Sonarworks SoundID Reference thread +mic

[john61ct]

Shopping for a REW measurement mic individually calibrated for multiple angles

ASR Acourate users

So bass management is the function category for all that. With "phase / delay issues" mostly a part of that as opposed to "Custom designing speakers from separately driven drivers" ? aka "bi- or tri-amping" which I expressed not a current goal for me. So, add speaker / room compensation EQ...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Came across Sonarworks' "SoundID Reference mic" at Sweetwater $89 and when I called in they took confirmed its calibration file is not just on axis 0° but also 90° and 30°

Requires a full 48V phantom power, goes up to 130dB max SPL.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...orks-soundid-reference-measurement-microphone

I'm also research the various DSP tools out there, so I see SoundID Reference is another worth checking out.

This thread is for discussion of both, and I will post my notes as I collect more info elsewhere.

Comparisons against other DSP tools welcome.

 

[Puddingbuks]

@john61ct The mic needs software, the SoundID Reference kit comes with the same mic and costs 200 euro. Link

I tried the trial version today. Wasted an hour and a half troubleshooting, turns out it doesn’t work with a usb mic (my umik1j.

Continued with a lyngdorf roomperfect mic. Not ideal as there are no calibration files available. So it won’t be perfect. Nevertheless went through measurements and switched enabled/disabled for about an hour with several tracks. The difference is huge. Bass clears up, more punch and details in the lows. Sound opens up more, sounds less muffled.

Used it in combination with a mac mini m1, steinberg ur22 and focal solo st6 speakers with a focal cms sub subwoofer.

Will experience more. Looking for an audio interface and software which has 4 outputs, so that I can send a signal to the subs and high pass the speakers. They now work as a whole system, with a high pass output on the subwoofer feeding the speakers.

 

[Hubi74]

I doubt it will really require 48 v phantom power, if you don't have that.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I doubt it will really require 48 v phantom power, if you don't have that.

B&H says
Operating Voltage: 9 to 52 V (Phantom Power)

 

[staticV3]

Looking for an audio interface and software which has 4 outputs, so that I can send a signal to the subs and high pass the speakers.

If you're using just one Sub and are happy with SoundID Reference for correction, then the Audient ORIA Mini would do the trick.

 

[john61ct]

I doubt it will really require 48 v phantom power, if you don't have that.

By it, do you mean the SoundID Reference mic?

From its manual:

The Product shall be used with the following software and components only:

...

Audio interfaces with +48V Phantom Power support

...

Especially if you are taking measurements at high SPL, best to feed at or near the recommendation. Too low means reduced headroom, increased distortion, and decreased sensitivity. Of course it's a greyscale continuum not black and white so YMMV.

 

[Axo1989]

Fyi I used a Røde A1 interface with the Sonarworks microphone and software, worked nicely. I've also used it with Røde's software Fuzzmeasure. You could use various equivalents to interface I expect.

AI-1 | Single-channel Audio Interface | RØDE (AU)

The AI-1 is a studio-quality audio interface well suited for recording vocals, instruments, and voice-overs into your Mac or Windows computer.

rode.com

I like the Sonarworks software approach as it facilitates easy multiple measurements (~38 last time I tried) over a sensible listening area, and the interface for this is straightforward and quite clever. (you'll get the 'sonar' reference in the name when you try it. I also like the sonic result and straightforward settings. I do use REW for some things (the room model especially) but not generally. It has an interface and UI/UX approach that only an engineer or FOSS enthusiast could love.

 

[Puddingbuks]

If you're using just one Sub and are happy with SoundID Reference for correction, then the Audient ORIA Mini would do the trick.

Yes but this still requires a separate audio interface for the mic, room measurement and getting sound out of the mac mini.

 

[Puddingbuks]

If you're using just one Sub and are happy with SoundID Reference for correction, then the Audient ORIA Mini would do the trick.

But then I still have to create a digital output from my mac mini m1 and still have to keep my old steinberg ur22 audio interface for the measurement mic.

Unbelievable there is no easy all in one solution.

My wish: a device connected to my mac via usb which has 4 analog balanced and independent outputs and room correction and could use my umik1 for measurements via usb.

 

[john61ct]

My approach is to get an interface that has all the analog in/out I think I'll ever need - I'm up to 36 of each so far, overkill I know.

I will have two well-calibrated measurement mi'cs to compare - UMIK-2 which is USB and great for only some use cases

and an XLR mic so the input and output signals are on the same clock / interface this is important for time domain impulse response accuracy, yes maybe overkill but

But then I still have to create a digital output from my mac mini m1 and still have to keep my old steinberg ur22 audio interface for the measurement mic.

...
My wish: a device connected to my mac via usb which has 4 analog balanced and independent outputs and room correction and could use my umik1 for measurements via usb.

This would be suboptimal, in and out really should be on ghe same interface.

There are workarounds for e.g.USB mics, but they are complicated and not as reliable.

...

The measuring is on the computer using REW MSO, plus later maybe Acourate.

You want choices, different tools create very different types of filters.

...

The actual convolving (applying the filters realtime) might be rPi - based, CamillaDSP DSPi

or a PC, again Acourate's or Hang Loose Convolver or JRiver or...

I have little interest in automated standalone proprietary boxen, not least because I cannot afford them at the port counts I will likely require.


> Unbelievable there is no easy all in one solution.

There are plenty that claim to be - they just cost the earth.

 

[john61ct]

Great data points, thanks!

I haven't delved deeply yet, but get the impression the software side is a bit limited?

Does it compensate for speaker response (anechoic) and handle crossovers, phase / time domain etc for say 9+ channels, multiple subs?

And handle room correction separately?

I see they do handle a large number of headphones OOTB, haven't seen that at the high end before.

UI/UX approach that only an engineer or FOSS enthusiast could love.

I wannabee the former, but am 100% the latter.

 

[Axo1989]

Great data points, thanks!

I haven't delved deeply yet, but get the impression the software side is a bit limited?

Does it compensate for speaker response (anechoic) and handle crossovers, phase / time domain etc for say 9+ channels, multiple subs?

And handle room correction separately?

I see they do handle a large number of headphones OOTB, haven't seen that at the high end before.

There's the multichannel version that handles 2.1.x for stereo plus subs (doesn't list 2.2 so not stereo subs apparently) and Atmos (or similar) up to 9.1.6 but I haven't used it so can't say how well eg crossovers are done. I know in stereo it supports adjusting for unequal distance to the loudspeakers, etc so we could maybe assume that applies for multichannel. I have a stereo setup currently—full-range four-way loudspeakers and no (separate) subs. Anyway the trial download is free.

I wannabee the former, but am 100% the latter.

I do software as a day job but really don't want to play with too much tweakery in my entertainment. If you enjoy a FOSS UX then the Acourate and/or Camilla route looks like more fun for you (by contrast that just looks like work for me—also extra steps to do that on Mac which is my digital/streaming source).

 

[john61ct]

Got confirmation that the 0° axis and 90° axis calibration files come in the (open?) .TXT format.

The 30° one is proprietary, only for use with their software.