TOPIC:

Hi there, 

I have submitted a support ticket but I know minidsp staff are busy, and perhaps understaffed(?) with latest Covid numbers in Hong Kong. I hope things get better there for everyone!

Anyway, just reaching out as I'm keen to do more measurements with DL but seem to have run into technical glitch and I'm not sure if it is just me doing something wrong. I'm on Mac Monterey OS 12.2.1

Is it normal behaviour in DiracLive to only show measurement status of volume on the left channel (see screenshots) when setting volume calibration levels? When playing pink noise thru the right speaker, the little black cursor does not show up as it does on the left speaker. I could have sworn I got a level indicator reading on both channels when doing my first 2 sets of DL measurements over 2 weeks ago before I did some recent mindsp firmware updates (for a Mac Monterey issue).

Long story short, every time I try to take measurements, no matter what I do, I get this warning "low signal to noise level" when I can see with an SPL meter that the Dirac Live measurement sweeps are about 75dB.  I also tried manually turning up my minidsp volume where you get a warning  about dangerous volume levels potentially damaging your speakers. Still doesn't work and I get the same "low signal to noise level" notification. fridge is off, furnace fans are off. So, not able to take any measurements at all with Dirac Live.

Is anyone else has had or is having this issue?

I looks like my screenshots didn't get uploaded, so will try here:  

Quick reply: no, it's not normal. Have you updated to the latest firmware released this month to fix issues with Monterey?

Thanks Ultrasonic for the quick reply. 

I had updated firmware and software for SHD  "SHD_v1_15_fw_v1_29-2"  that was available just over a week ago from the logged in User Downloads section under my account name. My version of Dirac is 3.2.2

I have exactly the same problem on Big Sur. Submitted to support too and waiting to hear.

I only just got the SHD and haven't been able to use it at all.

Hi Gray,

Have you run any REW tests first with your SHD? I'm able to do everything except to Dirac Live tests at the moment, but this may be due to too long a USB cable (50 foot - apparently can mess up the timing) between my laptop and SHD. So I'll get a 15 foot USB cable soon and try again.

What is it you are trying to accomplish? IE, just 2 speaker system, a 2.1, 2.2 or 5.1...make sure you upgrade to the latest firmware. Once logged in, hover your mouse over your name in the upper right hand corner and go to "User Downloads" and download the correct firmware. You have to download the Dirac Live software directly from the Dirac website.

Hope that helps.

Hi CarlosdelJunco, All the software was downloaded a few days ago, so latest versions. I literally just wanted the shd to apply room correction. I have actually ordered a new computer to see if that helps.

I'm going to EQ stereo for music listening and have a second preset for 2.1 for sub integration.

I'm currently running Big Sur, so not the same OS. But the problem is exactly the same. In fact, the level indicators don't show up at all at first. Ii have to move the sliders a number of times to get them to show. At one point, they both showed, but it made no difference and still got the low level message. 

I've submitted logs to tech support and am waiting for a further reply. I'll keep you posted if I get anywhere.

I guess all we have in common is the mac platform. Hopefully it will narrow down the issue.



 

Is your last message referring specifically to DL? Are you sure your USB cable runs aren't too long and that you are following DL instructions carefully in the manual. There is a bit of a learning curve, but if you take the time to follow instructions, you should be able to make measurements - especially with REW.

Have you verified that your connections and routing in the SHD plug in app on your laptop is showing proper connections. REW is a great way to test this before doing DL measurements.

It is within DL. Are you suggesting you have resolved your issue? I seem to have the same problem, so I'm not sure how I could have gone wrong.

I have taken REW measurements before my SHD arrived. The microphone cable is the original and the usb half a metre. 

I can connect to the SHD through the app, if that is what you mean. And I fire up DL via the button on the minidsp app. 

 

I'm waiting to get a shorter USB cable and may be a week or so before I do more tests to redo my REW tuning then try DL.

To be clear, I do get a reading when doing DL volume calibration (are you sure you are following the miniDSP DiracLive manual instructions?) on my left Dirac 1 channel, and the black bar slides up into the middle of the register (see photo attachment). And, i can see with my phone app that I'm getting a healthy 75 to 80dB of pink noise volume coming form the Dirac 1 left channel  and it clearly registers with the black bar. However when I do the volume calibration  for the Dirac 2 right channel , while I do hear equally as loudly the pink noise coming from my right speaker, no matter what I do, I can't get the black bar to register at all...hence I suppose why I'm also unable to take measurements as I get a low volume message when taking my first DL measurement and it won't let me continue.

Again, this may be due to too long a USB cable between my laptop and SHD. I won't know until I get back to do some more testing.  

Well, I do think there's a bug. I even managed to get them to measure differently! But made no difference whatsoever to the low volume error message.
 

OK, I have changed the mic cable and the usb cable, so don't suspect those.

However, there is one troubling issue - the app doesn't seem to ask for permission to use the mic. See this screenshot from the manual. On my mac, permission was never sought by Dirac and it doesn't appear in the list of applications. I'm sure this might be significant.
 

It looks like you are getting registered levels in your volume calibration. However, I think you need to slide your mic gain up close to full so that Dirac 1 is registering in the middle of the of the blue bar (see my screenshot I'd sent from the manual where both Dirac 1 and 2 show the black bars registering in the middle)

That is interesting about the permissions of Dirac Live not showing up. Have you issued a ticket with tech support?

I have - support have already passed it on to the developers.

I've moved the sliders all over the place!!!

Have you checked whether the app appears in the preferences on your machine? I'd be interested to see if it doesn't.

Gray, the DL app does appear in my microphone sys preferences.

However, I just quickly now retried doing some measuements in the DL app with a 10 foot USB cable and having the same issues. Specifically while audio is clearly pumping out when doing each volume calibration on Dirac 1 (left) and Dirac 2 (right) channels, I can only get a black bar to register on the left Dirac 1 channel, with no black bar appearing at all on Dirac 2 right channel. While I'm able to proceed to start taking measurements, when doing the first sweep (with plenty of volume) I get the "low volume" and does not register my measurement.