Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"David Looser" wrote in message
...
Can anyone recommend a good software audio spectrum analyser to run under
WinXP?

David.



RightMark Audio Analyser. It's free and does a lot more than just spectrum
analysis. Great piece of software

http://www.rightmark.org/

S.


--
http://audiopages.googlepages.com

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

Can anyone recommend a good software audio spectrum analyser to run under
WinXP?

David.

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

David Looser wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good software audio spectrum analyser to run under
WinXP?

Free or paid for ? Any specific application ?


Graham

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"David Looser" wrote in message
...
"Eeyore" wrote in message
...


David Looser wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good software audio spectrum analyser to run
under
WinXP?

Free or paid for ? Any specific application ?


Free if poss, I'll pay a bit if necessary, but I'm not interested in
paying hundreds. Main application is for adjusting speaker EQ using
pink-noise and a measurement microphone.

David.


RMAA will do that. If you look at the link below, you can see the sort of
analysis I did on my listening room and pickup cartridge frequency
responses.

S.
--
http://audiopages.googlepages.com

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:26:38 +0100, "David Looser"
wrote:

"Eeyore" wrote in message
...


David Looser wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good software audio spectrum analyser to run under
WinXP?

Free or paid for ? Any specific application ?


Free if poss, I'll pay a bit if necessary, but I'm not interested in paying
hundreds. Main application is for adjusting speaker EQ using pink-noise and
a measurement microphone.

David.


Got a decent anechoic chamber? Because you are wasting your time if
you haven't. You also need some specialized software that will
integrate the response over a selection of angles - a simple on-axis
measurement wont do it.

In other words, this is one of the hardest jobs for an experienced
speaker designer and essentially impossible for the amateur.

d

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"Eeyore" wrote in message
...


David Looser wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good software audio spectrum analyser to run under
WinXP?

Free or paid for ? Any specific application ?


Free if poss, I'll pay a bit if necessary, but I'm not interested in paying
hundreds. Main application is for adjusting speaker EQ using pink-noise and
a measurement microphone.

David.

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"Serge Auckland" wrote in message
...

"David Looser" wrote in message
...
Can anyone recommend a good software audio spectrum analyser to run under
WinXP?

David.



RightMark Audio Analyser. It's free and does a lot more than just spectrum
analysis. Great piece of software

http://www.rightmark.org/

S.

Thanks for the recommendation.

David

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"Don Pearce" wrote in message
news:49d32263.451039046@localhost...

Got a decent anechoic chamber? Because you are wasting your time if
you haven't. You also need some specialized software that will
integrate the response over a selection of angles - a simple on-axis
measurement wont do it.

In other words, this is one of the hardest jobs for an experienced
speaker designer and essentially impossible for the amateur.

I'm not trying to design speakers, I'm trying to set up align "B-chain"
response in an auditorium.

David.

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:44:41 +0100, "David Looser"
wrote:

"Don Pearce" wrote in message
news:49d32263.451039046@localhost...

Got a decent anechoic chamber? Because you are wasting your time if
you haven't. You also need some specialized software that will
integrate the response over a selection of angles - a simple on-axis
measurement wont do it.

In other words, this is one of the hardest jobs for an experienced
speaker designer and essentially impossible for the amateur.

I'm not trying to design speakers, I'm trying to set up align "B-chain"
response in an auditorium.

David.


Ah, that is different. I would still do that by ear with music, since
response flatness is low on the list of stuff to get right. Sorting
out coverage, levels and delays is the big job. You need an arsenal of
recorded clips of various kinds - percussive, melodic etc to do that.

Noise and an FFT are very good for finding specific room problems,
though, particularly of the moding kind. I guess for this job you need
a real time moving FFT that will sit and give you a display of what is
happening right now - not a still snapshot of what happened a while
ago. Don't know if Rightmark does that, I quite like this

http://www.qweas.com/download/audio_...cillometer.htm

The site is Russian, but the software is in English and works well.

d

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"David Looser" wrote in
message
"Don Pearce" wrote in message
news:49d32263.451039046@localhost...

Got a decent anechoic chamber? Because you are wasting
your time if you haven't. You also need some specialized
software that will integrate the response over a
selection of angles - a simple on-axis measurement wont
do it. In other words, this is one of the hardest jobs for an
experienced speaker designer and essentially impossible
for the amateur.
I'm not trying to design speakers, I'm trying to set up
align "B-chain" response in an auditorium.

First thing to remember in auditorium sound is that you *don't* want flat
response.

What's a "B-chain"? I feel stupid asking this question, but google sheds no
light.

Also, if there's a B-chain, then there is an A-chain. Wazzat?

Is there a C-chain?

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"David Looser" wrote in
message

I'm not trying to design speakers, I'm trying to set up
align "B-chain" response in an auditorium.

I've used RMAA to set the house speaker equalization, and it works.

When you are setting over-all response in a large room, remember that you
*don't* want flat response, you want a smooth curve for which there is no
exact mathematical justification for.

Check the Dolby site for "X-curve" for more info about that.

http://www.dolby.com/uploadedFiles/z...%20Journal.pdf

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"David Looser" wrote in
message

I'm not trying to design speakers, I'm trying to set up
align "B-chain" response in an auditorium.

First thing to remember in auditorium sound is that you *don't* want flat
response.

Yup I know. There is a specified curve.

What's a "B-chain"? I feel stupid asking this question, but google sheds
no light.

The "B-chain" is the part of the sound reproduction system that starts at
the input selector switch. It includes tone controls/graphic equaliser,
power amps, speakers and, of course, room accoustics.

Also, if there's a B-chain, then there is an A-chain. Wazzat?

That's the part of the sound reproduction sysyem that ends where the
B-chain starts. So it's the replay transducer, pre-amps etc.

These terms were invented in the 1970s by people who wanted to improve
cinema sound. By dividing up the sound system like that it was posssible to
produce standards for each part seperately, opening the door to new types of
soundtrack, such as Dolby encoded optical. Dolby were major players in this
process.

Is there a C-chain?

Not as far as I know

David.

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:28:58 GMT, (Don Pearce)
wrote:

Noise and an FFT are very good for finding specific room problems,
though, particularly of the moding kind. I guess for this job you need
a real time moving FFT that will sit and give you a display of what is
happening right now - not a still snapshot of what happened a while
ago. Don't know if Rightmark does that, I quite like this

http://www.qweas.com/download/audio_...cillometer.htm

The site is Russian, but the software is in English and works well.

Thanks. Looks quite useful.

Kal

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"Don Pearce" wrote in message
news:49d47b4a.473783703@localhost...

Noise and an FFT are very good for finding specific room problems,
though, particularly of the moding kind. I guess for this job you need
a real time moving FFT that will sit and give you a display of what is
happening right now - not a still snapshot of what happened a while
ago.

Exactly

Don't know if Rightmark does that,

Having looked at it I don't think it does.

I quite like this

http://www.qweas.com/download/audio_...cillometer.htm

I don't think that does either, and it's quite pricey at $399

David.

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"David Looser" wrote in
message
"Don Pearce" wrote in message
news:49d47b4a.473783703@localhost...

Noise and an FFT are very good for finding specific room
problems, though, particularly of the moding kind. I
guess for this job you need a real time moving FFT that
will sit and give you a display of what is happening
right now - not a still snapshot of what happened a
while ago.

Exactly

Don't know if Rightmark does that,

Having looked at it I don't think it does.

The feature is kinda sorta hidden. Go to "Test Options" and enable the
"Acoustics Testing Mode."

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"David Looser" wrote in
message
"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"David Looser" wrote in
message

I'm not trying to design speakers, I'm trying to set up
align "B-chain" response in an auditorium.

First thing to remember in auditorium sound is that you
*don't* want flat response.

Yup I know. There is a specified curve.

What's a "B-chain"? I feel stupid asking this question,
but google sheds no light.

The "B-chain" is the part of the sound reproduction
system that starts at the input selector switch. It
includes tone controls/graphic equaliser, power amps,
speakers and, of course, room accoustics.
Also, if there's a B-chain, then there is an A-chain.
Wazzat?
That's the part of the sound reproduction sysyem that
ends where the B-chain starts. So it's the replay
transducer, pre-amps etc.


A chain = record

B-chain = playback

????

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...

A chain = record

B-chain = playback

????
No, all playback.

Imagine a typical "HiFi" system with a tuner, an analogue record player and
a CD player. The B-chain is the bit that is common to all, ie. tone
controls, power amps, speakers and room. There is a separate A chain for
each source though. For the record player that would be the turntable, arm,
cartridge and RIAA pre-amplifier.

The point is that the B chain only needs to be aligned once, by injecting
pink noise into a "flat" input of the amplifier and measuring the output
with a measurement microphone and spectrum analyser. That is then correct
for all sources. Checking for correct frequency response from the record
player, or the tuner or CD player can simply be done electrically at the
output of each respective A chain, the measurement mic and spectrum analyser
can be left in their cases.

All this may seem obvious, but before that time film sound frequency
response was only specified end-to-end, so it would be perfectly in order to
correct for accoustic problems by tweaking the frequency response of the
pre-amp. But then what happens if a new audio source is introduced?, that
would also need to be "fixed" to provide a correction for that accoustic
problem.

David.

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

David Looser wrote:
"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
A chain = record

B-chain = playback

????
No, all playback.

Imagine a typical "HiFi" system with a tuner, an analogue record player and
a CD player. The B-chain is the bit that is common to all, ie. tone
controls, power amps, speakers and room. There is a separate A chain for
each source though. For the record player that would be the turntable, arm,
cartridge and RIAA pre-amplifier.

The point is that the B chain only needs to be aligned once, by injecting
pink noise into a "flat" input of the amplifier and measuring the output
with a measurement microphone and spectrum analyser. That is then correct
for all sources. Checking for correct frequency response from the record
player, or the tuner or CD player can simply be done electrically at the
output of each respective A chain, the measurement mic and spectrum analyser
can be left in their cases.

So would you use white or pink noise, or would it be better to use a
well-known
piece of music, perhaps by Duke Ellington, to check the A chain?

--
Eiron.

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"David Looser" wrote in
message
"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...

A chain = record

B-chain = playback

????
No, all playback.

Imagine a typical "HiFi" system with a tuner, an analogue
record player and a CD player. The B-chain is the bit
that is common to all, ie. tone controls, power amps,
speakers and room. There is a separate A chain for each
source though. For the record player that would be the
turntable, arm, cartridge and RIAA pre-amplifier.

OK, that makes sense.

The point is that the B chain only needs to be aligned
once, by injecting pink noise into a "flat" input of the
amplifier and measuring the output with a measurement
microphone and spectrum analyser. That is then correct
for all sources. Checking for correct frequency response
from the record player, or the tuner or CD player can
simply be done electrically at the output of each
respective A chain, the measurement mic and spectrum
analyser can be left in their cases.

Right.

All this may seem obvious, but before that time film
sound frequency response was only specified end-to-end,
so it would be perfectly in order to correct for
accoustic problems by tweaking the frequency response of
the pre-amp. But then what happens if a new audio source
is introduced?, that would also need to be "fixed" to
provide a correction for that accoustic problem.

Go it.

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"Eiron" wrote in message


So would you use white or pink noise, or would it be
better to use a well-known
piece of music, perhaps by Duke Ellington, to check the A
chain?

With modern technology, any source that is has significant content over the
desired frequency range can be used to calibrate a chain of components. If
you are working with acoustics, it might help if your test source is not
steady-state tones.

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

In article , Arny
Krueger
wrote:
"Eiron" wrote in message


So would you use white or pink noise, or would it be better to use a
well-known piece of music, perhaps by Duke Ellington, to check the A
chain?

With modern technology, any source that is has significant content over
the desired frequency range can be used to calibrate a chain of
components. If you are working with acoustics, it might help if your
test source is not steady-state tones.

Depends. I recently did series of room+speaker measurements using a stepped
frequency series of sinusoids. Did this by playing the series and recording
the output of the player in parallel with recording microphone output. I
then did a series of correlations/FTs using the player output as
'reference' to let me extract the time delay as well as the amplitude. In
effect, a PSD technique. Worked quite well and the technique also
discriminated well against other background noises. I could use quite low
sound levels and still get good results. Also useful to assess the actual
level of distortion the combination delivers.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Change 'noise' to 'jcgl' if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

"Eiron" wrote in message
...
David Looser wrote:
"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
A chain = record

B-chain = playback

????
No, all playback.

Imagine a typical "HiFi" system with a tuner, an analogue record player
and a CD player. The B-chain is the bit that is common to all, ie. tone
controls, power amps, speakers and room. There is a separate A chain for
each source though. For the record player that would be the turntable,
arm, cartridge and RIAA pre-amplifier.

The point is that the B chain only needs to be aligned once, by injecting
pink noise into a "flat" input of the amplifier and measuring the output
with a measurement microphone and spectrum analyser. That is then correct
for all sources. Checking for correct frequency response from the record
player, or the tuner or CD player can simply be done electrically at the
output of each respective A chain, the measurement mic and spectrum
analyser can be left in their cases.

So would you use white or pink noise, or would it be better to use a
well-known
piece of music, perhaps by Duke Ellington, to check the A chain?

--
Eiron.


Oh, very good!! :-)
S.
--
http://audiopages.googlepages.com

Software Spectrum Analyser
 

On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:18:45 +0100, David Looser wrote:

Can anyone recommend a good software audio spectrum analyser to run
under WinXP?

David.

Have a look at Virtins - the base level package is free. You will need a
decent sound card though. Some motherboards and laptops are too noisy.
Also, you'll find that software oscilloscopes can be a bit finicky above
10kHz or so as you normally have a sampling limitation of 44kHz - it
should be ok for sound measurement though.

Have fun. :-)

--
Mick (Working in a M$-free zone!)
Web: http://www.nascom.info
Filtering everything posted from googlegroups to kill spam.