digital room correction

[inguz]

Sorry, I don't think the current version will work with SB1. Added to the bug list.

[azinck3]

Sorry, I don't think the current version will work with SB1. Added to the bug list.

Thanks for the quick response. SB1 support would be greatly appreciated. But if you don't add it then I suppose Slim will probably sell another SB3...

[GreenMan]

... from, say, using a powered mic and Room Eq Wizard? (http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/)

I know you seem to have developed a SB-specific solution. What are the advantages over other methods at this point, in your view?

[azinck3]

... from, say, using a powered mic and Room Eq Wizard? (http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/)

I know you seem to have developed a SB-specific solution. What are the advantages over other methods at this point, in your view?

I know this was for Hugh, but I couldn't help piping up . The idea is the same as the Room EQ wizard. But once you get the FIR filter using the Room EQ wizard you have to do something with it to actually get the correction. This must be done via specialized hardware (like a TacT or the Behringer unit or a more generic parametric eq) or (in the case of systems that source their audio from a computer) software. Hardware has the advantage of being able to affect any audio source. But software has the advantage of being cheap.

In software you have two options: you could run the processing on all of your audio files so that the actual data is changed to reflect the correct correction for your room. But that's lousy if you want to do anything with those files except play them on that exact system, in that exact room. The other option is to use a convolver to process the room correction in real-time based on the FIR filter. This is great as it allows you to set up different filters for different rooms and use the same files. Not to mention it doesn't "ruin" your perfect, lossless files. Inguz's plugin sets up a convolver for windows which works with Slimserver--something that was missing to this point. There are existing solutions for Linux. What's not clear to me is if a filter that's generated with the Room EQ wizard could be plugged into InguzDSP or if you have to use the tools Hugh provides...

[GreenMan]

I know this was for Hugh, but I couldn't help piping up . The idea is the same as the Room EQ wizard. But once you get the FIR filter using the Room EQ wizard you have to do something with it to actually get the correction. This must be done via specialized hardware (like a TacT or the Behringer unit or a more generic parametric eq) or (in the case of systems that source their audio from a computer) software. Hardware has the advantage of being able to affect any audio source. But software has the advantage of being cheap.

In software you have two options: you could run the processing on all of your audio files so that the actual data is changed to reflect the correct correction for your room. But that's lousy if you want to do anything with those files except play them on that exact system, in that exact room. The other option is to use a convolver to process the room correction in real-time based on the FIR filter. This is great as it allows you to set up different filters for different rooms and use the same files. Not to mention it doesn't "ruin" your perfect, lossless files. Inguz's plugin sets up a convolver for windows which works with Slimserver--something that was missing to this point. There are existing solutions for Linux. What's not clear to me is if a filter that's generated with the Room EQ wizard could be plugged into InguzDSP or if you have to use the tools Hugh provides...

I wonder though. Starting from scratch, I'll need an audio interface, which look like they run about $250 on the low side. An adequate Berhinger mic looks to be about another $60 - $80. We've passed the $300 threshold for this free solution already. Granted, the Behringer deq2496 doesn't include a mic, but throw one on and you've got the same expense threshold, roughly speaking.

I'm not knocking this software solution. Quite the contrary, I think I'll try it. But there is some comparable associated expense that places it in the same expense domain as buying a seperate piece of hardware with embedded (and optionally, outboard) equalization software.

[Skunk]

We've passed the $300 threshold for this free solution already.

I bet you could get it all closer to $200 on the 'low side', and it WILL be free in the next room (should you have more than one room).

The expensive part for me will be the Server upgrade... Is it XP only or will win2k work?

[azinck3]

I wonder though. Starting from scratch, I'll need an audio interface, which look like they run about $250 on the low side. An adequate Berhinger mic looks to be about another $60 - $80. We've passed the $300 threshold for this free solution already. Granted, the Behringer deq2496 doesn't include a mic, but throw one on and you've got the same expense threshold, roughly speaking.

I'm not knocking this software solution. Quite the contrary, I think I'll try it. But there is some comparable associated expense that places it in the same expense domain as buying a seperate piece of hardware with embedded (and optionally, outboard) equalization software.

Yeah, I hear what you're saying. There are plenty of perfectly fine interfaces for <$200, but even so, I know what you mean. For me, I have an interface already and can probably find a place to borrow the mic. The advantage is that you only need the equipment for a one-time setup. So even if you can't borrow it and are forced to buy you could ebay the stuff immediately and take a nominal loss.

[inguz]

What's not clear to me is if a filter that's generated with the Room EQ wizard could be plugged into InguzDSP or if you have to use the tools Hugh provides...

Any stereo WAV file in the impulse folder (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\InguzEQ\Impulses\) can be selected from the plugin "room-correction" menu. Make sure the WAV files are less than 65536 samples long, for performance reasons.

So I just tried Pink Fairies through the lens of Small Church Stellingwoude (after trimming the impulse a bit). Mmmm..... Interest-ing.

Is it XP only or will win2k work?

Yes, win2k will work (anything on the .NET 2.0 supported list should be OK).

[GreenMan]

Yeah, I hear what you're saying. There are plenty of perfectly fine interfaces for <$200, but even so, I know what you mean. For me, I have an interface already and can probably find a place to borrow the mic. The advantage is that you only need the equipment for a one-time setup. So even if you can't borrow it and are forced to buy you could ebay the stuff immediately and take a nominal loss.

Would you kindly name a few of those interfaces here?

I also failed to include the cost of 30ft of mic cable that I need to get my mic to reach my computer in the next room, which adds about another $30 onto the price tag

[GreenMan]

Here's a question: I only have one SB to be concerned with, but for those who have multiple SBs around the house, isn't getting the mic to the audio interface near a computer something of a problem? Many (including myself) don't own a laptop, so that won't help.

I wonder, are there any inexpensive audio interfaces that can use the SB's ethernet bridge? That would solve the problem of finding loooong mic cords to get the mic talking to the interface.