What box software is best for a beginner?

[Jim85IROC]

I'm trying to fool around with some box modeling software, and I'm getting frustrated. I've downloaded "Speaker Workshop" as well as Subwoofer Simulator from the FRD Consortium, and I'm completely lost with both programs.

For starters, I can't seem to find a single driver anywhere that has enough published T/S parameters to satisfy either of these programs, and as a result the response curves (when I can actually produce one) are a mile off.

Does anybody have any suggestions for some box software that's reasonably accurate, easy to use, and might even be free for download? I'm not looking for perfection, just something I can fool around with as a learning tool.

[Vikash]

It seems alsmost impossible to have not come across WinISD. Comes with a db full of driver T/S specs to get you going. Foolproof for a newbie I think.

[Jim85IROC]

I was under the impression that WinISD provided a "demo" program, which I figured meant it had a 30 day period before self destructing. Perhaps I assumed incorrectly?

I'd love to check the website while I'm at work, but it seems that my wonderful employer has blocked that site.

[Lionel]

UniBox 4.04 is also an interesting spreadsheet.


UniBox

[sobazz]

Jim, no WinISD - both standard and Pro - are freeware programs. The standard version is a beta, however, and the Pro is an alpha. But they do work excellent, and the GUI is far more efficient and straight forward than Speaker Workshop's.

[Nisbeth]

Unibox is a great tool, but it can be a bit daunting at first. I'd start off with something else if your experience is limited.


/U.

[maylar]

What can a box design program tell you?

[f4ier]

For starters, I can't seem to find a single driver anywhere that has enough published T/S parameters to satisfy either of these programs

I'd be suspiscious of any subwoofer driver unit which doesn't even come with a reasonably complete datasheet... But that's just me. Shiva, Tempest, Maelstrom, Brahma, Tumult, DPL12, XLS12, AV12, AV15, Titanic 12... are just some of the great driver units one could have, and they all come with complete datasheets.

Use winISD Pro instead of the plain vanilla winISD.

Unibox is a great tool, but it can be a bit daunting at first.

Don't be put off by Unibox, it isn't really daunting. I think it's just that all the input and output fields are laid out in one page (as compared to being arranged Windows style like in winISD and SubSim), which I think is the reason behind people's opinion of Unibox's complexity. You should be just fine so long as you know and understand all those variables.

What can a box design program tell you?

How much information one can have depends on the program's capabilities. Sound pressure level, cone excursion and port speed calculation should come standard. The above mentioned programs can show you these curves and more. It can tell you which driver would be best for your requirements. Lots of things...

[toonz]

Personally, as a newbie I like unibox. I actually find it quite easy to use compared with the others... I found WinISD and those ones more daunting than unibox!