The Trinnov Audio NOVA Monitor Controller Changes Everything
by Scott Jay
20 hours ago
Sponsored by Trinnov Audio
Trinnov NOVA at work in a rack
Triple Innovation
France has historically been a significant contributor to the worldwide pro audio industry, with several top brands emerging from its deep well of acoustic research and engineering. For whatever reason the cleverest minds from “L’Hexagone” seem to be especially good at innovations in monitor speakers - a critical component of the signal chain, some would say more than any other. But where many of the household names of French audio brands have dedicated themselves to making actual monitor speakers at both the low and the super high-end, Trinnov Audio, founded in 2003, stands out for its innovative approach to room calibration and for the type of work Gearspace members are generally doing, building a device that make monitors sound better in any environment.
Evolving from early surround processors used in broadcast and post-production studios, expanding to home theatre & hi-fi, then to professional cinema and of course eventually into the pro audio/music studio gear sector, the acclaimed NOVA monitor controller is the culmination of two decades of research and product development, and it’s as unique as it is useful.
After 20 years in the game they make a whole lineup of products, but very few companies have made as significant an impact with just one essential box as Trinnov Audio has with the NOVA.
“We’re a small company, but we’ve been deeply rooted in acoustics and sound processing from the very start,” recalls Benoit Munoz, who is the Marketing Manager at Trinnov. He spoke to us to talk about the history of the company and tell us about why and how the NOVA came to be.
Before we dive into a brief history of Trinnov Audio and the genesis of the NOVA, let’s just talk about what it is - and what it isn’t. The NOVA is a kit consisting of a rack-mounted monitor controller which also DSP corrects whichever monitors you plug into it, and a custom-designed and built room-correction microphone which looks like lost technology from the 1950s space race to aid your calibration. There is a super powerful & customisable optional ‘La Remote’ remote controller for ease of operation once it’s up and running. And the whole thing fits in your backpack so you can take it to any session in any room - treated or not - and it will give you the best possible results from whatever monitors you need to plug in to.
The Craft Behind the Creation
Benoit speaks about some of the misconceptions about the NOVA.
"NOVA is usually last before loudspeakers in the signal path so we have to know, understand and love loudspeakers - and we do!" he explains.
"We fundamentally respect their sonic signatures. Something people tend to believe is that we change the way loudspeakers sound, but that's absolutely not the case. Not only do we not touch loudspeakers' non-linearities, which are part of their signature, but we also provide all the tools to keep that sonic signature intact," Benoit states assuredly.
“Second, we are not a “one-button solution”. We first offer the ability to diagnose your room and the way your speaker responds in this room, and then we offer you the tools to compensate for amplitude, time, phase, and frequency domain issues. And all of this is very modular and gradual. You can correct a lot, or you can correct a little, or you can not correct at all!” he points out, essentially stating that it can be “just” a really good-sounding high-end monitor controller if that’s all you need.
“I would say people forget how powerful this unit can be,” Benoit continues. “For example, we have many customers finally adding a subwoofer to the system, maybe even one or two. It’s an incredibly easy process compared to what you used to have to do before. Moving them around (and they're usually quite heavy), playing with the stuff on the back of them to improve the crossover frequency phase, and so on. NOVA does all of this for you in about a minute. We can calibrate a basic stereo setup in a matter of minutes, which is quite something!” An easy step-by-step wizard guides you through the simple process, so anyone can dive in and get their system going very quickly.
This exceptional little box of wonders didn’t happen overnight.
“We're deeply rooted in acoustics and sound processing. There are 25 engineers working in Paris and they all come from that network of sound processing, PhDs and so on in France,” Benoit confirms. So how did we get to here?
2003–2005: Early Experiments and the First Release
Shortly after its inception, Trinnov introduced its first product—a surround recorder. Although ahead of its time and not quite the market-melting seller that later devices would become, it was successful enough that this initial foray laid the groundwork for what would become the company’s signature achievement: the development of the ‘Optimizer’ technology.
‘Optimizer’ tech was born from a deep understanding of acoustics and signal processing. It was designed to address one of the most persistent challenges in audio production: how to achieve accurate sound reproduction in varied acoustic environments - and this would become key to their future DSP correction products, including NOVA.
2010–2012: Enter the ST2 Pro
Trinnov’s first significant breakthrough in the music production industry arrived with the launch of the ST2 Pro in the early 2010s. Although expensive, this would be foundational to the eventual introduction of NOVA as it was a similar type of tool.
“The ST2 Pro was our first big product dedicated to stereo mixing and recording,” says Munoz.
This two-channel processor integrated the Optimizer tech, enabling precise room and speaker calibration. It quickly gained traction in Europe, particularly among recording studios and broadcasters. Importantly, the ST2 Pro’s success marked Trinnov’s transition from a niche technology company to a recognised name in professional audio.
While technological innovation remains at the heart of Trinnov’s mission, the company is equally committed to sustainability. Recognising the environmental challenges facing the planet, Trinnov has taken proactive steps to reduce its ecological footprint and promote eco-friendly practices in both product design and manufacturing.
Made in France: Trinnov has consciously chosen to keep its design, development, and manufacturing processes entirely within France. This decision not only supports the local economy but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance shipping and offshore production.
“We’re proud to design and assemble everything in-house, ensuring not just quality but also minimising environmental impact,” Benoit shares. This approach contrasts with many tech companies that outsource manufacturing to distant locations.
Energy-Efficient Hardware Design: Trinnov engineers prioritise energy efficiency in every product they develop. NOVA, for example, is designed to consume less power without compromising performance. Features like advanced power management ensure that the unit operates optimally while using minimal energy, contributing to lower electricity consumption in studios.
Eco-friendly packaging: Trinnov uses recyclable materials for product boxes and reduces unnecessary plastic.
Durable components: Building products designed for longevity reduces electronic waste. Many Trinnov devices, including legacy models from the early 2000s, are still fully operational today.
Extended Product Lifespan: One of Trinnov’s most impactful sustainability practices is its commitment to long-term product support. Unlike many tech companies that push for regular hardware replacements, Trinnov actively maintains and updates older products.
Five-Year Warranty: Trinnov offers a generous warranty period almost unheard-of on digital products.
Free Software Updates: Users receive regular firmware upgrades, ensuring products remain compatible with new technologies.
Repair and Refurbishment Services: Trinnov encourages repairs over replacements, servicing units from as far back as the early 2000s.
“We believe in creating products that last, which is good for both our customers and the environment,” Benoit states proudly.
2014–2015: Global Expansion and a USA Breakthrough
While Trinnov had established a solid presence in Europe, global recognition came with strategic distribution partnerships, particularly in the United States. Around 2014–2015, Trinnov began a collaboration with Vintage King, a major distributor in the US (and fairly well-known to Gearspace members of the era and today) - which significantly boosted its visibility.
“That’s when we really started to get more traction in the US and UK,” Munoz explains. This period also saw Trinnov evolving beyond room correction to incorporate comprehensive monitoring solutions.
2015: D-Mons among us
In 2015, Trinnov introduced the D-Mon, a product that expanded on the Optimizer’s capabilities by integrating a powerful monitoring controller. This innovation effectively replaced Avid’s popular Xmon, offering advanced features such as speaker room correction using Optimizer technology, flexible monitor control with both analogue and digital integration and total system management for complex studio environments
“The D-Mon was a big step for us because it combined room correction with monitor control, making it a comprehensive solution for professional studios,” says Munoz.
2015–2020: From Studios to Home Theatres to Cinemas and beyond
In parallel to the D-Mon’s success, Trinnov expanded its reach beyond traditional recording studios. The company ventured into the home theatre market, where its room calibration expertise proved invaluable.
“As of now, about 65% of our business is in the home theatre sector, with professional audio making up around 25%, and the rest in OEM and commercial cinema,” Munoz notes. This diversification not only broadened Trinnov’s customer base but also provided new insights that influenced future product development.
And so this brings us to the current decade…
2020: Conceptualising NOVA
With the ST2 Pro’s components becoming harder to source and the industry shifting towards more integrated solutions, Trinnov recognised the need for a new flagship product. The goal was ambitious: create a device that would encapsulate everything the company had learned over nearly two decades while addressing the evolving needs of modern audio professionals.
“NOVA is somehow the best of everything Trinnov has been making for 20 years,” Munoz reflects proudly.
The vision for NOVA was clear:
2022: The Launch of Trinnov NOVA
After years of development, NOVA was officially launched, quickly becoming a genuine game-changer in the industry. Unlike its predecessors, NOVA was designed to be both powerful and accessible.
The full Trinnov NOVA kit (smoke machine not included, but any machine can be a smoke machine if you use it wrongly enough)
Going Supernova
Benoit laughs when I ask him what’s happening next at Trinnov.
“People have kind of guessed somehow - there will definitely be a Super NOVA coming! I don't know if it will actually be that literal - but for now I'm calling it a Supernova,” he chuckles.
“Honestly, I would say that the (current) NOVA is kind of just getting started - since we do our own software and we are the masters of everything, we can implement really cool new features into NOVA. Over the next couple of years we have plans for some really cool updates for it,” he assures.
Fundamental research: disrupting the industry
Benoit implies that Trinnov is not sitting still, either. "With the Optimizer, Trinnov pioneered time/frequency correction which is now commonly seen as a 'must-have' - and Trinnov's application is now the industry benchmark," he declares. Benoit tells us where this has led today. "In more recent years, we have invested a lot of money in fundamental research because clearly, our ambitions are big - we want to disrupt the industry again with truly innovative solutions in signal processing," he intones confidently.
NOVA is the shining example of beneficial technology in action, and it's endorsed by some proper A-list studio legends in addition to quite a few journeymen pros.
Benoit is happy to rattle off just a few big names.
“Spike Stent, Greg Wells, Fab Dupont, Vance Powell, and Brian Lucey, and a lot of other mixing rooms around the world (use NOVA). “We've also sold machines to Skywalker Sound, which is the crazy facility in California that George Lucas started. And recently, we just sold 4 units to Peter Jackson’s post-production place in New Zealand - Park Road Post/WingNut Films.
The $4000 question
“Should you buy NOVA?”
Benoit is keen to explain why they’re totally worth it.
“A critique we get all the time is “ you know, you are too expensive!” But there are reasons for that. First, we make something quite unique. Second, we make it in France. And third, you know, we do a lot of other things that companies don't, like a five-year warranty, constant free updates, we are basically giving all this research for free to people,” he comments assuredly. “With NOVA, with improving our processes, we wanted to bring to cost down compared to the ST2. And we did - we lowered the entry ticket by almost $2,000, which is a lot!” he observes.
“If you're a top-tier mixing or mastering engineer, $5k is not a big deal. You know, those people buy $50k, $60k speakers and so on. So when I talk to them, usually, the answer is ‘well, no, it's not an expensive unit and it has paid for itself a million times over - this is the most important thing in my studio’,” he says.
That's something we also get a lot from big & famous mixers. They say it's a crucial part of their studio, because maybe your reverb is not working or your preamp is broken or something, but if your monitoring is off, you cannot work,” he points out.
(Sounds like a resounding “yes” then, you should buy one!)
The Trinnov La Remote looking smart in a simple studio setup
Benoit has a thoughtful final word about what Trinnov is thinking right now. “Our mission is to give audio professionals the tools they need to hear the truth. Whether you’re in a million-dollar studio or a bedroom setup, we’re here to make sure your sound is as accurate as possible.”
For more information on the Trinnov NOVA visit https://www.trinnov.com
Trinnov NOVA at work in a rack
Triple Innovation
France has historically been a significant contributor to the worldwide pro audio industry, with several top brands emerging from its deep well of acoustic research and engineering. For whatever reason the cleverest minds from “L’Hexagone” seem to be especially good at innovations in monitor speakers - a critical component of the signal chain, some would say more than any other. But where many of the household names of French audio brands have dedicated themselves to making actual monitor speakers at both the low and the super high-end, Trinnov Audio, founded in 2003, stands out for its innovative approach to room calibration and for the type of work Gearspace members are generally doing, building a device that make monitors sound better in any environment.
Evolving from early surround processors used in broadcast and post-production studios, expanding to home theatre & hi-fi, then to professional cinema and of course eventually into the pro audio/music studio gear sector, the acclaimed NOVA monitor controller is the culmination of two decades of research and product development, and it’s as unique as it is useful.
After 20 years in the game they make a whole lineup of products, but very few companies have made as significant an impact with just one essential box as Trinnov Audio has with the NOVA.
“We’re a small company, but we’ve been deeply rooted in acoustics and sound processing from the very start,” recalls Benoit Munoz, who is the Marketing Manager at Trinnov. He spoke to us to talk about the history of the company and tell us about why and how the NOVA came to be.
Before we dive into a brief history of Trinnov Audio and the genesis of the NOVA, let’s just talk about what it is - and what it isn’t. The NOVA is a kit consisting of a rack-mounted monitor controller which also DSP corrects whichever monitors you plug into it, and a custom-designed and built room-correction microphone which looks like lost technology from the 1950s space race to aid your calibration. There is a super powerful & customisable optional ‘La Remote’ remote controller for ease of operation once it’s up and running. And the whole thing fits in your backpack so you can take it to any session in any room - treated or not - and it will give you the best possible results from whatever monitors you need to plug in to.
The ‘La Remote’ remote monitor controller for the Trinnov NOVA
Benoit speaks about some of the misconceptions about the NOVA.
"NOVA is usually last before loudspeakers in the signal path so we have to know, understand and love loudspeakers - and we do!" he explains.
"We fundamentally respect their sonic signatures. Something people tend to believe is that we change the way loudspeakers sound, but that's absolutely not the case. Not only do we not touch loudspeakers' non-linearities, which are part of their signature, but we also provide all the tools to keep that sonic signature intact," Benoit states assuredly.
“Second, we are not a “one-button solution”. We first offer the ability to diagnose your room and the way your speaker responds in this room, and then we offer you the tools to compensate for amplitude, time, phase, and frequency domain issues. And all of this is very modular and gradual. You can correct a lot, or you can correct a little, or you can not correct at all!” he points out, essentially stating that it can be “just” a really good-sounding high-end monitor controller if that’s all you need.
“I would say people forget how powerful this unit can be,” Benoit continues. “For example, we have many customers finally adding a subwoofer to the system, maybe even one or two. It’s an incredibly easy process compared to what you used to have to do before. Moving them around (and they're usually quite heavy), playing with the stuff on the back of them to improve the crossover frequency phase, and so on. NOVA does all of this for you in about a minute. We can calibrate a basic stereo setup in a matter of minutes, which is quite something!” An easy step-by-step wizard guides you through the simple process, so anyone can dive in and get their system going very quickly.
This exceptional little box of wonders didn’t happen overnight.
“We're deeply rooted in acoustics and sound processing. There are 25 engineers working in Paris and they all come from that network of sound processing, PhDs and so on in France,” Benoit confirms. So how did we get to here?
The Trinnov Audio Team at their HQ in Paris
Shortly after its inception, Trinnov introduced its first product—a surround recorder. Although ahead of its time and not quite the market-melting seller that later devices would become, it was successful enough that this initial foray laid the groundwork for what would become the company’s signature achievement: the development of the ‘Optimizer’ technology.
‘Optimizer’ tech was born from a deep understanding of acoustics and signal processing. It was designed to address one of the most persistent challenges in audio production: how to achieve accurate sound reproduction in varied acoustic environments - and this would become key to their future DSP correction products, including NOVA.
2010–2012: Enter the ST2 Pro
Trinnov’s first significant breakthrough in the music production industry arrived with the launch of the ST2 Pro in the early 2010s. Although expensive, this would be foundational to the eventual introduction of NOVA as it was a similar type of tool.
“The ST2 Pro was our first big product dedicated to stereo mixing and recording,” says Munoz.
This two-channel processor integrated the Optimizer tech, enabling precise room and speaker calibration. It quickly gained traction in Europe, particularly among recording studios and broadcasters. Importantly, the ST2 Pro’s success marked Trinnov’s transition from a niche technology company to a recognised name in professional audio.
Trinnov’s Commitment to Sustainability in Product Design
While technological innovation remains at the heart of Trinnov’s mission, the company is equally committed to sustainability. Recognising the environmental challenges facing the planet, Trinnov has taken proactive steps to reduce its ecological footprint and promote eco-friendly practices in both product design and manufacturing.
Made in France: Trinnov has consciously chosen to keep its design, development, and manufacturing processes entirely within France. This decision not only supports the local economy but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance shipping and offshore production.
“We’re proud to design and assemble everything in-house, ensuring not just quality but also minimising environmental impact,” Benoit shares. This approach contrasts with many tech companies that outsource manufacturing to distant locations.
Energy-Efficient Hardware Design: Trinnov engineers prioritise energy efficiency in every product they develop. NOVA, for example, is designed to consume less power without compromising performance. Features like advanced power management ensure that the unit operates optimally while using minimal energy, contributing to lower electricity consumption in studios.
Eco-friendly packaging: Trinnov uses recyclable materials for product boxes and reduces unnecessary plastic.
Durable components: Building products designed for longevity reduces electronic waste. Many Trinnov devices, including legacy models from the early 2000s, are still fully operational today.
Extended Product Lifespan: One of Trinnov’s most impactful sustainability practices is its commitment to long-term product support. Unlike many tech companies that push for regular hardware replacements, Trinnov actively maintains and updates older products.
Five-Year Warranty: Trinnov offers a generous warranty period almost unheard-of on digital products.
Free Software Updates: Users receive regular firmware upgrades, ensuring products remain compatible with new technologies.
Repair and Refurbishment Services: Trinnov encourages repairs over replacements, servicing units from as far back as the early 2000s.
“We believe in creating products that last, which is good for both our customers and the environment,” Benoit states proudly.
While Trinnov had established a solid presence in Europe, global recognition came with strategic distribution partnerships, particularly in the United States. Around 2014–2015, Trinnov began a collaboration with Vintage King, a major distributor in the US (and fairly well-known to Gearspace members of the era and today) - which significantly boosted its visibility.
“That’s when we really started to get more traction in the US and UK,” Munoz explains. This period also saw Trinnov evolving beyond room correction to incorporate comprehensive monitoring solutions.
2015: D-Mons among us
In 2015, Trinnov introduced the D-Mon, a product that expanded on the Optimizer’s capabilities by integrating a powerful monitoring controller. This innovation effectively replaced Avid’s popular Xmon, offering advanced features such as speaker room correction using Optimizer technology, flexible monitor control with both analogue and digital integration and total system management for complex studio environments
“The D-Mon was a big step for us because it combined room correction with monitor control, making it a comprehensive solution for professional studios,” says Munoz.
2015–2020: From Studios to Home Theatres to Cinemas and beyond
In parallel to the D-Mon’s success, Trinnov expanded its reach beyond traditional recording studios. The company ventured into the home theatre market, where its room calibration expertise proved invaluable.
“As of now, about 65% of our business is in the home theatre sector, with professional audio making up around 25%, and the rest in OEM and commercial cinema,” Munoz notes. This diversification not only broadened Trinnov’s customer base but also provided new insights that influenced future product development.
And so this brings us to the current decade…
2020: Conceptualising NOVA
With the ST2 Pro’s components becoming harder to source and the industry shifting towards more integrated solutions, Trinnov recognised the need for a new flagship product. The goal was ambitious: create a device that would encapsulate everything the company had learned over nearly two decades while addressing the evolving needs of modern audio professionals.
“NOVA is somehow the best of everything Trinnov has been making for 20 years,” Munoz reflects proudly.
The vision for NOVA was clear:
- Seamless integration of the Optimizer with advanced monitoring capabilities
- Compact and portable design without compromising performance
- Incorporation of audio-over-IP (Dante) for greater flexibility in modern workflows
2022: The Launch of Trinnov NOVA
After years of development, NOVA was officially launched, quickly becoming a genuine game-changer in the industry. Unlike its predecessors, NOVA was designed to be both powerful and accessible.
The full Trinnov NOVA kit (smoke machine not included, but any machine can be a smoke machine if you use it wrongly enough)
Going Supernova
Benoit laughs when I ask him what’s happening next at Trinnov.
“People have kind of guessed somehow - there will definitely be a Super NOVA coming! I don't know if it will actually be that literal - but for now I'm calling it a Supernova,” he chuckles.
“Honestly, I would say that the (current) NOVA is kind of just getting started - since we do our own software and we are the masters of everything, we can implement really cool new features into NOVA. Over the next couple of years we have plans for some really cool updates for it,” he assures.
Fundamental research: disrupting the industry
Benoit implies that Trinnov is not sitting still, either. "With the Optimizer, Trinnov pioneered time/frequency correction which is now commonly seen as a 'must-have' - and Trinnov's application is now the industry benchmark," he declares. Benoit tells us where this has led today. "In more recent years, we have invested a lot of money in fundamental research because clearly, our ambitions are big - we want to disrupt the industry again with truly innovative solutions in signal processing," he intones confidently.
NOVA is the shining example of beneficial technology in action, and it's endorsed by some proper A-list studio legends in addition to quite a few journeymen pros.
Benoit is happy to rattle off just a few big names.
“Spike Stent, Greg Wells, Fab Dupont, Vance Powell, and Brian Lucey, and a lot of other mixing rooms around the world (use NOVA). “We've also sold machines to Skywalker Sound, which is the crazy facility in California that George Lucas started. And recently, we just sold 4 units to Peter Jackson’s post-production place in New Zealand - Park Road Post/WingNut Films.
The $4000 question
“Should you buy NOVA?”
Benoit is keen to explain why they’re totally worth it.
“A critique we get all the time is “ you know, you are too expensive!” But there are reasons for that. First, we make something quite unique. Second, we make it in France. And third, you know, we do a lot of other things that companies don't, like a five-year warranty, constant free updates, we are basically giving all this research for free to people,” he comments assuredly. “With NOVA, with improving our processes, we wanted to bring to cost down compared to the ST2. And we did - we lowered the entry ticket by almost $2,000, which is a lot!” he observes.
The inside of a Trinnov NOVA, in case you want to make one at home yourself
“If you're a top-tier mixing or mastering engineer, $5k is not a big deal. You know, those people buy $50k, $60k speakers and so on. So when I talk to them, usually, the answer is ‘well, no, it's not an expensive unit and it has paid for itself a million times over - this is the most important thing in my studio’,” he says.
That's something we also get a lot from big & famous mixers. They say it's a crucial part of their studio, because maybe your reverb is not working or your preamp is broken or something, but if your monitoring is off, you cannot work,” he points out.
(Sounds like a resounding “yes” then, you should buy one!)
The Trinnov La Remote looking smart in a simple studio setup
Benoit has a thoughtful final word about what Trinnov is thinking right now. “Our mission is to give audio professionals the tools they need to hear the truth. Whether you’re in a million-dollar studio or a bedroom setup, we’re here to make sure your sound is as accurate as possible.”
For more information on the Trinnov NOVA visit https://www.trinnov.com
