Speaker workshop replacement?

[jquin]

Hi all
The old speaker workshop measurement software won't install under Windows 8 and the last update to the SW was 2002. What free/low cost software do people generally use now for measurement?

[5th element]

For measurements I use ARTA. I've tried HOLM and didn't think it was anywhere near as good/flexible. ARTA is shareware, you can export FRD/ZMA files etc, but you cannot save the impulse responses. This isn't exactly critical to designing loudspeakers but it is quite useful. It is also necessary if you want to create polar plots because you need to be able to load saved impulse files to make them, but that's not strictly necessary either.

I'm on windows 7, I don't know if ARTA works with 8, but I guess it probably does.

[Adept]

Room EQ Wizard is another free software just like ARTA(shareware version). Its a bit prettier and easy to get up and running. Its also updated fairly regularly with useful features.

http://www.roomeqwizard.com/

[jquin]

Thanks guys

[JonMarsh]

Of course, if you really want to have fun, there's Fuzzmeasure on the Mac. Bypasses that ole Windows install problem completely! :W

[5th element]

What's wrong with windows?

[jquin]

Thanks all

[JonMarsh]

What's wrong with windows?

As a long time user of Windows from the earliest versions, and someone who constructed all of their own PC's from 1985 through 2005, including several dedicated test system builds and HTPC's, let's just say you don't want to go there. :W Go Mac, and you'll never go back! :W

[5th element]

Well Jon I've been building my own PCs for the last, hmm 18 years or so and have worked with all the versions of windows from 3.1 up to W7. I don't really have an issue with it as an OS.

[jquin]

Win 8.1 is nice, well apart from the way MS messed with the GUI.

I have a hackintosh so I might use that.

At the moment I'm having issues with the plate amp, it might have to go back under warranty.

[jquin]

What are the guys at home theater shack thinking? Talk about pain in the *&%# registration.

[jquin]

I've been using roomeqwizard and so far it's been a good experience.

[cjd]

I also use ARTA (I paid - it's worth it to be able to save the impulse and go back later to mess with other export settings, or just look at the data in different ways. I use SW as well as Jeff B's spreadsheets and DLR's Windows version of said sheets for crossover work (SW is so slow, but it offers flexibility no other free software offers...) I might add, after assembling the rather simple jig, I spent a good while hating myself for spending so much time fighting with SW for good data.

Go Mac, and you'll never go back! :W

As long as you either: work/organize things the way they think you should OR want the shiny and will retrain your way of life - not even close.

I work with All sorts of devices/OS's at work, and Apple is at the very bottom of the list for usability and effectiveness. I do think OS X ranks slightly above iOS. Windows Phone is next, then Firefox OS, then Android/Linux/Windows are all pretty even (task dependent really)

[jlaakso]

I use ARTA as well. Very robust and flexible. I have Linux laptop for measurements, ARTA runs very well under wine. I also modified the script (AutoIT scripting) found in ARTA website to handle multiple (angled) measurements and made another one (ARTA_ImpulseToFRD.exe) to gate and export existing impulse responses with same gating. The script (ARTA_Loop.exe) takes angles, filename prefix, step size, wait time between measurements etc as input and runs ARTA in a loop through the angles. It also supports gated FR exports. All I have to do is start the script, run few test measurements, adjust gating and press OK. After that I only have to remenber to rotate the speaker according to measured angle. File naming supports ARTA's directivity pattern format, so measurements are ready use in that as well.

[JonMarsh]

I also use ARTA (I paid - it's worth it to be able to save the impulse and go back later to mess with other export settings, or just look at the data in different ways. I use SW as well as Jeff B's spreadsheets and DLR's Windows version of said sheets for crossover work (SW is so slow, but it offers flexibility no other free software offers...) I might add, after assembling the rather simple jig, I spent a good while hating myself for spending so much time fighting with SW for good data.



As long as you either: work/organize things the way they think you should OR want the shiny and will retrain your way of life - not even close.

I work with All sorts of devices/OS's at work, and Apple is at the very bottom of the list for usability and effectiveness. I do think OS X ranks slightly above iOS. Windows Phone is next, then Firefox OS, then Android/Linux/Windows are all pretty even (task dependent really)

to each their own; I respectfully and strongly disagree. Unix rules, and MacOs is unix. You can use as much of the power as you think you need, and your grandparents can easily get stuff done with it too.

[jquin]

I use ARTA as well. Very robust and flexible. I have Linux laptop for measurements, ARTA runs very well under wine. I also modified the script (AutoIT scripting) found in ARTA website to handle multiple (angled) measurements and made another one (ARTA_ImpulseToFRD.exe) to gate and export existing impulse responses with same gating. The script (ARTA_Loop.exe) takes angles, filename prefix, step size, wait time between measurements etc as input and runs ARTA in a loop through the angles. It also supports gated FR exports. All I have to do is start the script, run few test measurements, adjust gating and press OK. After that I only have to remenber to rotate the speaker according to measured angle. File naming supports ARTA's directivity pattern format, so measurements are ready use in that as well.

Thanks I might have to check this out too

[BobEllis]

As long as you either: work/organize things the way they think you should OR want the shiny and will retrain your way of life - not even close.

to each their own; I respectfully and strongly disagree. Unix rules, and MacOs is unix. You can use as much of the power as you think you need, and your grandparents can easily get stuff done with it too.

I think it boils down to how your brain is wired and your primary computing experience. I started with an 8088 PC and DOS, and have used primarily PC/Windows all my adult life. A lot of Apple OS seems counterintuitive to me once you get past basic function. Windows is getting more apple like and driving me nuts with each "upgrade", especially Windows (H)8. My son was strictly PCs until he went into a creative job and now uses both Apple and PC interchangeably.

That said, I use Holm Impulse, but I am not as advanced as a lot of people and don't model much. I am more of a measure, tweak, repeat guy.

[Johnloudb]

I think it boils down to how your brain is wired and your primary computing experience.

Hi Bob, I agree, computer prefererance is a lot about what we are familiar with and also what works for "us." As one who always used a Mac till just one year ago, I find windows 7 very Mac like. Still there are quirks I had to get used to and had to learn how to accomplish certain things in a different way. I really like my Lenevo Carbon Thinkpad running windows 7. I hate Windows 8 and dread when I have to upgrade to another version of Windows! I wouldn't call it Mac like ... It is just kind of insane! Just my opinion though, to each there own.