Any easy to use measurement setup available?

[krips]

I currently have a dayton mic and a few other things, but I have never been able to get REW to work, and I'm not sure if it's a hardware or a software thing that's the problem. Are there any hardware/software all-in-one bundles that can simplify that simplify things a little (under say $500)?

[JonMarsh]

I used to use Praxis (still have it), but for a long time have been using Fuzzmeasure. Nothing else touches it in the price range. I also own a CLIO system (hardware + software) and used to own Soundeasy- gave that away.

http://supermegaultragroovy.com/products/FuzzMeasure/

Combine it with a Dayton mic (be sure it's working!) in a decent USB or Firewire audio interface with balanced inputs (I like TC Konnekt, but MAudio and others are good), and you can get a combo that meets that need. (I use an ACCO Pacific Instrumentation mic, though). But Fuzzmeaure is Mac...

With any of these programs you'll need to learn a bit of theory behind measurement techniques- including what windowing and gating means, and how window shapes can reduce noise in measurements, etc. Look at JonW's recent thread for a bit of story telling around that topic! He's had some time getting up to speed.

For impedance measurements if you're not technically inclined to make the test fixture and fiddle with that, get the Smith and Larson Audio Woofer tester.

http://woofertester.com

REW should work pretty well, though it has a learning curve. Check using other apps if your mic and preamp is working at all. If I didn't have Fuzzmeaure, I'd either fall back to Praxis or get up to speed with REW.

[Face]

Omnimic is very easy to use.

[Kal Rubinson]

I think that XTZ is the easiest although far from the most comprehensive.

[krips]

Thanks for reply. I don't have a mac, but omnimic looks like it'll be good. It's out of stock but I'm on the email list for when it's back in stock.

[cjd]

Omnimic has a dedicated support forum and is as close to a "have no idea what you're doing but it still works" package that I've seen. There are still things to know or you won't get good results if you are doing crossover design with it.

ARTA is very simple (IMO) but isn't as easy as the Omnimic stuff.

The biggest problem: you have to understand (or get lucky) to make a good crossover with any measured results; Of course, good measurements can be shared, so it is possible to get a good crossover with help, and that's no bad thing!

C

[JonW]

Hi krips,

It all depends on what you are after. Measurements can be a real pain, in my (not so bright) experience. My advice is to make life as easy as you can. If you want to get measurements for full-on speaker design, I agree with Jon. I like Fuzzmeasure for the frequency response (i.e., microphone) measurements. And I prefer Woofer Tester for impedance measurements. The only potential downside here is that you will need a Mac for Fuzzmeasure. Good luck.

Edit: Woops. That should be Woofer Tester for impedance, not Fuzzmeasure. It's fixed above.

[BobEllis]

I like Holm Impulse, but I am nowhere near Jon's level. It's freeware! I use witih a calibrated microphone and a M-Audio Firewire 410. http://www.holmacoustics.com/holmimpulse.php

[Juhazi]

If your microphone is kaputt, I'd like to recommend the minidsp UMIK-1. Just plug USB connection, no special drivers, no sound card, no power modules and comes with a calibration file and a stand.

I like REW it is very versatile and has a very helpful and informative Help section. ARTA is too technical for me.

I must try some other program than REW because I'd like to make a directivity sonograms from my measurements. REW can measure impedance now too. I have only WinPCs. Recommendations?

[Face]

Omnimic software can do sonograms. Here is a cardioid lower mid.

[Hank]

krips, I'll sell you my Omni-mic V2 system. I bought it last year, but then in December "they" handed me a large division to manage Sourcing for, so there's no way I can get into crossover design until I retire.