DizRotus Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 (edited) Please share suggestions for a suitable mic to use with REW software. I have the Audyssey mic that came with an Onkyo AVR. Some say that is sufficient, others disagree. I want to spend less than $100, so a used mic is a possibility. What do I look for? What do I avoid? Edited April 25, 2015 by DizRotus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 (edited) Do you have a hand-held SPL meter? If so, which brand and model? Does your computer have both HDMI and USB bus connections? Does your pre-amp have an HDMI and USB bus port? The Audyssey microphone will actually work since it in itself is a calibrated microphone (albeit, one that has a more complex microphone curve than most instrument-quality microphones), but you need to make sure that the microphone that you have is of good pedigree: http://www.avsforum.com/forum/155-diy-speakers-subs/1328136-measurement-mic-shootout-emm-6-wm-61a-rs-33-2055-audyssey-2.html#post20306353 From http://www.avsforum.com/forum/155-diy-speakers-subs/1328136-measurement-mic-shootout-emm-6-wm-61a-rs-33-2055-audyssey-4.html#post20392897 ...Bosso, myself and Lennon 68 all measured our Audyssey mics as some 2.5-4db down at 10hz and increasing below there FWTW. Whatever the case it does indeed look like these Audyssey mics are good enough for the hobbyist to use between 10hz-10khz without worrying about applying any correction. That is my opinion at least as I don't consider being 3db down at 10hz a big deal for the average guy. A lot of the mics that Notnyt is investigating appear to be all using the same Panasonic capsule (Gross assumption on my part.) because it is cheap and pretty accurate as well. It should be no surprise that they measure similarly if using the same capsule design. Which ones if any of them are not using the Panasonic capsule? Do we know?... Edited April 24, 2015 by Chris A 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share Posted April 25, 2015 Do you have a hand-held SPL meter? If so, which brand and model? RS 33-2055 Does your computer have both HDMI and USB bus connections? Yes Does your pre-amp have an HDMI and USB bus port? HDMI, but no USB The Audyssey microphone will actually work since it in itself is a calibrated microphone (albeit, one that has a more complex microphone curve than most instrument-quality microphones), but you need to make sure that the microphone that you have is of good pedigree: http://www.avsforum.com/forum/155-diy-speakers-subs/1328136-measurement-mic-shootout-emm-6-wm-61a-rs-33-2055-audyssey-2.html#post20306353 From http://www.avsforum.com/forum/155-diy-speakers-subs/1328136-measurement-mic-shootout-emm-6-wm-61a-rs-33-2055-audyssey-4.html#post20392897 ...Bosso, myself and Lennon 68 all measured our Audyssey mics as some 2.5-4db down at 10hz and increasing below there FWTW. Whatever the case it does indeed look like these Audyssey mics are good enough for the hobbyist to use between 10hz-10khz without worrying about applying any correction. That is my opinion at least as I don't consider being 3db down at 10hz a big deal for the average guy. A lot of the mics that Notnyt is investigating appear to be all using the same Panasonic capsule (Gross assumption on my part.) because it is cheap and pretty accurate as well. It should be no surprise that they measure similarly if using the same capsule design. Which ones if any of them are not using the Panasonic capsule? Do we know?... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NBPK402 Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 (edited) This is the one I use... http://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1 It is only $75... REW: miniDSP worked along with John Mulcahy to develop even greater compatibility for the UMIK-1 inside REW! With the latest beta release of REW (v5.01 and up), the UMIK-1 is automatically recognized by the software and prompted for use when REW is started with the microphone plugged in. Edited April 25, 2015 by ellisr63 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 (edited) You could use the Radio Shack SLM (33-2055), no problem, if it has a mono RCA jack output. If it has a stereo jack (apparently a "non-real version" of the RS meter), then I'd recommend the microphone that Ellis posted. The RS meter will do as well as a calibration microphone--as good as an ECM8000 or a UMIK-1 calibration microphone--in terms of accuracy of SPL measurements: calibration threads on AVSForum. You will need some sort of sound card in a desktop-based computer, or an external sound card in a laptop computer in order to convert the RS meter's analog output to digital. Here is a thread describing that device and the cabling/connectors: http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/spl-meters-mics-calibration-sound-cards/10001-rew-cabling-connection-basics.html The Audyssey microphone will also work, but it will require a mini-mono headphone/microphone adapter to connect to an external sound card, like the RS meter. The only disadvantage that I see in the Audyssey microphone is that I didn't see a calibration file online -- apparently the guys doing the microphone measurements at AVSForum used the calibration file for a typical ECM8000 microphone. If you decide to be a big spender and go for the UMIK-1 microphone ($75), you can avoid the extra sound card and special connector(s) or mixer, and just plug in the cable to the microphone to one of your USB ports. This is the simplest setup, and it will get you very good accuracy. The HDMI connection from your computer to your preamp will provide a drive signal to power your sweeps. The advantage of HDMI is that you will have extremely linear/flat response (relative to an analog sound card) if you set your preamp/processor to "Pure Audio" mode (or equivalent mode) for your particular preamp. The recorded SPL will come from the microphone to either your sound card or a USB port. You will also need something to hold your microphone or SPL meter in one position - like a microphone stand or a camera tripod with the right kind of screw mount to connect to your RS SPL meter. I assume that you are going to be using REW for more than just subwoofer and bass bin calibration/EQing, right? Such as EQing your loudspeakers from 20-20,000 Hz? Chris Edited April 25, 2015 by Chris A 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share Posted April 25, 2015 (edited) Chris-This is most helpful. Yes I plan on using REW to dial in all speakers.On another note, did you contact Mallette about the PVA facial? He's got more than he can use before it spoils, so it would be good if some were in your hands.If that doesn't happen, next time I cook a batch (sounds like Breaking Bad), I'll send you some. Edited April 25, 2015 by DizRotus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NBPK402 Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 You can get an inexpensive boom mic stand and then get the adapter for the UM1K mic, and you are all set to run REW. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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