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Post by flamethrower1 on Dec 19, 2016 21:19:38 GMT -5
Just wondering if someone could share the way they connected the computer to the XMC and how they ran REW.
For some reason I dont find anything when I do a search.
Thanks, Greg
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Dec 19, 2016 22:26:51 GMT -5
If the XMC-1 is connected to the computer via USB, Toslink, Coax etc. just set REW to use the same output device as used to play music.
The input device is the microphone.
This works for L/R. Measurement of other speakers requires a DAC that has analog output and is fed into the discrete 7.1 inputs of the XMC-1.
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Post by geebo on Dec 19, 2016 22:48:09 GMT -5
I've used an HDMI connection with good results using the ASIO drivers. That makes it possible to select any of the channels in a surround system up to 7.1
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Post by flamethrower1 on Dec 19, 2016 22:49:07 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck, I have read some references to using HDMI and having to unhook a speaker output that you do not want to measure.
If you dont mind sharing,what worked best for you.
I have the umik-1 microphone, just a little confused on some of the instructions
Thanks, Greg
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Post by geebo on Dec 19, 2016 22:50:19 GMT -5
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Dec 19, 2016 22:53:39 GMT -5
I did not know about this, thanks for the post! |
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Dec 19, 2016 22:59:01 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck, I have read some references to using HDMI and having to unhook a speaker output that you do not want to measure. If you dont mind sharing,what worked best for you. I have the umik-1 microphone, just a little confused on some of the instructions Thanks, Greg REW is a very powerful application, but it is very confusing to use so don't feel bad! |
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Post by flamethrower1 on Dec 19, 2016 23:18:43 GMT -5
Thanks guys,appreciated
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2016 11:30:01 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck, I have read some references to using HDMI and having to unhook a speaker output that you do not want to measure. If you dont mind sharing,what worked best for you. I have the umik-1 microphone, just a little confused on some of the instructions Thanks, Greg REW is a very powerful application, but it is very confusing to use so don't feel bad! Learning curve is steep. But once you've got it down. It a super easy point and click |
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Post by rbk123 on Dec 20, 2016 21:08:55 GMT -5
Out of curiosity, are you guys using REW instead of Dirac, or in addition to Dirac?
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LCSeminole
Global Moderator 
Res firma mitescere nescit.
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Post by LCSeminole on Dec 20, 2016 21:40:25 GMT -5
I've used an HDMI connection with good results using the ASIO drivers. That makes it possible to select any of the channels in a surround system up to 7.1 Same here. I used this with the UMC-200 and it's P-EQ. Good results. |
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gabe
Minor Hero
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Post by gabe on Feb 19, 2018 10:57:57 GMT -5
I was thinking of trying to figure out REW myself instead of using my Rane RTA. The XMC 1 is connected to my computer over the home network, would this connection work for REW or is that treated more of an input source like a Blu ray player or whatever?
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on Feb 19, 2018 11:52:12 GMT -5
Using REW with your XMC-1 - some explanations.
REW is a computer-based piece of software designed to measure and correct the frequency response of your audio system.
The thing you need to understand is that REW itself is basically totally independent of your stereo system.
Basically, REW is going to play some test tones (normally a sweep), listen to the results with its microphone, and make some calculations based on those measurements.
REW will calculate things like frequency response and impulse response from the measurements...
And, if you ask it to, it will compare its measurements to some standard and calculate the settings necessary to "correct" what it measured to match the standard.
When you run Dirac with the XMC-1, it is handled in a special way...
The Dirac software actually takes over control of the XMC-1, instructs the XMC-1 to play various test tones, then transfers its results to the XMC-1 over the same connection.
REW does NOT work this way.
For the testing portion of the process, REW simply treats the XMC-1 as it would any other stereo system.
The test tones are produced by the computer, and the microphone is connected to the computer.
The output of the computer is then connected to the XMC-1 - which plays the test tones as it would any other computer-sourced audio signal.
Depending on the type of connection you use, you MAY be able to instruct the computer to send the test tone out of a particular channel, or you may not.
For example, if your computer only has a stereo output, you may have to actually move the wire from one input on the XMC-1 to another to test all the channels.
(And, if you used USB, you might have to set the XMC-1 to ALL STEREO, then physically disconnect certain amplifier channels, in order to get the test signal to play from only one specific output channel at a time.)
In general, REW does one channel at a time, and you will have to measure each separately, one after the other.
Once REW has made its measurements, you can instruct it to calculate a correction filter (usually a set of them, one for each channel).
These correction filters must then be transferred back to the XMC-1 using a USB stick.
REQ will generate a separate correction filter for each channel you test.
REW has special output options for the XMC-1.
Based on these options, you will be able to instruct REW that a specific output filter should be associated with a certain channel on the XMC-1.
When you do so:
- REW will write its filter configuration files in a format that is compatible with the EQ filters in the XMC-1
- REW will add internal information to each file that tells the XMC-1 which channel it goes with.
You will essentially test each channel on the XMC-1 (and the rest of your system).
You will then instruct REW to make a correction filter for each channel.
Based on the XMC-1 output options, you will tell REW to label each filter as being for a certain channel of the XMC-1.
The result will be a SET of files, each containing the correction filter for one channel, and each named and internally labelled with the channel it goes with.
You will then copy this set of files onto a USB stick on your computer.
You will then unplug this USB stick from your computer, plug it into the XMC-1, and instruct the XMC-1 to import the set of filter files.
The REW filters will be imported into one of the MANUAL SPEAKER PRESETS on the XMC-1, which you will then be able to select.
REW uses a standard data format called XML...
You can actually transfer filter information in both directions, to and from the XMC-1.
You can also access the data in XML format.
For example, you can export the filter settings for one of the manual EQ presets on the XMC-1 to an XML file.
You can then read that file into REW, or edit it with an XML editor.
WARNING.
The structure of the XML files used by REW and the XMC-1 is quite specific.
While it is possible to manually edit XML files using a plain text editor, entering certain invalid values may cause your XMC-1 to act VERY oddly, or even to lock up.
Therefore, while you can alter individual settings using a text editor, we suggest you do so very carefully.
People most often use manual editing to perform SIMPLE modifications......
For example, if you wanted to duplicate your Front Right EQ settings on your Front Left channel....
You could export the Front Right settings XML file, make a copy, and rename the copy to Front Left.....
You could then CAREFULLY edit the internal tag on your new file to also read "Front Left"....
Then, when you import both files, you will be reading duplicate settings into both your Front Left and Front Right filter preset settings.
You will find several pages in the XMC-1 manual that contain details of how the import and export processes work.
Also note that you DO want to make sure you accurately transfer the test signal from your computer to the XMC-1.
For example, an HDMI connection is digital, so the fidelity of the test signal will be perfect.
However, if you use the headphone output on your computer, because that is an analog connection, the computer's sound card has now become the source, and may add its own imperfections to the signal.
(I believe the REW documentation covers this in detail, as well as making suggestions for how to compensate for it.)
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on Feb 19, 2018 12:09:58 GMT -5
Basically, yes.... as far as the XMC-1 is concerned, your computer is simply an audio source, and the same is true when it is running REW. The big difference is that REW has a configuration option that allows it to import and export correction filters in a format that is compatible with the XMC-1's EQ filters. However, while that makes it possible to import correction filters generated by REW directly into the XMC-1, and vice versa, it really has nothing to do with the process of taking measurements. I was thinking of trying to figure out REW myself instead of using my Rane RTA. The XMC 1 is connected to my computer over the home network, would this connection work for REW or is that treated more of an input source like a Blu ray player or whatever? |
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gabe
Minor Hero
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Post by gabe on Mar 26, 2018 12:33:05 GMT -5
Wow! That simple huh? Remember, non-computer guy here, could one do the same save/load into presets 1&2 with modified Dirac results? Remember my wish list post wanting different curves for different formats?
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Post by enricoclaudio on Mar 26, 2018 12:40:42 GMT -5
Wow! That simple huh? Remember, non-computer guy here, could one do the same save/load into presets 1&2 with modified Dirac results? Remember my wish list post wanting different curves for different formats? There is only one preset for Dirac which is named "Dirac". Preset 1 and Preset 2 can be configured manually or with REW filters but they can't be used as Dirac presets. |
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on Mar 26, 2018 13:33:11 GMT -5
Exactly. The two manual presets enable you to set the Parametric Eq filter parameters manually. These settings can then be saved to a file and read in from a file. What REW does is to take it's own measurements, then calculate the settings to use with the Parametric Eq filters. REW saves its results as files in the appropriate format for the XMC-1 to use. You then import them into the XMC-1 into Preset 1 or Preset 2. The Dirac filters are somewhat different. They are NOT just PEQ settings.... they are custom configured filters.... and they are transferred into the XMC-1 directly by the Dirac software. While you can save your Dirac project files on the computer, in the Dirac software, you cannot save or load the Dirac filters from the XMC-1 like the other presets. Also, while you can set the Levels and Speaker Size for the Dirac preset on the XMC-1, you cannot view or edit the other Dirac filter settings on the XMC-1 (as you can with the manual presets). You have two manual presets (named Preset 1 and Preset 2 by default) and one Dirac preset... and they operate differently. Wow! That simple huh? Remember, non-computer guy here, could one do the same save/load into presets 1&2 with modified Dirac results? Remember my wish list post wanting different curves for different formats? There is only one preset for Dirac which is named "Dirac". Preset 1 and Preset 2 can be configured manually or with REW filters but they can't be used as Dirac presets. |
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Post by zlooperz on Apr 24, 2018 10:08:18 GMT -5
New user here, thanks for all the helpful intel on this here app. Just wanted to mention my appreciation for the community as I've been lurking these pages for a while and it has been of assistance in optimizing my xmc1. Had to sign in this weekend to get Ansat's EMM-1 calibration files ... so now I'm active (looking forward to the opportunity to complain about product launch dates and feature sets  ) Sort of on-topic: I had been wishing for tone controls on the zone2 out, which gets fairly heavy use at my crib in an awkward (for sound) room, for quite some time. Recently saw the light and put a minidspHD back there, have been playing with REW and getting dialed for a week or so. Wow. NOW I see why there is no need for tonal adjustments on a zone2 out. Bottom line comment that may be obvious to more sophisticated users but took me a long time to understand: if you are using zone2 and have ANY concerns about sound, addition of this tiny PEQ will give you some control. So this is an application where REW can be of great use to at least some xmc1 users if they still are applying the zone2 outs for that purpose. |
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on Apr 24, 2018 10:23:22 GMT -5
Absolutely..... Another solution is to choose an integrated amplifier for your Zone 2 amp.... one that has its own tone controls (like our TA-100). (It's slightly less effective... but a lot easier.) New user here, thanks for all the helpful intel on this here app. Just wanted to mention my appreciation for the community as I've been lurking these pages for a while and it has been of assistance in optimizing my xmc1. Had to sign in this weekend to get Ansat's EMM-1 calibration files ... so now I'm active (looking forward to the opportunity to complain about product launch dates and feature sets ) Sort of on-topic: I had been wishing for tone controls on the zone2 out, which gets fairly heavy use at my crib in an awkward (for sound) room, for quite some time. Recently saw the light and put a minidspHD back there, have been playing with REW and getting dialed for a week or so. Wow. NOW I see why there is no need for tonal adjustments on a zone2 out. Bottom line comment that may be obvious to more sophisticated users but took me a long time to understand: if you are using zone2 and have ANY concerns about sound, addition of this tiny PEQ will give you some control. So this is an application where REW can be of great use to at least some xmc1 users if they still are applying the zone2 outs for that purpose. |
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Post by zlooperz on Apr 24, 2018 10:23:56 GMT -5
Question though — did I actually need to add the outboard PEQ or could I have loaded those corrections directly for zone2 out?
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