Good morning everyone. I am looking to get my final measuring tool for my driver's. I like the Omni Mic you use disk which I don't mind? If I get Rew I need a external sound card and microphone stand, Omni mic, microphone cord, and phantom power supply. I have a Windows 8 computer. Please let me know what you think? Cheers Jeff
Everything requires a computer..
Suggestions (with complex reasons I'm not going into detail on).
Thiel-Small parameter: *DATv3 - it's just a fast easy way to do this.. (..it's also good for verifying things like crossover parts values.)
Impulse Response (freq. response: REW, Arta, Soundeasy)
REW is probably the easiest for this and the software itself isn't going to cost anything.
(All 3 of these can also do Thiel-Small Parameter testing, but switching between those tasks is annoying.)
Calibrated mic. (that isn't USB): you want the "Premium Plus" option for sensitivity for more accurate spl graphs:
Cross·Spectrum - Calibrated Dayton Audio EMM-6 Microphones for Sale
-least expensive option for good dual-channel result:
Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD
Behringer U-PHORIA UMC204HD USB Audio Interface at Gear4music
*Amplifier: Dayton Audio APA150 150W Power Amplifier
-if you've got a suitable amplifier (only) already then you don't need this.
*note: Parts Express is the place to get both of these products, to get the best result may require making two separate purchases so that you can use the better rebates for Parts Express to best effect.
-you will still need to make a filter for full dual-channel measurements as seen at page 9 here:
http://www.artalabs.hr/download/ARTA-user-manual.pdf
As for a mic. boom & stand: getting the best from this often requires making your own boom:
Loudspeaker Measurements
..after all that you'll need a suitable place for measuring, and for testing just drivers a decent test baffle.
Here is a good source with REW on making basic full-range measurements:
http://www.ti.com/lit/an/slaa641/slaa641.pdf
Suggestions (with complex reasons I'm not going into detail on).
Thiel-Small parameter: *DATv3 - it's just a fast easy way to do this.. (..it's also good for verifying things like crossover parts values.)
Impulse Response (freq. response: REW, Arta, Soundeasy)
REW is probably the easiest for this and the software itself isn't going to cost anything.
(All 3 of these can also do Thiel-Small Parameter testing, but switching between those tasks is annoying.)
Calibrated mic. (that isn't USB): you want the "Premium Plus" option for sensitivity for more accurate spl graphs:
Cross·Spectrum - Calibrated Dayton Audio EMM-6 Microphones for Sale
-least expensive option for good dual-channel result:
Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD
Behringer U-PHORIA UMC204HD USB Audio Interface at Gear4music
*Amplifier: Dayton Audio APA150 150W Power Amplifier
-if you've got a suitable amplifier (only) already then you don't need this.
*note: Parts Express is the place to get both of these products, to get the best result may require making two separate purchases so that you can use the better rebates for Parts Express to best effect.
-you will still need to make a filter for full dual-channel measurements as seen at page 9 here:
http://www.artalabs.hr/download/ARTA-user-manual.pdf
As for a mic. boom & stand: getting the best from this often requires making your own boom:
Loudspeaker Measurements
..after all that you'll need a suitable place for measuring, and for testing just drivers a decent test baffle.
Here is a good source with REW on making basic full-range measurements:
http://www.ti.com/lit/an/slaa641/slaa641.pdf
I had a question? Can I buy the mini dsp microphone and plug it into my lab top and measure my driver's with Rew? I have Windows 8 and a lab top I just put money in not long ago to expand the memory gb. I was wondering if this will work? I just want to measure my driver's nothing more nothing less. Jeff
That will get you good freq. response measurements (with a fair bit of effort for that in-room result - which any good system requires), but it won't get you accurate acoustic phase measurements (..its not "dual channel or semi-dual channel), nor will it provide excellent non-linear testing (again, not "dual channel").
It's sort of a "dead end" with respect to improved loudspeaker design, but it can still be useful depending on your needs.
It's sort of a "dead end" with respect to improved loudspeaker design, but it can still be useful depending on your needs.
rogram and so on. I can get think think from another friend the sound easy program but, then I would need all the stuff to set it up with? Jeff
I have come to a conclusion, after a fair deal of time wondering in circles, the best tool for me is the one that causes me the least of problems and has all the functions I need to do the job. It does not matter whether or not it will pay itself off financially. A couple of projects is justification enough, so I bought Audiomatica Clio first generation isa 8 bit hardware card and microphone in a kit and I have not regreted it ever since. I would do it again when the time comes. For now, the ancient PII 300MHz slot1 machine still works overclocked to 450MHz and I have a spare mainboard, processor and graphics card. Goodness, this could outlive me.
I trust Omnimic is a great tool and if you have any doubts or questions, talk to Mr.Waslo, our member aka bwaslo.
I trust Omnimic is a great tool and if you have any doubts or questions, talk to Mr.Waslo, our member aka bwaslo.
Thanks that helps. I had a tech guy at parts express I have been working with over the years senc.. 1992. I was told that the Omni mic is more then I need for a hobbiest and the dats was just fine. I believed this person due to they could sell me one if they wanted but choose not to due to helping me design and build a killer two way speaker for my dad years ago. Don't get me wrong I want the clio pocket #2 but it's to much for a guy who just wants to build speakers for fun for friends and family. Cheers Jeff
IF you go with the Omni Mic, this is Jeff's take on offset with it. This relates to the acoustic phase problem:
How to use OmniMic and PCD to find the Relative Acoustic Offset -
Techtalk Speaker Building, Audio, Video Discussion Forum
The reason why the Omni Mic is a "dead-end" is that it's a USB mic (all of them have this problem) with only single-channel capability (it's got an integrated DAC with no "loopback" input). Again, look back at page 9 of the Arta manual link I provided originally (and note that you can't do that with a USB mic).
As far as ease of use.. really depends on you and the tutorials you can find for the product. REW is pretty good in this respect, arguably the best.
Again, what I mentioned before is likely to be as easy to learn, cost you less, and have the capability to move onto semi and full dual-channel measuring.
Last edited:
So I already have Rew download on my computer. All I need is phantom power and a measurement mic and I have the cords and stands available to me. I could drop around $300 .00 for the microphone and phantom unit. I just have not pushed it but maybe I will look into it? Still looking into it? Jeff
The linked mic is $90 for the Premium Plus option.
Cross·Spectrum - Calibrated Dayton Audio EMM-6 Microphones for Sale
The Behringer HAS phantom (and is also a dac with the correct sort of input for that "loop-back" for dual-channel). Though it's $86 at Gear for Music, they don't have it in stock and won't anytime soon. Thomann has it in stock, but shipping is going to bring that total up higher (..though still less than Amazon or other sources):
Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD – Thomann United States
-if I could think of a better less-expensive starting point, I'd tell you.
Cross·Spectrum - Calibrated Dayton Audio EMM-6 Microphones for Sale
The Behringer HAS phantom (and is also a dac with the correct sort of input for that "loop-back" for dual-channel). Though it's $86 at Gear for Music, they don't have it in stock and won't anytime soon. Thomann has it in stock, but shipping is going to bring that total up higher (..though still less than Amazon or other sources):
Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD – Thomann United States
-if I could think of a better less-expensive starting point, I'd tell you.
Last edited:
In that case there is a solid solution.
Behringer uca 202 usb sound card.
Monacor mce-4001 electret mic cartridge
Parts ti diy 9V phantom power
Casing for microphone(pencil), rca, cotton
Possibly a diy mic preamp, may not be necessary
I think 60 bucks should cover it.
Behringer should be modified for larger value npe caps to not introduce impedance rise at lower frequencies when measuring impedance.
IF you just want to play with REW and have a typical soundcard on-board your computer's motherboard, with a mini-input jack then you can use this:
Dayton Audio iMM-6 Calibrated Measurement Microphone for Tablets iPhone iPad and Android
Very cheap way to get started into measuring (..and it also has a freq. response calibration file that can be downloaded). Note: you'll also need a mini-jack 3.5mm extension cable.
IF REW doesn't work out, try Arta, or HolmImpulse, or Sirp, etc.. until you find something you like.
ARTA Download
HOLM Acoustics
Tolvan Data
Dayton Audio iMM-6 Calibrated Measurement Microphone for Tablets iPhone iPad and Android
Very cheap way to get started into measuring (..and it also has a freq. response calibration file that can be downloaded). Note: you'll also need a mini-jack 3.5mm extension cable.
IF REW doesn't work out, try Arta, or HolmImpulse, or Sirp, etc.. until you find something you like.
ARTA Download
HOLM Acoustics
Tolvan Data
Last edited:
- Status
- This old topic is closed. If you want to reopen this topic, contact a moderator using the "Report Post" button.