Getting Started with ARIA Studio Simply

Achieve great results with minimal setup using a simple preset

While ARIA Studio offers powerful customization options, you can achieve excellent results with minimal setup. This tutorial guides you through a streamlined approach using a simple preset that works well for most hearing profiles. No deep understanding of audio parameters required—just a few steps to dramatically improve your listening experience.

ARIA Studio interface showing the STARTUP_WIDEBAND preset

The STARTUP_WIDEBAND preset provides an excellent starting point for most users

Understanding ARIA's Interface

ARIA Studio's interface is complex with its numerous controls and parameters. This complexity exists to provide audio professionals and enthusiasts with precise control over every aspect of sound correction. However, the good news is that you can achieve excellent results with minimal adjustment using a simple preset approach.

As we learn more about how ARIA is used in practice, the interface will be streamlined. For now, this tutorial focuses on getting great results quickly without needing to understand all the technical details.

Before You Begin

Make sure you've completed the FullScale Hearing Test and have imported your results into ARIA Studio. You can do this by logging into the application when available or using the offline import process.

The Simple Approach: Using the STARTUP_WIDEBAND Preset

The STARTUP_WIDEBAND preset is designed to provide excellent results for most hearing profiles with minimal adjustment. This preset uses a single wideband for all multiband editors, applying a pure theoretical correction without complex manipulations. It also automatically blends your hearing profile with a factory profile for smoothing and shaping.

Quick Setup Steps

Follow these simple steps to get started with ARIA:

Set up and turn on audio streaming in ARIA Studio
Load the STARTUP_WIDEBAND Factory Preset from the preset browser
Replace the default hearing profile with your own profile
Adjust the DRIVE parameter to taste for appropriate gain makeup
Save this configuration to the USER folder as your own preset

Visualizing Your Correction

To visualize your correction, you need to view the filter's frequency response, which can be done on the FILTER page. Simply select the FLT graph from the data plot drop-down menu to see the filter response.

While not technically needed for a simple setup, we find it is helpful to use this graph in our workflows. It provides a visual representation of how ARIA is adjusting different frequencies based on your hearing profile.

ARIA Studio filter visualization showing frequency response

The filter (FLT) graph shows how ARIA is adjusting different frequencies

Finding the Optimal Drive Setting

The DRIVE parameter is crucial for getting the best results from the STARTUP_WIDEBAND preset. It controls how much signal is sent into dynamics processing, effectively acting as a gain makeup control.

Increase the DRIVE parameter until you start to see 2-5dB of gain reduction activity on the meters. This level typically provides enough correction to bring the music's energy back to its original level or slightly above.

If you hear artifacts or distortion, you've likely set the DRIVE too high. Simply dial it back until the sound is clean and clear again. The dynamics settings in this preset are intentionally aggressive to maximize the correction effect, but this can introduce coloration if pushed too far.

Saving Your Preset

Once you've found your optimal DRIVE setting, save your preset for future use. Open the preset browser menu, navigate to the USER folder, and press the save button to open a file save dialog window. Give your preset a descriptive name that you'll recognize later.

Experimenting with Listening Modes

ARIA Studio interface showing the three listening mode buttons

The three listening mode buttons: LR-S, LR-C, and MS

The STARTUP_WIDEBAND preset configures all three listening modes to use a single wideband. You can experiment with these modes to find which sounds best for your specific hearing profile and music preferences:

LR-S (Left Right Separate): Processes each channel independently, ideal when your hearing differs significantly between ears. This mode was envisioned for headphone listening when each ear is isolated.

LR-C (Left Right Combined): Generally applies the same processing to both channels, useful for balanced hearing profiles. This mode was envisioned for listening to music in a room with a stereo system where crosstalk is a concern.

MS (Mid-Sides): Processes the center and sides of the stereo image differently, often creating a more focused sound. This mode was envisioned for listening to music in a room with a stereo system where crosstalk is a concern.

Understanding Test Result Variability

Remember that hearing tests are behavioral in nature and inherently variable. Even clinical audiograms from doctors have an accepted variance of up to 10dB. While the STARTUP_WIDEBAND preset works well for most people, you might notice some anomalies, most commonly stereo imbalance in the low end. If you experience issues, you can explore more detailed tuning covered in our advanced tutorials.

Summary

Getting started with ARIA Studio doesn't have to be complicated. By using the STARTUP_WIDEBAND preset and making a few simple adjustments, you can dramatically improve your listening experience without needing to understand all the technical details. This approach gives you the benefits of ARIA's sophisticated hearing correction technology with minimal setup time. As you become more comfortable with the system, you can explore the more advanced features covered in our other tutorials.

Understanding ARIA Under the Hood

Low-End Balance with ARIA