XMC-1 Refurbished with 2.0 board. Can I Dirac?

[oicheshamhna]

So I bought a refurbished XMC-1. I am on a low budget and getting an older one was the only way I was able to get in the game lest my wife kill me. So the two-channel audio is brilliant. I was wanting to set up a home theater room and have always used  Audyssey. The unit came with everything to get Dirac setup but didn't have a license. So, I read about the difference between Dirac Live and LE and was looking to see if I can use either. I have read through the forums and am still confused. Some seem to still be working with it but everything I can find says Dirac cannot be used with an XMC-1 anymore? Is this server side? I am assuming I can buy Dirac Live but it won't be able to send info back to the XMC-1 for setup. Is this correct? the Dirac Live is not available on Emotiva.com anymore but Dirac does sell a version for 149.00.

[KeithL]

OK... here's what YOU need to know.
(You've sort of got it right.)

There are several different versions of Dirac Live that specifically work with different products.

Dirac Live for processors is a combination of software that runs on your computer and a firmware module that runs in the processor.
The current version of Dirac Live is version 3.xx
(Our current processors, and many others, run with the current Dirac Live 3.xx software).

There is also a software-only version that runs on your computer... and ONLY works with player programs running on your computer.
(And there is a related set of "studio plugins" that work with certain audio editing programs.)
The software-only versions run on your computer, and work with the player software on your computer, so they will work with any processor or player device.)

The XMC-1 specifically requires a highly customized version of Dirac Live 1.xx (an older version of the software).
And the version that runs with the XMC-1 has been discontinued.
(So it can no longer be purchased or activated.)

If you already have a copy of the software that works with the XMC-1...
AND YOU HAVE ALREADY ACTIVATED IT AND RECEIVED A USER NAME AND PASSWORD TO GO WITH IT...
Then it will continue to work with your existing user name and password (probably for at least the next year).
HOWEVER, YOU CAN NO LONGER PURCHASE DIRAC LIVE FOR THE XMC-1.
(And, even if you have an "activation code" that was never used, it can no longer be used to activate a new license.)

 NOTE that the XMC-1 has very powerful MANUAL set-up and EQ options...
And it CAN be used with other room correction software...
Like REW (Room EQ Wizard) - which is very powerful, and free, but is somewhat complicated to use.

May 12, 2023 10:20:28 GMT -5 oicheshamhna said:

So I bought a refurbished XMC-1. I am on a low budget and getting an older one was the only way I was able to get in the game lest my wife kill me. So the two-channel audio is brilliant. I was wanting to set up a home theater room and have always used  Audyssey. The unit came with everything to get Dirac setup but didn't have a license. So, I read about the difference between Dirac Live and LE and was looking to see if I can use either. I have read through the forums and am still confused. Some seem to still be working with it but everything I can find says Dirac cannot be used with an XMC-1 anymore? Is this server side? I am assuming I can buy Dirac Live but it won't be able to send info back to the XMC-1 for setup. Is this correct? the Dirac Live is not available on Emotiva.com anymore but Dirac does sell a version for 149.00.

[405x5]

May 12, 2023 11:40:16 GMT -5 KeithL said:

 “NOTE that the XMC-1 has very powerful MANUAL set-up and EQ options...”




And that’s MORE than enough!

[oicheshamhna]

Thanks for the update. So I did download the REW software and started the process. I watched some videos and thought I have it pretty well figured out on how to get the readings. I do run into a strange issue. When I first set it up I used the internal filters and set everything to 75 DB and applied the distance. in those tests everything sets the tone to the proper speakers. However, using REW set to 7.1 doesn't fire properly. Like when setting subs it fired my right front speaker. One of the rear speakers in the software fired the center. Has anyone else had this happen?

[KeithL]

On the XMC-1 I'm not sure you're going to be able to run REW "as it sits" or that you'll be able to run it to test all seven channels together and give you a ready-made set of filters.
I don't know if this has changed... but, as I recall...
Depending on your computer REW may or may not output all of the channels... or save the separate filters for each under the correct names...
This means that you will need to run REW separately for each channel, save the filter for that channel, then change the file name of the filter, and the field names IN the filter, to go with that channel.
So, for example, you run REW, save "the XMC-1 filter", then rename the filter FILE with the right name for the channel you ran, and edit the field INSIDE the file to say the right channel name.

The filter files are just text files... and there is a separate one for each channel.
You can do an EXPORT FILTERS from the processor first...
That way you will be able to see what the files should be named and the proper label names to put inside them.
(There is several pages of detail about this in the manual.)

Basically, the filter for each channel has a different name...
And, INSIDE THE FILE, there is also at least one field that contains the "channel name".
(The files are just XML files which can be edited with a text editor like Notepad.)

THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER is that what you are calibrating are your speakers, your room, and the speaker placement in the room.
You DO NOT need to calibrate the individual channels on the processor, or on your amps if they're modern, because both of those will be "arbitrarily perfect".
So, rather than worry about getting your computer to output the correct channels, you can simply use one channel on the processor.
So, for example, test the RIGHT FRONT channel first, and save that filter...
Then plug the interconnect from the LEFT FRONT channel of the amp to the same RIGHT FRONT output on the processor and run it again.
And this time save it as the LEFT FRONT FILTER.
Just plug the interconnects going to each additional channel on the amp into that same output on the processor - one after the other.
And, for each channel, save the filter file you get with a different and appropriate name.

Depending on your computer and sound card you MIGHT be able to convince REW to send the outputs to the correct channels...
But, as I said above, that is not strictly necessary, and it may be simpler just to keep using one channel on the processor, and "walk the amplifier inputs across it".
And, since the channels on most amplifiers will also be identical, in terms of room correction, you could even connect each speaker, one after the other, to the same AMPLIFIER output.

May 15, 2023 10:34:12 GMT -5 oicheshamhna said:

Thanks for the update. So I did download the REW software and started the process. I watched some videos and thought I have it pretty well figured out on how to get the readings. I do run into a strange issue. When I first set it up I used the internal filters and set everything to 75 DB and applied the distance. in those tests everything sets the tone to the proper speakers. However, using REW set to 7.1 doesn't fire properly. Like when setting subs it fired my right front speaker. One of the rear speakers in the software fired the center. Has anyone else had this happen?

[ttocs]

May 15, 2023 10:34:12 GMT -5 oicheshamhna said:

Thanks for the update. So I did download the REW software and started the process. I watched some videos and thought I have it pretty well figured out on how to get the readings. I do run into a strange issue. When I first set it up I used the internal filters and set everything to 75 DB and applied the distance. in those tests everything sets the tone to the proper speakers. However, using REW set to 7.1 doesn't fire properly. Like when setting subs it fired my right front speaker. One of the rear speakers in the software fired the center. Has anyone else had this happen?

Take a look at the thread for some help with REW:
ZOOMING In REW (and a little Dirac)

I wonder if you might be having some issue with how the Channel Routing is setup?

The Channel Mapping can be used to setup however you want the channels to show up, they are just names. But, the Hardware Channel numbers are assigned to specific channel outputs. So if I change Channel-1 to be Hardware-Channel-2, then Channels 1 and 2 will both be R (Right Front) and there will no longer be any L (Left Front) available to measure. Check Channel Mapping to verify all the channels make sound like you expect.

[oicheshamhna]

May 15, 2023 15:51:56 GMT -5 ttocs said:

May 15, 2023 10:34:12 GMT -5 oicheshamhna said:

Thanks for the update. So I did download the REW software and started the process. I watched some videos and thought I have it pretty well figured out on how to get the readings. I do run into a strange issue. When I first set it up I used the internal filters and set everything to 75 DB and applied the distance. in those tests everything sets the tone to the proper speakers. However, using REW set to 7.1 doesn't fire properly. Like when setting subs it fired my right front speaker. One of the rear speakers in the software fired the center. Has anyone else had this happen?

Take a look at the thread for some help with REW:
ZOOMING In REW (and a little Dirac)

I wonder if you might be having some issue with how the Channel Routing is setup?

The Channel Mapping can be used to setup however you want the channels to show up, they are just names. But, the Hardware Channel numbers are assigned to specific channel outputs. So if I change Channel-1 to be Hardware-Channel-2, then Channels 1 and 2 will both be R (Right Front) and there will no longer be any L (Left Front) available to measure. Check Channel Mapping to verify all the channels make sound like you expect.
View AttachmentThis could be it. i will check. I left it as default when I picked 7.1 but maybe it was incorrect. 

[oicheshamhna]

So, once I get these saved according to some of the videos I watched my goal is to then try to flatten it and the upload it back to the XMC-1 is this a correct assumption? There are a lot of videos on REW but none I could find that cover much on uploading those back into a pre-amp 

May 15, 2023 11:12:23 GMT -5 KeithL said:

On the XMC-1 I'm not sure you're going to be able to run REW "as it sits" or that you'll be able to run it to test all seven channels together and give you a ready-made set of filters.
I don't know if this has changed... but, as I recall...
Depending on your computer REW may or may not output all of the channels... or save the separate filters for each under the correct names...
This means that you will need to run REW separately for each channel, save the filter for that channel, then change the file name of the filter, and the field names IN the filter, to go with that channel.
So, for example, you run REW, save "the XMC-1 filter", then rename the filter FILE with the right name for the channel you ran, and edit the field INSIDE the file to say the right channel name.

The filter files are just text files... and there is a separate one for each channel.
You can do an EXPORT FILTERS from the processor first...
That way you will be able to see what the files should be named and the proper label names to put inside them.
(There is several pages of detail about this in the manual.)

Basically, the filter for each channel has a different name...
And, INSIDE THE FILE, there is also at least one field that contains the "channel name".
(The files are just XML files which can be edited with a text editor like Notepad.)

THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER is that what you are calibrating are your speakers, your room, and the speaker placement in the room.
You DO NOT need to calibrate the individual channels on the processor, or on your amps if they're modern, because both of those will be "arbitrarily perfect".
So, rather than worry about getting your computer to output the correct channels, you can simply use one channel on the processor.
So, for example, test the RIGHT FRONT channel first, and save that filter...
Then plug the interconnect from the LEFT FRONT channel of the amp to the same RIGHT FRONT output on the processor and run it again.
And this time save it as the LEFT FRONT FILTER.
Just plug the interconnects going to each additional channel on the amp into that same output on the processor - one after the other.
And, for each channel, save the filter file you get with a different and appropriate name.

Depending on your computer and sound card you MIGHT be able to convince REW to send the outputs to the correct channels...
But, as I said above, that is not strictly necessary, and it may be simpler just to keep using one channel on the processor, and "walk the amplifier inputs across it".
And, since the channels on most amplifiers will also be identical, in terms of room correction, you could even connect each speaker, one after the other, to the same AMPLIFIER output.

May 15, 2023 10:34:12 GMT -5 oicheshamhna said:

Thanks for the update. So I did download the REW software and started the process. I watched some videos and thought I have it pretty well figured out on how to get the readings. I do run into a strange issue. When I first set it up I used the internal filters and set everything to 75 DB and applied the distance. in those tests everything sets the tone to the proper speakers. However, using REW set to 7.1 doesn't fire properly. Like when setting subs it fired my right front speaker. One of the rear speakers in the software fired the center. Has anyone else had this happen?