microphone choice for sound card RTA

[Audiophilenoob]

I'm trying to find a microphone that is 1/4" phono to use for RTA on my computer

what's the good mics that I should be looking at for this usage?

it has to be amplified correct?

[wigginjs]

I can recommend the Behringer ECM8000 microphone with the ART MicroMix mic preamp. About $100 for the pair.

[ShinOBIWAN]

I know its not what you've asked for but I'd recommend the Behringer ECM8000 in conjunction with TrueRTA or SIA SmaartLive.

The ECM8000 is omni-directional and is almost ruler flat from 20hz upto 15khz, there's a slight bump in the response above this of a couple of dB but TrueRTA and Smaart have calibration files included so its no problem at all.

Regarding connections: The ECM8000 is 48v phantom powered so you'll need a suitable pre-amp. The Behringer MIC100 or SHARK are both fine for the task and cheap. The outputs on these are either balanced XLR or 1/4" TRS.

There's more expensive solutions but for value and performance the Behringer kit is hard to beat.

If your wanting exotic and don't mind paying for it then I'd recommend the Earthworks M51 mic. I couldn't afford but hired one all the same to setup my speakers. Great mic and captures room impulses very accurately.

[Audiophilenoob]

Originally posted by ShinOBIWAN
I know its not what you've asked for but I'd recommend the Behringer ECM8000 in conjunction with TrueRTA or SIA SmaartLive.

The ECM8000 is omni-directional and is almost ruler flat from 20hz upto 15khz, there's a slight bump in the response above this of a couple of dB but TrueRTA and Smaart have calibration files included so its no problem at all.

Regarding connections: The ECM8000 is 48v phantom powered so you'll need a suitable pre-amp. The Behringer MIC100 or SHARK are both fine for the task and cheap. The outputs on these are either balanced XLR or 1/4" TRS.

There's more expensive solutions but for value and performance the Behringer kit is hard to beat.

If your wanting exotic and don't mind paying for it then I'd recommend the Earthworks M51 mic. I couldn't afford but hired one all the same to setup my speakers. Great mic and captures room impulses very accurately.

my sound card has a mic preamp of 40v with full db adjustment and phantom 12v power supply

do I need a preamp still?

behringer seems pretty nice

[ShinOBIWAN]

Originally posted by Audiophilenoob



my sound card has a mic preamp of 40v with full db adjustment and phantom 12v power supply

do I need a preamp still?

behringer seems pretty nice

Same here and I could never get it to work. So I just bought a pre-amp. They'll be a bunch of pro-audio guys laughing at us for trying to run a 48v phantom powered mic with 12v

While you at it buy up the components for a cable jig and get measuring some near and far field gated responses with speaker workshop!

[Audiophilenoob]

Originally posted by ShinOBIWAN


Same here and I could never get it to work. So I just bought a pre-amp. They'll be a bunch of pro-audio guys laughing at us for trying to run a 48v phantom powered mic with 12v

While you at it buy up the components for a cable jig and get measuring some near and far field gated responses with speaker workshop!

components for a cable jig?

well I think the Sound card would work... but it's easier to just not worry about it and buy a MIC100...

[ShinOBIWAN]

Originally posted by Audiophilenoob



components for a cable jig?

well I think the Sound card would work... but it's easier to just not worry about it and buy a MIC100...

You'll definitely need that mic-pre, I can't see why your soundcards 12v is any different from mines 12v

The cable jig is what you'll need to build in order to do comprehensive testing. Stuff like phase, impedance, TS parameters, group delay, distortion etc etc.

You've probably heard of the Walin Jig right? Well the cable jig is just another version but a little simpler to build. Either of these is used in conjunction with our old friend speaker workshop.

If you get stuck I'll help you out.

[Audiophilenoob]

Originally posted by ShinOBIWAN


You'll definitely need that mic-pre, I can't see why your soundcards 12v is any different from mines 12v

The cable jig is what you'll need to build in order to do comprehensive testing. Stuff like phase, impedance, TS parameters, group delay, distortion etc etc.

You've probably heard of the Walin Jig right? Well the cable jig is just another version but a little simpler to build. Either of these is used in conjunction with our old friend speaker workshop.

If you get stuck I'll help you out.

you got a link that talks about a cable jig? I'd be very interested to read how to build one

[ShinOBIWAN]

Originally posted by Audiophilenoob


you got a link that talks about a cable jig? I'd be very interested to read how to build one

Claudio's Website is an excellent place to start if your just getting into speaker workshop.

http://www.claudionegro.com/

Also download his PDF manual:

http://web.tiscali.it/claudionegro/d...rial%20ENG.zip

It contrain a very detailed and step by step guide to setting up your soundcard mic and jig ready to perform measurements that a simple RTA cannot.

It also show detailed photo's and diagrams on building the cable jigs required for testing certain parameters. Really easy to build BTW so don't be put off.

I can't believe you haven't used SpeakerWorkshop (SW) before. Did you not do ANY measurements on your current speakers, what about testing the TS parameters to ensure good matching and box volume mating?

I'm kinda shaking my head that you've made so many claims but measured nothing but eitherway enjoy!

PS. Do a search for Jay Butterman's SW Manual. Another excellent SW resource.

[Audiophilenoob]

Originally posted by ShinOBIWAN



I can't believe you haven't used SpeakerWorkshop (SW) before. Did you not do ANY measurements on your current speakers, what about testing the TS parameters to ensure good matching and box volume mating?

I'm kinda shaking my head that you've made so many claims but measured nothing but eitherway enjoy!

PS. Do a search for Jay Butterman's SW Manual. Another excellent SW resource.

well the only speaker I needed to "test" would have been the PHL's... I have the tests john did and the ribbons T/S's you can figure with simple math...

I haven't made any claims about them that aren't true... I haven't done any measuring because my gainclone is just NOW finished so I can finally listen to full stereo

claims are just from my ears... I'm fairly certain that I haven't said anything more than that

thanks for the links BTW