Announced at this year’s GearFest UK show, HUM Audio Devices’s latest creation, the N-Trophy, is an all-discrete, modular in-line analogue console that boasts a valve-based compressor and passive EQ on every channel, stepped faders, comprehensive routing options and much more. Consoles are built to order, and can be configured in a range of sizes from eight up to 64 channels, promising to provide facilities of all sizes with a single console capable of tackling recording, mixing and mastering tasks.
Channel Strips
Each of the N-Trophy's channels offer variable saturation and parallel insert processing.The N-Trophy’s channel strip module features microphone, line-level and tape inputs, and employs the same preamp design as the company’s flagship RP-2 unit, which is capable of delivering up to 66dB of gain. There is a switchable input transformer, along with an adjustable THD stage that offers five different types of saturation, and an external insert point equipped with a Blend control to allow for parallel insert processing.
Every channel benefits from its own valve compressor/limiter, and it is possible to link adjacent channels for processing stereo sources, as well as introducing parallel compression with another Blend control. As well as being able to bypass the section entirely, it is also possible to bypass the compressor but leave the valve active in order to drive it for effect. An external key input is provided, and two of the console’s eight aux buses can also be configured to operate as a compressor side-chain.
A passive EQ section offers individual cut and boost for high-, mid- and low-frequency bands, and the high and low bands can be switched between shelf or peak filter types. There are also dedicated high- and low-pass filters, and all of the controls are provided on rotary switches, making it possible to match settings perfectly between channels. A rotary selector switch makes it possible to place the compressor, EQ and insert points in any order.
The console is kitted out with 100mm motorised faders that used fixed resistors to offer a precise, stepped level control that ensures guaranteed signal levels and accurate matching between channels. The fader can be automated via a DAW, and can also be set to control DAW faders — along with the Mute and Solo buttons — on a per-channel basis. Every channel also has an additional B fader, which is equipped with rotary level and pan controls, which can accept a signal from any of the channels input options and can be assigned either to a group, or the main output.
Group Channels
The console's group channels are all equipped with stereo width processors.N-Trophy is equipped with eight mono group channels that offer the same high-quality signal path as the rest of the console, employing discrete Jensen JE990 op-amps and the same faders found on the channel modules. As well as routing signals from the console’s channels, each group is also equipped with XLR inputs that are routed straight to the fader, allowing the groups to be used to sum external sources, if required.
An Aux Return section at the top of the channel allows the signal from each aux bus to be routed either to the main mix output or Groups 7-8, and is followed by low- and high-pass filters and a master level control. There are then eight aux sends from the group itself, which allow for some interesting routing options, especially when using the last two groups as side-chain buses for the channel compressors. An insert point follows, which is again equipped with a Blend control to allow for parallel processing of grouped sources, and the output section is equipped with a stereo width control.
Master Section
The console’s Master section once again offers its own valve compressor and passive EQ, with all the same bells and whistles as their channel-based counterparts, and both processors are also accessible via the console’s patchbay. As well as the wealth of onboard processing options, the Master section features three insert points which can be placed in any order, and are equipped with yet another Blend control. A built-in mid-side matrix is also provided — with its encoder and decoder able to be placed anywhere within the section’s signal chain — and is followed by another stereo width control.
In terms of monitoring, the levels of the main outputs and main headphone mix are controlled by a 256-position stepped relay, and it is possible to switch between up to four sets of connected monitors. An additional four headphone outputs driven by Class-A amplifiers are also provided, and are available on the console’s patchbay as well as the panel of the Master section itself.
Configurations
An N-Trophy with just Group and Master sections designed for stem mixing and mastering applications.Due to the console’s modular nature, there are a huge number of different configurations available. Is is possible to order an N-Trophy with up to 64 channel faders, an option that will allow for a total of 136 inputs at mixdown, or as little as eight channels for much smaller facilities.
It is also possible to start with a smaller console and add modules as required, and the company say that they are also happy to supply just the centre (group and master) section on its own for those who wish to use it for applications such as stem mixing and mastering.
Pricing & Availability
The N-Trophy is built to order, with details on pricing and build times available via HUM Audio Devices dealers.
