Any idea when Dirac will release bass management for Studio?
To integrate a subwoofer, you need to:
1) Gain match the speakers to the subwoofer, SPL matching is also possible but not as effective. you will use the MiniDSP for volume control from now on.
2) apply crossover, usually low pass 4th order LR (24db/oct) at 80Hz to the subwoofer and high pass at 80Hz 2nd order BW (12db/oct) to the main speaker.
3) adjust the delay so your crossover region (80-120Hz) does not have any dips
4) lower the speakers' gain by 4 db to adhere to the harman target curve
5) apply your preferred method of room correction.
Bass management does all of these things automatically, while with a regular MiniDSP you need to do these processes yourself.
thanks for clarifying this. I think I’ll start with the purchase of a DDRC-24 and hopefully have some fun/headaches trying to learn all of this. I’m pretty sure in terms of improving sound this will get me much further than a new sub (although the joy of the actual purchase would be much bigger with a shiny new SVS 1000 pro compared to the small, boring-looking MiniDSP )
Have you got a calibrated measurement microphone already? You might want to start with a UMIK and get used to the process of measuring the system you have and trying to understand what you are seeing. If your audio comes from a computer then there are many different options to consider that might be more suitable and could allow you to test out what they can do before spending money on a hardware processor.
You might find that positioning your existing speakers to work better with the room has a big impact on the sound you are getting at your listening position. Correction systems are very useful but they cannot overcome poor placement and bad directivity. The desire to "fix" these sort of problems is what can give room correction products a bad reputation.
that's just the routing matrix.
The software is not the limiting factor but the number of channels available in a soundcard or hat. Camiila (if you chose to use it) can output to as many hardware channels as you have available. The Pi4 is really quite powerful as an audio processor in comparison to the standard hardware chips that are in DSP processors. 8 channels at high sample rates and long FIR filters is within it's capabilities.Thank you! I will definitely reach out as soon as I pull the trigger on a UMIK and start my measuring.
So, only doing this with software, aren’t there limitations in terms of what can be separated for the L+R and the Sub? I don’t have a sub out on my amp either, so I’m not able to control the crossover. Wouldn’t a hardware crossover solution (such as the MiniDSP) be needed in this case?
The software is not the limiting factor but the number of channels available in a soundcard or hat. Camiila (if you chose to use it) can output to as many hardware channels as you have available. The Pi4 is really quite powerful as an audio processor in comparison to the standard hardware chips that are in DSP processors. 8 channels at high sample rates and long FIR filters is within it's capabilities.
Something like an ASUS Xonar USB interface is a cheap and easy way to get 8 channels of audio out of Pi at decent quality.
If you just have a standard stereo DAC then any processing will only act on the left and right channels. You can still use this to deal with reducing room mode peaks etc. but it is not as flexible as having multiple subwoofers and separate processing for each channel. If you have one sub you would cross it over in much the same way you do now, you could take the advice given above for integration and then over the top of that you can apply EQ. If you listen in a single position this could give you the possibility to effect a positive change on your existing equipment with virtually no cost. With only a single sub the bass throughout the room will be wildly different and the processing for one position may make it much worse elsewhere. The only real solution to that is directivity and multiple sources.
This was really helpful, very clear and easily explained for someone like me
You are welcome
Here is a thread from diyaudio where scripts and a method are provided as well as sample settings to process impulses with DRC_FIR.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/ful...ectrical-loudspeaker-correction-networks.html
If you are able to use linux on a Pi then I doubt using this is beyond your capability to learn
With this and some knowledge there is no need to spend money on Dirac.
Yes I thought about that and that might actually be a good idea. Audio is however coming from RPi streaming with Moode (which works very smoothly) so no ”real” computer involved. That’s why MiniDSP and Dirac Live is such an appealing option. But as you say, there are seldom any quick fixes. But I read many accounts of people having success with taming at least the worst room modes in the bass area (where I perceive my problems are).