Hey guys!. Just downloaded trial version. How good is it?.
I actually have Bassbox 6pro and X-over3 , how does it compare?.
Doesn't seem to be able to calculate 3 way x-overs?.
Does it seem to produce reliable predictions? easy to use?.
Thanks guys 😎.
I actually have Bassbox 6pro and X-over3 , how does it compare?.
Doesn't seem to be able to calculate 3 way x-overs?.
Does it seem to produce reliable predictions? easy to use?.
Thanks guys 😎.
BB Pro and X-Over Pro are okay for a quick model, but they have nothing to offer as far as the details. Basta! seems a little more rounded in that regard.
I did not see any limits as to the number of drivers for the crossover, so I can't say.
In the end the software is only a tool and you need to foremost have a good understanding of the design process. If you have that, the tool becomes less important. I know some people that are very knowledgeable and use BB Pro, but they understand its capabilities and limits and can work around them.
I did not see any limits as to the number of drivers for the crossover, so I can't say.
In the end the software is only a tool and you need to foremost have a good understanding of the design process. If you have that, the tool becomes less important. I know some people that are very knowledgeable and use BB Pro, but they understand its capabilities and limits and can work around them.
I would say they are pretty accurate.
Svante knows what he is doing and also teaches it at the royal institute of technology in Sweden.
As far as I know you can sum as many speakers as you like. With baffle sim and all.
You can add links and nodes before the passive filter to account for baffle step or any other thing that might need correction.
I wonder if series filter is possible.
You can import a measured response as well.
Not sure how easy or good the paid features are but I doubt they are bad.
Svante knows what he is doing and also teaches it at the royal institute of technology in Sweden.
As far as I know you can sum as many speakers as you like. With baffle sim and all.
You can add links and nodes before the passive filter to account for baffle step or any other thing that might need correction.
I wonder if series filter is possible.
You can import a measured response as well.
Not sure how easy or good the paid features are but I doubt they are bad.
That was my take. I do know that the crossover design of X-Over Pro is limited and there is no modeling of diffraction.
Oks, what other similar software that can model air susp,
vented, passive radiator and front/ back horns if possible, along with
3 or even 4 ways crossovers?.
I'm not ready for the "giant Leap" as it is a bit expensive for now.
I read books from Don Davis, David Weems, Robert Bullock and
Vance Dickason so, im not new to this but still need a simple to use
yet accurate program.
vented, passive radiator and front/ back horns if possible, along with
3 or even 4 ways crossovers?.
I'm not ready for the "giant Leap" as it is a bit expensive for now.
I read books from Don Davis, David Weems, Robert Bullock and
Vance Dickason so, im not new to this but still need a simple to use
yet accurate program.
Speak
SoundEasy
Neither is easy to learn, but the process of DIY loudspeakers isn't a cakewalk.
Basta! is feature packed and versatile
I recently purchased Basta! to do some more complicated modeling. I have to say I am impressed with the feature set and the way the results are presented is great. The interface is easy to use as well.
It is well worth the money to buy the full version.
-Charlie
I recently purchased Basta! to do some more complicated modeling. I have to say I am impressed with the feature set and the way the results are presented is great. The interface is easy to use as well.
It is well worth the money to buy the full version.
-Charlie
speaker workshop is free and pretty good to use.
http://www.speakerworkshop.com/SW/Download.htm
It took me a couple of hours to get an XO simmed on it...I found it easy after reading the demo and asking a couple of questions.
Jeff Bagby has lots of great free tools including PCD XO simulation software
jbagby
It has a great following over on parts express forum.
LspCad demo is free
Strassacker: Lautsprecher - Boxen - Selbstbau
x-pro 3 sucks, I have it and in my limited experience its terrible on most things from importing driver measurements to optimizing curves.
If you want to spend $$$ then it seems speaker workshop is very popular and very powerful, includes everything including impedance, T/S measurements.
http://www.speakerworkshop.com/SW/Download.htm
It took me a couple of hours to get an XO simmed on it...I found it easy after reading the demo and asking a couple of questions.
Jeff Bagby has lots of great free tools including PCD XO simulation software
jbagby
It has a great following over on parts express forum.
LspCad demo is free
Strassacker: Lautsprecher - Boxen - Selbstbau
x-pro 3 sucks, I have it and in my limited experience its terrible on most things from importing driver measurements to optimizing curves.
If you want to spend $$$ then it seems speaker workshop is very popular and very powerful, includes everything including impedance, T/S measurements.
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If you don't mind a pretty steep learning curve and script based definitions then have a look at akabak (excellent dummies guide here) I've played with it and it is very powerful. Will allow you to completely simulate the entire speaker the limits are apparently your imagination. (well there are a few limitations with regards to simplifications in the modelling, but it is pretty complete in the constructs it gives you to be able to model what you want). It not only does baffle diffraction, but also room interaction as well.
Oh and best of all it is free for non comercial use 🙂
I'm currently using speaker workshop for my crossover sims.
Tony.
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Thanks everybody
Tony, is Speaker Workshop better/ simpler to use then Akabak?.
Can it model a combo, front/ rear horn ?.
I'll try my hand on Akabak as it looks like a complete package!.
hi turboyam, no speakerworkshop only has very basic modelling as far as enclosures are concerned, and I mean VERY basic, as to whether it is easier to use, tough question!! but for what you want (at least from an enclosure simulation point of view) akabak is going to be the one to go for. I'm only using speakerworkshop for crossover modelling based on actual measured data (for which I used Holm impulse for acoustic measurements and speakerworkshop for impedance measurements). I've had problems getting reliable acoustic measurements with speakerworkshop). I already had familiarity with speaker workshop (and it is also a bit brutal in the learning curve) so went with something that I already had a head start on. Also I found that simulated crossover results matched actual measured results quite well, so figured it was pretty accurate. I also used Jeff Bagby's spreadsheet, but when I did notch filters I couldn't specify the DCR of the coils which threw the results out, so I decided to stick with speakerworkshop). Jeff's spreadsheet is great though from the perspective of seeing how changes affect the response in close to real time, and can be used to get something approximate for fine tuning in speakerworkshop... Also speaker workshop has an optimizer which *sometimes* gives good results.
I've only really scratched the surface with akabak, but from what I have played with it does seem to be very powerful. If you can get hold of some horns that have already been modeled using it, then that would probably give you a major head start. I've only ever done very standard sealed and BR rectangular enclosures myself, have never delved into the world of horns, but I'm pretty sure akabak can do the job 🙂
Note I have not tried to use the akabak crossover simulation features other than playing with the tutorial, so I don't know how good it is.
Tony.
I've only really scratched the surface with akabak, but from what I have played with it does seem to be very powerful. If you can get hold of some horns that have already been modeled using it, then that would probably give you a major head start. I've only ever done very standard sealed and BR rectangular enclosures myself, have never delved into the world of horns, but I'm pretty sure akabak can do the job 🙂
Note I have not tried to use the akabak crossover simulation features other than playing with the tutorial, so I don't know how good it is.
Tony.
Well i hope Akabak is a good x-over sim cuz i did a few with X-over pro
and it seems to be giving un-repeatable results, depending on it's own
mood 😀...
Is it me or, 4 way x-over simulation is non-existant?.
Thanks again guys 🙂
and it seems to be giving un-repeatable results, depending on it's own
mood 😀...
Is it me or, 4 way x-over simulation is non-existant?.
Thanks again guys 🙂
I think speaker workshop can probably do 4 way crossover sims (can't see why not). But you will need good acoustic measurements of all of the drivers in order to do it (taken in the final box). As I think you are wanting to model the whole thing (box and all) I suspect that the acoustic measurements are out of the question at this stage 🙂
It is very important to get the right phase info or the simmed and actual results will be nothing alike. I've only done a two way (and a simple one at that) but the results were very good).
Tony.
It is very important to get the right phase info or the simmed and actual results will be nothing alike. I've only done a two way (and a simple one at that) but the results were very good).
Tony.
If you are trying to do a 4-way system, which is one of the most difficult systems to design, it seems intrinsically wrong to expect a lot from free or low cost software.
I think that you are going to need to do a lot of manual grunt work either to augment the process or as a means to cross check the simulation results.
This will clearly be the case with Harris Software, but it should generate the same results every time as long as the same inputs are used.
In the end you will really need to understand the whole design process from conception through execution (as well as the underlying theories) with any software tool you employ.
The tools will make the workload easier and the better tools will do more of the heavy lifting for you.
I would not be in a hurry to rush this design because you have a steep climb and it can get expensive.
I think that you are going to need to do a lot of manual grunt work either to augment the process or as a means to cross check the simulation results.
This will clearly be the case with Harris Software, but it should generate the same results every time as long as the same inputs are used.
In the end you will really need to understand the whole design process from conception through execution (as well as the underlying theories) with any software tool you employ.
The tools will make the workload easier and the better tools will do more of the heavy lifting for you.
I would not be in a hurry to rush this design because you have a steep climb and it can get expensive.
Yeah, i think i'll calm down for a while 😀.
I love big speakers, have the space for them too.
The idea of building with 6 or 8 inch woofs and/ or a sub,is out of question.
I was 15 years old and "constructed" myself a pair of Jbl 4530 for my bedroom!.
Today, i'd like 2 pairs of very different loudspeakers.
A pair of "high end" horn full ranges and a pair of "tear down the walls"
3 or 4 ways with Fostex Fw405n OR Audax Pr380 m2 15 inchers .
Those are going to cost lot$$$$$ $o want to make sure i get them
fine "tune" d !!!.
I think it is a nobel project and a 4-way is about the best solution for on and off-axis response.
That being said, if you biamp or even triamp the system you trade a lot of complexity for better management of the system.
I don't know if you considered that or not. A 3-way is a lot simpler than a 4-way and a 2-way crossover simpler yet. A Behringer DCX2496 and some amps could cure a lot headaches and add some tangible sonic benifits.
That has been a request of mine for some time. Jeff may be doing some final additions to the PCD that I hope will include that. Even so, without the coil DCR the traps aren't off by much in most cases IME. I always finish with either CALSOD or SoundEasy for final optimization. As you point out the results can be then put into something with a full optimizer. But for ease of use and learning what does what it's an excellent tool for someone new to the process.
As far as optimizers go, most of the current packages I've seen (I've got SoundEasy as indicated) lack the ability to enter the coil gauge for complete optimization. The coils very often go to near zero resistance that the use must then manually correct. That's one reason I stick with CALSOD. That old DOS software (still available) does more in some areas than much of the newer packages. And it runs just fine in Win XP.
MS Excel required for those who are unfamiliar with it.
Edit: It (CALSOD) also runs under Linux (I've used in with Ubuntu).
Dave
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The crossover simulator from Speaker Workshop is pretty darn good. For measuring speakers, there are better options.