VituixCAD v2

[kimmosto]

2.0.123.0 (2025-03-11)

Impulse response

• Added 'FR view' tab for comparing selected source response to frequency response created with impulse response to be exported.
• Added horizontal scrollbar for adjusting Pre-delay. Tooltip shows delay in tap number and % of taps.
• 'Center IR' checkbox deleted.
• Fixed IR scaling with Pre-delay of 0.0 ms.

https://kimmosaunisto.net/Software/V...pulse_response
Refresh to see the latest.

[kimmosto]

2.0.123.2 (2025-04-05)

Main

• Klippel NFS CEA2034 directivity export files 'SPL Horizontal.txt' and 'SPL Vertical.txt' are renamed automatically to 'SPL Horizontal.nfs' and 'SPL Vertical.nfs' when loaded to Frequency responses -list in Drivers tab to avoid manual renaming.
  In addition, 'Angle parsing from filename' and 'Power response & DI calculation' settings in Options are adapted for NFS exports.

Enclosure

• Added reading of Shelv LP filter's Q factor from enclosure project file.

---

2.0.123.1 (2025-03-23)

Enclosure

• Maximum VAS, Sd and Mms increased by 10x.

[kimmosto]

2.0.124.0 (2025-05-07)

Enclosure

• Added passive parallel filter branch Cp+Lp+Rp to Filter tab.
• Added 'Track Fb and Qtc' checkbox for Linkwitz-Transform. Copies Fb and Qtc of closed or IB to fo and Qo to help setting up L-T.
• Added optional voltage trace to Power chart. 'Show voltage' command in context menu replaces current trace with voltage.
• T/S parameters of the newly added driver are read from driver table into system simulation also when database filtering hides the other drivers.

[witwald]

I am using VituixCAD 2.0.124.0, and would like to report a minor issue that I am experiencing.

When using the Enclosure tool, using the 'Excursion traces' dialog, I switch off the display of 'Cone Force (peak)' in the 'Excursion' plot. However, when I change the power input level, the 'Cone Force (peak)' trace reappears. It seems that my prior setting is being somehow overwritten.

This wasn't happening in the previous version of VituixCAD.

[kimmosto]

I switch off the display of 'Cone Force (peak)' in the 'Excursion' plot. However, when I change the power input level, the 'Cone Force (peak)' trace reappears. It seems that my prior setting is being somehow overwritten.

Visible trace (Force or Acceleration) should be selected via context menu (right click). Not via Traces window. The same story with Current/Voltage selection in Power chart. One or another is visible after the next calculation so hiding both is just temporary. Online manual says:



Next revision may have own switch for both traces in context menu. That would allow hiding both, but both can't be visible at the same time because they have different unit.

[kimmosto]

2.0.124.1 (2025-05-11)

Enclosure

• Added 'Show current' command to context menu of Power chart.
• Added 'Show force' command to context menu of Excursion chart.
• 'Show current/voltage' and 'Show force/acceleration' track visibility set in Traces window.

User manual says now:

• Input Power: apparent power [VA], real power [W] and maximum power to Re [W].
  Current [A] when 'Show current' is checked in context menu, or
  Voltage [V] when 'Show voltage' is checked in context menu. Voltage trace includes Source voltage U and active filters, but not passive components.
• Peak excursion and Xmax [mm] of cone and passive radiator.
  Peak reaction force [N] of cones and passive radiators due to acceleration of moving mass when 'Show force' is checked in context menu, or
  RMS acceleration [m/s²] of cone and passive radiator when 'Show acceleration' is checked in context menu.

[witwald]

For your consideration, please find below the details of some feature requests for VituixCAD's Enclosure simulation tool.

I have been working on modelling a B&C Speakers 18SW115-8Ω 18-inch driver in a large 160-litre vented enclosure tuned to 28Hz. This tuning produces a bass shelf in the low-frequency reponse, as shown by the black curve in the plot below.

I would like to be able to introduce a shelving filter to remove the rising response above 40Hz or so (the region highlighted in blue). This would need to be applied with negative gain.

Would you be able to add a 'Shelv HP' filter option to the Filter section of the Enclosure tool? I'd expect that it wouldn't be very difficult to do, as you already have the framework in place from the existing 'Shelv LP' filter option.

At the same time, would it also be possible to add another two PEQ filters? That way a total of 4 would be available in the Enclosure tool (i.e., PEQ 1, PEQ 2, PEQ 3, and PEQ 4).



Thank you very much for considering my requests.

[Reet]

For complex filtering you can always export the frequency response from the enclosure model, and load it to the main window to use any filter functions available.

[witwald]

That is very true 👍, and it's something that I did to test feasibility and usefulness of my little idea. However, it would be extremely time saving in nature if the options that I suggested were available in the Enclosure tool. Sometimes one just wants to have a very short "feasibility study" without littering one's computer with a myriad of files. 🙂

[kimmosto]

Shelving HP and LP have the same response. Just gain is different which can be compensated with input voltage.
More important is to remember that Filter tab in Enclosure tool is NOT for designing actual/final crossover so it can be quite simple. It's just for investigating:
1) SPL and voltage limits with different bass boosts by active filter such as L-T, shelving LP or peaking EQ.
2) response reaction between driver's impedance response and passive filter. Especially how typical but annoying response hump at upper bass can be eliminated or impedance response equalized more flat or low pass designed for driver with quite high Le.
3) possibilities to extend response and add some protective high pass with series capacitor.

Speakers can be and have been designed for decades without any filter features in driver+box simulator. Simple system simulator does not know for example how cone equalizes acoustical response so it's not productive to put too much effort without actual measurable devices.

[witwald]

Shelving HP and LP have the same response. Just gain is different which can be compensated with input voltage.

I understand that. However, it's non-intuitive in terms of viewing the filter response, and one needs to do an extra step and mentally subtract off the low-pass boost. Why not just add another option to help the user? It's much simpler at the software end of the tree. It is a simple additional capability that will reap major dividends for my simple exploratory work, enabling me to do simple things much more simply. Is that too much to ask? It would be nice to have an already powerful computational tool made even better.

[witwald]

Simple system simulator does not know for example how cone equalizes acoustical response...

I don't follow what you are trying to say here. Can you please elaborate a little?

[kimmosto]

I don't follow what you are trying to say here. Can you please elaborate a little?

For example this driver:



In (too) many cases simulation with T/S and reality don't have much common. Why simulation should be boosted with features which don't help to represent reality. Of course VituixCAD has possibility to include traced or downloaded acoustical measurement of the driver, but combining of simulation and datasheet response and baffle step response and XO filter is NOT done in Enclosure tool. So Enclosure tool does not really need more EQ features than for testing SPL/excursion capacity and co-operation of impedance curve and typical passive network. The second one can be done with the main program too, but passive components in Filter tab enable faster testing and iteration.

[witwald]

For example this driver:

Thank you. I follow your drift now.

In (too) many cases simulation with T/S and reality don't have much common.

I understand that, and I take your point. However, the countering point is that, in many cases, the simulation using T/S parameters allows a quick and easy exploration of the available design space. Ideas can be fleshed out and tried to establish their workabilty and usefulness, and then quickly and easily shared with others who have an interest in such solutions.

Why simulation should be boosted with features which don't help to represent reality.

Ostensibly, this is really being much too harsh...I would equally argue that the features I have identified would be useful in representing reality, in much the same way the existing features help. I do not understand the hesitation and the negative viewpoint.

Of course VituixCAD has possibility to include traced or downloaded acoustical measurement of the driver, but combining of simulation and datasheet response and baffle step response and XO filter is NOT done in Enclosure tool.

Agreed. But the request is to be able to perform a simpler, idealised analysis...

So Enclosure tool does not really need more EQ features than for testing SPL/excursion capacity and co-operation of impedance curve and typical passive network.

I beg to differ, as the features I have requested would help greatly, without adding any extra complexity.

[kimmosto]

I do not understand the hesitation and the negative viewpoint.

Available space (in pixels) has always been a problem with Enclosure tool and main program assuming that program should support height of 768px. Without changing UI of active filters to some kind of list or scrollable panel, there is room for just one more equalizer (by overlapping default margins few pixels per control).

List UI would be less visual and slower and more difficult to use. Scrollable panel may hide something when display or window is small. Will this be enough - the last to be added and the most important for us, or is it just redundancy because single user is not willing to use shelving LP and scale with supply voltage? How much free time should I use for this, and how to prevent VituixCAD to be another REW with hundreds of complex features without actual significance.

[witwald]

The UI panel as shown, with the Shelv HP control added, would be excellent for my purposes. 🙂 I anticipate using it regularly when suggesting possible subwoofer designs in answer to queries about this driver or that driver. I'll be able to achieve a flatter response in the typical subwoofer passband, while at the same time allowing clear communication of the ensuing power requirements.

[kimmosto]

^I guess you haven't tested L-T for your B&C 18SW115 case? That includes shelf and two PEQs though the shelf is still LP. 'Hole in one' in theory, but more difficult to iterate manually.

[witwald]

No, I haven't tried using an L-T with the B&C 18SW115 driver. The example L-T that has been provided above seems to essentially be a PEQ of +4dB at 40Hz with a low Q value, albeit with a fraction more boost at 10Hz than a simple PEQ would be expected to provide.

[Reet]

Minor bug observed in the merger tool, "show phase" is checked by default when you open the tool, however phase is not shown until the box is un-checked and re-checked.

[kimmosto]

2.0.125.0 (2025-05-30)

Main

• Calculation of front wall reflection in Room tab fixed with Distances > 90 m.

Enclosure

• Added Shelv HP to Filter tab.

Merger

• Phase responses shown on start-up.

[Reet]

Error with auto-update. I'm on version 2.0.124.1

[kimmosto]

^Works here but it does not prove anything because service provider is changing PHP support. Earlier PHP setting was 7.4 or some other old which will be removed from the server on Tue 2025-06-03. My new selection has been 8.2.28 for few days, but I just changed to "8.2.21 by OS vendor". It should be running already, but won't probably help due to same major version.



I'm not sure is this the problem and why, but this is the only thing which has changed since the previous revision.

Microsoft says that WebClient class VCAD is using for download is obsolete and should be updated to HttpClient. That probably enables downloading without PHP support so I'll make some tests and changes to auto update in few weeks.

[kimmosto]

2.0.125.1 (2025-05-31)

Main

• Auto update is using HttpClient instead of (obsolete) WebClient.

Enclosure

• Online database is downloaded for browsing and database update using HttpClient instead of (obsolete) WebClient.

Merger

• Raw LF response traces try to maintain line width, color and style set in Traces window while current session.

Replacing WebClient with HttpClient class may not have any effect, but it should be more modern. This version should be downloaded and installed manually if previous versions and server do not co-operate anymore due to newer PHP version 8.2 at the server. Co-operation is tested automatically by Auto update in every start-up, or can be tested manually by browsing Online driver database in Enclosure tool.

[Reet]

Manually downloaded the latest, I have a different message:


It may be a problem on my end, I deleted the config files from AppData/Local/Kimmo_Saunisto/*, it appears to have resolved it. Very confusing, I put the old config file back in place and the error has not returned. Who knows, but it's good now.

[kimmosto]

I have a different message:

Image with message is not visible here, but I guess download directory could be the problem because it's the only one related to user.config. Default download directory is "My Documents/VituixCAD/Download" but Main directory -setting in Options overrides that. For example my Main directory is "C:\Users\Kimmo\OneDrive\Documents\VituixCAD" so download directory is "C:\Users\Kimmo\OneDrive\Documents\VituixCAD\Downl oad". Download could fail if user.config is bad or download directory does not exist i.e. creation of directory fails or you don't have adequate access rights to it.
Next revision will try to create download directory right before download (not in program start-up), but that does not guarantee success if Main directory -setting in user.config is bad.

[Reet]

Hmm, very odd the screenshot isn't showing. Let me try again:

It says "Auto update, latest2.txt Version string portion was too short or too long."

I'm not sure what the problem was, but I'm not getting the error anymore so we can forget about it for now. I have changed main directory, but nothing has changed there for a few years, folders are writable, have free space, etc.

I saved the config file before removing it from AppData folder if you'd like to review. It is attached, renamed to .txt to get around forum limitations.

Thanks for taking the time to look into it.

[kimmosto]

It says "Auto update, latest2.txt Version string portion was too short or too long."

Ok, it's the same error as before. New version tells filename to download: latest2.txt or VituixCAD2_setup.exe.
Basically programs just reads content of https://kimmosaunisto.net/Software/V...AD/latest2.txt
Program should be able to read it as easy as any web browser. Too short is e.g. 2 (less than two levels) and too long is 2.0.125.1.7 (more than four levels).

Anyway, user.config system of .NET is quite flexible and automatic but complex too. Some settings could go bad if there are too many directories and config files for multiple revisions. I occasionally delete all directories except for the last version.

[Reet]

Anyway, user.config system of .NET is quite flexible and automatic but complex too. Some settings could go bad if there are too many directories and config files for multiple revisions. I occasionally delete all directories except for the last version.

Yes, that's what I did effectively. Deleted all directories, tested normal operation, then put only directory for current version back. Perhaps VituixCAD could do some automatic cleanup, only retain config file for last version or something to that effect. I did have around 90 revisions in there

[kimmosto]

Perhaps VituixCAD could do some automatic cleanup, only retain config file for last version or something to that effect.

This is already done and tested, but single 'Yes to all' button would be faster than 90 times Yes 😀. Standard message box does not have Yes to all so it requires custom window.

[kimmosto]

2.0.126.0 (2025-06-06)

Main

• Added 'Clean user.config' command to Help menu.

Enclosure

• Added Quasi-Chebyshev alignment to Align tab.

[witwald]

For your consideration, I would like to ask that a new feature be added to VituixCAD's Enclosure simulation tool.

Often when I am performing an enclosure analysis/study, I find it is useful to know the dB/octave slope of a curve at various points. The cursor already has the facility to display the (Hz, dB, phase) associated with any given point on the chosen curve.

Would it be possible to also display the local slope of the curve in dB/octave?

Thank you for considering my feature request.

[kimmosto]

2.0.126.1 (2025-06-18)

• In frequency response smoothing, the imaginary and real parts of the phase response are smoothed separately without phase unwrapping.
  Magnitude smoothing has not been modified.

Main

• Frequency axis maximum value updated on XO variant change.

[kimmosto]

2.0.127.0 (2025-06-21)

• Added 'Export data' button to Traces window. Exports data points of all or selected traces to txt/csv file and clipboard.

Power dissipation

• 'Export chart data' command removed from context menu of chart.

Enclosure

• 'Export six-pack data' command removed from context menu of charts.

[witwald]

For your consideration, I would like suggest a new feature for inclusion in VituixCAD's Enclosure simulation tool.

Would it be possible to have an option to display the magnitude of the driver impedance using a logarithmic scale? This would make certain log-linear behaviour characteristics much easier to identify.

[kimmosto]

2.0.127.1 (2025-07-05)

• License updated.

Main

• Crossover schematic dimensions extended from 200x140 to 400x300 coordinate units.

Impulse

• Added RMS checkbox. Shows quadratic mean of step response after pre-delay.
• IR view tab and chart renamed to Time domain.
• FR view tab and chart renamed to Frequency domain.

[kimmosto]

dB/octave slope of a curve

Tooltip indicating X, Y and Y2 values and name in a tiny borderless window at mouse cursor is global constant feature of chart class i.e. the same code serves all line charts in the package.
I'm not very keen to make additional custom code for some individual chart.

driver impedance using a logarithmic scale

Chart class does not support logarithmic Y scales. Logarithmic scale has been programmed for frequency X axis only. Of course dB scale is kinda logarithmic, but the values are saved as linear in dB.
Logarithmic Ohm scale has always been very annoying imo. "Certain" inductance behavior can be detected with single series coil (Ls) though unrealistic clean Le is quite recognizablewithout log scale anyway.

[Reet]

"You may not publish any material produced or processed with VituixCAD on Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum"
You may need a legal team to enforce that one, but I commend your efforts to thwart misuse.

[kimmosto]

You may need a legal team to enforce that one, but I commend your efforts to thwart misuse.

I don't try to enforce. Just recommending some other forum such as diyaudio or HTguide especially for loudspeaker DIY. ASR is too toxic, religiously limited, hopeless, authoritarian and nowadays commercially connected too so DIY community could exit for good.

[tktran]

I asked this question in 2019...

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/should-we-i-get-into-speaker-testing-measurement.7904/post-191634

Today it's just a tool for marketing using some old science from the 20th century, from Floyd Toole's book to KEF and Genelec products that generate a clean looking spinorama.

They can't even measure a Soundbar, nor make sense of what makes a good one from a bad one. And whenever serious comment or a question is raised, there's a heap of hand waving going on. eg. my recent exchanges with Lars or Jack

[Reet]

I don't find there's much DIY effort going on there regardless, the DIY section of the forum is quite barren compared to the rest of the forum. They should really drop "Science" from the name IMO.

[kimmosto]

They should really drop "Science" from the name IMO.

Harman's research (R.I.P) focused on the most significant and easily audible parameters to conquer the low- and mid-priced consumer market. Basic sh*t for everyone except hi-fi enthusiasts. At least that would explain why they filtered out almost everything else than parameters based on magnitude response variations. The result of this work was generalized to "listener preference" which was chosen as the law book and the bible of loudspeaker reviews on ASR. Few other subjectively selected parameters are measured, and the rest have been arbitrarily discarded though errors can be objectively radical. That shouldn't affect to loudspeaker designers, but at least some other manufacturers have made mistakes by trusting narrow and/or invalid old studies and simplifications by Harman. Some may optimize their products to succeed in certain "objective" reviews and measurements such as CTA-2034 by Klippel NFS.

I don't want to support forum acting like that so my collaboration with VituixCAD has ended. Next step would be ending public releases so I hope ASR begins to show development and openness to clearly measurable errors even if they are not within Harman's consumer-level preference.

[kimmosto]

Once again my favorite timing example with new 'RMS of Step after pre-delay' traces.
Actual loudspeaker, flawless magnitude responses and directivity, but otherwise 😭 Very confusing experience to listen speaker with so much right, but still too much wrong.

[JonMarsh]

Great example... any details about the specific speaker?

[kimmosto]

any details about the specific speaker?

The 1st Ones. Measurement was done in 2012 -11. I don't know if the excess delay was reduced (about a decade) later by updating the firmware and GLM.

In current models such as this Ones, the issue has been fixed by linearizing phase within allowed latency limits to input signal. That doesn't produce perfect minimum-phase response even in "extended linearisation mode", but it's better than the older active 3-way models. Transients also sound stronger and soundstage is more logical than earlier, but subwoofer can/will still damage timing at bass.

[kimmosto]

2.0.127.2 (2025-07-08)

Main

• Added 'Logo height' text box to Options window. Height is defined as percent of chart area height. Range is 5-25 %.
  So logo file can be HD, and program scales it down to specified height.

Impulse

• RMS checkbox updated if visibility changed in Traces... window.

M-S Defender has started to nag and block/delete VituixCAD2.exe with few users. May be due to new obfuscator version: Eziriz Intellilock 3.5.0.0. VirusTotal reports Trojan:Win32/Wacatac.B!ml with Microsoft's scanner. No alerts in my PCs so this could be false alarm.

[Reet]

How best to interpret "RMS of Step after pre-delay"? Is an ideal response to have a flat RMS step, or some sort of slope to this curve?
I have 3 examples below of 3-way tower speakers, each with quite different unique features. Which is okay, great, or awful as far as the step response is concerned?
Speaker 1:


Speaker 2:


Speaker 3:

[JonMarsh]

OK, it's not a slow Saturday morning here, but this is a long time favorite topic of mine, so I thought I'd drop by with a hint or two, or rather, observation and passing explanation for commercial loudspeakers.


Let's consider the measured step response of two commercially available loudspeakers that are fairly well known (well, in some quarters). The Magico M2, and the Vimberg Mino. Both are three way speakers. Vimberg is sort of a subsidiary of Tidal Audio as I understand it, and I love the esthetics and design choices, and they were an influence in the Ardent D project.

So lets look at the step response, courtesy of online reviewers


Magico M2



Scuttlebut says the Magico's use a multi-way LR4 crossover.



Vimberg Mino






Scuttlebut and Stereophile review describes a crossover that sounds an awful lot like a Duelund variation- certainly possible to achieve with the drivers chosen.





A key requirement is having the effective acoustical Z axis origin in the same plane, and the Accuton aluminum sandwich woofers do a good job of meeting that requirement. These appear to be customized versions of the AS168-9-470.