Which spl meter should I get?

[Inu_Yasha]

Since I'm getting a BFD, I'm wondering which spl should I get? I see there's an analog one and digital one from Radio shack. Which is better?

Also, would it be better to just go ahead and buy a ecm-8000 and not worry about getting a spl?

[ThomasW]

Yes by all means spend the money and get the Behringer ECM8000 measurement mic, a mic preamp and use a PC.

It's more costly but it's a significantly better system, that you'll be able to use for years...It's once set up it's easy to make SPL measurements, though not as convenient as a hand held meter.

[Inu_Yasha]

WOW! Thanks for the quick reply thomas. Just out of curiosity, which type of spl meter would you get? I'll definately get an ecm-8000 if it's that much better than the spl.

I know there was a thread about phantom power for the ecm-8000, but what power supply would you recommend for it as well?

[ThomasW]

The only thing I've ever owned that was a close to a SPL meter was a weird little thing made by Technics. It had a separate a mic that plugged into a box containing warble tone generator and the SPL meter. It died a long time ago.

If you want the most portable system, get the M-Audio Mobile Pre. It's a USB mic preamp/soundcard with phantom power. It works with any PC. Street pricing is ~$150

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MobilePreUSB-main.html

[cobbpa]

If I have a full duplex soundcard, I would need a mic, preamp, and phantom power source. That's it to get basic readings, right?

[knifeinthesink]

i just bought a behringer mic800. It was the least expensive solid state mic pre available at $56 can. Cheaper in the US. Seems to be good. Measured a speaker that has been used by a well known designer and the measurements I got seemed to be pretty close. Bear in mind im not experienced so I would be inclined to attribute variations to operator error or at least the room.

I use this with an audigy 2 I paid about $60 for.

[ThomasW]

If I have a full duplex soundcard, I would need a mic, preamp, and phantom power source. That's it to get basic readings, right?

Yep that's it.

[Inu_Yasha]

If I have a full duplex soundcard, I would need a mic, preamp, and phantom power source. That's it to get basic readings, right?

A preamp? What type of preamp are we talking about here?

[ThomasW]

A microphone preamp.

[Inu_Yasha]

Could you point me in the direction of a mic preamp? Or would a mic input/output on my soundcard be enough?

[Amphiprion]

Unfortunately no, mic inputs on soundcards usually only amplify the signal, you need a microphone preamp that supplies phantom power to the microphone as well as amplifying the signal. Anywhere from 24V to 48V phantom power is usually fine for most mics, I think my preamp does 36V.

I bought an ART MicroMix for $50 that I haven't used yet, so I can't say if it's good or not. There's also another good little $70 box out there that I think musician's friend carries (Rolls is the brand) and then there's something like the m-audio mobile pre.

Basically, you just need a little $50-$150 box, depending on how fancy you want to get, to stick in between the microphone and your computer's line in (NOT mic in).

[kano32]

Would either of these work as a preamp?

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=248-600

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=245-032

[Mazeroth]

Would either of these work as a preamp?

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=248-600

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=245-032

The first Behringer won't cut it. I'm not sure about the ROLLS, but a less expensive alternative is this Behringer. It's used by many speaker builders:

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=248-602

[Dennis H]

My preference would be for the Rolls Kano linked rather than a Behringer mixer. The Behringers have tone controls that can't be disabled and you just have to trust that the center position of of the pot is giving you flat response.

That said, if you're using a laptop for measuring, you'll need an external sound card too. The built-in ones in most laptops suck. The all-in-one M-Audio Mobile Pre Thomas linked is hard to beat as it combines a good sound card with a preamp.

[Outfitter]

I picked up a M-Audio mobilepre on ebay for about $65. It didn't have the original packaging or software, but none is needed for audio measurements. I have it paired with the Behringer ECM8000. Now it's just a matter of knowing what measurement program to use.

[Exocer]

I picked up a M-Audio mobilepre on ebay for about $65. It didn't have the original packaging or software, but none is needed for audio measurements. I have it paired with the Behringer ECM8000. Now it's just a matter of knowing what measurement program to use.

Use REW

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/bfd-rew-downloads/19-bfd-guide-room-eq-wizard-downloads.html

[jdybnis]

Behringer has a new mic preamp selling for only $20.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-MICROPOWER-PS400-Phantom-Power-Supply?sku=336830&src=3WFRWXX

[Amphiprion]

I think that's just a phantom power supply, not a mic preamp - I made that mistake when I ordered my ART, had to call back and get them to switch the order to the full-blown pre instead of the phantom power supply.

[jdybnis]

What is missing from just a phantom power supply? Can't you just put it between the mic and the soundcard's mic-in?

[Amphiprion]

Yes, but then you are dependent upon the quality of that soundcard's mic preamp. Depending on your soundcard, that could be good or bad.

[ThomasW]

What is missing from just a phantom power supply? Can't you just put it between the mic and the soundcard's mic-in?

No, one needs a specific kind of preamp for a test mic...

[Inu_Yasha]

No, one needs a specific kind of preamp for a test mic...

So the m-audio is the best solution to the whole issue then? I was hoping to get an all in one type of thing.

[ThomasW]

Though it's not the cheapest solution, the M-Audio is the only thing that's completely self contained and plugs into any PC

[jdybnis]

My mistake. I see now that behringer only adds phantom power and passes the signal through, without bringing it up to line-level.

[Inu_Yasha]

One kinda dumb question, is it possible to use a DSP1124P as a preamp is it? I know that the ecm8000 is packaged with the DEQ.

[ThomasW]

One kinda dumb question, is it possible to use a DSP1124P as a preamp is it?

Does the DSP1124P owners manual show a microphone input?

[Inu_Yasha]

http://www.behringerdownload.de/DSP1124P/DSP1124P_ENG_Rev_A.pdf

Page 12 shows one, but I'm guessing that's different from the one that the DEQ has?

[ThomasW]

There is no input jack labeled 'microphone' (mic) on a DSP1124P.

Just because there are XLR jacks on a piece of gear doesn't mean it's for a microphone.

Standard line level signals are connected with XLR jacks on equipment with balanced circuits

[basementjack]

Hey I'm in the same boat - looking at a few options.
Maudio is one of them, also there's a tascam 122 thats supposed to be very good.

Does anyone have any experience with any of the software programs?
I've done some searching and turned up so much I can't decide which to purchase and don't really want to buy multiples.

[ThomasW]

People can start off with Room EQ Wizard for free.

No time limit but function crippled demos are available for TrueRTA and ETF 5.0.

A functional version of Spectrasoft is available for demo, BUT it writes to a fixed cluster on the HD and can't be completely removed without reformatting. Also the full version is VERY expensive.

Speaker Workshop is freeware. It's pretty user unfriendly and there's minimal real world support other than a manual

The Arta demo is fully functional with the exception of importing and saving of files

Google will take people to any of the above programs

There's more freeware here, I haven't played with any of it

http://www.infinitespectra.com/freeware/index.html

[dCraig]

Any reason why the EDIROL UA-25 won't work as a good mic preamp with USB support? Anyone ever tried this one? I want to measure speaker output, record some audio to PC and test my room accoustics.

http://www.roland.com/products/en/UA-25/index.html

[ThomasW]

It has all the necessary hardware functions. But you should check with the publishers of whatever software you want to use to see if it works with their programs.

[jdybnis]

It works but it's $100 more than the mobile pre. One word of warning, it draws a lot of power through the USB. I plugged it into a passive usb hub and it killed the thing.

[kramskoi]

One kinda dumb question, is it possible to use a DSP1124P as a preamp is it? I know that the ecm8000 is packaged with the DEQ.

a ROLLS MP-13 will set you up...i think around $50 :T

[dynamowhum]

Hey I just scored the M-audio pre on ebay for $78.Cool. Thanks Thomas for the tip.