Measure dirac

[newgolf]

Good morning colleagues, I have a problem with dirac when measuring. I have tried both on Mac and Windows with the same results, I have also tried with your microphone as with a umik-1. The problem is the following when I start measuring the level of the speakers I can't register the level in dirac, at first if the bars move to bring them to -24 but suddenly they no longer act. It's as if I didn't pick up the sound, I restart and pick it up again but after a while they disappear again, could someone give me a hand? Thanks a lot

[KeithL]

There is one thing that comes to mind... and it involves a new feature in Windows 11 (and I suspect that Apple may have a similar new feature).

In Windows 11 the new feature is considered to be an "audio enhancement" and its intended purpose is to improve how the microphone works for video conferencing and such.
What it does is to cut out or block EVERYTHING EXCEPT VOICE picked up by the microphone - based on the assumption that it is eliminating background noise.
It is AI-based and it works VERY well.
When this feature is enabled, WHICH IT IS BY DEFAULT, your microphone will hear human voice, but NOT if you tap on the microphone, or if you whistle, OR IF YOU PLAY TEST TONES.
(The symptom is quite obvious... the meter bounces when you talk, but not when you tap on the microphone, and not when you play test tones.) 

This was rolled out as a new feature in Windows 11 several weeks ago... on some but not all computers... and seems to be enabled by default.
Since then we have received several reports from customers who have had Dirac Live "blocked" by this feature.
(As I said... I suspect that Apple has added a similar feature... and it may also become available in Windows 10.)

The feature itself goes under several different names - depending on what sound card hardware you have.
I've attached our internal information memo on this below...
It is not at all complete but will at least offer some idea of where to look and how to turn this feature off...

===================================================

DIRAC LIVE HEARS VOICE BUT NOT TEST TONES

We have received several reports about an unusual problem when running Dirac
Live on Windows 11 computers. The problem manifests itself as a situation where
the microphone appears to work, and the meters bounce when you talk, but the
microphone DOES NOT respond, or barely responds, to the test tones or to other
sounds like finger snaps or tapping the microphone. This problem may also cause
the microphone to respond incorrectly to the level of the test tones.

The cause of the problem is activation of a Windows 11 feature that is intended
to "enhance voice communications" by basically suppressing any sounds picked up
by the microphone other than human voice. Unfortunately, because this feature is
implemented slightly differently on computers of different brands, and computers
with different brands of sound cards, we cannot offer a single set of
instructions to disable it. However we can tell you what to look for - and what
settings you want in order for Dirac Live to work correctly. If you are having
this problem then you will probably find one or more of these options on your
particular computer. Note that the wording or options may vary slightly on your
computer. We suggest that you try these in order and, if you find one, try it...
and no need to look further if it solves the problem. Note that you may or may
not have to select which microphone these settings apply to - and the option may
ONLY appear when the microphone is connected.

Also note that we have instructed you to turn off these settings for "all
microphones". In many cases it may be possible to change a setting for
individual microphones. If so, it may be sufficient to disable the option for
just our microphone. You may also find other similar options on other brands of
computers. (Note that Windows considers these to be "voice enhancements" or
"communications enhancements" - so they will be labeled accordingly.)

1. In Windows - go to: Settings > System > Sound > More Sound Settings >
Communications if you see "When Windows detects communications activity" set the
option to "DO NOTHING". now go to: Settings > System > Sound > Input >
Microphone set "Audio Enhancements" to "OFF"

2. In Windows (on some Lenovo computers) - go to: Settings > System > Sound
scroll down to: Advanced click on: All Sound Devices > (our calibrated
microphone) scroll down to: Audio Enhancements and click "OFF"

3. In Windows (on some Acer computers) - search for an App named Realtek Audio
Console (possibly under Acer Control) on ALL speakers: set "Speaker Noise
Cancellation" to "OFF" on ALL microphones: set "AI Noise Reduction" to "OFF"

4. In Windows (on some Windows Computers) - search for an App named Realtek
Audio Console select Microphone under Microphone Effects you will probably see
several things: possibly "noise suppression", "beam forming", "AEC" switch ALL
Microphone Effects "OFF"

5. If you are unable to find any of these then look for some sort of "control
panel" or "sound settings app" that goes with the sound card you have installed
in your particular computer.

Jun 7, 2023 7:13:15 GMT -5 newgolf said:

Good morning colleagues, I have a problem with dirac when measuring. I have tried both on Mac and Windows with the same results, I have also tried with your microphone as with a umik-1. The problem is the following when I start measuring the level of the speakers I can't register the level in dirac, at first if the bars move to bring them to -24 but suddenly they no longer act. It's as if I didn't pick up the sound, I restart and pick it up again but after a while they disappear again, could someone give me a hand? Thanks a lot

[AudioHTIT]

The Dirac Live Thread

[geebo]

Jun 7, 2023 9:34:07 GMT -5 KeithL said:

There is one thing that comes to mind... and it involves a new feature in Windows 11 (and I suspect that Apple may have a similar new feature).

In Windows 11 the new feature is considered to be an "audio enhancement" and its intended purpose is to improve how the microphone works for video conferencing and such.
What it does is to cut out or block EVERYTHING EXCEPT VOICE picked up by the microphone - based on the assumption that it is eliminating background noise.
It is AI-based and it works VERY well.
When this feature is enabled, WHICH IT IS BY DEFAULT, your microphone will hear human voice, but NOT if you tap on the microphone, or if you whistle, OR IF YOU PLAY TEST TONES.
(The symptom is quite obvious... the meter bounces when you talk, but not when you tap on the microphone, and not when you play test tones.) 

This was rolled out as a new feature in Windows 11 several weeks ago... on some but not all computers... and seems to be enabled by default.
Since then we have received several reports from customers who have had Dirac Live "blocked" by this feature.
(As I said... I suspect that Apple has added a similar feature... and it may also become available in Windows 10.)

The feature itself goes under several different names - depending on what sound card hardware you have.
I've attached our internal information memo on this below...
It is not at all complete but will at least offer some idea of where to look and how to turn this feature off...

===================================================

DIRAC LIVE HEARS VOICE BUT NOT TEST TONES

We have received several reports about an unusual problem when running Dirac
Live on Windows 11 computers. The problem manifests itself as a situation where
the microphone appears to work, and the meters bounce when you talk, but the
microphone DOES NOT respond, or barely responds, to the test tones or to other
sounds like finger snaps or tapping the microphone. This problem may also cause
the microphone to respond incorrectly to the level of the test tones.

The cause of the problem is activation of a Windows 11 feature that is intended
to "enhance voice communications" by basically suppressing any sounds picked up
by the microphone other than human voice. Unfortunately, because this feature is
implemented slightly differently on computers of different brands, and computers
with different brands of sound cards, we cannot offer a single set of
instructions to disable it. However we can tell you what to look for - and what
settings you want in order for Dirac Live to work correctly. If you are having
this problem then you will probably find one or more of these options on your
particular computer. Note that the wording or options may vary slightly on your
computer. We suggest that you try these in order and, if you find one, try it...
and no need to look further if it solves the problem. Note that you may or may
not have to select which microphone these settings apply to - and the option may
ONLY appear when the microphone is connected.

Also note that we have instructed you to turn off these settings for "all
microphones". In many cases it may be possible to change a setting for
individual microphones. If so, it may be sufficient to disable the option for
just our microphone. You may also find other similar options on other brands of
computers. (Note that Windows considers these to be "voice enhancements" or
"communications enhancements" - so they will be labeled accordingly.)

1. In Windows - go to: Settings > System > Sound > More Sound Settings >
Communications if you see "When Windows detects communications activity" set the
option to "DO NOTHING". now go to: Settings > System > Sound > Input >
Microphone set "Audio Enhancements" to "OFF"

2. In Windows (on some Lenovo computers) - go to: Settings > System > Sound
scroll down to: Advanced click on: All Sound Devices > (our calibrated
microphone) scroll down to: Audio Enhancements and click "OFF"

3. In Windows (on some Acer computers) - search for an App named Realtek Audio
Console (possibly under Acer Control) on ALL speakers: set "Speaker Noise
Cancellation" to "OFF" on ALL microphones: set "AI Noise Reduction" to "OFF"

4. In Windows (on some Windows Computers) - search for an App named Realtek
Audio Console select Microphone under Microphone Effects you will probably see
several things: possibly "noise suppression", "beam forming", "AEC" switch ALL
Microphone Effects "OFF"

5. If you are unable to find any of these then look for some sort of "control
panel" or "sound settings app" that goes with the sound card you have installed
in your particular computer.

Very good info and thanks for posting. I got a new Acer laptop a couple months ago and have not yet used it to run Dirac measurements. I just went through the instructions and found all those settings were indeed on and no doubt would have caused problems for me with my next Dirac run.

This needs to be included in AudioHTIT 's Dirac Live Thread

[newgolf]

Thank you very much to everyone. Tomorrow I will try all the options available on my laptops, I hope it's worth some since I've changed my layout and I can't calibrate.

[newgolf]

Good morning friends, I have been testing deactivating what was indicated by the partner with the same result, for a while if it picks up the sound but as always after a while it is left without registering the sound, I will try next week with another microphone in case mine has a problem. Thank you all

[ttocs]

Which macOS version do you have?

[newgolf]

Jun 8, 2023 12:23:43 GMT -5 ttocs said:

Which macOS version do you have?

Sierra

[newgolf]

Well friends, they have lent me an umik microphone but with a micro usb connector and it works perfectly, I think mine for being an usb-c connector does not get along very well with this version of dirac. I did a calibration at 9 points and seeing the results I did not like at all what I have seen, since dirac tells me that he has left me a delay in all the speakers of 26ms then measuring with rew none was neither in time nor phase !! Have I done something wrong? Seeing the step quite well even with differences between speakers, the same with the grup delay having quite a difference in certain frequencies. Then I made in dirac a curve of -6 db but rew shows me a curve of -3. If I do this with the custom eq I have imported the filters nail the target. I don't know why but in dirac the sound has been left as with a veil in the boxes while with the preset 1 the scene is clearer. I'll keep testing in case I've made mistakes

[ttocs]

I'd suggest doing fewer mic points during the testing until you can see some trends and such. When I'm testing something, I just use a single mic point to make it quick and check results quick. Then once I'm comfortable with what I'm getting I take the extra time for more mic points.

When you know you want to check with REW afterwards, make the last mic position the MLP. This was the mic never moves from being used by Dirac and then REW. You can go in any order you want with Dirac. I got this suggested to me by marcl, and it helps a lot!

[newgolf]

Jun 9, 2023 15:59:33 GMT -5 ttocs said:

I'd suggest doing fewer mic points during the testing until you can see some trends and such. When I'm testing something, I just use a single mic point to make it quick and check results quick. Then once I'm comfortable with what I'm getting I take the extra time for more mic points.

When you know you want to check with REW afterwards, make the last mic position the MLP. This was the mic never moves from being used by Dirac and then REW. You can go in any order you want with Dirac. I got this suggested to me by marcl, and it helps a lot!

Thank you for the suggestion. That's how I will do it. Even so, I shouldn't put them in phase in the first point since that will be the reference, right?

[ttocs]

Jun 9, 2023 16:12:56 GMT -5 newgolf said:

Jun 9, 2023 15:59:33 GMT -5 ttocs said:

I'd suggest doing fewer mic points during the testing until you can see some trends and such. When I'm testing something, I just use a single mic point to make it quick and check results quick. Then once I'm comfortable with what I'm getting I take the extra time for more mic points.

When you know you want to check with REW afterwards, make the last mic position the MLP. This was the mic never moves from being used by Dirac and then REW. You can go in any order you want with Dirac. I got this suggested to me by marcl , and it helps a lot!

Thank you for the suggestion. That's how I will do it. Even so, I shouldn't put them in phase in the first point since that will be the reference, right?

I'm sorry, but I don't understand your question about phase.

Are you talking about timing, like with the Impulse Response? If so, then don't worry about the fact that Dirac chooses the first mic position in the main listening position, because you can choose any position you want in any order. So save that mic position in the main listening position for last so you can leave the mic there while using REW.

[newgolf]

Good morning, I mean that the first measurement would be taken as the main point and the delays and phases would be adjusted for that position

[ttocs]

Jun 10, 2023 7:22:57 GMT -5 newgolf said:

Good morning, I mean that the first measurement would be taken as the main point and the delays and phases would be adjusted for that position

Ok, got it. So you do this measurement last so the mic won't move when using REW.