure and calibrate their room in under an hour.

Sonarworks’ co-founder & CPO, Martins Popelis says, “Creators know: inaccurate speakers distort their creative vision. Calibrating studio speakers is crucial, but it’s often a technical hurdle. That’s why we are thrilled to partner with Audient on the SoundID Reference integration into ORIA interfaces through which we are taking the ease and simplicity of your studio speaker calibration to the next level.”

ORIA ships with a Sonarworks Reference Measurement microphone and a 60-Day free trial of the SoundID Reference for Multichannel software – both included in the box. If users would like to continue after the free trial, they can purchase a full SoundID Reference for Multichannel licence separately and continue to run Sonarworks Profiles via ORIA’s hardware.

“Whether you’re calibrating your room manually or with Sonarworks, all of ORIA’s Advanced Speaker Processing runs directly off its lightning fast onboard DSP Dual Processor Architecture. That way you’ve got low latency audio and your CPU is freed up for bigger sessions,” says Andrew.

Once the room is calibrated, ORIA ensures users get full control of their stereo, surround or Dolby Atmos environment, courtesy of its intuitive software and iPad Remote. Quickly switch between speakers, listening levels and target curves – all with the touch of a button. Use the colour coded speaker groups, individual and group speaker mute/solo and global Volume Control, Cut and Dim to fly around a session. And for those working in post, there is also a Global Lip Sync delay for perfectly aligning your audio to picture.

Coming soon, Audient will also integrate support for the Dolby Atmos Renderer, enabling the user to take control of the renderer’s monitoring layout dropdown directly from ORIA’s user interface. Ideal for quickly switching between different monitoring layouts, such as Dolby Atmos, 7.1, 5.1 and stereo without having to jump between your project and the Dolby Atmos Renderer.

Designed for professional, multi-channel setups there are many I/O options. Surround speakers can be plugged in using either the line or AES outputs; the dedicated Stereo Outputs are perfect for connecting non-immersive integrated speakers and two ADAT inputs gives the user an option to add an external interface or preamp.

“We have ensured that ORIA delivers the audio performance you have come to expect from Audient.” The high performance converters have 126dB of dynamic range and the tried and tested Audient Console Mic Preamps continue to deliver 58dB of gain and work as mic, line or Hi-Z instrument inputs.” Andrew adds, “For the first time ever, the Audient Console Mic Preamp is remote controlled. Optimised to give you the sonic benefits of its all-analogue design alongside pinpoint accurate digital control.”

ORIA is expected to start shipping in the first quarter of 2024 and the iPad Control App will be available later on this quarter too.