How to EQ a backyard speaker system - DSP?

[aspirationalaudio]

I have finally gotten around to building my backyard speaker system. Now I need to figure out a way to tune it. The amps will be inside one of the structures, far away from the listening zones. Source will be a sonos connect. Speakers are a whole bunch of Technomad outdoor units. Questions:

Should I just use a regular in-line EQ? How would I do that with the speakers so far from the actual EQ unit? Run back and forth as I adjust each band ?

Should I use a dirac DSP like the MiniDSP HTx? Would that kind of room correction even work in an outdoor environment with no "room"?

Thanks!

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Don’t need EQ. No walls

 

[Ropeburn]

Don’t need EQ. No walls

I agree. Free-air performance generally means only one thing: add more power.

 

[Keith_W]

For your backyard system, you could use DSP to replace the crossovers in your speakers. Then you measure each driver under quasi-anechoic conditions and EQ them to flat. Then time align all the drivers, and adjust the volume so that the whole speaker is flat. The disadvantage is that you need one amplifier channel per driver.

The replies above refer to room EQ. Drivers have their own nonlinearities that can be EQ'ed, but for that you need proper measurements.

As to how to set EQ up, the answer is pretty obvious isn't it? You bring the amps/electronics/etc. close to the speaker for measurements and setup. Once you have the EQ dialled in, your amps can go back to where they are.

 

[aspirationalaudio]

I am a dsp newb and only just learning live audio but presumably, once assembled, I might think "the midbass is not punchy enough" or "the treble is harsh here". Won't I at least want the opportunity to tweak that a bit? How can I do so without at least an equalizer? And what if the timing on the subs doesn't gel with the timing of the mains?

As to how to set EQ up, the answer is pretty obvious isn't it? You bring the amps/electronics/etc. close to the speaker for measurements and setup. Once you have the EQ dialled in, your amps can go back to where they are.

D'oh!

 

[bachatero]

There is miniDSP for generic inputs, or EasyEffects if you're using a computer!

 

[DVDdoug]

I am a dsp newb and only just learning live audi

Live sound is a different situation. The PA system itself can be set-up and calibrated in advance but then it's best if there is a "sound guy" running the mixer from the audience location and making adjustments (by ear). With a typical "rock band" in a typical small venue, the PA is used mostly for the vocals with the other sounds coming directly from the drums and on-stage amplifiers, so the sound adjustments are limited. The band is mostly mixing themselves by listening while playing.

It's also possible to have two people doing it, with one person listening and radioing (or hand-signaling) instructions to the person with their hands on the controls.

With big acts in big venues virtually all of the sound comes out of the PA so the mixing engineer has control over everything. And there's probably a 2nd engineer controlling the on-stage and in-ear monitoring.

I might think "the midbass is not punchy enough" or "the treble is harsh here". Won't I at least want the opportunity to tweak that a bit? How can I do so without at least an equalizer?

...would that kind of room correction even work in an outdoor environment with no "room"?

Yes, you can still EQ with measurements or with your ears. But you don't have to worry about standing waves and room-modes contributing the bass problems. With standing waves it's easier to identify the exact problem frequencies with measurements. Without those problems you can use your ears and make broader, less precise, adjustments.

And what if the timing on the subs doesn't gel with the timing of the mains?

With "a whole bunch of Technomad outdoor units" in different locations there will be timing differences that can't be easily fixed. But if the sub(s) and main speakers are located together there won't be timing differences. Usually timing adjustments are more about keeping the subs and mains in-phase at the crossover frequency. You don't start hear an actual time difference (or delay-echo) until about 50 milliseconds, which is about 50 feet at the speed of sound.