HUM Audio N-TROPHY (Analog Console — Standalone Center Section) is the N-TROPHY center section ordered and delivered without channel strips — a complete, self-contained unit ready to operate as an analog summing matrix, stem mastering hub, and passive monitor controller, with no full console integration required. At under 65 cm wide, it fits into any control room. Without channel strips, the standalone center section sums up to 16 XLR line inputs directly to the group buses — four stereo group buses with external XLR inputs routed straight to the fader — making it a stand-alone analog summing matrix with mastering-grade processing onboard. Combined with HUM Audio's LAAL mastering limiter, it forms a complete analog stem mastering system. Hand-built in Poland to individual customer specification.
Mastering-grade processing on the main bus and groups
A tube optical master compressor on NOS Mullard tubes with switchable internal or external sidechain, a 6-band passive master EQ with HPF/LPF on rotary switches, and a 3-slot Insert Matrix with Dry/Wet Blend on slot 1 constitute a complete mastering processor chain on the main mix bus, with freely configurable processor order. An M/S matrix with freely assignable encoder and decoder positions can be placed at any point in the processing chain — before or after the compressor, EQ, and inserts. A stereo width module on the main mix, identical to the one in the LAAL mastering limiter, and on each of the four stereo group buses allows continuous stereo width adjustment throughout the signal chain. Each of the four stereo stems groups provides its own insert with Dry/Wet Blend, stereo width, eight mono aux sends, and an external XLR input routed directly to the fader. Eight Aux Returns with Pan/Volume routing to Main Mix or Groups 7–8; eight Aux Masters with HPF/LPF. AUX 7 and AUX 8 function as global sidechain buses for the master compressor and, when channel sections are added, for all channel compressors simultaneously. All routing is implemented with relay switches using gold-plated contacts throughout.
Monitoring, automation, and DAW integration
Passive monitoring with a 256-step relay-switched volume control handles four monitor pairs and Main Phones with independent mute switches — the standard of a dedicated mastering-grade monitor controller. Four Class-A headphone amplifier outputs are available on both the panel and the console patchbay. A Talkback section with level control and send switches to stereo aux pairs is included. Moving fader DAW automation supports up to 32 faders with no console-side software — curves drawn directly on DAW tracks; fader scale matches Pro Tools exactly. A built-in TC Clarity M Stereo Analyzer features selectable source (analog/digital), selectable analog input level (-20 dB / -10 dB / 0 dB), and virtual analyzer operation via USB. Power supply runs at +/-24V with a double-shielded toroidal transformer. The passively cooled 3U rack PSU powers up to 32 channel strips when the system is expanded with channel sections.
KEY FEATURES
- Standalone N-TROPHY Center Section without channel strips — under 65 cm wide
- Sums up to 16 XLR line inputs to group buses without channel strips
- Tube optical master compressor on NOS Mullard tubes (internal/external sidechain)
- 6-band passive master EQ with HPF/LPF on rotary switches
- 3-slot Insert Matrix with Dry/Wet Blend on slot 1 — configurable processor order
- M/S matrix with freely assignable encoder/decoder at any point in the processing chain
- Stereo width on main mix and all 4 stereo group buses (same module as LAAL)
- 4 stereo stems groups: insert (Dry/Wet), stereo width, 8 aux sends, XLR input to fader
- 8 Aux Returns with Pan/Volume; 8 Aux Masters with HPF/LPF
- AUX 7+8 as global sidechain buses for master and channel compressors
- Passive monitoring 256 steps — 4 monitor pairs + Main Phones with independent mutes
- 4 Class-A headphone outputs — on panel and patchbay
- Moving fader DAW automation up to 32 faders (fader scale = Pro Tools)
- TC Clarity M Stereo Analyzer (analog/digital, -20/-10/0 dB input level, USB virtual)
- Zero-loss Summing Matrix on Jensen JE990 discrete opamps
- All routing via relay switches with gold-plated contacts
- Power: +/-24V, double-shielded toroidal transformer
- Expandable with 8-channel sections at any point
- Combined with LAAL: complete analog stem mastering system
- Production: hand-built, Poland; ordered individually to specification
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: standalone Center Section — analog summing matrix + mastering hub + monitor controller
- Summing inputs: up to 16 XLR line inputs (direct to group buses, no channel strips)
- Main mix processors: Insert Matrix (3 slots, slot 1 Dry/Wet), Tube Optical Compressor, 6-band Passive EQ
- Tubes: NOS Mullard (master compressor)
- M/S matrix: encoder/decoder freely assignable to any point in the processing chain
- Stereo width: main mix + 4 stereo group buses (same module as LAAL)
- Stereo groups: 4 stems — insert (Dry/Wet), stereo width, 8 aux sends, XLR input to fader
- Aux: 8 Returns with Pan/Vol; 8 Masters with HPF/LPF; AUX 7+8 = sidechain buses
- Monitoring: relay-switched 256 steps, 4 monitor pairs + Main Phones, 4x Class-A headphones
- Automation: moving fader up to 32 faders, DAW-controlled (fader scale = Pro Tools)
- Analyzer: TC Clarity M (analog/digital, -20/-10/0 dB, USB virtual)
- Summing: zero-loss matrix, Jensen JE990 discrete opamps
- Routing: relay switches with gold-plated contacts throughout
- Power: +/-24V, 3U rack PSU passively cooled (up to 32 channels per unit)
- Width: under 65 cm
- Production: hand-built, Poland
