TOPIC:

Just received the miniDSP DDRC-88A. and repeatedly encountering a set up issue.

My setup is as follow: Laptop HDMI out -> Oppo BDP105 analog out -> miniDSP analog out -> Bryston 9BST amp

The DDRC Utility opens and I can connect to the DDRC-88A with the laptop. I open DiracLive and go through the setup steps. Everythign seems to be working OK as I can set input gain and output volume for all my channels (trying to setup a 5.1 configuration). All the test tones play so I know the connection seems to be OK to this point. Then, when it's time to actually measure, I get the warning about "The first measurement MUST be taken in the sweet spot..." and then an error pops up that says

"Playback stimulus failed. Check playback device for problems"

When I then check the DDRC Utility, the error window says...

"Connection to the board timed out, please check your USB connection"

...and refuses to connect to the DDRC-88A anymore. Every time I try, it pops up the same error window. Only way to enable connection again is to turn the DDRC-88A off and on again. DiracLive fails at the same place the same way every time. Any idea what's going on?

Would love any advice you can give.

Thanks,
Victor

I don't know if this is the cause, but are you quitting the DDRC-88 utility before running DLCT (and vice versa)?

It sounds like a usb conflict. Everything works fine until you try to record with the mic. Then the DDRC loses connection. Go through your Windows? settings. Make sure you have HDMI set as the default playback device. Make sure that the UMIK is set as the default record device and is plugged in. Then turn on your DDRC and then plug it into a different USB port. Open the DDRC plugin and see if it connects. Then open DiracLive and try your measurements.

If you lose connection with the DDRC, you don't need to turn it off and on again. Just unplug the USB cable and plug it back in. I have the same problem with my OpenDRC. If I lose connection to the plugin software and try to reconnect, it will fail. Once it closes the USB connection, it's closed and won't reconnect. To reconnect you have to either turn the DSP off then on or just unplug and then reconnect the USB. You are reinitializing the USB port and this signals Windows to open the connection again. I think this is mostly a Windows bug that miniDSP has not yet worked around. It's like once the connection is lost or closed, Windows will not open it again unless you unplug or reboot the miniDSP.

@Victor,

Some very good advise here already from John and Sly and here are some more:
a) Make sure that you "close" the DDRC-88A utility when you're performing your measurements with DLCT as John already suggested .That's the most likely issue here I believe (conflict of 2 software trying to control the unit)
b) Make sure that you're not running a 20m USB cable.( ye, we've seen this. . Some USB cable being above 5m (USB 2.0 max dist) can easily cause such issues)

Devteam

Thank you for all your help!

I finally got it to work last night. Essentially, the DiracLive program would still lose connection with the DDRC-88A before I completed the whole measurement setup. What I did was that every time that happened, I saved the project file, closed down the DiracLive program, restarted the DDRC-88A, restarted the DiracLive program, loaded the project file so that it continues from where it left off (just had to make sure to readjust the gain and output volume so that it's identical to what it was when I started the measurements).

Doing this, I was able complete both a stereo and 5.1 project file and successfully loaded it onto the DDRC-88A. Love the improvements it made in my room.

Thanks again for all your help!

Victor

@ Victor,

Glad to hear that you're all set! Do keep in touch with us if you have any similar issues again. You can easily start a tech support ticket to get further help. (minidsp.desk.com)

DevTeam

I found out the hard way that you cannot use extended USB cables in any part of the connection

Use 5ft or less USB cables

Use USB 2.0 ports

In Windows / Sound / Recording > delete all devices there and restart computer with the UMIK1 unplugged ...once Windows is rebooted plug in the UMIK1 and go to UMIK1 / properties > Listen tab > check "Listen to this device".

Make sure that UMIK1 is selected as Default recording device...

Make sure under Recording / UMIK1 / Properties / Levels is set to 100