Question re. REW vs. Dirac; plus general advice for a beginner

[BadlyRuined]

Hi everyone!

I made a post last year for some advice suggestions about a speaker/amp combo and after some suggestions, finally went with some Q150s, a Fosi stero amp, plus a MiniDSP 2x4 HD + Umik-1 mic.

As an absolute beginner to what I consider to be advanced audio, I feel like my head is going to explode attempting to use REW thus far. I know that there are several posts like this so I do apologize for adding another, but sorting through the posts and checking the dozens of youtube tutorials is soaking up much of my day...you lovely people helped me before so I'm hoping for just a little bit more

I am wondering if, 1) would upgrading the MiniDSP and using Dirac be a significantly better option for someone that's seemingly in over their head (me obv), or 2) does anyone have any links/resources a bit more geared toward a beginner?

@staticV3 was kind enough to answer questions before so I figured I'd tag you

Thank you all in advance for any help that you can provide!

 

[Mort]

I am wondering if, 1) would upgrading the MiniDSP and using Dirac be a significantly better option for someone that's seemingly in over their head (me obv), or 2) does anyone have any links/resources a bit more geared toward a beginner?

1) yes. The primary feature of Dirac (over rew) is ease of use. I regularly use Dirac and rew and Dirac is much easier if the goal is within diracs limits. It's high audio bang for the effort buck.

2) check deer Creek audio and the mini DSP forums are pretty good most of the time

 

[BadlyRuined]

1) yes. The primary feature of Dirac (over rew) is ease of use. I regularly use Dirac and rew and Dirac is much easier if the goal is within diracs limits. It's high audio bang for the effort buck.

2) check deer Creek audio and the mini DSP forums are pretty good most of the time

Thank you! I'll keep poking around (not today, I'll wait for the frustration to calm down lol) to see if I can work through the learning curve of REW for now.

 

[staticV3]

This might be a good middle ground been Dirac and full manual:

New AutoEQ Add On license powered by REW

Dear All, Hoping you've all been doing well! We're preparing quite few new hardware platforms to release in the coming few months but some summer delays might come into play.. Thanks for your patience! In the mean time, we're excited to release a new software feature on all miniDSP platform...

www.minidsp.com

 

[BadlyRuined]

This might be a good middle ground been Dirac and full manual:

New AutoEQ Add On license powered by REW

Dear All, Hoping you've all been doing well! We're preparing quite few new hardware platforms to release in the coming few months but some summer delays might come into play.. Thanks for your patience! In the mean time, we're excited to release a new software feature on all miniDSP platform...

www.minidsp.com

Hello again!

I have the 2x4 HD...is this for the "Flex"? I ask because I don't see an option anywhere in my Device Console for upgrading to Auto EQ.

 

[Mort]

Hello again!

I have the 2x4 HD...is this for the "Flex"? I ask because I don't see an option anywhere in my Device Console for upgrading to Auto EQ.

You have to pay $30.

 

[staticV3]

I have the 2x4 HD...is this for the "Flex"? I ask because I don't see an option anywhere in my Device Console for upgrading to Auto EQ.

No, all hardware that has the device console is supported.

Here's the manual for the 2x4HD:

Overview - miniDSP 2x4 HD User Manual

docs.minidsp.com

 

[BadlyRuined]

No, all hardware that has the device console is supported.

Here's the manual for the 2x4HD:

Overview - miniDSP 2x4 HD User Manual

docs.minidsp.com

I figured it out I'm going to upgrade and give it a try. Thanks again!

 

[BadlyRuined]

No, all hardware that has the device console is supported.

Here's the manual for the 2x4HD:

Overview - miniDSP 2x4 HD User Manual

docs.minidsp.com

This seems significantly easier so far, but I do have a question. When running the "Measure EQ" I get this and have no idea what to do, if anything!

Regardless of what to do with that, and this might be a dumb question, but would I run the Auto EQ for Input 1 & 2 and Output 1 & 2?

Thanks!

 

[staticV3]

When running the "Measure EQ" I get this and have no idea what to do, if anything!

You should look at the graph which shows the measurement and configured target response, then decide if you want to adjust the alignment between them, either by bringing the target response down ("Target level dB SPL"), or the measurement up (by turning up the volume).

Regardless of what to do with that, and this might be a dumb question, but would I run the Auto EQ for Input 1 & 2 and Output 1 & 2?

Just one.

 

[BadlyRuined]

You should look at the graph which shows the measurement and configured target response, then decide if you want to adjust the alignment between them, either by bringing the target response down ("Target level dB SPL"), or the measurement up (by turning up the volume).


Just one.

I didn't realize it was as simple as turning up the volume haha.

Regarding the second part of the question - does it make a difference which one I choose?

Thanks!

 

[Keith_W]

Don't turn up the volume too much. Loudspeakers are nonlinear devices, if you measure at a different volume it is likely you will get a different frequency response. Always measure at normal listening levels, if you find the sweep too loud, it likely is! Follow that MiniDSP guide and you should be able to generate a meaningful correction.

 

[BadlyRuined]

Don't turn up the volume too much. Loudspeakers are nonlinear devices, if you measure at a different volume it is likely you will get a different frequency response. Always measure at normal listening levels, if you find the sweep too loud, it likely is! Follow that MiniDSP guide and you should be able to generate a meaningful correction.

When I was setting up the mic in Auto EQ, after clicking on "check levels", I was getting the "Too Low" message even though it was honestly quite loud. Not sure if I was doing something incorrectly but it had to be quite loud before "Too Low" switched to "OK".

 

[BadlyRuined]

When I was setting up the mic in Auto EQ, after clicking on "check levels", I was getting the "Too Low" message even though it was honestly quite loud. Not sure if I was doing something incorrectly but it had to be quite loud before "Too Low" switched to "OK".

Also, my system volume seems to max out at a low volume. It isn't low, but when every volume is maxed out, it's loud but not as loud as I would think absolute max volume would be. Is that something I could/should be trying to figure out?

 

[Mort]

Also, my system volume seems to max out at a low volume. It isn't low, but when every volume is maxed out, it's loud but not as loud as I would think absolute max volume would be. Is that something I could/should be trying to figure out?

 

[JRowland]

View attachment 496160

Both of my subs do, I love Klipsch for that humor.

 

[Keith_W]

When I was setting up the mic in Auto EQ, after clicking on "check levels", I was getting the "Too Low" message even though it was honestly quite loud. Not sure if I was doing something incorrectly but it had to be quite loud before "Too Low" switched to "OK".

Turn up your microphone sensitivity if that happens. If you have an interface, you turn up the gain on your mic preamp. I don't know if that is possible with USB microphones.

Anyway, to illustrate the point that different volumes = different frequency response, here is one example, taken from Erin's review of the Fosi SP601:

Sweeps are taken at 76dB, 86dB, 96dB, and 102dB. After the measurements are taken, the curves are processed by dividing each measurement against the 76dB to show deviation. Since 76dB is divided against itself, it shows up as a flat line (black). You can see that this particular speaker becomes progressively more nonlinear as SPL increases. Some speakers are better, some are worse, but all will have this problem to a greater or lesser degree. Some speakers may be really terrible.

The take-home message is: if you equalize a measurement which was taken too loud, when you play it back you will be listening to a different equalisation. This is why the post-DSP result might look perfect, but tonality may be different with actual listening.