Software & Hardware
Audio Cabling Connector Guide Schematic Audio Cable Connections |
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RMAA suite is designed for testing quality of analog and digital paths of any audio
devices, be it a sound card, an MP3 player,
a consumer CD/DVD player or an acoustic set. The results are obtained by playing and
recording test signals passed through the
tested audio path by means of frequency analysis algorithms. A more common mark is also
provided for those unfamiliar with
measured technical parameters.
A new version is the result of two years of development by best experts in digital audio. RMAA 6.0 raises the bar of comfort and functionality for spectrum analyzers. That's why it is a program of choice for enthusiasts, professionals, and audio magazines around the world; and some manufacturers are developing new devices with the mandatory testing of their quality in RMAA. In short, the program at the moment is a de-facto standard providing quick and easy measurement of technical parameters, without the need to spend tens of thousands of dollars on specialized measurement systems. |
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If you can't afford spending thousands of dollars on dedicated test equipment, the
Rightmark RMAA might be the solution and it is free!
Using a high quality soundcard it performs noise, THD, IMD measurements to the limits of the soundcards abilities. With the Soundblaster Audigy I am able to resolve noise and distortion products below -90db.  3.5mm stereo TRS to 2x RCA It's easy to use, you only need 2 cables: Soundcard to Amplifier and back to the Soundcard...  Frequency of my Tube Pre-amp  Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) Tube Pre-amp |
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The ARTA Software consists of three programs: ARTA, STEPS and LIMP. They are tools for audio measurements and analysis in acoustical and communication systems. ARTAis a program for the impulse response measurement, for real-time spectrum analysis and for real-time frequency response measurements. The ARTA program is also a powerful analyzer of gated impulse response, smoothed frequency response (in 1/n-octave bands), step response, impulse response envelope (ETC curve), cumulative spectral decay curve, energy decay in reverberant environments, room acoustical parameters and speech intelligibility measures - STI and RASTI. Spectrum analyzer window STEPSis a program for frequency response measurements with stepped-sine excitation. It offers possibility to measure the frequency response with high dynamic range and with high noise immunity (at least 30 dB higher dynamics than with a Fourier analyzer). Simultaneously with a frequency response measurement the STEPS estimates levels of THD and higher harmonics. Plot of frequency response, 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion, measured with stepped-sine. Download STEPS User Manual [ PDF (size 1075kB) ] LIMPis a program for the loudspeaker impedance measurement and loudspeaker parameters estimation. LIMP impedance plot Download LIMP User Manual [ PDF (size 661kB) ] Download ARTA Installation program for Windows 2000/XP/Vista (size 5660kB) ARTA Homepage |
ARTA Connection circuit
Here's a very useful and simple circuit that, when used with the ARTA LIMP
software running on your PC, allows you to easily measure:
 The PC line-out powers the driver under test via a series resistor of known value. I use a 100 ohm 1% resistor. The line-in channels act as voltage probes fore and after this resistor, allowing the software to determine voltage variation with frequency, which is used by LIMP to calculate the resistance of the loudspeaker onder test.
If you have a large imbalance (greater than 2 - 3 dB), something is not connected correctly. If you have no imbalance, the output is being looped-back to the input within the sound card . Check for the correct input and output settings on your sound card. 
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Room EQ Wizard Download Room Equalizer Wizard |
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REW is free room acoustics analysis software for measuring and analysing
room and loudspeaker responses.
The audio analysis features of REW help you optimise the acoustics of your
listening room, studio or home theater
and find the best locations for your speakers, subwoofers and listening
position. It includes tools for generating
audio test signals; measuring SPL and impedance; measuring frequency and
impulse responses; measuring distortion;
generating phase, group delay and spectral decay plots, waterfalls,
spectrograms and energy-time curves; generating
real time analyser (RTA) plots; calculating reverberation times; calculating
Thiele-Small parameters; determining the
frequencies and decay times of modal resonances; displaying equaliser
responses and automatically adjusting the settings
of parametric equalisers to counter the effects of room modes and adjust
responses to match a target curve.
REW is running under Windows and iOS Pros:
Cons: More about using REW: Gearslutz.com |
CARMA (Computer Aided Room Analyser) Visit Audionet |
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CARMA (Computer Aided RooM Analyser) is Audionet’s software for measuring
and assessing the
acoustical characteristics of listening rooms and the identification and
simulation of measures
to avoid disruptive effects caused by the room. It's running under Windows The Audionet CARMA software makes it possible to locate and correct amplitude variations caused by your loudspeaker and your listening room. Amplitude variations in frequency domain can be corrected with up to 5 equalisers in a graphic environment. The corrected frequency response is immediately processed and shown on the display. |
DATS V2 Dayton Audio Test System Visit Dayton Audio |
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For speaker driver and loudspeaker system measurement, the DATS is clearly
the leader when it
comes to very simple to use. Once the supplied software is installed and the DATS connected to a USB port, you are good to go Be sure to set the windows volume controls as noted in the Quick Start Guide. If you see anomalies in the result such as strange dips, spikes or jagged plots in the results, check the settings. Also, the Quick Start Guide makes a point to wait at least 30 seconds in order to allow the DATS to stabilize. You will want to calibrate the test leads and the DATS. Calibration of the leads is done by simply connecting the leads together and calibration of the unit is completed by using the supplied calibration resistor (1k-ohm, 1%). The test result seem to be very dependent of the calibration, so use a multi-meter to measure the calibration resistor and enter the value manually into the software. The manual indicates that completing calibration of both test leads and the DATS unit is essential in order to ensure accurate loudspeaker measurements. Product Highlights • Highly accurate measurement of loudspeaker impedance and T/S parameters • Easy-to-use, fully-featured measurement software with intuitive interface • Compact USB measurement module with molded test leads and alligator clips • Software includes signal generator, scope, and measurement of inductors and capacitors • Data can be saved to create a driver parameter library or exported to popular box design programs • New V2 hardware and software simplify setup and eliminate warm-up/cool-down times |
Simulation Software BoxsimBoxsim is one of the most powerful software programs available for simulating HiFi loudspeakers. It is aimed at ambitious amateur loudspeaker builders, on the one hand, who already have fundamental experience of calculating loudspeakers but it is also suitable for beginners who wish to use this program to acquire those skills. In contrast to many other loudspeaker simulation programs, Boxsim also includes its own algorithm for simulating edge diffraction from the baffle (baffle step). As a result, Boxsim is able to simulate a loudspeaker of virtually any proportions based on measurements in a standard environment.  
Boxsim is free-of-charge to the user (freeware) and may be passed on to others in its original, unmodified form. Download BoxSim here... |
Hardware |
 MiniDSP UMIK-1 measurement microphone The miniDSP UMIK-1 is a plug-and-play USB calibrated microphone for acoustic measurement of your audio system. |
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Behringer ECM 8000
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 Behringer MIC500USB Tube Ultragain
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 Samsung Go Mic The mic is a USB class-compliant device, so it needs no drivers. Once selected from within my software (Room EQ Wizard), the mic became the source and appeared as a stereo input, with both channels carrying the same signal. the mic has a fairly flat response, running from 80Hz to 18kHz in cardioid mode, and from 20Hz to 20kHz in omni mode. Used with fairly close sources, no significant background noise was evident. Connection is via a miniature USB cable, and for monitoring there's a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack headphone output on the side of the mic. A three-position slide switch selects between the cardioid and omni patterns, and when in the centre position it gives a cardioid pattern with a 10dB pad. There's no level control on the headphone outlet, but this can usually be set in the recording software. The maximum SPL handling of 121dB Visit Samsom Go Mic - Portable USB Condenser Microphone |
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 Focusrite Scarlett Solo The interface features only two ins: a single XLR microphone input (with the same Focusrite preamps as the rest of the Scarlett line), and a 1/4" input that can serve as either a Hi-Z instrument in or line level input, with the flip of a switch. For the output, you get a front-panel 1/4" stereo headphone jack, and two rear RCA outputs for connecting monitors. The name Solo is truly fitting, as this box gives you just enough I/O to capture a vocalist and instrument (be it keyboard or guitar) simultaneously. |
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 Creative Sound BlasterX G1 The Creative Sound BlasterX G1 is a well-priced option with no-frills design and an easy setup. It can deliver crisp audio recordings, as well as an overall sound signature with expanded spaciousness. The device is compatible with all types of headphones, and it has a dedicated audio mode, plus an extensive software suite of controls for PC or Mac. The Creative Sound BlasterX G1 is also suitable for amplifying studio headphones. |
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