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Post by 4themax on Jan 17, 2021 18:30:56 GMT
I purchased Ethan Winer's FANTASTIC book (signed), The Audio Expert. I wish to use REW to analyze my recording studio, build in progress, for applying acoustic treatment. See Chapter 22. I have 3 rooms: 18w x 20L x 14H tracking room, 18w x 20L x 14H drum room, 16w x 25L x 10H CR For mobility, I would like to use my laptop for the REW software. INPUT: I intend to use a dbx RTA with a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for input via USB OUTPUT: UE megaboom3 Bluetooth omni360 speaker. Since I intend track acoustic instruments and/or ensembles, I thought that using an Omni speaker might be better www.ultimateears.com/en-us/wireless-speakers/megaboom-3.html60Hz-20Khz Or JBL Charge 3 It is stereo not Omni but I own it already 65Hz - 20kHz Question: which of these speakers be adequate for room measurement? Or do I need "Pro Audio" speakers? Question: any recommendations on a subwoofer for room measurement? Bluetooth vs active? Make and model? Any particular size? Eg. 8", 10" etc. It's just for measuring purposes These look attractive as they are Bluetooth and relatively inexpensive but are only 8":Mackie CR8S-XBT 8 inch Multimedia Subwoofer with Bluetooth Thank you
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Post by Hexspa on Jan 18, 2021 16:10:19 GMT
Hi. Glad you're moving forward. I've never heard of anyone measuring a room with bluetooth speakers. The problem is probably not the Bluetooth wireless signal but the frequency response and polar pattern of the speakers.
These sport speakers aren't designed with critical listening in mind. If you bounce sound around the room, it'll be highly comb filtered once it arrives at your ears along with several other reflections. This is pretty much the opposite of what acoustic treatment is about. Even if you have a small 'stereo' sport speaker, the tweeters probably aren't facing your ears and, even if they were, they're too close together to make a meaningful stereo image.
So, to answer your question, you can probably get *a* result with those boomboxes but you'll likely get better result with a similarly-priced pair of studio monitors.
Hope that helps.
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Post by Ethan Winer on Jan 18, 2021 16:55:45 GMT
I agree with Hex that this is not a good speaker to use for measuring rooms. If for no other reason, they call it MEGABOOM and claim it has "thundering bass." So it might well be fun to hear at a party, but it's just as likely to not be very flat. I saw no specs on their web site, only nice words.
For measuring a control room you should use real monitor speakers, ideally the same speakers you'll use when mixing. Good monitors could be used to measure a live room, though there's no real need to measure a live room anyway. A live room is designed and treated based on its size and shape more than measured response. Why? Because the response changes for every sound source location! So do you measure in the drum corner? Or along the wall where the guitar amps will be? The middle of the room where someone usually sings? That said, if I were to measure the RT60 in a live room, which is the main thing to measure, I'd probably use a full-range PA speaker from a known brand like JBL or Mackie etc.
I got your email, and I'll reply to that soon.
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Post by Ethan Winer on Jan 18, 2021 17:45:32 GMT
On second thought, I'll answer your email here because the information might help others. I assume / hope you don't mind! As explained in my Web Store page, flat-rate consulting is based on $200 per hour, but those are "loose" hours. For most people who don't have endless newbie questions, the initial $200 is sufficient and includes a "reasonable number" of emails back and forth, or phone calls, or Skype if overseas. So the fee is not a "per room" charge, and the hour or two I'll spend for that flat rate doesn't have to be all at once either. Often people have initial questions, then a week or two later they have a few more questions which I gladly answer without charging again. So I don't do this like a lawyer and run the clock for every second I'm helping someone! If someone wants to learn REW, we might both have REW on the screen as we talk on the phone and I walk them through the steps to measure and interpret. And then they know what to do without me when they measure again. But the help isn't unlimited. Someone with a large project that needs more help might be asked to pay $200 again. But that's only if I've already spent two hours or more and there are still other issues to go over.
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Post by 4themax on Jan 18, 2021 22:12:02 GMT
Is the embedded sound card on the MB in a laptop adequate for REW or do I need an actual external USB soundcard?
You guys are great!
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Post by Ethan Winer on Jan 18, 2021 22:37:27 GMT
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Post by 4themax on Jan 19, 2021 13:08:03 GMT
Thank you for your timely response but the question was about the SOUNDCARD not microphone input. My QUESTION is whether the basic built-in sound card in a laptop (Realtek) is adequate for REW's purposes or an USB EXTERNAL audiophile quality one is necessary to make room measurements in REW? Google gave me this link in researching external USB cards: www.creativebloq.com/buying-guides/best-usb-sound-cardsIf I do need an external sound card, what specs, Eg. S/N Ratio (NOT cable connections) do I need to look for? Or do you recommend a certain card? Or can I use the Scarlett 2i4 which I already own (as stated previously) for BOTH the input from a dbx RTA-M or better and output to my studio monitors or PA. Apparently from Gearslutz comments, without being able to test myself as my the Scarlett is currently in storage, the Scarlett can't do I/O simultaneously. Question: Do you know if the Scarlett can do I/O simultaneously? If the Scarlett can't, then I would have to use the motherboard sound card or get another external sound card or get a second Scarlett for the output. ---- In regard to your comment, in my measuring my tracking rooms using the PA, do I setup 2 PA's in stereo or one in mono?
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Post by Ethan Winer on Jan 19, 2021 20:38:14 GMT
I assume any sound card in any modern computer will be good enough for REW. High quality converter chips are common and inexpensive. But any Scarlett would be just as good if not better. I'm certain that your 2i4 can record and play at the same time!
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Post by Hexspa on Jan 20, 2021 0:14:17 GMT
I don't do this like a lawyer and run the clock for every second I'm helping someone! Sounds like this is spoken from experience. Might be worth $200 just to hear the story.
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Post by Hexspa on Jan 20, 2021 0:18:03 GMT
In regard to your comment, in my measuring my tracking rooms using the PA, do I setup 2 PA's in stereo or one in mono? I've never measured a live room yet I imagine that just one speaker is sufficient to run the sweep or produce the impulse.
Regarding computer I/O, if you're planning to do recording then you definitely want to follow the pack and get some basic 'pro' recording gear. Ethan likes the Scarlett interfaces, I like the Yamaha HS5 monitors, for measuring you need a linear omni condenser like a Behringer ECM8000 and, finally, you need a decent and clean coffee maker. I'd get that first.
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Post by 4themax on Jan 20, 2021 0:27:59 GMT
For old school audio engineers, a lava lamp besides the coffee maker. I have a Keurig with K cup so I can be a barista and save $ Thank you both for your time, attention, and effort. I watched several hexpa youtubes. I will be checking it out this area of the hexpa website: hexspa.com/tag/acoustics/Once I get on my drywall and can take measurements, I can move my pro gear out of storage and do room measurements. I plan on paying a consulting fee then. For now, thank you again. I really appreciate it.
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Post by Hexspa on Jan 21, 2021 15:26:28 GMT
Thanks, 4. I try to put accurate and moderately entertaining content out. Happy to answer questions and debate important points.
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