Hi guys
Just got my RTA going.
$100 for all the pieces new.
Want to know how?
Paypal me $100 and I'll let you know.
j/k
Behringer ECM8000 $49.95 at Amazon.
MXL Usb Mic Mate payed $49 at my local Guitar Center. Cheapest I've seen online $79.99
This thing has phantom power and you plug it directly to the mic and then to a USB port on your computer. It detects it automaticly.
TrueRTA free. (http://www.trueaudio.com/) the 1 octave is free and there are several versions 1/3 octave ($39.95), 1/6 octave ($69.95) and 1/24 octave ($99.95).
I know there are several programs to do it.
That's not my car's graph by the way, just measuring my office noise.
I think I need to eq my office.
Well that's it, $100 dollar totally portable, RTA and SPL meter.
Great post! I'm going to build one as well. Any downsides to this setup or is it fairly accurate? I am used to people using larger mic pre-amps and such.
Anyone care to comment? I'm psyched Doitor - thanks again.
BlackSapphire --
Last edited by BlackSapphire; 05-15-2008 at 08:28 PM..
1. I see the Hi/Med/Low switch - what position should it be in normally?
2. On the TrueRTA software. Which version is 'necessary'? I don't mind buying one of the other levels if it's absolutely worthy of the price.
I'm new to the RTA world so thank you in advance for the advice.
also, a really good program that is totally free is call room eq wizard and it will do frequency response graph with ease (though not an rta, it is essentially the same).
google it and you shall find...I believe you need to register for the forum to DL it.
also winmls lets you do a trial for 30 days and the program is extremely simple to get going.
for any program you'll need a measuring mic and a preamp. As well as a xlr cable, an xlr to 1/8" jack, and an 1/8" jack to your sound system. plus an 1/8" to 1/8" to measure your sound card's FR.
also, a really good program that is totally free is call room eq wizard and it will do frequency response graph with ease (though not an rta, it is essentially the same).
google it and you shall find...I believe you need to register for the forum to DL it.
also winmls lets you do a trial for 30 days and the program is extremely simple to get going.
for any program you'll need a measuring mic and a preamp. As well as a xlr cable, an xlr to 1/8" jack, and an 1/8" jack to your sound system. plus an 1/8" to 1/8" to measure your sound card's FR.
Robby
Good advice Robby - thanks.
By using the preamp doitor is using (Mic Mate), it seems you can avoid many of those cables. True?
1. I see the Hi/Med/Low switch - what position should it be in normally?
2. On the TrueRTA software. Which version is 'necessary'? I don't mind buying one of the other levels if it's absolutely worthy of the price.
I'm new to the RTA world so thank you in advance for the advice.
1.- Don't know, I have it in low and works ok.
2.- I think depending on the eq you have. My H701 has 1/3 octave eq, so that should be more than enough.
I'm also new to RTA's and wanted one for some time, but for this price it was hard to pass.
The method on the link shows how to tune with a pc measurement setup.
Mine is not a method, just a way to get a cheap, totally portable, pc measurement setup.
1.- Don't know, I have it in low and works ok.
2.- I think depending on the eq you have. My H701 has 1/3 octave eq, so that should be more than enough.
I'm also new to RTA's and wanted one for some time, but for this price it was hard to pass.
Jorge.
Good deal Jorge, I copied your setup for now. I just ordered the Behringer and the Mic mate.
One can pick up a M-Audio USB-Pre fro around 40-50 bucks used that gives you 2 channels of balanced IO, 2 mic pre's, and phantom power. BUT you have to shop around and possibly wait.
Please expand on that thought (or point me to some really long thread).
Averaging is important because it gives you greater noise immunity. Random noise in one measurement will be averaged out over the long run but may cause a loss of fine detail.
Weighting is important because it compensates for the lack of bass, and overly represented treble due to the long measurement window. Look up A, B, and C weighting on google and you will see what each weighting curve does.
A speaker is only as good as the room you put it in.
I can't speak for Nguyen, but I tune to a modified B weighted curve. I follow the B scale in the bass region but not so in the treble region. I prefer to taper my treble off a tad so it is not overpowering vs boost it as B weighting would suggest.
I dumped the Behringer mic in favor of a binaural summed and averaged solution. I use this in combination with long measurement averages to come up with a pretty damn realistic tonal balance and stage presentation. I've been told by people with fairly high credentials that my system sounds VERY pleasing. If I could only find the time to clean up my install one day I might actually compete.
Ge0
Alpine, Zapco, Scanspeak, Image Dynamics, Critical Mass
Life lesson #1) En boca cerradas no entra moscas! (loose translation: sometimes it is best to keep your fuggin mouth shut and listen)
I hope i haven't missed this in the thread somewhere, but say you had available a pair of ECM8000's and a 2 channel mixer/pre-amp, would it be lucrative to set-up a mic in the location of each ear and run the tests in 'stereo' rather then using a single mic in teh centre of the head style arrangment?
How to make your RTA with $100 dlls.
Linear Mode
