TOPIC: Dirac Live Mic Measuring Rig (made of local PVC)

devteam can place this thread where it see’s best fit. Not sure if it falls under Dirac, Hardware, or Tutorial.
Who knows... maybe we can work on a product

Here is a one stop shop on how to rig your own measuring rig for cheap using PVC plumbing parts from Home Depot.

The design can be modified to accommodate different size requirements for different chairs and people.

This can be used for any measuring purposes but essentially I was searching for a means to obtain my Dirac Measurements with consistency in regards to the distances between each individual measuring points.

My assumptions are that:
1) Dirac Live algorithm maybe expecting that the points are measured in distances somewhat relative to each other.
2) The better the starting point (measurement fingerprint) that Dirac Live has to begin with the better it can work it’s algorithm.

I wanted the rig to work on a car seat and on a person as well. So this can be used with Dirac Live for both home and car measurements.

I spent several hours in the plumbing section of my local Home Depot looking very suspect whipping out my UMIK from its case and placing it on a PVC rig I was fashioning in the shopping cart. To add to the stares, I kept placing the rig on and off myself for several fittings.

Let’s just say I got askd many times “Sir, is everything ok?”


But alas I found a combination that should suit most people:




Riser Cage for higher (more vertical) measurements:

I used 1/2” PVC piping and parts but this design can be reproduced with other larger piping parts.

My initial design comprises of the following:

4 x 1/2 in. Schedule 40 PVC Cross:
www.homedepot.com/p/DURA-1-2...-005/100347454

5 x 1/2 in. PVC Sch. 40 Condensate Running Bend Trap:
www.homedepot.com/p/Charlott...00HD/204837399

14 x 1/2 in. Schedule 40 PVC 90-Degree Street Elbow:
www.homedepot.com/p/DURA-1-2...-005/100344960

2 x 1 in. x 1 in. x 1/2 in. Sch. 40 PVC Reducing Tee:
www.homedepot.com/p/DURA-1-i...-130/100343100

4 x 1/2 in. PVC El with Side Outlet 90° SxSxS:
www.homedepot.com/p/DURA-1-2...-005/203468280

2-3 x 1/2 in. x 24 in. PVC Sch. 40 Pipe:
www.homedepot.com/p/VPC-1-2-...2015/202300504

Main Rig:


Riser Cage:


*I connected all these PVC parts together by simply pushing the joints into each other. This allows the rig to move/adjust more easily. Just be gentle with it as it can come part if you are too rough with it.

When you start gluing some of the joints for a stronger rig, you begin to lose some of the flexibility.

Keep that in mind.

CAR CHAIR:


Notice how the curved trap pipe fits around the seat nicely. Also fits around a person’s arms (when worn). The angle of the pipe can be rotated clockwise/counterclockwise to make the lateral fitting more snug or less:

Notice how the mic can fit into the PVC joints (some holes will need to be drilled in instances to feed USB cable through). The mic can also fit into the same joints with the mini tripod mount it comes with which actually offers even more position flexibility:

Dirac Live 2.0 Measuring points for Sofa (Focused):



My personal interpretation of gathering those positions with my measuring rig are as follows:

Center
(notice how one of the arms can be maneuvered to place mic into a center position at the headrest):

Bottom Front Left and Right measurements:

Left of Center and Far Left from Center:

Right of Center and Far Right from Center:

Bottom Rear Left and Right:

All Upper Front Right/Left and Upper Rear Right/Left
(performed the same as the bottom but with the rig wresting on the riser cage):

After the embarrassment at Home Depot. I endured even more at home with my wife as I convinced her to take these ridiculous photos of me.

WARNING. THESE ARE KINDA WIERD LOOKING!
The backwards hoodie came about because I’m not quite brave enough to have memes made of me yet. Maybe one day.. But here it is on a person. I’m 5’10”, 165lbs:

So the beauty of the design is FLEXIBILITY! It can evolve or adapt to what is needed. It’s up to the user to place the mic where they prefer.

**The positions illustrated in above are just my personal interpretation of the Sofa (focused) measurement points.**

One can use the included UMIK holder or not. If not using the UMIK holder, some additional holes will have to made to feed the mic’s usb cable through.

Mic in a ‘high’ position using the include mic holder:



Mic in a ‘low’ position using the included mic holder:



Mic in a position without the included mic holder:



With no UMIK holder used, a simple hole can be made to feed USB cable (I used a drill):