For extracting main and sub channels from stereo signal. Is it better to DIY long term stable results or live with the compromise of fewer options by buying a commercial unit from a pro brand?
Let's leave DSP out of this. There are times when one wants hands on knob per function and quick visual reference
What are the important bits? Online searches mostly show analog audio processors from the car scene. There is one generic design that seems to be offered under many brands. The link below shows one. This has variable knobs for frequency but slopes are missing as well as the very important subsonic with a variable knob. This exact design appears at different prices between the brands too. Like AU $100 for Boss and $200 for more well regarded brand
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1855986...2256156830&itmmeta=01J4X32P6Z0Z7HVMBBT1KC6DQ2
While this one from pro brand PRV has no slopes and uses limited selection of frequencies with the step slider. It has the important subsonic filter but still with the stepped slider
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1337731...9049227912&itmmeta=01J4VNT95QA9T91DVTXR2A47MR
And this pro mobile unit from DS18 has to be used on the subs and another on the mains and still doesnt have slopes selection
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1859863...0058991206&itmmeta=01J4X32P5ZMEK8FZCD8AT6DXC3
The generic design is only missing the subsonic filter and slopes. Can something like this be DIY'ed and exceed durability and signal performance? Is there a proven DIY design that can be built in a solid and mini console format with dedictated knobs per function and superior sound?
Let's leave DSP out of this. There are times when one wants hands on knob per function and quick visual reference
What are the important bits? Online searches mostly show analog audio processors from the car scene. There is one generic design that seems to be offered under many brands. The link below shows one. This has variable knobs for frequency but slopes are missing as well as the very important subsonic with a variable knob. This exact design appears at different prices between the brands too. Like AU $100 for Boss and $200 for more well regarded brand
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1855986...2256156830&itmmeta=01J4X32P6Z0Z7HVMBBT1KC6DQ2
While this one from pro brand PRV has no slopes and uses limited selection of frequencies with the step slider. It has the important subsonic filter but still with the stepped slider
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1337731...9049227912&itmmeta=01J4VNT95QA9T91DVTXR2A47MR
And this pro mobile unit from DS18 has to be used on the subs and another on the mains and still doesnt have slopes selection
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1859863...0058991206&itmmeta=01J4X32P5ZMEK8FZCD8AT6DXC3
The generic design is only missing the subsonic filter and slopes. Can something like this be DIY'ed and exceed durability and signal performance? Is there a proven DIY design that can be built in a solid and mini console format with dedictated knobs per function and superior sound?
Audio analog filtering is a well known discipline, yes you can DIY extremely good filters at moderate cost, just using Sallen Key/SV/MFB sections and quality opamps. Slopes are going to always be multiples of 6dB/octave in the analog world, so would be switch-selected. DSP is more flexible of course.
There is a distinct lack of any kits or designs in the DIY scene, like the PRV unit linked earlier. If that thing offered a choice of three slopes, does that mean it would have to contain basically three such devices in one chassis? Dedicated filter networks for each slope and selected by a stepped slider type thing? A master subsonic would add another filter network on top of that. So I am guessing that all those resistors and pots will add noise. Could this just be too challenging to be out of the scope of DIY, and that's why it's thin on the ground?
I do hope there is at least a modular system out there that can be adapted per required output channel. Similar to the guts of the linked DS18 'preamp' thing. There are some modules on Ali, but the reliability and components are questionable. Has anyone on the forum come up with anything that can built ina knob per function style and to a similar durability and sound quality as a Yamaha console? To sit between such consoles or media players and amplifiers?
Couldn't see anything like the PRV or similar on the Schiit Audio site
I do hope there is at least a modular system out there that can be adapted per required output channel. Similar to the guts of the linked DS18 'preamp' thing. There are some modules on Ali, but the reliability and components are questionable. Has anyone on the forum come up with anything that can built ina knob per function style and to a similar durability and sound quality as a Yamaha console? To sit between such consoles or media players and amplifiers?
Couldn't see anything like the PRV or similar on the Schiit Audio site
We are having massive constant rains and has been difficult to get much else done. I looked into this more, and it seems that the complex filter circuits are very sensitive and can be difficult to control noise and things. Makes sense that it would be difficult to manage in DIY
Help me understand what happens with such an analog unit and a DSP version. For 2.1 system, there is a pair of input curves which is the stereo recording and three output curves, a stereo pair and a subwoofer out
These three output curve shapes are changed by the series of filters and amps in the analog device and done digitally in the DSP device. Analog makes it very complex to include slope types?
It would be good to have hands on control like the analog devices and the more comprehensive range of curve changes than the simple bass boost in the analog device. The DSP has Eq but menu based interface is not what is needed here. A quick visual reference and changes would be good. App based control again is not ideal. Hardware is better
Maybe I can set up two parallel paths by using a pair Eq units to change the shape of each output and even get stereo sub output by doing this! The weather doesn't look like changing, so I am going to take a good look at this and maybe even make a project out of it
Maybe even learn to push it where I can make a controller for a DSP unit that has a bank of pot and slide encoders as the ultimate realisation of a knob per function audio processor
Help me understand what happens with such an analog unit and a DSP version. For 2.1 system, there is a pair of input curves which is the stereo recording and three output curves, a stereo pair and a subwoofer out
These three output curve shapes are changed by the series of filters and amps in the analog device and done digitally in the DSP device. Analog makes it very complex to include slope types?
It would be good to have hands on control like the analog devices and the more comprehensive range of curve changes than the simple bass boost in the analog device. The DSP has Eq but menu based interface is not what is needed here. A quick visual reference and changes would be good. App based control again is not ideal. Hardware is better
Maybe I can set up two parallel paths by using a pair Eq units to change the shape of each output and even get stereo sub output by doing this! The weather doesn't look like changing, so I am going to take a good look at this and maybe even make a project out of it
Maybe even learn to push it where I can make a controller for a DSP unit that has a bank of pot and slide encoders as the ultimate realisation of a knob per function audio processor
I just realised that a pair of digital equalisers might give me even better results as the range of cut or boost per band is adjustable and can be greater than the 12dB found on affordable analog units. I might just only need to include something to allow phase change of the sub outs