measurement programs, mics and mic preamps.

j.burtt · 3rd November 2005, 08:42 AM

I am an old school high-end car audio installer from back in the day. I have an Audio Control SA-3052A real time analyzer I used back then, but am looking for the latest and greatest in programs to use to measure speakers (before and after completion) and tweak my systems (home and car) using my laptop. The Audio Control unit still works fine, but I woulkd like to get into something I could put into my large laptop bag and carry with me. I am planning on building some speakers in the near future and would like to start rounding up some of the supplies to complete a nice set. I have read about some that also have crossover design programs with them. I don't know how much I would use that, since the new speaker project will be actively triamped, but it would probably come in handy some day. I am not trying to start a WHO'S BEST thread here, just looking for some input on the plusses and minuses from the guys that use this equipment on a regular basis. I want to buy whats' best for my needs the first time, so I don't have to do it again later.
Thanks,
James

Emiel · 3rd November 2005, 10:16 AM

Maybe this thread could be of help:
How to measure frequency response with PC?

Kind regards,

Emiel

f4ier · 3rd November 2005, 11:42 AM

Quote:

I am not trying to start a WHO'S BEST thread here... I want to buy whats' best for my needs...

LEAP and LMS from Linear X are the best for your needs and both happen to be the best and most expensive of them all. However, SoundEasy is the best value for money. It does all sorts of measurement, analog active/passive and digital filter design. Any enclosure design you can think of and it does baffle diffraction modeling too. It does listening room modeling as well as some other nifty stuff like design emulation through your multi-way soundcard.

ucla88 · 3rd November 2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by f4ier

LEAP and LMS from Linear X are the best for your needs and both happen to be the best and most expensive of them all. However, SoundEasy is the best value for money. It does all sorts of measurement, analog active/passive and digital filter design. Any enclosure design you can think of and it does baffle diffraction modeling too. It does listening room modeling as well as some other nifty stuff like design emulation through your multi-way soundcard.

I'd have to disagree with the comment that LMS is the best. LMS is a somewhat limited swept sine measurement system, still based on an ISA arch. Other, cheaper systems have surpassed LMS in performance and flexibility, IMHO. Praxis is probably the best under 1k as far as measurement systems. If you want to spend a bit less money and get a software xover modeling program, the two most common high quality, relatively inexpensive programs are SE and lspCAD.

I don't have enough info to make a comment on leap. It used to be the leader, and still may be. For a long time leap had the reputation as the best, but then languished as the others improved. It has been recently updated, so it's probably quite good.

hth

(sorry, those are courtesy of my 3 yr old son)

mark k

check out my testing site at www.ncdiyaudio.com

Ouroboros · 3rd November 2005, 03:51 PM

I'd agree that LEAP and LMS are grossly out of date!
I've just ordered Praxis for use at work, though I use True-RTA and Sample Champion at home.

Make sure your sound card is up to it though. A low cost but very good quality external USB one is the Transit from M-audio.

Ouroboros · 3rd November 2005, 03:54 PM

I hadn't realised that LEAP had been updated, so I'll take back my comments about it being out of date until I've had a look at what the latest release does!

-CGL- · 3rd November 2005, 03:54 PM

LEAP out of date ????? Do You use LEAP-5 ????

Ouroboros · 3rd November 2005, 04:09 PM

No I'm not a LEAP user. In a previous employment I made use of an external audio development and measuring company which used LEAP and it seemed to be very high priced for what it did.

It seems to be very well respected, so perhaps it has attributes which are not immediately obvious.

ucla88 · 3rd November 2005, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ouroboros
I'd agree that LEAP and LMS are grossly out of date!
I've just ordered Praxis for use at work, though I use True-RTA and Sample Champion at home.

Make sure your sound card is up to it though. A low cost but very good quality external USB one is the Transit from M-audio.

I too have just bought an m audio transit. I've been trying to get a laptop measurement system up and running and the m audio system seems to work pretty well so far.

soongsc · 3rd November 2005, 05:10 PM

How do these compare with CLIO?

3rd November 2005, 08:42 AM	#1
j.burtt diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	measurement programs, mics and mic preamps. I am an old school high-end car audio installer from back in the day. I have an Audio Control SA-3052A real time analyzer I used back then, but am looking for the latest and greatest in programs to use to measure speakers (before and after completion) and tweak my systems (home and car) using my laptop. The Audio Control unit still works fine, but I woulkd like to get into something I could put into my large laptop bag and carry with me. I am planning on building some speakers in the near future and would like to start rounding up some of the supplies to complete a nice set. I have read about some that also have crossover design programs with them. I don't know how much I would use that, since the new speaker project will be actively triamped, but it would probably come in handy some day. I am not trying to start a WHO'S BEST thread here, just looking for some input on the plusses and minuses from the guys that use this equipment on a regular basis. I want to buy whats' best for my needs the first time, so I don't have to do it again later. Thanks, James

3rd November 2005, 05:10 PM	#10
soongsc diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Taiwan	How do these compare with CLIO? __________________ Hear the real thing!

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3rd November 2005, 10:16 AM	#2
Emiel diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Somewhere near Enschede	Maybe this thread could be of help: How to measure frequency response with PC? Kind regards, Emiel

3rd November 2005, 03:51 PM	#5
Ouroboros diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nottingham UK	I'd agree that LEAP and LMS are grossly out of date! I've just ordered Praxis for use at work, though I use True-RTA and Sample Champion at home. Make sure your sound card is up to it though. A low cost but very good quality external USB one is the Transit from M-audio.

3rd November 2005, 03:54 PM	#6
Ouroboros diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nottingham UK	I hadn't realised that LEAP had been updated, so I'll take back my comments about it being out of date until I've had a look at what the latest release does!

3rd November 2005, 03:54 PM	#7
-CGL- diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Finland	LEAP out of date ????? Do You use LEAP-5 ????

3rd November 2005, 04:09 PM	#8
Ouroboros diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nottingham UK	No I'm not a LEAP user. In a previous employment I made use of an external audio development and measuring company which used LEAP and it seemed to be very high priced for what it did. It seems to be very well respected, so perhaps it has attributes which are not immediately obvious.

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