REW Software & setup

[RobinKidderminster]

Hya

I am beginning to use the REW software and have tried my Yamaha setup mic (V2065) with a Creative SB USB sound card & laptop. Aree these suitable please rather than a RadioShack stereo mic?

Cheers

PS - Its a bit complicated ! But fun.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Or should I have added . . . I have a cheap spl meter from ebay?

Spl fails to work but manged to get decent sound card grqph. My first decent waterfall bit loud tho! Now how do I interpret the graphs ?????

Apart from questioning the mic, am I right to suggest that waterfall graphs should broadly indicate . . .

A flat response within 6db would be good.

Sounds should fall by 30db after about 1/4 sec

Are there better ball park figures to aim for?

 

[mykspence]

Loads of info here http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/forums/24/1/Ethan_Winer_Acoustics_Forum

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Thanks will take a lookie . . .

 

[sheggs]

Hi Robin,

Did you have a look at our video on the REW package?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4uSR3cUUSY&feature=relmfu

Also post some of the graphs on here, there are plenty of people who could help you interept them

 

[Chewy]

Hi Rob,

Your Yamaha mic may not give you accurate results, the REW software usually requires the use of a calibration file to compensate for the microphones own frequency response.

New Radioshack SPL meters don't cost a great deal:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Sound-Level-Meter/dp/B000TM15OY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344348919&sr=8-2

Post up your graphs in any case, I'd be interested to see your results!

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Thanks both - I did find the video very useful as well as help on the REW site for setting up my DAC. I guess I will have to find a decent mic then first. Thanks again.

Any broad help with interpretation would be useful but I will check out all these references in detail.

Cheers

 

[sheggs]

Mics like the Behringer do come pre calibrated

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Thanks Sheggs. I guess before I buy a mic I need to understand what readings I should be aiming at and how they can be directly influenced by either room treatment or EQ. My earlier thoughts may or may not be relevant. Whilst I enjoy looking at these things I dont want to strip the room and do before & after measurements its more about trying to bring any further improvements. Having said that I am so very pleased with the way things have gone with even these modest and ameteur attempts. Glad I dont own the glass orangery in previous post !

Cheers

 

[RobinKidderminster]

SORRY to HYJACK this thread but ...

Sorry cant start a new thread - Any ideas how to paste from Word. My text seems un-editable???

Cheers

 

[ellisdj]

Hello maTe

Great your using REW once working its the bet tool for setting up a sub and tweaking!!

You need to use a mic that has a calibration file - these are limited to the ones on the home theatre shack website.

You cannot just use any mic like the one with your amp or you will get false readings.

A good cheap way to get going is to use a RadioShack spl as they are cheap and the calibration file is readily available.

Its supposed to be quite accurate but only to 4khtz - you can buy a mic and mic amp from DSPeaker especially for REW but it's. Fair bit more expensive.

REW is the nuts - no way of knowing what bass response you are getting without it - use and see how bad it is - quite the eye opener!!

Fortunately with it you can see what an anti mode does and why it was worth the £200 you paid for it

 

[ellisdj]

Hi Robin,

Did you have a look at our video on the REW package?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4uSR3cUUSY&feature=relmfu

Also post some of the graphs on here, there are plenty of people who could help you interept them

Great Tutorial - Lots to learn fom it - thanks

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Hya. My sub uses a sound meter and ofcourse the auto setup of the amp. If I use REW what can I do in my room, based on its results, to make corrections? This ofcourse is in a non studio, domestic setting and I dont want to buy an antimode or similar.

Cheers

 

[ellisdj]

Move it to a position where you are getting the best response for starters - you want as least amount of dips as possible

The position of the sub in your room is vital

Secondly you can check the phase with your front l & r - if they are out of phase you will get bass cancellation - big dip in freq response

You can check your sub level set by your amp and make sure getting a smooth response through your crossover point

If you are getting a lot of peaks then that's probs what your hearing most of - but these can be treated whereas dips can't.

Treatment is anti mode or bass traps or other sub eq - anti mode does the business to give you a much flatter response, often lowering a peak will help bring up a dip

I don't think your amp will do anything to eq your sub - I think only audessy eqs the sub my knowledge might be wrong. Tho