Soundcard and Mic for measuring.

[champ222]

Hi there, i know this has probably been asked a thousand times, already, i tried searching, but i got soooo many results!!

Could someone suggest a good soundcard and measurment microphone for measuring frequency responses etc?

price is an issue, but i dont mind spending a bit of money for good kit.

i currently have an audigy something or other, but ive had it ages, and didnt buy it with measuring in mind.

i have read of problems with the creative cards and some software, so it sounds like it would be easier and better to just get a soundcard which is more appropriate.

Thanks Guys

Andy

[champ222]

also, to measure t/s parameters too.

[soongsc]

I think if you go through the varous software providers web site such as PRAXIS, you should find some good recommendations and tips.

[mAJORD]

mic: if you don't want to stuff aorund making your own from panasonic inserts..

behringer ECM8000

you'll then need a preamp of some sort, any reasonable mic preamp with unbalanced outputs is fine. (unless you spend big and get a sound card with balanced I/o)

for a sound card, in all reality for measuring speaker response any 'reasonable' sound card will do. the THD and noise of say an audigy or similar will be negligable.

I use my EM-U 404. Something like this is, or one of the cheaper M-audio cards is more than adequete for speaker measurements, I use it as a source tho, and for measuring Amp THD.

[Ouroboros]

But don't forget, that if you use the ECM8000, your pre-amp needs to supply a 24 to 48V phantom power feed to th emic.

[champ222]

thanks for the replys guys, regarding mics, which would perform better? the ECM8000, or one made from the panasonic insert?

i have a mixer which has phantom power, so assuming the voltage is the correct level, that should be ok.

regarding the soundcard, i have read (admittedly not exhaustively) that the internal re-sampling done in th audigy can cause problems regarding measuremnts?

Thanks again

Andy

[soongsc]

Originally posted by champ222
thanks for the replys guys, regarding mics, which would perform better? the ECM8000, or one made from the panasonic insert?

i have a mixer which has phantom power, so assuming the voltage is the correct level, that should be ok.

regarding the soundcard, i have read (admittedly not exhaustively) that the internal re-sampling done in th audigy can cause problems regarding measuremnts?

Thanks again

Andy

The Panasonic uses less than 10 volts phantom power, so it's necessary to check what your mixer has to decide between EMC8000 or the panasonic.

If you look at the PRAXIS site, they explain in quite well that at 48K and 96K sampling, it should be okay. So as long as you don't use other sampling rates, it should work fine.

[champ222]

Originally posted by soongsc


The Panasonic uses less than 10 volts phantom power, so it's necessary to check what your mixer has to decide between EMC8000 or the panasonic.

If you look at the PRAXIS site, they explain in quite well that at 48K and 96K sampling, it should be okay. So as long as you don't use other sampling rates, it should work fine.

Thats a good point, i'l check it out.

Thanks again.

[qwad]

and dont forget no matter which mike you use you will need to have it calibarated to make any measurements you take meaningful cheers TC

[champ222]

should they not be calibrated from new? with the view of then calibrating it again, once a year like most other test equipment?

any idea on prices for calibration?

Thanks mate