Dirac Live standalone for PC and Mac

[Kal Rubinson]

But Dirac will try to correct that split and re-routed center channel, will it not?

If it's not connected, it may not matter.

Actually, what I do is to calibrate my system with a center channel but when I want to play the system without one*, I keep the same Dirac calibration/settings but:
1. Disconnect the center speaker/amp.
2. Before the Dirac VST in the signal, route/add the "Center" source to "Left" and "Right", both at -3dB.

*I will do this later this week so that my wife's Christmas tree can stand where the center speaker belongs. The speaker returns in early January.

 

[prerich]

If it's not connected, it may not matter.

Actually, what I do is to calibrate my system with a center channel but when I want to play the system without one*, I keep the same Dirac calibration/settings but:
1. Disconnect the center speaker/amp.
2. Before the Dirac VST in the signal, route/add the "Center" source to "Left" and "Right", both at -3dB.

*I will do this later this week so that my wife's Christmas tree can stand where the center speaker belongs. The speaker returns in early January.

A little off topic - you use a Blade Meta 2 for a center channel as well right? And back on topic - before the VST...are you doing this in Roon or JRiver?

 

[TheKoC]

If it's not connected, it may not matter.

Haven't tried that yet myself, but would assume one would get the "volume to low / too much noise" error message from Dirac for the center-channel. So at least for the calibration a speaker would need to be connected temporarily.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

A little off topic - you use a Blade Meta 2 for a center channel as well right? And back on topic - before the VST...are you doing this in Roon or JRiver?

Yes, Blade 2 Meta.
JRiver

Haven't tried that yet myself, but would assume one would get the "volume to low / too much noise" error message from Dirac for the center-channel. So at least for the calibration a speaker would need to be connected temporarily.

You are probably right about this but I've never tried it. Always used a center-channel for the calibrations.

 

[decryption]

Any recent rumors regarding Dirac Art as standalone or vst plugin?

I would also like to know this!

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I would also like to know this!

Some subtle rumblings lately but nothing definitive.

 

[neRok]

I would also like to know this!

"2026" hopefully! See: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...oom-treatment-art-by-dirac.40743/post-2471994

 

[AudioJester]

Is the ART beta for PC available to the general public? Or was it restricted?

 

[dziemian]

It was a temporary and very limited option. I was both Dirac Live and DLBC beta tester and didnt manage to enlist on ART. Rumors are the ART on PC is going to be released this year though.

 

[peng]

Quick question:

I am running 2.2, but listen to 2 channel stereo music only so there is no LFE to worry about, and I am using DLBC PC standalone version. For music listening, I use JRiver and Amazon music that runs on a Win11 laptop via USB. When running DLBC calibration, the two subwoofers (L and R) do get EQ independently, but when doing REW sweep and/or listening to music via USB port on the HTx, the only way to get the subwoofers to help/work is by using either the Matrix mixer or the Channel routing and set the L-Front to LFE and R-Front the Center.

So, which one is better? It seems to me I should use Channel routing because the signal flow will then be routed first before Dirac, but since I am using DLBC PC standalone version, that is external to the HTx, it really shouldn't matter and the results will be the same. Am I right or wrong, if wrong, why?

Thank you

 

[TheKoC]

Quick question:

I am running 2.2, but listen to 2 channel stereo music only so there is no LFE to worry about, and I am using DLBC PC standalone version. For music listening, I use JRiver and Amazon music that runs on a Win11 laptop via USB. When running DLBC calibration, the two subwoofers (L and R) do get EQ independently, but when doing REW sweep and/or listening to music via USB port on the HTx, the only way to get the subwoofers to help/work is by using either the Matrix mixer or the Channel routing and set the L-Front to LFE and R-Front the Center.

So, which one is better? It seems to me I should use Channel routing because the signal flow will then be routed first before Dirac, but since I am using DLBC PC standalone version, that is external to the HTx, it really shouldn't matter and the results will be the same. Am I right or wrong, if wrong, why?

Thank you

You have the channel setup in the Dirac Live PC processor set to "Custom" with 2.2., correct? Then the signal should be routed from there to 4 channels of the HTx, and from there go straight to the 4 channels output you are using for your L+R plus 2 subs. No furter mixing/routing should happen on the HTx. Be sure to use the Dirac Virtual Soundcard as output for all your software, not going from JRiver to the HTx directly, for example.
Are you using the standalone version, or the VST Plugin of the Dirac Software?

 

[peng]

You have the channel setup in the Dirac Live PC processor set to "Custom" with 2.2., correct? Then the signal should be routed from there to 4 channels of the HTx, and from there go straight to the 4 channels output you are using for your L+R plus 2 subs. No furter mixing/routing should happen on the HTx. Be sure to use the Dirac Virtual Soundcard as output for all your software, not going from JRiver to the HTx directly, for example.
Are you using the standalone version, or the VST Plugin of the Dirac Software?

Yes, using custom for config 2.2, no plugin, windows only. If I don't use routing or matrix mixer, no sound output to the subs when playing music or doing REW sweeps. The subs only get sound when running Dirac calibration via USB input to the HTx.

 

[TheKoC]

Then I am unsure what is wrong. How does your "Custom channel config" window in Dirac look, can you maybe post a screenshot?
When you play music, do you see 4 green bars on the right of your dirac live processor window moving?

 

[peng]

Then I am unsure what is wrong. How does your "Custom channel config" window in Dirac look, can you maybe post a screenshot?
When you play music, do you see 4 green bars on the right of your dirac live processor window moving?

Here are the screenshots, thank you.

 

[Mort]

I use the matrix mixer to do the same thing with surrounds for an up mixed arena vibe. I don't think it matters but I leave the Channel Router alone since it sets up Dirac processing flow.

 

[TheKoC]

Everything looks fine on the Dirac part, if those 4 channels are routed directy to the four connected outputs, it should work. Unfortunately I am unfamiliar with the MiniDSP software.

 

[peng]

Everything looks fine on the Dirac part, if those 4 channels are routed directy to the four connected outputs, it should work. Unfortunately I am unfamiliar with the MiniDSP software.

I think you might have missed the point that I am not using the HTx as purchased, but using it with the Dirac Live Bass Control PC standalone version. Now that I 've got a response from miniDSP support, they suggested the same thing you did, and obviously they also missed the fact that I am using the PC standalone version and as such I don't have the option on the device console to select "irac Live channel configuration", in fact I don't even know it existed until miniDSP support linked me to the screenshot (I still don't/won't have that screen because I did not, and have no need to, purchase the DL option).

Anyway, I am using the channel routing option and it seems to do what I wanted it to do, except I might have to use the crossover option as well even though DLBC does set crossover during the calibration process, it may still has to be done when actually using it for 2 channel stereo. Using the standalone version with the HT or HTx is a confusing process, I suspect I may not the only one who didn't realize one must use channel routing or matrix mixer, and potentially manual crossover to have 2.2 actually working as intended.

Thank you for your help.

 

[peng]

I use the matrix mixer to do the same thing with surrounds for an up mixed arena vibe. I don't think it matters but I leave the Channel Router alone since it sets up Dirac processing flow.

Thanks, if you are using the miniDSP with the paid Dirac Live option, you can configure the channels. As you can see, I realize I don't have that option and have to use the Channel router or the Matrix mixer because the PC standalone version is outside of the HTx box, hence the term "standalone" I guess.

Now I have to experiment to find out if I have to set crossovers, even though Dirac Live Bass Control does have "bass management and it sets crossover" during the calibration process (as I described in post#437)