Dirac Target Curves - advice *** Conclusions***

[Priapulus]

After getting the newest version of firmware and the Dirac software (3.4.4.), and having moved some furniture and speakers, I decided it was time to do a factory reset, wiping out any ghosts in the machine, and redoing Dirac.

With Dirac I've successfully created and saved my speaker measurements. I used the Dirac supplied Target Curves and uploaded the filters. But I am very disappointed with the results. There is no Bass (I play organ music) and it all sounds boring and lackluster. If I scroll thru and listen to the EMO settings/speakers/levels (which are all set to zero) Dirac has given each speaker very similar loudnesses and colour, so I pleased with that. But there is also a huge drop in loudness.

I remember having the same problem a few years ago, and fixing it by switching to, and tweeking, "Harman-6" Target Curves. Yes, I'll (finally) RTFM, but if anyone has advice or suggestions for tweeking Curves Filters I'd be grateful. I've forgotten what I did last time. I'm after a natural sound but I'm not getting it now.

I seem to remember that one of the things that helped was by moving the bass curtain. The initial position gave too big a drop and Dirac was choking trying to compensate. I should have kept notes...

Sincerely
/blair

*** Conclusions ***
1) I changed the target curves to my modification of Harman-6 and that seemed to restore a natural sound.
2) I moved some of the bass side curtains to hide large falloffs, and that seemed to resolve the big dB loss when Dirac was enabled.
3) Switching the Main Speakers from Small to large restored some of the missing bass, which makes me wonder if Small/large Bass management was working properly.
4) When using surround, the subwoofer always worked excellently in its own channel. 

I'm delighted with the sound now; perhaps after I RTFM I can improve the bass even more!
Sincerely
/b

[ttocs]

Have you checked with REW yet to see how much is lacking in the bass? I know you can hear it, but it's always nice to put a number on it.

I've found that if Dirac is pushed over an invisible "edge", not only low bass can be affected in some weird ways, but also overall volume can be excessively diminished. So it's kinda like a micro-mouse maze event, where multiple paths need to be explored before finding the clear path that leads to greatest success.

I was at a audio club meeting yesterday and found out about another source of 22Hz music. Pete Belasco: Deeper. Most of the album Deeper is on has a lot of low freq bass on it.

[geebo]

Dec 12, 2022 13:19:11 GMT -5 Priapulus said:

After getting the newest version of firmware and the Dirac software, and having moved some furniture and speakers, I decided it was time to do a factory reset, wiping out any ghosts in the machine, and redoing Dirac.

With Dirac I've successfully created and saved my speaker measurements. I used the Dirac supplied Target Curves and uploaded the filters. But I am very disappointed with the results. There is no Bass (I play organ music) and it all sounds boring and lackluster. If I scroll thru and listen to the EMO settings/speakers/levels (which are all set to zero) Dirac has given each speaker very similar loudnesses and colour, so I pleased with that.

I remember having the same problem a few years ago, and fixing it by switching to, and tweeking, "Harman-6" Target filters. Yes, I'll (finally) RTFM, but if anyone has advice or suggestions for tweeking Target Filters I'd be grateful. I've forgotten what I did last time. I'm after a natural sound but I'm not getting it now.

Sincerely
/blair

Which version of Dirac are you using. The new version has an added and simpler method of creating targets.

[Priapulus]

Dec 12, 2022 13:46:40 GMT -5 geebo said:

Dec 12, 2022 13:19:11 GMT -5 Priapulus said:

Which version of Dirac are you using. The new version has an added and simpler method of creating targets.

I'm using the newest 3.4.4.

I seem to remember that one of the things that fixed it was by moving the bass curtain. The initial position gave too big a drop and Dirac the choking trying to compensate. I should have kept notes...

[lhracing]

I am using the Storm Audio curves and like them a lot.

www.stormaudio.com/download-center/

[geebo]

Dec 12, 2022 13:59:46 GMT -5 Priapulus said:

Dec 12, 2022 13:46:40 GMT -5 geebo said:

Which version of Dirac are you using. The new version has an added and simpler method of creating targets.

I'm using the newest 3.4.4.

I seem to remember that one of the things that fixed it was by moving the bass curtain. The initial position gave too big a drop and Dirac the choking trying to compensate. I should have kept notes...

There are sliders on the left (bass) and right (treble) that will adjust boost or cut using an appropriate rolloff. Each channel is adjusted separately by first choosing the speaker or speaker group on the far right.

[marcl]

Dec 12, 2022 17:31:08 GMT -5 geebo said:

Dec 12, 2022 13:59:46 GMT -5 Priapulus said:

I'm using the newest 3.4.4.

I seem to remember that one of the things that fixed it was by moving the bass curtain. The initial position gave too big a drop and Dirac the choking trying to compensate. I should have kept notes...

There are sliders on the left (bass) and right (treble) that will adjust boost or cut using an appropriate rolloff. Each channel is adjusted separately by first choosing the speaker or speaker group on the far right.

I love sliders.  these are pulled pork 

[geebo]

Dec 12, 2022 17:38:48 GMT -5 marcl said:

Dec 12, 2022 17:31:08 GMT -5 geebo said:

There are sliders on the left (bass) and right (treble) that will adjust boost or cut using an appropriate rolloff. Each channel is adjusted separately by first choosing the speaker or speaker group on the far right.

I love sliders.  these are pulled pork 

View Attachment

White Castle, the original slider, are my favorites. Krystal tries to imitate but they fall short.

[Priapulus]

*** Conclusions ***
1) I changed the target curves to my modification of Harman-6 and that seemed to restore a natural sound.
2) I moved some of the bass side curtains to hide large falloffs, and that seemed to resolve the big dB loss when Dirac was enabled.
3) Switching the Main Speakers from Small to large restored some of the missing bass, which makes me wonder if Small/large Bass management was working properly.
4) When using surround, the subwoofer always worked excellently in its own channel.

I'm delighted with the sound now; perhaps after I RTFM I can improve the bass even more! As I made several changes simultaneously, I may have credited/blamed the wrong thing.
Sincerely
/b