Amarra Symphony with Dirac Live Impulse Response Correction

[Whatmore]

<snip>

The software is free to try for 14 days.
http://www.dirac.se/en/consumer-products/dirac-rcs.aspx

The really nice thing about DIRAC in terms of ease of use is the ability to use a different device for the input(mic ) and output( test signal ). The software compensates for the 2 different clocks.

Another question, my computer audio software is straight from iTunes. Will Dirac work with that or do I need to get Amarra as well?

 

[RBFC]

The Amarra player software includes Dirac IRC as an "add-on" for additional $$. Dirac offers their stand-alone software as well.

Lee

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Thanks guys. I'm struggling a bit with the concept, though it got clearer when Amir said think of it as EQ, not "Room EQ." Still, I've always been taught to use EQ very sparingly, and mostly to cut. It has always been my understanding boosting frequencies gets very destructive very quickly. This just looks like an awful lot of correction to me. But it it sounds good, it is good...

Tim

 

[dallasjustice]

Apologies for the ignorant questions, but what is the impulse response?

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f...dio/listening-rooms-and-pulse-response-17633/

 

[audioguy]

Tim: try the free version. I have used Tact, Audyssey, SigTech and am now using Dirac (easily the best of the lot) on my server. It has lots of flexibility and should greatly improve your listening experience. And the default target curve (that you can modify to your hearts content), is NOT flat and is my favorite as of right now!!!

 

[dallasjustice]

I feel like I am involved in an audio-intervention; a Timervention?

 

[RBFC]

I've heard many skeptical comments about EQ in general over the years, and had developed an "old-school" pure-signal-path ethos. Dirac is a different animal. The addition of the impulse response correction is IMO a big step. I compared a cut from Rodrigo & Gabriela with and without Dirac. The presentation of each guitar was more clearly localized in space, and the strumming noises all fit into the playing much more realistically. The see-through clarity is in a different league. This is no doubt partially due to removing large bass resonances, but not only.

Tim, I understand your hesitance, as I was there too. I know you are a fan of digital and of good measurements. This is a case where the measurements clearly describe the improvement in the listening experience.

Lee

 

[cpp]

If I could do it, anyone here can.

Lee

I'm also very interested in this software. I guess a simple question to start, the "target curve" one wants to achieve, is that set by the user or by Dirac.

 

[dallasjustice]

I'm also very interested in this software. I guess a simple question to start, the "target curve" one wants to achieve, is that set by the user or by Dirac.

Either way. I have tried my own curves and I find the optimized one preset by DIRAC to sound best. I don't know for sure, but I bet they spent some time figuring out what sounds best. Their optimized curve also fits in with curves I've seen others use with similar software.

 

[cpp]

Either way. I have tried my own curves and I find the optimized one preset by DIRAC to sound best. I don't know for sure, but I bet they spent some time figuring out what sounds best. Their optimized curve also fits in with curves I've seen others use with similar software.

Thanks Dallas

 

[RBFC]

I created three other filter curves besides the default curve provided by Dirac. None of them sounded any better. I want to go back and re-measure to be sure that all my settings were correct in my preamp/processor (no additional processing, etc. being done) and compare the results to what I already have. Once you get the initial fumbling out of the way, it's very easy to do.

Lee

 

[amirm]

Thanks guys. I'm struggling a bit with the concept, though it got clearer when Amir said think of it as EQ, not "Room EQ." Still, I've always been taught to use EQ very sparingly, and mostly to cut. It has always been my understanding boosting frequencies gets very destructive very quickly. This just looks like an awful lot of correction to me. But it it sounds good, it is good...

Tim

The Dirac output definitely looks "over corrected" but that is not its output it seems. It is what it wants it to be, not what it achieved. As I implied earlier, it uses a trick for fixing the dips. Instead of fixing them, it pulls the level down for all frequencies. When you do that, then the dip is not as deep. Problem is, you have lost system gain. To fix that, the overall level needs to be increased. Hence my comment about overdriving the amp and or speaker. So you are right that the safest implementation is to pull down the peaks. Going beyond can be dicey although in my experience the dips can be pulled up a few dbs.

 

[dallasjustice]

I've noticed reduced gain in all DSPs I've tried; eg. Audiolense, Acourate and DIRAC. It's not a big deal as it prevents digital clipping. If there's insufficient voltage out of the pre, you can adjust the gain in the DAP. However, you might increase the chance of digital clipping.

Tim,
You are partially correct that non-minimum phase room dips measured from a single seated position may seem impossible to correct; eg. SBIR. However, I've found that SBIRs are way less severe when you've measured from multiple positions and combined those measurements (more like what we hear) within the same seating area. More importantly, SBIR usually don't sound the same way they measure. At any rate, most systems still have plenty of minimum phase stuff that can be corrected with way more precision using something like DIRAC than a simple PEQ. I've gone through the exercise with Nyal using REW. We set up 14 LF filters using REW. It sounded a lot better for sure. But DIRAC does so much more, especially in the time domain. It's really hard to explain unless you've heard it.

The Dirac output definitely looks "over corrected" but that is not its output it seems. It is what it wants it to be, not what it achieved. As I implied earlier, it uses a trick for fixing the dips. Instead of fixing them, it pulls the level down for all frequencies. When you do that, then the dip is not as deep. Problem is, you have lost system gain. To fix that, the overall level needs to be increased. Hence my comment about overdriving the amp and or speaker. So you are right that the safest implementation is to pull down the peaks. Going beyond can be dicey although in my experience the dips can be pulled up a few dbs.

 

[edorr]

I created three other filter curves besides the default curve provided by Dirac. None of them sounded any better. I want to go back and re-measure to be sure that all my settings were correct in my preamp/processor (no additional processing, etc. being done) and compare the results to what I already have. Once you get the initial fumbling out of the way, it's very easy to do.

Lee

I remember preferring my custom curve over the standard. Of course, men are universally know to have different preferences when it comes to curves.

 

[RBFC]

I remember preferring my custom curve over the standard. Of course, men are universally know to have different preferences when it comes to curves.

I may have not come across the right adjustments to the default curve. Rooms, speakers, and personal preferences also play into finding "just right",

 

[audioguy]

I have tried my own curves and I find the optimized one preset by DIRAC to sound best. I don't know for sure, but I bet they spent some time figuring out what sounds best. Their optimized curve also fits in with curves I've seen others use with similar software.

Same here. I have tried less and more slope but none sound, to my ears, quite as "real" as the default.

 

[RBFC]

Just completed a more careful run-through of the Dirac measurement cycle and am totally impressed with the results. Best $$ I've spent on audio.

Lee

 

[dallasjustice]

Just completed a more careful run-through of the Dirac measurement cycle and am totally impressed with the results. Best $$ I've spent on audio.

Lee

I am happy you've enjoyed DIRAC. I think it's essential to real highend systems. There's no amount of money one can spend on gear or even room optimization that can replace what DIRAC does.

Michael.

 

[flyer]

Interesting thread this is.

Does Dirac, or any other soft, allow to convert a music file from for example flac to flac but equalization applied to it? In other words, the EQ would be 'hard coded' / embedded in the copied music file thus eliminating the need to have an EQ in the live audio stream?

 

[edorr]

Interesting thread this is.

Does Dirac, or any other soft, allow to convert a music file from for example flac to flac but equalization applied to it? In other words, the EQ would be 'hard coded' / embedded in the copied music file thus eliminating the need to have an EQ in the live audio stream?

I guess if you capture the corrected output file with some sort of recording software program this can be done. Bruce B. can probably shed light on this.