About to take the REW/BFD plunge…A couple questions please

[alanb]

Well, I’m about to place an order for all of the equipment I need to get my REW/BFD up and running. A couple of thoughts questions as I have gone from thoroughly confused at the start to moderately confused. This forum is invaluable, thanks in advance for your hard work! I know once I get everything hooked up I hope all the answers can be found here.

I will most likely go with the FBQ2496 over the DSP1124P due to the required additional firmware needed by the DSP and the requisite surgery to install. My understanding (please correct if I am wrong) is that the FBQ2496 can only store one set of curves verses multiple curves for the DSP1124P (not a concern to me as this will be in a dedicated HT setup as I have a dedicated 2 channel setup in another room). The FBQ2496 is a higher res/lower noise unit (I know that is not a big deal in the sub world). My biggest concern is whether there are enough FBQ2496 owners in this thread to help me if/when I have problems or questions? The DSP1124P is used by many here, so that is very good!

I will also get the Xenyx 802 mixer and the ECM8000 mic.

Now for some other help:

I have a RS digital sound level meter. Should I get the analog version? Thoughts please?

Is the Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External USB Sound Card the sound card of choice by most here? Are there better alternatives?

Midi Interface: Has the Edirol UM-1X USB MIDI interface cable been replaced with the Edirol UM-1EX 1x1 USB MIDI interface cable? Will it work as well as the previous one? I can get this at the Academic Superstore for 34.95 shipped.

Besides cables what else is needed?

Thanks for all your help.

Alan B.

ps i hope this is me shortly....

[brucek]

My biggest concern is whether there are enough FBQ2496 owners in this thread to help me if/when I have problems or questions?

No problem...........

I have a RS digital sound level meter. Should I get the analog version?

No. When you have an ECM mic, the SPL meter is only used once when you are setting up to get a ~75dB reference level in the room to match REW to. No big deal, and it doesn't have to be that accurate at that point.

Is the Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External USB Sound Card the sound card of choice by most here?

Quite a few people have it, so you'd have lots of help, but most cards are fine as long as they have a line in and out......

Has the Edirol UM-1X USB MIDI interface cable been replaced with the Edirol UM-1EX 1x1 USB MIDI interface cable?

Don't know, never used the midi...... I can enter the filters faster than you can hook your cable up.

Besides cables what else is needed?

Some time reading the REW Help files and the BFD manual.....

Adapters to connect RCA to 1/4" balanced.

brucek

[clubfoot]

alanb wrote:

I will most likely go with the FBQ2496 over the DSP1124P due to the required additional firmware needed by the DSP and the requisite surgery to install.

Ordered a new DSP1124P and it came with the latest firmware V1.4

alanb wrote:

I will also get the Xenyx 802 mixer and the ECM8000 mic.

I would also like to know if the MINI MIC800 http://www.behringer.com/MIC800/index.cfm?lang=eng would be a good substitute?

alanb wrote:

Midi Interface: Has the Edirol UM-1X USB MIDI interface cable been replaced with the Edirol UM-1EX 1x1 USB MIDI interface cable? Will it work as well as the previous one? I can get this at the Academic Superstore for 34.95 shipped.

Picked up an M-Audio UNO for CN$38.95 at a local music supply store and it works fast.

[brucek]

I would also like to know if the MINI MIC800 http://www.behringer.com/MIC800/index.cfm?lang=eng would be a good substitute?

Looks like it would work. You have to be sure to turn off all the response shaping stuff so that the mic signal is not modified.

brucek

[clubfoot]

brucek wrote:

Looks like it would work. You have to be sure to turn off all the response shaping stuff so that the mic signal is not modified.

brucek

Thanks for the reply brucek. It looks as though the preamp modeling selector has a "neutural" position at #1, but there is no "off/defeat" for the low cut filter!

[brucek]

Yeah, the lowest cut appears to be 15Hz. If you got creative you could use REW to take a frequency response of this device and so modify the soundcard.cal file to compensate for the filter down to 10Hz and create a flat response (I do this with my 802 to make it super flat down to almost 0Hz). Not too big a deal, but for $20 more you can just buy the 802, which is a real cool toy and works great with the ECM8000......

brucek

[clubfoot]

Sounds good

[alanb]

Thanks for the input from everyone. Off to order the equipment.