All of the features in this suite of tools are implemented, but I still want to do some additional checking and verification. So this is the final Beta. I would appreciate any help in making sure this program is accurate, reliable and easy to use.
There is a new installation process and the program automatically checks for and downloads newer versions at start-up. I can continue to make changes and you will always have the latest software. If you installed a previous version, you should use Control Panel to uninstall that one first, but that's the last time you will have to do that. The new download link is here:
http://www.audiodevelopers.com/Software/PSD_Lite/setup.exe
The features are summarized below. This program does a lot, and it should satisfy the need for a single integrated tool for Crossover, Baffle, Box and supporting electronics design.
Passive Speaker Designer (PSD) - Lite
Driver Input Module
Configuration/Customization/Help
Crossover Module
Box/Baffle Module
Woofer Box Module
Amp and EQ Module
Integration Environment
There is a new installation process and the program automatically checks for and downloads newer versions at start-up. I can continue to make changes and you will always have the latest software. If you installed a previous version, you should use Control Panel to uninstall that one first, but that's the last time you will have to do that. The new download link is here:
http://www.audiodevelopers.com/Software/PSD_Lite/setup.exe
The features are summarized below. This program does a lot, and it should satisfy the need for a single integrated tool for Crossover, Baffle, Box and supporting electronics design.
Passive Speaker Designer (PSD) - Lite
Driver Input Module
- FRD/ZMA file import
Includes format checking to reject header and trailer data and allows any non-numeric delimiter
Allows browsing web-based directories and directly imports web files - Response Editor tool to browse the FRD/ZMA data, edit individual values, and scale the entire data set.
- FFT-based phase extraction algorithm to ensure measurement data is minimum phase
- Additional Delay tool to add/subtract a fixed delay to the measurement data
- Minimum group delay calculation
Configuration/Customization/Help
- Allows selecting between Single Driver, 2-Way and 3-Way designs
- Configuration used to dynamically configure other menus in the program
- Color customization that is saved with the project data
- Chart customization, including colors, line widths, backgrounds, grid and 3D
- On-line Help files that provide both “how-to” and “how it works” assistance
- Graphics scaling algorithms to resize the windows and chart zoom.
- Printing support for all charts
- Data save routines for most modules to export the data.
Crossover Module
- Schematic-based user entry for intuitive crossover design
- Mouse wheel cycles through common inductor, resistor and capacitor values
- Use of background processing ensures a responsive user interface
- Wide choice of schematic modules to implement nearly any crossover topology
- Tabbed-based driver and chart selections to simplify the interface and ensure usability on laptops
Box/Baffle Module
- Allows drawing cabinet front and side views with up to 20 corners for each view
- Calculates internal volume using external dimensions and wall thickness.
- Calculates driver volume and adjusts the internal volume calculation to account for bracing and port volume
- Calculates driver offsets according to location on the baffle and front baffle angle, and automatically updates the Crossover Module with the offsets
- Uses a ray-tracing algorithm to model Baffle Step and edge diffraction
- Allows modeling open-back cabinets by using additional ray-tracing from the back of the driver
- Multi-threaded design takes advantage of multi-core CPU’s for the ray-tracing
Woofer Box Module
- Models woofer low-frequency response using the accurate Benson model
- Models sealed, vented and passive radiator designs
Plots SPL, Excursion, Impedance and Consumed Amplifier Power - Provides a splicing tool to replace the measured response with the more accurate modeled response below a specified frequency
- Provides a “what-if” tab for quickly evaluating various woofer alternatives
- Allows calculating the response of both the woofer and midrange
Amp and EQ Module
- Calculates the effective power from rated power and driver resistance
- Models the system response to a wide range of active filters commonly used for woofers:
Low pass and high pass, up to 8th order
5-band Parametric equalization
Linkwitz Transform
Rumble/boost filters used in subwoofer plate amplifiers - Provides schematic-based interactive tool for calculating component values for the Linkwitz transform and Rumble/boost filters
Integration Environment
- .NET development tools for best compatibility with Windows
- All attributes and key states defined by a Loudspeaker Object Model
Documented in a Help file accessible from the opening menu
Defines the schema for the XML Save/Load file
Supports interoperability with other design tools that use the same object model - Extensible framework that supports both passive and active loudspeaker design
PSD: Superset of PSD-Lite that includes driver, component, and amplifier databases
ASD: Active Speaker Designer for controlling DSP - Driver support for USB interface to control real-time hardware
Allows expansion to address driver and system response measurements
Allows real-time control of DSP for interactive response adjustments