TOPIC:

Before setting the xover frequencies in SHD (I use a subwoofer), would it not be best to run one frequency analysis in Dirac (with no subwoofer) to know what the speakers are actually doing in my room, and then based on those results, set xover frequencies in SHD? Then after setting xover frequencies for the speakers and sub, run the dirac analysis again. OR, should I simply set no crossovers in SHD and run Dirac and let it set xover frequencies and bass control, etc. Just trying to get the best results possible.

You're right it's best to use measurements to help choose where to set the crossover frequency but I'd suggest learning to use Room EQ Wizard (REW) to do this rather than trying to use Dirac Live. The other thing you really want to try to do prior to running Dirac Live is to optimise the time delays to get your main speakers and sub in phase at the chosen crossover frequency, which you can do using REW but is impossible using Dirac Live.

Thanks for the reply. REW, does that come with the SHD or is that a separate software? I thought Dirac took care of the phase issues. That’s one of the main reasons I purchased it. Thanks

acappellasing wrote:

Thanks for the reply. REW, does that come with the SHD or is that a separate software? I thought Dirac took care of the phase issues. That’s one of the main reasons I purchased it. Thanks

Room EQ Wizard is free to download, although the developers are no doubt grateful when users choose to make a donation for its use.

Dirac Live on miniDSPs cannot adjust time delays between main speakers and subwoofers at the crossover frequency. What Dirac Live is capable of doing is making phase adjustments on the combined mains/sub system, as if it were a pair of large speakers (in fact it can't tell that isn't what you'd be using). These phase adjustments are made to improve the impulse response, not subwoofer integration.

Thanks for the response. I'm a little confused as to why you say that dirac live can't adjust the time delays on the minidsp's? Are you saying that the hardware isn't capable, yet the software is? Is the software capable of doing it with other interfaces? This is one the reasons I specifically bought the device. That seems like a huge downside. Can you clarify?
J

acappellasing wrote:

Thanks for the response. I'm a little confused as to why you say that dirac live can't adjust the time delays on the minidsp's? Are you saying that the hardware isn't capable, yet the software is? Is the software capable of doing it with other interfaces? This is one the reasons I specifically bought the device. That seems like a huge downside. Can you clarify?
J

The hardware is capable of setting time delays to align main speaker and subwoofer output. These delays can be manually set using the miniDSP software but you first need to determine what these should be.

The version of Dirac Live on miniDSPs is the 2-channel version and it is this that isn't capable of doing what you want. Only the multi-channel version present on some AVRs is.

In case this helps explain, the 2-channel version of Dirac just deals with left and right signals, not left, right and subwoofer separately. As it doesn't handle the subwoofer separately it has no way of measuring time delays of this relative to the main speakers, or therefore optimising this.

I know I'm not giving you the answer you want but I'm afraid what I'm saying is true.

Thanks so much. So, it’s just a matter of upgrading a license? That seems such a weird thing to only have a 2 channel version with hardware that has outputs for subs. The upgrade is 150. Upgrading will give me the options discussed previous, I hope. 

acappellasing wrote:

So, it’s just a matter of upgrading a license?

Sadly not. You can only run the 2-channel version of Dirac Live in conjunction with the SHD.

But don’t worry. Follow the tutorials and with the SHD you will still achieve great sub integration. How many subs do you have?

Only one. I have no idea to set delays. Not sure how to deal with the phase issues. 

Setting a delay in SDH is easy if you follow the instructions. Knowing what the delay should be is more difficult. I have a SVS 3000 micro. I read the delay of this sub is 4ms. I couldn't get REW working properly so I just set the delay to 4ms. It was immediately apparent the 4ms delay resulted in better sound. 

You have really to learn first how to measure phase and impulse with REW and use the result. Dirac in the SHD cant do this ...
Phase is actually perhaps more complex matter in the bass region - you have to play with different delays and x-over slopes and analyzing the summing of main speaker and sub on the SPL graph till you get a optimum on the listening position.