Need Help Getting Started with REW

[jcisbig]

Hey All,

I posed this over on the Home Theater Shack website, but haven't gotten a lot of response over there. Is there any help to be had here? : )

***********************
Hey All,

I've never worked with REW before. Perhaps I should ask a few questions first to make sure that I understand what I would be doing with it.

1. My primary focus of using REW will be to EQ mainly my subwoofer, and I might delve into EQing my main speakers as well. My processor (Emotiva UMC-1) has the ability to manually EQ each channel including the subwoofer. Can REW help me do this by graphing the measured in-room frequency response and showing me which frequencies to cut or boost in my processor's EQ?

2. Is REW easy to figure out how to use?

3. Does REW have any sort of EQ program built into it that would allow me to pass my computer's audio/music through those EQs out to my processor? (The only reason I'd use this is if REW had more filters/better fine tuning than the 8 band EQ in my processor.)

4. Other than graphing frequency response, what are some other popular functions of REW for the non-expert user?

Just in case it matters, I have my desktop computer hooked up to my home theater system via HDMI out of my ATI 5770 gpu. It passes 24/192 audio, and I use it as my music source for my system, playing mostly FLAC files. My computer doesn't have a dedicated sound card, just the audio built into the gpu (5770 x2) and the motherboard (Asus P6t deluxe V2). The motherboard has a 3.5mm microphone line in, but I have no RCA line in for a microphone.

If I'm actually going to use REW, I'm guessing I'll need some equipment as well to make use of it. I'm looking for recommendations on what that equipment should be. I don't want to buy junk, but I can't afford to drop a ton of money into the hardware either. I think I'll be needing:

- A Microphone
- A cable to pass the audio from the microphone to the computer
- Do I need some sort of USB sound card or something to receive the audio from the microphone before it goes into the computer?

In short, give me a list of things that I'll need to get set up with REW! As far as cost goes, I don't want junk or high end, but rather the "best bang for my buck"?

[ansat]

1. I use REW for all my speakers.
2. I wouldn't call it easy - But the youtube videos out there will get you through the process.
3. REW will not interface with the UMC - It will for some other pieces of equipment and it will also give recommendations on what to set your eq to.
4. You will need a condenser mic, something to power the mic, a way to input the mic to your computer. It is recommended that you also have a sound card that you can calibrate out of the equation.


Final thoughts.. www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=390-790 might be a better solution.

Mic 100$
sound card 50$
input with phantom power 75$

That puts you 225 deep on a program that you don't know how to use and has a real possibility of really *&^%*&^ you off.

[paradigmE]

Also - For $75 - take a look at the MiniDSP UMik-1 - its a USB microphone, no need for sound card etc.. Apparently Integrates with REW well. www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1

Downloadable calibration file based on serial number

[gregd]

Is it practical to use REW to improve systems that don't have equalization? Things such as optimizing chair & speaker locations, subwoofer location & setup, optimizing room treatments?

[jcisbig]

Thanks for the input guys.

I'm a little confused. I was hoping to use REW to take a measurement of the frequency response in my room for my subwoofer, similar to what the Velodyne SMS-1 can do with the whole "line graph" thing it does (plotting spl vs. frequency). From there, I was going to go in to the UMC-1's subwoofer EQ and manually take out the peaks in room response. If that went well, I was planning to do the same with all of the other speakers in my room in an attempt to flatten my frequency response.

Is this possible with REW? Or is it designed to do something else?

[ansat]

May 31, 2013 21:25:54 GMT -5 jcisbig said:

Thanks for the input guys.

I'm a little confused. I was hoping to use REW to take a measurement of the frequency response in my room for my subwoofer, similar to what the Velodyne SMS-1 can do with the whole "line graph" thing it does (plotting spl vs. frequency). From there, I was going to go in to the UMC-1's subwoofer EQ and manually take out the peaks in room response. If that went well, I was planning to do the same with all of the other speakers in my room in an attempt to flatten my frequency response.

Is this possible with REW? Or is it designed to do something else?

REW is good for taking a measured SPL, using the RTA is also a good method for doing what you are describing. But REW was designed to do much more then what your asking. This is where the complication comes in. If you are willing to learn how to use the tool it is well worth buying the setup. But I have spent almost as many hours setting up my speakers and treating my room along with learning the program as I have actually just sat and enjoyed my investment. This would be why I recommended the parts express version. The Parts Express is a plug in and start using it approach. If you would like me to dig into the specifics about this program then send me a PM and I will give you my cell so we can chat.


Tony

[klinemj]

I briefly used REW to try to understand my room and learned that speaker placement was a HUGE factor with old my Paradigm's. I have not used it since...I just don't have the time. I wish I did...esp. With my Maggies. It's not really hard to use - just time consuming. Well that, and I have to keep the family and cats quiet while I take measurements.

Mark

[moodyman]

May 31, 2013 14:56:30 GMT -5 jcisbig said:

Hey All,

I posed this over on the Home Theater Shack website, but haven't gotten a lot of response over there. Is there any help to be had here? : )

***********************
Hey All,

I've never worked with REW before. Perhaps I should ask a few questions first to make sure that I understand what I would be doing with it.

1. My primary focus of using REW will be to EQ mainly my subwoofer, and I might delve into EQing my main speakers as well. My processor (Emotiva UMC-1) has the ability to manually EQ each channel including the subwoofer. Can REW help me do this by graphing the measured in-room frequency response and showing me which frequencies to cut or boost in my processor's EQ?

2. Is REW easy to figure out how to use?

3. Does REW have any sort of EQ program built into it that would allow me to pass my computer's audio/music through those EQs out to my processor? (The only reason I'd use this is if REW had more filters/better fine tuning than the 8 band EQ in my processor.)

4. Other than graphing frequency response, what are some other popular functions of REW for the non-expert user?

Just in case it matters, I have my desktop computer hooked up to my home theater system via HDMI out of my ATI 5770 gpu. It passes 24/192 audio, and I use it as my music source for my system, playing mostly FLAC files. My computer doesn't have a dedicated sound card, just the audio built into the gpu (5770 x2) and the motherboard (Asus P6t deluxe V2). The motherboard has a 3.5mm microphone line in, but I have no RCA line in for a microphone.

If I'm actually going to use REW, I'm guessing I'll need some equipment as well to make use of it. I'm looking for recommendations on what that equipment should be. I don't want to buy junk, but I can't afford to drop a ton of money into the hardware either. I think I'll be needing:

- A Microphone
- A cable to pass the audio from the microphone to the computer
- Do I need some sort of USB sound card or something to receive the audio from the microphone before it goes into the computer?

In short, give me a list of things that I'll need to get set up with REW! As far as cost goes, I don't want junk or high end, but rather the "best bang for my buck"?

I would strongly advise you to read through the threads and FAQ's on the Home Theeater Shack forum. It will anwser many of your questions. You DO NOT need to spend hundrds of dollars to use REW. A cheap Radio Shack spl meter (used for its mic) will get you started. I had REW up and running for well under $100. However the learning curve can be slightly daunting depending on your technical background. REW is a really cool program and is really fun to use as long as you have the patience to get it up and running.

An yes..you can use REW to calibrate your sub. Thats why a lot of people use it. But REW is also capable of a lot more.

[jcisbig]

Sorry I haven't been too active in this thread, I've had a crazy busy week! It seems like the MiniDSP UMik-1 might be a great option for use with REW for only $80. Bascially, it sounds like it would work like a USB microphone would, and the calibration file is available for download directly from MiniDSP as well, so you can get measuring right out of the gate. True? I know that REW is capable of doing a crazy amount of stuff, but I'm most interested in the basic measuring of subs and mains and such, I can get into the more advanced stuff later.

I guess my bottom line question is whether or not the MiniDSP UMik-1 is all the additional hardware that I need to use REW at a beginner level and take the measurements I want to? Or is there another device that I need in the chain somewhere?

[LCSeminole]

jcisbig,

This past weekend, I sat in on an audio calibration in which the latest version of REW was used with a UMC-1, and no I didn't think to ask what mic the calibrator was using. Yes you can use REW to manually EQ each channel by graphing the measured in-room frequency response and it will show you the ranges of frequencies in which you will either need to boost or cut. The UMC-1's EQ bands are fixed so unless you get lucky and those peaks or valleys occur at the particular fixed frequencies, then you will more or less just be limited to smoothing out the curve. The UMC-200's P-EQ, with actual adjustable frequencies and Q setting, would be a much more precise tool and will achieve an even better curve.

I've not actually used REW, but I do plan on learning the software and taking advantage of the manual capabilites of the UMC-200's P-EQ. Nothing like learning a new software and turning your room in to the best response you can obtain. I do believe the UMIK-1 will get us started as it's compatibility with REW is verified on the MiniDSP website. I just hope I have the patience.

[jcisbig]

LCSeminole,

Thanks for that info and reply. I think I'm going to go ahead with the UMIK-1 and learn the software as well. I'll save up for a UMC-200 or XMC-1 so that I can take advantage of the PEQ options there as well. On the hometheatershack forum, it was mentioned to me that one should buy the UMIK-1 from a place called "Cross Spectrum" as their calibration files are more accurate than what you get from MiniDSP. Here's a link to that thread: (see 2nd post, and following)

Home Theater Shack Thread

[jcisbig]

Nevermind LC, I see you are there already!

[danny01]

I just received my Cross spectrum umik, and am in the prcoess of learning REW and the Minidsp plugin. Its a great mic for subs vs the regular umik in that in goes down to 5hz vs the regular umik's 15 hz. And after you claim the home theater shack discount and factor in shipping, it doesnt cost any more than the regular umik.

On another note, I'm having trouble importing my REW meaurements into minidsp. Minidsp doesnt show up on REW as an EQ....

Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards

[Andrew Robinson]

Jun 12, 2013 11:43:44 GMT -5 danny01 said:

I just received my Cross spectrum umik, and am in the prcoess of learning REW and the Minidsp plugin. Its a great mic for subs vs the regular umik in that in goes down to 5hz vs the regular umik's 15 hz. And after you claim the home theater shack discount and factor in shipping, it doesnt cost any more than the regular umik.

On another note, I'm having trouble importing my REW meaurements into minidsp. Minidsp doesnt show up on REW as an EQ....

Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards

You can create filters for the MiniDSP or in the MiniDSP format, however I believe you have to enter them into MiniDSP's software manually and then let their software upload them to the box. At least, that is what I had to do a year or two ago. They may have fixed this, but I cannot say for certain. 

[jcisbig]

Danny,

How does one go about getting the home theater shack discount? Is it a call in thing, or an online coupon code?

[danny01]

If you have an HTS account, ask about the discount in the cross spectrum thread, and you'll get a reply. Our you can email him through the cross spectrum website with your HTS screen name.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards

[jcisbig]

Just discovered this thread:

emotivalounge.proboards.com/thread/31259/rew-umc-200-peq

[danny01]

This is the response in my room with my two subs stack in the front left corner. There's a huge dip around 27hz, I have no idea how I'm gonna get rid of that.

Having trouble getting the image to show. If you right click on the picture icon and open it in a new tab or copy and paste the url, it will show up.

[flyhigh]

All you need to use REW is a Cal'd Mic, and an interface to your computer.

The program is a very powerful measurement tool, and be GLAD you don't have to pay for IT!

It would cost hundreds...and will tell you things that would amaze you.

Here's a tutorial that will show you how to work it like a Pro:

gikacoustics.com/room-eq-wizard-tutorial/

Go for it.

Fly