[JonP]

Ah well, overjoyed too soon. Gave it a quick try, and found numerous problems. Went in the Preferences tab, only found a few options for devices. This new system seems to enable and disable sound devices depending on having something plugged in, and I hadn't plugged anything in yet. Opening the program got a message saying no input mixers available to handle PCM 48000 etc, etc. Got a complaint of SPL meter unable to find input device, when opening the measurement icon. In Preferences, I see Default Driver, Primary Sound Device, and some digital I's and O's. Level setl went thru the motions. I plugged in a pair of headphones to see if that made a difference, no new devices, but could hear when the level set sound was played, and it would play a couple seconds then break up, play more. The window was unresponsive, 10-20 sec after the cancel button was hit the sound would stop, etc. Not sure if this is more the lack of properly finding and capturing the MB's sound chip, or something else.

Apologies for the big info dump, hoping it might provide a clue... Will hook up a proper setup later on to see what happens...

 

[JohnM]

One thing I did notice, not with REW itself, but with the latest PDF help file, is that the bookmarks seem to have gone missing, so the tree view in the left pane of the Adobe Reader that one would normally use for quick navigation through the document is now empty.

Thanks, Steve has generated an updated version with the bookmarks and it is now on the REW website.

 

[JohnM]

Ah well, overjoyed too soon. Gave it a quick try, and found numerous problems.

Try 5.12.

 

[Ted Clamstruck]

Thanks, Steve has generated an updated version with the bookmarks and it is now on the REW website.

Cool! Thanks a lot!

 

[needspeed52]

Try 5.12.

Hello John,

I've been running the older version of REW, the one prior to the latest update with no problems at all. Should I update to the latest version even though I'm happy with the older version V5.11? Thanks John

Cheers Jeffrey

 

[JohnM]

It's generally worth updating to the latest version, but of course not compulsory. 5.11 can have startup problems when using ASIO inputs/outputs, especially if the device(s) being used are also the default audio devices for the computer, but otherwise the changes are fairly minor.

 

[needspeed52]

It's generally worth updating to the latest version, but of course not compulsory. 5.11 can have startup problems when using ASIO inputs/outputs, especially if the device(s) being used are also the default audio devices for the computer, but otherwise the changes are fairly minor.

I had a lot of problems in the start up with the ASIO driver with the inputs/outputs but was easily fixed with some efforts on my part, since then it has been functioning properly without incident. I think this is contributed to the fact that ASIO is not the default audio device for the laptop. Either way I will try the new version and if not satisfied I can always switch back, thanks John.

Jeffrey

 

[Ericmannon]

I have just started playing with REW 5.12. I'm using the UMIK-1 USB mic. One of my systems I'll be calibrating is 2 channel, RCA inputs, the other is 7.2 w/ HDMI input. I read in the notes that sound card calibration is not necessary if using the USB mic but can't understand why? I've done a few searches here and over at AVS but with over a 1000 posts combined on REW, my eyes are getting tired!

I understand that with the USB mic you would not be using the same input as when you calibrated using the loop but what about calibration for the soundcards output while using analog RCA outputs?

I'm guessing if using HDMI the digital signal is perfect, is that correct?

Should I be calibrating the soundcard when using the RCA analog outs and the USB mic?


Thanks,

Eric M.

 

[JohnM]

I understand that with the USB mic you would not be using the same input as when you calibrated using the loop but what about calibration for the soundcards output while using analog RCA outputs?

There isn't a way to separate the contributions of input and output in a loopback measurement, but generally speaking the roll-off is predominantly in the input (provided the output isn't driving a load impedance much lower than it is rated for).

I'm guessing if using HDMI the digital signal is perfect, is that correct?

Yes

Should I be calibrating the soundcard when using the RCA analog outs and the USB mic?

No.

 

[Ericmannon]

Thank you. That makes sense.

I've been reading a bit more about using the HDMI output from my computer (soundcard). I'm guessing that's the best way to measure my surround sound system, but I'll have to stick to the RCA outs for my vintage 2 channel system.

Any idea how smooth the output is of most cards? Mine is the Soundblaster ZxR. I'm just concerned about using an input source that isn't flat, it seems that would throw off all measurements and corrections.

Thanks,

Eric

 

[jtalden]

Eric,
For reassurance you can place a loopback cable from analog output to analog input of the soundcard and take a measurement that way. As JohnM indicated less that half the measured deviation from ideal is attributable to the output and rest to the input. As stated, there is no way to separate the two however. I think you will find that even the total deviation measured that way is very acceptable for EQ purposes. If not, then there is probably a setup or soundcard issue. It's a good check.

 

[Skipz]

Will REW run on Windows 10?

 

[JohnM]

Will REW run on Windows 10?

REW runs on Java, so the question boils down to will Java run on Windows 10, which is a yes. I haven't tried it though.

 

[Quantum Pulsar]

When you make a calibration file in REW, it applies the inverse response to the measurement right?
http://img1.imagehousing.com/57/00f371a2ed4737c9620a660eb9aa627c.png

My question is: does REW boost the actual signal levels of the sweep going out to your hardware or does it apply the inverse response digitally after the measurement is taken? :dontknow:

 

[JohnM]

Calibrations are applied after the measurement has been taken - that allows you to change the calibrations you use afterwards if required.

 

[Quantum Pulsar]

I can put different cal files on the measurements after they have been taken? How do I do that? I just tried to change the cal file after I took a measurement and the measurement was unaffected.

When I use an ASIO driver for my soundcard in REW and loop my out to in, it shows the noise floor at -142dB in the make a measurement and levels windows. That can't be right, it should show around -110dB at best for what I have. Is this a common thing for anyone who runs their ASIO in 24bit?

 

[BassThatHz]

Hi John, I have a limitation with REW... I've been trying to capture lightning strikes with REW but the RTA screen doesn't have a peak-hold function. It only has a save button and a infinity averaging function. Lightning is too fast to be averaged and the save button requires that I sit in front of the screen for hours and hours waiting for a good strike and being quick on the fingers.
Would it be really difficult to implement a peak-hold function for the RTA screen?

 

[Quantum Pulsar]

BTH, isn't that already on there?

http://img1.imagehousing.com/46/12d27e4ad35435e278ae1c93b27c7967.png

 

[BassThatHz]

BTH, isn't that already on there?

http://img1.imagehousing.com/46/12d27e4ad35435e278ae1c93b27c7967.png

I need it on spectrum-mode though as lightning has stuff all the way to <2hz

 

[JohnM]

Would it be really difficult to implement a peak-hold function for the RTA screen?

It's on my todo list for the Spectrum view. Not desperately difficult, but a bit greedy on memory and processing for the Spectrum view since there are FFT length points to compare and update every screen refresh, whereas the RTA has far, far fewer.