New To Forum - Promblems with MAC REW.. NEED HELP!

[redstudio]

I recently started helping a good friend of mine with a recording studio. We both have Mac G5's dual 2.0 - with 2.5 gigs of RAM (if that helps with the computing). Both running MAX OSX 10.4.9 I believe...

I have an audio recording background, but have never balanced a room, and I would really like to do it right.

I would like to use this program to get the best response of the rooms, so we can apply acoustic treatment for a better sounding, more flat response, in the control room, as well as live room, and vocal booth.

Problem is, I downloaded the newest version and it would get stuck at the "generating graph panel". Therefore I downloaded the previous version and it opened up.

Now, I'm not sure for one: If I loaded the newest version up correctly. I did the same thing with the older version and it opened right up. I followed the instructions for the Java 5.0 whatever in the "text" file.. and downloaded the newest version of Java, just in case. It says it was updated, but no dice on the new version of REW.

Okay ...next I'm not really sure how to calibrate or read this program the right way. My sound card is a digidesign (protools) 002, and I have a couple different mics I can use to take the reading. Not sure what the best would be. Some mics have certain characteristics, etc. I have a real nice Rode NT2A all the way down to an SM57. - But maybe these are not the proper tools to measure or calibrate a room.

I guess basically I need a step by step setup of running the program and setting up the right settings. I'm not currently in the studio now, but if I can do it at home, I can take it to the studio to do the same.

Its funny how I can do all sorts of recording, applying plugins, sends, busses, you know recording techniques... but the REW program seems like a foreign language to me...

Any ways, if I could get some help to get the ball rolling I would appreciate it TONS!!

Thanks,
C

[brucek]

There are issues with MACs. You can do a search on that word and do some reading with regard to problems others have had.

Generally you need the soundcard to have a line-in and a line-out available. A mic-in won't suffice. Those with laptops usually purchase an external USB soundcard.

As far as microphones are concerned. We recommend the Behringer ECM8000 because it's a relatively inexpensive omni directional flat microphone that we have the calibration file for on our download page. If you have a microphone that you feel is flat from ~15Hz to the upper frequency you're interested in, then it will be fine. Most microphones require a preamplifier to boost the signal to the line level for the soundcard.

You'll first need to calibrate your soundcard to create the file that compensates for its response inadequacies. See if you can get that done, because without it, you probably shouldn't go any further.

Read the REW HELP files for info on performing the soundcard cal.....

brucek

[redstudio]

K thanks...

I'll work on that.

Is there a specific sound card you would recommend as well? Or is the Digidesign 002 okay? It has 8 inputs and 8 outputs. Its a FW audiocard/interface... Not sure if this is exactly what you ment..

thanks,
C

[redstudio]

where do I select my line input on REW? Its seems to be greyed out at the bottom?


Not sure if there is another way to open this up.

Can I use the built in sound card of the computer??


Thanks,
C

[brucek]

Or is the Digidesign 002 okay? It has 8 inputs and 8 outputs. Its a FW audiocard/interface..

When it comes to using REW, less is more with soundcards. When you have a soundcard that will do everything but make you dinner, it takes a fair bit of effort to simply turn it all off until you have a line-in and a line-out with no effects, or surround modes, or monitoring or equalizers, etc, etc. Well you get my meaning. Someone with a simple old XP PC and a two channel soundcard worth $20 usually breezes right through setting up REW. The more sophisticated the soundcard (and the digi002 is about the cream of the crop), the more difficult it becomes. I guess my best suggestion would be to go into the closet and drag out that old PC you put away and swore you'd never touch again once you got the MAC. hehehe, just kidding.....sort of......

Anyway, if the selections are greyed out it means REW doesn't have access to the audio drivers and so you'll have to use the soundcards own application software to set your input and output levels..

Go to Advanced Search on the site here and enter MAC as the keyword and JohnM as the username and do some reading. (John wrote REW)....

brucek

[redstudio]

thanks... I'll do some more research.

Definitly makes sense. I'll try finding that ol' PC


Thanks again,
C

[thxgoon]

I also had troubles with the mac version. Eventually I ended up running it on the windows side of mine. Do you have virtual PC or anything like that installed?

[redstudio]

no ... but I can install it...

i have a disk of virtual PC... HMMM

is it that easy in the sense of loading into PC mode and what not. I think I tried it a while back, but did not have a solid Virtual PC program to run right.

ALso I would still have the issue of a sound card. What would one recommend for a cheap fix on this part? One IN two OUT... or what ever...


Thanks,
C