Let's Say I Want to DIY a MiniDSP....

[Jefrpol]

How could I do that?

I recently purchased an Eversolo A8 and switched to Roon from JRiver (for convenience, more than anything else; the cost notwithstanding, I'm impressed by Roon's ability to just work in an unfussy manner)and I was thinking of turning to my now unused computer for room correction.

I can install Dirac and let that do the correction work and I already have a Umik-1 for taking measurements. The question I have is regarding inputs/outputs. What do I need to allow me to input a stereo signal, that is balanced, and output left, right and sub, also balanced? It looks to me that a proper input/output to connect to the computer would basically cost what a Flex costs. Am I wrong? If so, what should I be looking at?

 

[ppataki]

How could I do that?

I recently purchased an Eversolo A8 and switched to Roon from JRiver (for convenience, more than anything else; the cost notwithstanding, I'm impressed by Roon's ability to just work in an unfussy manner)and I was thinking of turning to my now unused computer for room correction.

I can install Dirac and let that do the correction work and I already have a Umik-1 for taking measurements. The question I have is regarding inputs/outputs. What do I need to allow me to input a stereo signal, that is balanced, and output left, right and sub, also balanced? It looks to me that a proper input/output to connect to the computer would basically cost what a Flex costs. Am I wrong? If so, what should I be looking at?

If you want to do multichannel audio (2.1, 2.2, or even 5.1, 5.2 etc.) with a PC you will need a multichannel DAC in the first place. For example pretty much any pro audio USB interface (like Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen., MOTU M4, etc.) or Topping DM7 or Okto DAC8 Pro, etc.
Then you will need a DSP software (Jriver for example) that can generate the .1, .2, etc. channels (the 3rd, 4th, etc. channels)
This way you will be able to configure volume, crossover (high-pass and low-pass filters), delay, EQ, everything for each channel independently. This will allow you to correctly integrate your sub(s) with your mains

 

[Timcognito]

Roon has it so try that first

Digital Room Correction (DRC) is an essential feature nowadays

As you mentioned DRC is an essential feature nowadays - and I very much would recommend a specialized software to exploit its full potential. Roon offers the possibility to integrate convolution filters seamlessly. So along with a software like www.focusfidelity.com it’s very easy to get your...

community.roonlabs.com

 

[jeffme]

@ppataki is right on here. The big difference between the Flex and your PC is that the PC is waaaay more… flex…ible… than the Flex, aside from the inputs. Cost-wise, you’re right that an M4, DM7, DAC8. Pro aren’t cheap. But… before you pay for a Dirac license, why don’t you see what you can get away with with a cheaper solution first. Don’t overlook CamillaDSP, either.

 

[JustJones]

More work but you could Use REW and place the filters in Roon

 

[Jefrpol]

Appreciate the responses.

My goal is to have the following chain: A8 - DIYDSP - Amplifier/Subwoofer.

I have an analog source (turntable) and I want to apply room correction to Roon and my source. With a Flex, I can go analog in to the flex then out to my amplifiers and a sub. I had been doing room correction via JRiver/REW but I would, to correct all sources, need to have stereo input (at least) and multiple outputs. With my most recent set-up, music from a completely analog source sounds different than from JRiver. With a proper interface, I may still be able to use JRiver or Dirac or CamillaDSP (a product I had never heard of).

Something like the Scarlet 4i4 looks like it would do the job. Two inputs (L/R) and four outputs (amp/amp/sub/sub). I probably wouldn't use 90% of the features but would that be a functional input/output device to allow my computer to do dsp?

 

[ppataki]

I have an analog source (turntable)

Well, if you have a turntable as a source and then you want to use DSP that would practically mean that you will need to convert your analog signal from your analog source to digital, then do DSP then convert it back to analog
I am not sure if you really want to do that but that would be the way to make it happen

Something like the Scarlet 4i4 looks like it would do the job. Two inputs (L/R) and four outputs (amp/amp/sub/sub). I probably wouldn't use 90% of the features but would that be a functional input/output device to allow my computer to do dsp?

In theory, yes
Jriver could in theory apply its DSP engine on the incoming signal in real-time:

I have never tried it but it should work with a Scarlett 4i4 4th Gen.


Very alternatively you can use a totally analog crossover and EQ after your analog source to do all you need and stay in the analog domain all the way

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[Keith_W]

As @ppataki has said, what you need is an interface. Like one of the ones he listed.

For your turntable: connect the output of your phono stage into one of the analog inputs of your interface. In fact you may not need a phono stage, you could potentially implement the RIAA curve in DSP. Phono stages do have additional features, e.g. impedance matching for your cartridge so you may/may not want to keep that.

For your Eversolo A8: you will need a suitable digital cable (I suggest TOSLink) to connect it to your interface.

For Roon: set up Roon to output to JRiver via ASIO.

To use: run JRiver* on your PC. Set up one Zone to take input from your interface's ADC, and another zone to take input from the Eversolo. In both zones, set up the DSP pipeline. If you are using Dirac, you will need to set up Dirac's convolver as the final VST in the pipeline. You will be using JRMC as a digital preamp - switch inputs, and volume control.

* I believe that the newer versions of JRMC allow you to set ASIO inputs on a per-zone basis. I have an older version (JRMC 31) which does not have this feature. This feature is critical for all this to work! I suggest you go to JRMC's forum and ask them whether this is possible.