[86mr2]

I thought it would be a good idea to collect all the tips people have in one thread. There is a lot of information on DIYMA, but it is getting kind of buried, and people may not have seen it.

This thread is for hints and tips, not for Alpine/Imprint haters - start another thread for that if you must.

Essential Reading

Important Tutorial Post from an Alpine Trainer

Source thread for the above with more info

Tips from someone at Audessy at the bottom of the post

Dang's review of the H650 and Imprint, his comments are important, coming from a good tuner

9887 Imprint review thread, very long, much nonsense, but important information is imbedded in it

 

[86mr2]

Imprint pre-run checklist for 9887

This is the list of actions that I perform before each Impint run. It is long because I have actually missed about 1/3 of them in the past, usually because I was in a rush.

1. Mark ear positions on windows with masking tape
2. Remove headrests, lay them on backseat
3. Turn key to "Accessory" position, not the one just before "Accessory"
4. Turn on head unit
5. Check that balance is centred
6. Check that Bass and Treble are zero'd
7. Set Sub level the way you want it*
8. Set amp gains appropriately **
9. Set subwoofer gains down by 6-12 dB
10. If running active, set the crossovers in the head unit to the values required (only necessary if changing them from the last run)
11. Turn off HU and remove faceplate
12. Connect mic to control box
13. Connect contol box to HU. Make sure the green LED comes on.
14. Connect control box to laptop. Listen for "USB connected" beep.
15. Setup mic in the first position
16. Start Imprint and select left front seat

* Some say to zero it, some say to use a number in the middle of the range, the smartest answer is probably 15 since that is actually full output on Alpines. I will use 15 on my next run.

** 1/2 or just under on my SS Ref500SX seems good for the midrange. 1/3 or a little higher on my PPI4240 for the tweeters

 

[86mr2]

Imprint tuning hints

1. Mark ear positions on front and rear windows. Sight across the car to line up the mic fore and aft and up and down for each measurement position. This is super important.
   
2. Tune for the drivers seat, nobody else in the car gives a ****.
   
3. Follow Scott's recommendations for mic positions (all at head position fore and aft), taking measurements forward on the seat (as directed by the software) seems to rob you of bass. I may try Chris from Audessy's recommendations one day when I'm bored.
   
4. Set sub gain down before running, back up again afterward. Don't get carried away though. If you set the gain too low, the sub will not be detected and will not be EQed or T/Aed.
   
5. It may be necessary to set the gains on the tweeter amp down a tad after running Imprint.
   
6. You can vary the tilt of the curve applied by manipulating the gain of the tweeter amp. I am still figuring out how to do this consistently. If the gain of the tweet amp is relatively high, the post Imprint result will look very flat in the graph, but sound very bright. If it is juuust right, there will be a general sloping down that sounds quite good. If the tweet gain is too low (even if it sounds OK), Imprint may not detect the tweets, and no joy results.
   
7. If running active, Imprint has no idea what kind of drivers you are using so set the crossovers yourself in the 9887 before running Imprint - it will respect the crossovers. In fact, the only crossover Imprint will set in an active setup is between the sub and the mid, and it will usually be wrong. I think, however, it might do a better job if you are running a conventional setup with two pairs of passives. It would set an appropriate crossover that makes the front and rear both blend the best with the sub.
   
8. If running active, protect the tweeter from the mls chirp, it is full range. Use a cap or set a HP on the tweet amp.

 

[yeldak99]

Awesome info. Its nice having all this info in one spot. Thanks.

 

[butch11a]

getting my imprint kit soon....

 

[drtool]

Good job 86MR2. Just in time for me too help some one. Thanks
Wayne

 

[Owlmerlyn]

Thanks for summarising the info, really appreciate it. Good idea to start a new thread, the other imprint thread was getting waaaaaaay long.

Happy arty3: all

 

[MAGOCYBER]

Thank you for listing all the steps, it's really helpfull, I'll probably get mine in about 3 weeks I already have the 9887,

 

[Turboready]

Hi Guys,

Has anyone here used IMPRINT Version 2.1 and if so do you know what the upgrade differences are?

Thanks.

 

[86mr2]

Personally, I have not seen anything to prove it even exists.

 

[distronic]

Alpine Imprint Sound Manager 2.10

It exists. Call Alpine and ask for the newest version. I received 2.10. It allows you to select for either the CDA-9887 or PXA-H100. It doesn't look like it functions any differently...

They didn't charge me for it either. The general operator will forward your call to software support or something of the like. Mine was sent from Torrance, CA. Took about two days and I'm in California as well.

Actually if you can wait, I'm uploading the software to megaupload. ~45mins

 

[Turboready]

Hi Guys,

Has anyone here used IMPRINT Version 2.1 and if so do you know what the upgrade differences are?

Thanks.

It does, I called Alpine USA and they said version 2.1 is free and that they would mail it to customers IN THE US ONLY. Since I am in Canada, we are screwed for now, they claimed it's too large for them to have as a downloadable file :mean: Would have wished if they could have a ZIP file of it.

 

[Turboready]

Re: Alpine Imprint Sound Manager 2.10

It exists. Call Alpine and ask for the newest version. I received 2.10. It allows you to select for either the CDA-9887 or PXA-H100. It doesn't look like it functions any differently...

They didn't charge me for it either. The general operator will forward your call to software support or something of the like. Mine was sent from Torrance, CA. Took about two days and I'm in California as well.

Actually if you can wait, I'm uploading the software to megaupload. ~45mins

Many thanks bro, you are a good man.

BTW, I just hooked up my "Vista powered" 2008 HP notebook and it connected and worked flawlessly on the first try, just finished measuring drivers side seat with no errors.

Many thanks to distronic for responding and taking the time to do the upload and share!

 

[distronic]

Alpine Imprint Sound Manager Ver.2.10

PM me if it doesn't work or for some reason we need it uploaded again.

ISO created with ImgBurn.

Rapidshare Link to Same

 

[Turboready]

Alpine Imprint Sound Manager Ver.2.10

PM me if it doesn't work or for some reason we need it uploaded again.

ISO created with ImgBurn.

WOW Thanks Bud, it downloaded and seems fine, will install it on my notebook now. Thanks a lot distronic, really kewl of you to do this for us, much appreciated.
Just insalled it on my desk top and it seems fine.

Thanks again, going to run it on my note book now and tune away, you are a super guy

UPDATE! As I am typing this IMPRINT 2.10 is running Whoo Hoo

 

[oneiztoomany]

what's the difference with version 2.0

 

[emrliquidlife]

Re: Alpine Imprint Sound Manager 2.10

Many thanks bro, you are a good man.

BTW, I just hooked up my "Vista powered" 2008 HP notebook and it connected and worked flawlessly on the first try, just finished measuring drivers side seat with no errors.

Many thanks to distronic for responding and taking the time to do the upload and share!

I got it to run with Vista too on my Dell Vostro 1500.

Ed

 

[bernardo]

Well thanks a lot for doing this, i cant wait to try it.

 

[bigrig]

Here's my tip: If you want to hear what every curve sounds like (since you can only load two), you can leave the software running and re-attach the cable to the head unit after listening and upload new curves. I guess if you had multiple PCs you could do curves for different positions, too.

Matt

 

[emrliquidlife]

Overall, I'm happy about the changes that the Imprint made in my car. However, it is so biased to the driver. I'd like to have a curve set for a driver, and a curve set for two seat listening. Any tips on how to do this?

I gather it will mean additional measurements at the passenger seat?

Ed