need some basic help with soundcard calibration

[jason978]

Hi,

I need some basic help with the soundcard calibration. I must be over thinking this or something.

1. sweep level, how do you know what level is best to set it at, the help says between -12 and -6. Does it matter if its -12 or -6.

2. In the help it says to Adjust the Input Volume using the REW control so that the input level is close to the output level, ideally within 3dB, and the peak level (shown at the top of the level meter) is lower than -1dB.
Dumb question time, where do I see the input level and output level?

Does the calibration really make a big difference? I'm just using REW to find the location in my room that has the flattest response and the best extension.

Thanks a lot,

Jason

[brucek]

1. sweep level, how do you know what level is best to set it at, the help says between -12 and -6. Does it matter if its -12 or -6.

This would depend on how noisy your system was. If you set a level of -6dB and your systems peak level (as shown on the VU meters) was too high, you would want to lower it.

Just look at the VU meters on the Settings page when you're setting it up. You can't go too wrong with -12dB though.

Dumb question time, where do I see the input level and output level?

While you're setting these levels on the Settings page, the VU meters are right there.

Here's a pic of my settings page using -12dB as the sweep level. See the peak as the red line at -9dB. My card is fine and is only a few dB higher at -9dB peak and so I could go above -12dB, but -12dB would be fine here.

soundcard calibrate.jpg

Does the calibration really make a big difference?

Yes.

brucek