Rew?

[giverago]

I just downloaded REW and what to test some speakers and a sub I built. I have a MAC. What USB audio interface do you use? not looking to spent more that $100. Im going to use the dayton audio mic. Is that all I need?

[jonpike]

REW is good but perhaps not the best for serious speaker measurement, it lacks a few features. With a little care you can get reasonable data though. It is very good for room investigating and sub integration tasks. Overall it's one of the easiest to use measurement programs. As well as in your case it being a Java program makes it Mac compatible. And you can't beat that price. :cool:

Using the Dayton or other condenser type mic, you will need some kind of what they call "phantom power" source (internal, low power 48V for the mic), as well as a mic pre-amp. The Beringer mixers are popular for that in a stand alone package. The newer two channel one has a phantom powered pre, used to be you had to get the 6 ch one to get that feature.

Not sure how much the Mac complicates the soundcard/computer picture, but likely any working one for the PC and REW would be fine. Check the REW forums about prospective cards.

I'm using a Soundblaster X-fi 5.1 USB and it works fine on my PC laptop. Internal cards should be a little less picky. REW isn't as notorious as some programs for compatibility. Whatever you get, be sure it has dual line in's as some cards do not.

Another thought, if simplicity and portability would be important to you, you might think about a more pro USB card that has the phantom power preamp included. They cost more, but around the same as the separate parts, and its one box with less cables, no AC power, etc...

Finally, there's something called Fuzzmeasure out there as a (possibly) more serious measuring software for Mac's. But, REW will be great for getting your feet wet in the measuring game...

[billfitzmaurice]

What USB audio interface do you use? This:
http://www.bing.com/shopping/blue-microphones-icicle-xlr-to-usb-converter/where-to-buy/8785ADCF261C245918F8?q=blue+icicle&FORM=HURE

[blue934]

what is that link directed to, Bill? it takes me to a Bing shopping page.

david

[cowtown]

This:
http://www.bing.com/shopping/blue-microphones-icicle-xlr-to-usb-converter/where-to-buy/8785ADCF261C245918F8?q=blue+icicle&FORM=HURE

From the reading I've done, it seems like there's no way to generate a soundcard calibration file for the Icicle devices. Is this not true, or maybe not important for sub calibration tasks with REW?

I would love to get rid of my RS meter/patch cords/etc and go with the Icicle and ECM8000 if it works.

[jonpike]

Not sure why that might be an issue? I'm guessing that the Icicle is a USB sound card/preamp in one single module? It should be pretty transparent, but if you want to correct its freq response you'ld have to send them both out for calibration.

There are a few folks out there who do cal on bare mic's... they may take a mic/Icicle as a combo. You'ld have to inquire about that. Doing just a mic cal typically costs about as much as the Dayton/Behringer..

Any halfway decent mic pre SHOULD have a flatter response than most mics... I'd HOPE that it's not worth worrying about, Getting just the mic response file should be all you need....