Have a Laptop: Need a Clue

[Alex2507]

This is the machine:

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/asus-x83vm-x1-core/4505-3121_7-33361040.html?tag=dtBody;[object%20NodeList]

There are a few different things that I want to do with it and I'm not going to be able to afford to do them all at once. Not that it matters but I paid <$800.

I could use some help organizing a shopping list and creating a plan. The main reason I got this thing is to be able to make frequency response graphs at my listening position. I would like to be able to make comparisons for different speaker, subwoofer and sound panel types and positions. The only thing I have is a Rives disc and a RS SPL meter. What do I need? What do I do?

The other thing that I want to do is use a DWT 3, run some box/crossover design software and make a couple of speakers out of what I have laying around and out of what I may buy in the future. This is like the PE portion of this post. I think I ought to be buying a book by Vance? on loudspeaker design and maybe some software called BassBox and the name Bullock comes to mind too. I have ideas and info scattered all over but I would like to get this plan carved in stone right here in this one thread.

The DCX 2496 thing falls into the I can't afford to do it now category.

I would like to get some use out of this laptop before it's features are all out of date and a similar one can be had for 1/2 the price. Is there something that I should be doing to this laptop? My only computer experience has been keeping this machine working for 4 years:

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/emachines-t5026/4505-3118_7-31297819.html

Most everything I know about any of this, I picked up here at AH.

 

[Djizasse]

Maybe you could just use Rew (free),a Behringer ECM-8000 and a mic preamp, like audiobuddy.

audio buddy:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Midiman-Audio-Buddy-Dual-Mic-Preamp-Direct-Box_W0QQitemZ330310485244QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item330310485244&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1234|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

ECM-8000 - Avaservi was selling two here:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51671&highlight=8000

 

[no. 5]

I don't have a heap of experience, but REW is nice for room and speaker measurements. It can perform quasi-anechoic measurements of speakers, and room response can be seen with user selectable temporal resolution.

An ECM8000 would be a much better choice for a microphone, but for easy, a 3.5mm to stereo RCA can be used to connect a Radio Shack meter to the laptop's sound card (left channel of the cable to the output on the meter). Just don't expect spectacular accuracy.

And you will likely want a better sound card too.

You might look into WinISD Pro too, for box design.

 

[jamie2112]

Sorry buddy I m a Mac guy. I know pc but have forgotten most of it as I have been a Mac user for 8 years now.......I know you need a good soundcard and some other drivers but someone will chime in who know better. Best of luck...

 

[Davemcc]

I'd like to help you, my friend, but I know little or nothing about computers exept to turn them on and hope they work. It's just one more marvel of modern society that I'm happy to use but haven't a clue how it works.

 

[Alex2507]

IIRC HTS has the 'Behringer calibrated mic solution' people linked. I think WmAx had a better mic for not much more money. I'm gonna PM him.

Anybody else ever heard of the mic pre-amp listed in post #2? If it would work the way I think, having 2 mic's would be cool but may be too complicated for my first go around. I know that the Behringer pre-amp is used most often.

I really need help picking out a sound card. I included a link to the laptop that I'm using but here it is again:
http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/asus-x83vm-x1-core/4505-3121_7-33361040.html?tag=dtBody;[object%20NodeList]

I guess I could use a recommendation for a boom mic stand.

 

[avaserfi]

You have two main options to use REW.

The first is use your RS SPL meter as the microphone and the calibration file from HTS. If you do this you will only need to purchase an external soundcard for your laptop and some cables. I started out with a Sound Blaster Live! 24-Bit USB External, but I don't think they are made anymore. If you look in the help file of REW there is an actual set up section for this specific soundcard becasue it was so popular. This option will be useful for low frequency measurements.

The alternative is to buy an ECM8000 and get it calibrated, ideally, (or sacrifice some accuracy to save $40 use the calibration file from the shack). If you go this route you will need a soundcard, the cables and a behringer xynex 802 as a preamp for the microphone. This route will be useful for full range measurements.

 

[Alex2507]

Alrighty then. I just bought the above mentioned sound card from Andrew.

I think I am going to buy a calibrated Behringer mic from these guys:

http://cross-spectrum.com/measurement/calibrated_behringer.html

The link was over at HTS.

Any suggestions on where to get the pre-amp from?

 

[avaserfi]

Price match through zzounds for the xynex.

 

[lsiberian]

You have two main options to use REW.

The first is use your RS SPL meter as the microphone and the calibration file from HTS. If you do this you will only need to purchase an external soundcard for your laptop and some cables. I started out with a Sound Blaster Live! 24-Bit USB External, but I don't think they are made anymore. If you look in the help file of REW there is an actual set up section for this specific soundcard becasue it was so popular. This option will be useful for low frequency measurements.

The alternative is to buy an ECM8000 and get it calibrated, ideally, (or sacrifice some accuracy to save $40 use the calibration file from the shack). If you go this route you will need a soundcard, the cables and a behringer xynex 802 as a preamp for the microphone. This route will be useful for full range measurements.

You can get them at Office Depot. At least that's where I found mine. Just don't install their software. Use only the driver. Creative software is creative. Not functional

 

[lsiberian]

You have two main options to use REW.

The first is use your RS SPL meter as the microphone and the calibration file from HTS. If you do this you will only need to purchase an external soundcard for your laptop and some cables. I started out with a Sound Blaster Live! 24-Bit USB External, but I don't think they are made anymore. If you look in the help file of REW there is an actual set up section for this specific soundcard becasue it was so popular. This option will be useful for low frequency measurements.

The alternative is to buy an ECM8000 and get it calibrated, ideally, (or sacrifice some accuracy to save $40 use the calibration file from the shack). If you go this route you will need a soundcard, the cables and a behringer xynex 802 as a preamp for the microphone. This route will be useful for full range measurements.

You can get them at Office Depot. At least that's where I found mine. Just don't install their software. Use only the driver. Creative software is creative. Not functional.

The Vista configuration is better.

 

[Alex2507]

You can get them at Office Depot.

I just bought the above mentioned sound card from Andrew.

Too late. The sound card is on it's way. I'm just waiting to hear from Chris before I pull the trigger on the Behringer stuff.

 

[Djizasse]

Too late. The sound card is on it's way. I'm just waiting to hear from Chris before I pull the trigger on the Behringer stuff.

Too late it is. You can read in their site: "Current Stock: 0"

 

[Alex2507]

Thanks Djizasse.

Okay, I found WmAx's mic:

http://www.linearx.com/products/microphones/m31/M31_1.htm

The trick is that it is 20% off until 3/1/09. Now to get the nod on this before then but WmAx has been incommunicado since yesterday evening!

Being in a hurry is exciting but it sucks.

Edit: I got the mic recommendation from this thread:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44839

 

[Djizasse]

I missed that thread and I bought an ECM-8000 :|

 

[Alex2507]

Those guys with the fancy mic that WmAx recommended also sell this mic clip:

http://www.linearx.com/products/accessories/MC301/MC301_1.htm

Seems like I would need that but thought that I would check. I still need a solution for a mic boom/stand. Today is the last day on that sale.

 

[WmAx]

Alrighty then. I just bought the above mentioned sound card from Andrew.

I think I am going to buy a calibrated Behringer mic from these guys:

http://cross-spectrum.com/measurement/calibrated_behringer.html

The link was over at HTS.

Any suggestions on where to get the pre-amp from?

Yes, no matter what you do, you will NEED a calibrated microphone if you want to have any level of certainty from measurements. You can only get by with no actual calibration if you are only doing low frequency measurements. But in any circumstance where you need mid to high frequency measurements, you must have a calibrated unit.

Several good recommendations have been made here in reference to mic pres, etc. Just be sure the mic pre has phantom voltage supply for the ECM800.

-Chris

 

[Alex2507]

Yes, no matter what you do, you will NEED a calibrated microphone if you want to have any level of certainty from measurements. You can only get by with no actual calibration if you are only doing low frequency measurements. But in any circumstance where you need mid to high frequency measurements, you must have a calibrated unit.

Several good recommendations have been made here in reference to mic pres, etc. Just be sure the mic pre has phantom voltage supply for the ECM800.

-Chris

Hi Chris,

Those guys are out of stock on the calibrated Behringer mic's. I was going to order this one :
http://www.linearx.com/products/microphones/m31/M31_1.htm
I assume it is already calibrated and will work with this pre amp:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHXENTX802

I'm also looking for a mic boom solution.

Thanks,
Alex