Methods of RTA'ing
- Chris_Allen
- Posts: 3355
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:43 pm
- Location: Huddersfield, UK
Methods of RTA'ing
I'm looking for a cost effective way of doing RTA's. I have a DEQ2496 which is great but I'd like a way of doing it without having to insert that into the signal chain.
Is a signal generator and SPL Meter the way forward, or is using pink noise the only way to get good results?
Ideally, I don't want to lug round a laptop either. When it comes to balancing a system, my ears alone are more than a little crap.
Is a signal generator and SPL Meter the way forward, or is using pink noise the only way to get good results?
Ideally, I don't want to lug round a laptop either. When it comes to balancing a system, my ears alone are more than a little crap.
Built:
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
- Bill Fitzmaurice
- Site Admin
- Posts: 28620
- Joined: Tue May 02, 2006 5:59 pm
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
Something like this is the only other viable option:
http://www.phonic.com/en/paa3.html
But you still need EQ to make the corrections, so the DEQ2496 is the better method.
http://www.phonic.com/en/paa3.html
But you still need EQ to make the corrections, so the DEQ2496 is the better method.
- Chris_Allen
- Posts: 3355
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:43 pm
- Location: Huddersfield, UK
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
I'm not sure I do enough RTA'ing of other systems to warrant the £300 prices tag, cool looking tool though.
Built:
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
- Bill Fitzmaurice
- Site Admin
- Posts: 28620
- Joined: Tue May 02, 2006 5:59 pm
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
If it's measuring other systems you want to do then it's either one of those or lugging a laptop or pad and USB mic. You can't see a graphic readout on a meter.Chris_Allen wrote:I'm not sure I do enough RTA'ing of other systems to warrant the £300 prices tag, cool looking tool though.
- Chris_Allen
- Posts: 3355
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:43 pm
- Location: Huddersfield, UK
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
Well, after a moment of being a numpty, I remembered I had a Zoom H4. PLugging that into the Mac brings it up as a H4 input capable of 48KHz sampling.
I looked at the cost of SMAART and that is way out of my price range! I did find an app called Spectre for $50, has anyone any experience of using that?
I looked at the cost of SMAART and that is way out of my price range! I did find an app called Spectre for $50, has anyone any experience of using that?
Built:
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
-
- Posts: 8302
- Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:37 am
- Location: New Braunfels, TX
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
I done been to three county fairs and a goat roping contest....and I ain't never heard no word like dat.....Chris_Allen wrote: numpty
6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210
"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."
- Chris_Allen
- Posts: 3355
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:43 pm
- Location: Huddersfield, UK
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
Built:
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
-
- Posts: 8302
- Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:37 am
- Location: New Braunfels, TX
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
Since I didn't know that, I guess I'm a numpty too.
6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210
"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."
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- Posts: 6915
- Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:12 am
- Location: Ilfracombe Queensland Australia
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Re: Methods of RTA'ing
It's OK Bruce, the word only came into being after you went to school!
I didn't know of it either.
Chris, worrying that you know it, but also found a definition...
I didn't know of it either.
Chris, worrying that you know it, but also found a definition...
Built:
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
Parts Express carries a calibrated mic which will plug into your phone for around fifteen dollars (US) I use the AudioTool program for my Android phone -- works pretty well.
I've also used my DEQ with a flat response microphone and a pink noise source. (AudioTool also has a generator) Before I had my DEQ or android app I also used Goldwave to generate a sweep tone and record the sweep tone, then use the spectrum analyzer function on Goldwave to see the system response.
I've also used my DEQ with a flat response microphone and a pink noise source. (AudioTool also has a generator) Before I had my DEQ or android app I also used Goldwave to generate a sweep tone and record the sweep tone, then use the spectrum analyzer function on Goldwave to see the system response.
- Chris_Allen
- Posts: 3355
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:43 pm
- Location: Huddersfield, UK
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
I've seen the Dayton calibrated mic before but as usual, I can't find anything equivalent in the UK. That would most likely be the ideal solution.
Built:
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
I use this program: https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... Tool&hl=en Which I might be the same program dswpro mentioned.
I downloaded test tones at the frequencies a 31 band EQ and played them into the mic on my Android to calibrate it's mic. The program allows you to adjust each band until the scale reads as the test tone. Works great and cheap.
Dan
I downloaded test tones at the frequencies a 31 band EQ and played them into the mic on my Android to calibrate it's mic. The program allows you to adjust each band until the scale reads as the test tone. Works great and cheap.
Dan
- Chris_Allen
- Posts: 3355
- Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:43 pm
- Location: Huddersfield, UK
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
The only problem with doing a self calibration is that you need a flat output source as a reference point, which I don't believe i have.
Built:
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
6xDR200, 2xT39, 2xT48, 2xJack110, 1xOmni10.5, 1xAutotuba, 1xT18, 1xSLA Pro, 1xW8, 1xW10
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
Chris_Allen wrote:The only problem with doing a self calibration is that you need a flat output source as a reference point, which I don't believe i have.
No, you are calibrating the mic of your Android or Ipad. Using individual tones, one at a time played into the Android/Ipad via their built in mic allows you to see what the mic's offset needs to be. You then adjust that frequency in the program. Do that for every tone of the 31 bands.
You now have the program properly reading tones based on the idiosyncrasies of the mic. The program will read in 1/6th tones also. I haven't check, but you might be able to calibrate at that level.
Granted, the unit is not what you would be doing research with, but it will serve the purpose for our needs.
Re: Methods of RTA'ing
The way I read the description is that you can change the mic to match that of a known calibrated mic. If the supposed calibrated mic has errors, so will your emulated calibration.
I'm not sure that I would trust a $0.35 iphone mic cartridge for any accuracy, under any circumstances.
Short of that, I can't see any possible way to properly calibrate any microphone without a calibrated sound source.
I'm not sure that I would trust a $0.35 iphone mic cartridge for any accuracy, under any circumstances.
Short of that, I can't see any possible way to properly calibrate any microphone without a calibrated sound source.
Built
T48s
WH8s
SX212
T48s
WH8s
SX212