TOPIC:

Sorry for the undoubtedly very noob question, but could anyone run down the advantage of Dirac Live over just using REQ?

From a newbie's perspective, it seems like REQ ought to be able to achieve something like "perfect sound" if it can equalize and time align a system using microphone feedback and has the ability to modify the signal however it would like.

Can anyone specify what exactly Dirac Live does above and beyond that? My apologies if this is explained in detail somewhere else that I haven't found.

Secondarily, I would also like to know why Dirac Live or any of the Dirac automotive specific technologies (e.g., Dirac Unison) are not available for any MiniDSP products.

For sure what dirac does it automation of the process, it uses proven working software to generate filter profiles and delays, and it actually works, and you do not need spend hours on designing filters and retesting. It saves lots of time, it is designed to sell as end product feature for consumers, and no knowledge about dsp is required. If you modify something in your listening room, for example sofa or speakers moved then you can repeat measurement and with few clicks get room correction working again. I am not sure if manual filter design within REW will get better results, but I am sure, with Dirac i can do this a lot quicker and chance of mistakes are much reduced.

plus5volt wrote:

For sure what dirac does it automation of the process, it uses proven working software to generate filter profiles and delays, and it actually works, and you do not need spend hours on designing filters and retesting. It saves lots of time, it is designed to sell as end product feature for consumers, and no knowledge about dsp is required. If you modify something in your listening room, for example sofa or speakers moved then you can repeat measurement and with few clicks get room correction working again. I am not sure if manual filter design within REW will get better results, but I am sure, with Dirac i can do this a lot quicker and chance of mistakes are much reduced.

Having used both, Dirac Live is easier to use than REW, and IMHO produces far superior results - at least, far superior to those I have been able to achieve with REW. I suspect that part of this is down to Dirac making use of the FIR filters, which REW cannot help you with.

Does anyone know why Dirac isn't available for car audio? I would think that would be where it would be most valuable due to the worse acoustics and speaker placement intrinsic to automotive interiors.

I can image that it is just too small market for this, without any prospects of returning investment costs. Luxury cars and even mid range brands in their upper models already have some sort of corrections, even if it is not well marketed, mainly in bass section, to get most out of small speakers and to impress buyers.

What is more, you can buy car reciver and install it and do some sort correction: for example check paragraph 5 of the manual for this kenwood:
manual.kenwood.com/ce/im362/Europe/Engli..._Ref_E_en_00-19.html
maybe it is not automated dirac, but even this manual correction features can improve sound

vkg1 wrote:

Does anyone know why Dirac isn't available for car audio? I would think that would be where it would be most valuable due to the worse acoustics and speaker placement intrinsic to automotive interiors.

Is this Dirac in a car project thread of interest?

To some degree but it pooped out without much content over a year ago. Really surprised there isn't more. As far as I know, none of the commercially available DSPs offer impulse response and multiple mic positioning. So I would think you could get much better real-world results with Dirac. Especially with more than one passenger in the car.