I've gone ahead an read a lot of the FAQs and threads on REW and the miniDSP UMIK-1. I've also googled some sources but am having difficulty trying to get answers on some aspects that are glossed over that I am not certain I understand.
Its likely because of being an outsider to audio calibrations. If anyone can help me understand, I'd highly appreciate it.
1.) Many of the microphones that can be purchased will come with a calibration file (or one can be created). Why is this necessary out-of-the-box? Shouldn't the microphone be accurate from the manufacturer (after they've ran their initial calibration)? In other words, why bother leaving the calibration file a manual process instead of baking-in to the unit? My mind around this is thinking about video calibration, where a colorimeter will drift with time and require correction, but out-of-the-box would be accurate. Will microphones also drift with time?
2.) The miniDSP UMIK-1 will come from the manufacturer with its own calibration file, but you can also opt to purchase one that is "uber" calibrated by Cross Spectrum labs to:
-make it more accurate below 20Hz and above 20kHz?
-why doesn't miniDSP do this by default? Cost?
-how far off would the measurements without cross-spectrum's additional calibration (+/-1dB? +/-3dB? +/-5dB? etc.)
-Does cross-spectrum's calibration affect the accuracy from 20Hz to 20kHz as well? And if so, how far off was it originally? (+/-1dB? +/-3dB? +/-5dB? etc.)
3.) I hear mention of using an SPL in conjunction with the microphone together, but I don't understand what is being accomplished. I understand an SPL isn't good (by default) at measuring frequency response. Does that mean that microphones aren't good at measuring SPL levels? Shouldn't it be better than an SPL?
4.) Anything you've read above that gives the impression I may have some concept backwards or distorted?
Thanks in advance. This seems like a great community.
Its likely because of being an outsider to audio calibrations. If anyone can help me understand, I'd highly appreciate it.
1.) Many of the microphones that can be purchased will come with a calibration file (or one can be created). Why is this necessary out-of-the-box? Shouldn't the microphone be accurate from the manufacturer (after they've ran their initial calibration)? In other words, why bother leaving the calibration file a manual process instead of baking-in to the unit? My mind around this is thinking about video calibration, where a colorimeter will drift with time and require correction, but out-of-the-box would be accurate. Will microphones also drift with time?
2.) The miniDSP UMIK-1 will come from the manufacturer with its own calibration file, but you can also opt to purchase one that is "uber" calibrated by Cross Spectrum labs to:
-make it more accurate below 20Hz and above 20kHz?
-why doesn't miniDSP do this by default? Cost?
-how far off would the measurements without cross-spectrum's additional calibration (+/-1dB? +/-3dB? +/-5dB? etc.)
-Does cross-spectrum's calibration affect the accuracy from 20Hz to 20kHz as well? And if so, how far off was it originally? (+/-1dB? +/-3dB? +/-5dB? etc.)
3.) I hear mention of using an SPL in conjunction with the microphone together, but I don't understand what is being accomplished. I understand an SPL isn't good (by default) at measuring frequency response. Does that mean that microphones aren't good at measuring SPL levels? Shouldn't it be better than an SPL?
4.) Anything you've read above that gives the impression I may have some concept backwards or distorted?
Thanks in advance. This seems like a great community.