Acoustic treatment and room measurement

[ecwl]

I just discovered that I can plug the UMIK-1 mic directly into an iPad and even a random real-time analyzer program recognizes the microphone. This has to be more accurate than using the internal iPad mic.

I think you are supposed to load the UMIK-1 microphone calibration file into the analyzer app to get accurate measurements. If you don't, the iPad microphone probably is closer to the correct calibration than the UMIK-1.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I think you are supposed to load the UMIK-1 microphone calibration file into the analyzer app to get accurate measurements. If you don't, the iPad microphone probably is closer to the correct calibration than the UMIK-1.

This definitely is the case for REW.

Just visually the frequency response chart from the UMIK-1 looked more believable (including better frequency extension) than the iPad mic. But I'm just assuming, without knowing.

 

[ecwl]

This definitely is the case for REW.

Just visually the frequency response chart from the UMIK-1 looked more believable (including better frequency extension) than the iPad mic. But I'm just assuming, without knowing.

Hmmm... The calibration files of the UMIK1 shows that the microphone is a little hot in the high frequency. So if you don't use the calibration file to correct for that, you're going to get "better frequency extension" because it's falsely reporting more high frequency as the microphone measurement is not calibrated.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Hmmm... The calibration files of the UMIK1 shows that the microphone is a little hot in the high frequency. So if you don't use the calibration file to correct for that, you're going to get "better frequency extension" because it's falsely reporting more high frequency as the microphone measurement is not calibrated.

Thank you.

I have to get a new laptop so I can run REW.

 

[ecwl]

Thank you.

I have to get a new laptop so I can run REW.

Not necessarily. For instance, I’m pretty sure if you run AudioTools on iPad, you can load the calibration file into AudioTools. It’s a little tricky because I think you have to load the file into your iCloud Drive/Files app first and then you can access the file from within AudioTools I think. It’s been a while since I last did it. And obviously AudioTools (the basic paid version) is a lot cheaper than a new laptop. However, yeah, I’m pretty sure there are measurements that an iPad app can’t do that REW on a laptop can.

The problem is that this is an endless pursuit. Like I got a calibrated EMM-6 microphone and the Focusrite Scarlett Solo so that my audio output from the Scarlett Solo is clock synced to the EMM-6 microphone within REW for more precise time-based measurements. Measuring your system is just like everything else in audiophilia. There is always a higher level where you can spend more money to get “better” results.

This is why I generally approach my audiophile/musicophile addiction with a goal oriented approach. Why am I measuring? Why am I upgrading. What am I not happy with? What am I trying to fix? Really helps preventing me from randomly switching cables or components or randomly placing randomly chosen bass traps or absorbers for a change in the sound that’s not even an upgrade. And once the goal is defined, it’s just horses for courses. Always aiming for the right tool for the right job or right upgrade for the right audio goal.

 

[Ron Resnick]

For instance, I’m pretty sure if you run AudioTools on iPad, you can load the calibration file into AudioTools. It’s a little tricky because I think you have to load the file into your iCloud Drive/Files app first and then you can access the file from within AudioTools I think.

Thank you. I don't like computers. I don't use iCloud. But thank you.

The problem is that this is an endless pursuit. Like I got a calibrated EMM-6 microphone and the Focusrite Scarlett Solo so that my audio output from the Scarlett Solo is clock synced to the EMM-6 microphone within REW for more precise time-based measurements. Measuring your system is just like everything else in audiophilia. There is always a higher level where you can spend more money to get “better” results.

UMIK-1 on REW -- two steps above uncalibrated mic on random RTA iPad app -- is good enough for me here.