Room calibration question

[fyrn]

Hi, I would like to play with REW (room EQ wizard). I know I would need a microphone. Would I be better of using my SPL meter and buying something like a Behringer U control USB or buying an omni directional mic like (dsp mik or behringer)? Or is the difference not significant?
Thanks

[JKCashin]

I have just gone down that same route.... and the advice is mixed. My take is that the MiniDSP UMIK-1 is a one-stop solution, and reasonably priced ($US75/$CAN120). No special configuration, or setup, or calibration. Plug it in, load the calibration file, and you're running.

But there are some who say the time delay of the sound card in the UMIK-1 (or all USB microphones really) has some effect on the measurements, but I don't really understand it.

That's all my way of saying, I don't know the answer, but would be interested in learning more.

One thing I have read, though I don't know how much truth there is to it, is that some of the cheaper SPL meters are only really accurate for lower frequencies, which is fine if you plan to mostly do low frequency tuning, but again, I don't know how much truth there is to that.

I ended up getting the UMIK-1, and it arrives Friday. The way I see it is even if there are some compromises made with the UMIK-1 (or similar solution), the differences between it and the "optimal" solution likely don't amount to errors that would be audible in the end, which is one of your questions. I'm speculating here, based on the number of people who recommend the UMIK-1, and even the REW software itself lists it as one preferred solution.

Besides, I like the simple portability of my MacBook AIR and the UMIK-1. I have already offered to take my system to friends homes and help them set their gear up better.

Jamie

[ansat]

I use microphones frem cross spectrum. They are calibrated as a single mic instead of batch calibrated

Tony

[geebo]

I believe that the Dirac software measures and compensates for delays in the entire path from USB to your network.

And +1 on the Cross Spectrum calibrated UMIK-1

cross-spectrum.com/measurement/calibrated_umik.html

[Talley]

Umik-1 is the only way to go imho.