Speaker design on Mac?

[Brian Bunge]

Long time no post! I am getting the itch to build something again but have recently switched over to Mac (13" MBP with i7 processor, 750GB HDD and 8GB RAM). I know Jon Marsh was using a Mac last time I checked and was wondering if he or anyone else had any ideas.

Also, I'm in a smaller place and was thinking of maybe building some smaller 3-way towers. Nothing fancy, just a TMWW. I really miss the sound of my old huge 3-ways that cjd designed for me and was thinking of using the good old RS28A with dual RS180's and some form of mid. I could use an RS150 but thought something with sweeter midrange might be in order. So I'm open to ideas there. I've become rather enamoured of the B&W CM9's as of late but just don't think I have $3K to spend on a pair of those plus another $1500-$2K for the matching center.

So any ideas on a nice mid-woofer to go along with the other drivers? Or any other drivers that are similar in quality (and price) to the RS series I should consider? I'm thinking cabinet size of about 39-40" tall by 8" wide and whatever depth necessary for a ported enclosure.

BTW, in September I quit work and am a full-time student again! Welcome to my mid-life crisis! 8O

[AdelaaR]

Doesn't mac have some kind of wrapper environment tool to be able to run pc applications?
I know tools exist to do it the other way 'round, so I'm guessing it should exist.

[cjd]

Fuzzmeasure will get you part way but I believe all the crossover software is windows only still.

You've seen the Garnacha? I helped my sister move this past weekend and forgot how much I liked the sound. And they were shaking the floor. RS28 + dual RS180. I opted for the RS150 in the mid slot so they line up with so many of the other designs I've done.

Enjoy school. I've yet to meet anyone that looked back on such a decision and regretted it.

[Ray_D]

John Krutke's ZA14

I have used John's ZA14 and think it is excellent, if you can stand the shiny look.

Ray

[JonMarsh]

Fuzzmeasure Pro 3

Hi Brian-

Good luck with that mid life change in direction- usually change is a good thing, so all the best!

I've been using Fuzzmeaure quite a while, my Praxis sits on the shelf now...

Fuzzmeasure Pro 3




It is just measurement and FRD and plot generation. BTW, all measurements can be processed to a distortion measurement, like this one of the Modula Xtreme.

For design I'm still quite happy with LspCAD; used to use Soundeasy, which a lot of people like for an integrated environment. I usually boot camp to the few Windows Apps I use (Altium Designer, LspCAD, MathCAD, SIMetrix), but these days I'd probably go with the newest Parallels for running a VM.

[Brian Bunge]

Chris,

I'd love to try the Garnacha except the XO is what, about $700 for the pair? Ouch! Also, I'm not in a position to build cabinets anymore. Both my dad and I moved and sold off all but the basics. I have a router and circle jig and he has a circular saw. I don't even have a garage anymore. But give me a simplified XO and I'll figure out a way to get cabinets built.

[oneplustwo]

I know everyone always promotes what they know, but I think the Zaph ZDT3.5 fits your requirements to a T. I still love mine...

[cjd]

Hmm. I don't remember the crossover cost. I thought it was half that though. Either way a good reason to want something else. I built those with a saw board+circular saw, drill, and router.

C

[Silver1omo]

Hmm. I don't remember the crossover cost. I thought it was half that though. Either way a good reason to want something else. I built those with a saw board+circular saw, drill, and router.

C

That plus a sander is the extent of my tools...

[Brian Bunge]

Chris,

I'll add up the parts cost to be sure. I like Pete Schumacher's Prisstinas but I really miss the RS drivers' sound.

[cjd]

Chris,

I'll add up the parts cost to be sure. I like Pete Schumacher's Prisstinas but I really miss the RS drivers' sound.

I thought the total for the project was ~900 with feet, binding posts, etc. included. I mean, I totally get that it's not cheap, and there probably is more $ in the crossover than the drivers, but...

I'm fiddling with the 4ohm Pecorino right now and really can't get response without peaks in bad places unless I add a few components I don't know how to FIT in those boxes... sigh. Yay baffle step loss.

[Brian Bunge]

I have a couple of the 4 ohm drivers. I'd like to build some on-wall surrounds of some sort so feel free to design that version as well. Maybe even a dual woofer option with angled sides or something in order to get higher output levels if warranted. ;-)

[Brian Bunge]

Chris,

I just posted in the Garnacha thread. It's $617 for parts for a pair before my PE discount, so not too bad I guess.

Jon,

Can Unibox run under Parallels? I really don't want to use a Windows machine anymore...

[JonMarsh]

Actually, I have been using Unibox at times under the newest version of Mac Office. (Office 11) Gingerly, because I expect some of the VBA or macros might not work, but it's been more usable that I'd have guessed.

And yes, it should work fine under Windows in Parallel.

[Brian Bunge]

Hummm, I was able to get a copy of Office for Mac from my last job for $10, but somehow lost the email with the link to download it. Maybe I can get one of my old co-workers to get it for me and just pay them the 10 bucks...

[DS-21]

Can Unibox run under Parallels? I really don't want to use a Windows machine anymore...

Yes.

[cjd]

Can Unibox run under Parallels? I really don't want to use a Windows machine anymore...

I prefer my (personal) windows systems to my (work) macbook. *shrug*

I'm sick and tired of being completely STUCK with Apple's software for anything. Photos? You can't makes SENSE of how they're organized except in iPhoto. Music? Same/iTunes.

Pretty stuff, but so far beyond aggrivating it's not remotely worth it.

[Brian Bunge]

Sooo, just purchase Parallels and then load Unibox? Or is there more to it than that?

[cjd]

well, Unibox requires Excel...

[Brian Bunge]

Chris,

Maybe you're just too smart for a Mac! ;-). BTW, yeah I guess I do need Excel for Unibox! My Organic Chemistry final had my brain turned to mush...

[Brian Bunge]

I guess if I have Office for Mac then I wouldn't necessarily need Parallels, at least not in this instance. Too many ideas running through my brain these days.

[Hdale85]

It's easy, don't buy Apple I'm done with Apple until they stop bullying the industry lol.

[Brian Bunge]

LOL, that's funny. I love my Apple products. Other than my wife's 2 work laptops (she's now a sales manager working on her company's project with HP) we only have one Windows machine in the house. I plan to keep it that way...

[Hdale85]

Sure they make nice stuff, but they are suing the world trying to lock down the market so that they are the only ones providing anything of these types of devices. They are starting to appear pretty bad to consumers though.

[JonMarsh]

I hear you Brian. Bought my first Mac in 2005, after having too many problems with a high priced Sony, then a high priced HP enterprise grade laptop. Was just going to "fool around" with a Mac Mini, but walked out of the store with a 17" Powerbook. That was mid year- when my work laptop went belly up a few weeks later, I did two weeks of business trips after loading office on it. Never looked back. Later that year bought my daughter a powerbook, and myself a quad core Powermac (still running, in my bedroom). The rest is history, as they say... love my 15" Retina Macbook Pro, and my iPad!

[Hdale85]

Well I've got nothing against their actual products, they are fantastic. Just can't support them because of their business plan seems to be set on destroying anyone that approaches their market share.

[Brian Bunge]

Well I've got nothing against their actual products, they are fantastic. Just can't support them because of their business plan seems to be set on destroying anyone that approaches their market share.

As if Microsoft has never done this???

[Brian Bunge]

I hear you Brian. Bought my first Mac in 2005, after having too many problems with a high priced Sony, then a high priced HP enterprise grade laptop. Was just going to "fool around" with a Mac Mini, but walked out of the store with a 17" Powerbook. That was mid year- when my work laptop went belly up a few weeks later, I did two weeks of business trips after loading office on it. Never looked back. Later that year bought my daughter a powerbook, and myself a quad core Powermac (still running, in my bedroom). The rest is history, as they say... love my 15" Retina Macbook Pro, and my iPad!

Jon,

Based on my above ramblings today, if I have Office for Mac I wouldn't need Parallels to run Unibox, correct? I'd just need it if I wanted to use other Windows-based programs that did not have a Mac version, right? I'm also asking because I think it would be much easier to help my mother-in-law with her upcoming computer needs now that my father-in-law passed away a couple of months ago. She has a big home office setup that's pretty antiquated now (old PC, 2 BIG laser printers, etc) and we really need to simplify her life (and mine) since she's 400 miles away.

[cjd]

As long as it doesn't need the VB runtime stuff it seems it works inthe Mac office suite.

[Hdale85]

Well I'm not going to spew anymore of my thoughts here..... but I'll just say it was a Microsoft vs Apple debate at all. And Microsoft has never done anything on the scale of what Apple has and is continuing to do. Apple is basically going after every phone mfg out there with patents like "a square icon with round edges".

[Brian Bunge]

Meh, no different to me than B&W and their whole "trade dress" thing with the top mounted tweeters against Swans (or whoever it was) years ago. But to each his own. They are both humongous companies with more than enough money and/or lawyers to go around. Vote with your dollars, as you see fit! ;-)

[JonMarsh]

Jon,

Based on my above ramblings today, if I have Office for Mac I wouldn't need Parallels to run Unibox, correct? I'd just need it if I wanted to use other Windows-based programs that did not have a Mac version, right? I'm also asking because I think it would be much easier to help my mother-in-law with her upcoming computer needs now that my father-in-law passed away a couple of months ago. She has a big home office setup that's pretty antiquated now (old PC, 2 BIG laser printers, etc) and we really need to simplify her life (and mine) since she's 400 miles away.

The new version was specifically engineered to be as compatible with the PC version, including Excel Macros and so forth. Basically, Mac Office 2011 is equivalent to Windows Office 2010, they put a lot of work into it, including the development of Outlook on the Mac. I wouldn't say it's perfect, but it gets me by fine for work, much better than previous ones. If an Excel program has VBA stuff, you'll still want to run Windows under Parallels. And of course, there's still stuff like LspCAD and SoundEasy.

[Brian Bunge]

OK, so it would be worth it to buy Office (probably for Windows for less hassle) for $10 if I still can get it through one of my old co-workers and I'll probably purchase Parallels as well. Still under $100 out of pocket.

[mjb]

I've only scanned this thread (looking for Mac speaker design software links funnily enough).... but, Brian, give OpenOffice a try before you spend any money on MS Office. It actually very good, for the most part 99% compatible, and free.

[mjb]

Fuzzmeasure Pro 3

Hi Brian-

Good luck with that mid life change in direction- usually change is a good thing, so all the best!

I've been using Fuzzmeaure quite a while, my Praxis sits on the shelf now...

Fuzzmeasure Pro 3

JonMarsh, could we have a new "speaker design on a mac" thread please? I found your recommendation's very interesting - but they've unfortunately got lost in the tired old debate.

[Hdale85]

Unibox doesn't work in OpenOffice, the macros don't work the same or something.

[Brian Bunge]

Yeah, a friend tried OpenOffice and it did not work. I'm more than happy to keep the discussion going concerning speaker design on Mac unless Jon wants to start a new thread. Honestly, somewhat of a tutorial would be welcomed. You know, these are the programs out there, this is what you need to make them work in the Mac environment, etc.

[JonMarsh]

Will take that under consideration- maybe a holiday break project! Right now, the pedal is to the metal building the new cabinets. Mini-DSP tools run under OSX, too.

[mjb]

Honestly, somewhat of a tutorial would be welcomed. You know, these are the programs out there, this is what you need to make them work in the Mac environment, etc.

Would definitely be welcomed here too :T

[dlr]

Actually, I have been using Unibox at times under the newest version of Mac Office. (Office 11) Gingerly, because I expect some of the VBA or macros might not work, but it's been more usable that I'd have guessed.

And yes, it should work fine under Windows in Parallel.

Do you know how well .NET apps can run on the Mac? I'm aware of Mono, but am not a Mac user. I've seen threads on stackexchange that indicate it supports C#/.NET 4.0.

The reason I ask is that I'm porting Jeff Bagby's PCD from Excel/VB to C#/.NET 4.0 and am curious to know if it may be usable for Mac. It uses Winforms and a couple of open source dll's (Zedgraph and Math.Net).

dlr

[cjd]

Do you know how well .NET apps can run on the Mac? I'm aware of Mono, but am not a Mac user. I've seen threads on stackexchange that indicate it supports C#/.NET 4.0.

The reason I ask is that I'm porting Jeff Bagby's PCD from Excel/VB to C#/.NET 4.0 and am curious to know if it may be usable for Mac. It uses Winforms and a couple of open source dll's (Zedgraph and Math.Net).

dlr

I've only used one app I know was an attempt at is and it wasn't great. I'd be happy to spend some time trying things out though. I'll read up on this and see what I can get to work.

[dlr]

I've only used one app I know was an attempt at is and it wasn't great. I'd be happy to spend some time trying things out though. I'll read up on this and see what I can get to work.

No rush. I've only just finished the 2-way section.

dlr

[cjd]

No rush. I've only just finished the 2-way section.

dlr

who me? rush? funny man!

I have to use my work laptop and it's been entirely too crazy of late so the probability that I get to this pronto is ... not much But I do need reading on the train sometimes (I spend ~3hrs on the train every day) so...

C

[Brian Bunge]

Well, I got Office for Mac 2011 and now am running Unibox on my MacBook Pro! Woo hoo!

[DS-21]

Really, it works? What do I need to do with my Office 2011 to get Unibox's functionality?