TOPIC:

Hi all,

I currently have a UMIK-1 and I use Equaliser APO as my processor currently and I use its built-in loudness feature, however, I am looking to offboard my processing so I can use more speakers to build a surround sound system. Before I buy a 2x4HD I wanted to check that it had this feature, loudness that senses the average input voltage and adjusts the frequencies to a known reference (measured in dB, where 75dB from the speaker will be our flat profile), or even at the very least a loudness feature that is controlled from the on-device volume, even if it doesn't do it from the input voltage. Really hope this is the case, there aren't really any other affordable DSP options out there.

Many thanks,
Elliott Dyson

I'm afraid I don't think any miniDSP products have this feature. The 2x4 HD doesn't.

That's a real shame, I wonder why it isn't available, the simpler version I mentioned would be so easy to implement on the HD, it has lots of room for programming new features. Know any alternatives?

ElliottDesigns wrote:

Know any alternatives?

I think at least one of the RME ADI DAC models offers a loudness feature, along with some DSP capability. They're rather more expensive that the 2x4 HD though, and the DSP functionality is more limited for the ones I've checked in the past. I'm sure there are software options too if that's any use.

Why couldn't one just measure and create filters for a flat curve then in a separate config slot create one w/ more gain or a different curve? The config slots could be easily switched between like hitting a loudness button?

Shimei wrote:

Why couldn't one just measure and create filters for a flat curve then in a separate config slot create one w/ more gain or a different curve? The config slots could be easily switched between like a hitting a loudness button?

A proper loudness correction varies continuously with volume adjustment. Yes you can set up say low, medium and high volume presets but it's not the same thing. There are also only 4 presets total and they may be wanted for other things too.

 

My bad, I think I confused a Loudness button for Loudness compensation. Are you referring to volume correction across various media tracks etc and also the ability to roll down windows in the car and the volume auto adjusts? 

Shimei wrote:

My bad, I think I confused a Loudness button for Loudness compensation. Are you referring to volume correction across varies media tracks etc and also the ability to roll down windows in the car and the volume auto adjusts? 

Bear in mind it wasn't me asking for this, but the concept is to compensate for how the frequency response of human hearing varies with volume, such that a frequency response that sounds good at one volume may not at another. A loudness button is like having a low-volume preset, boosting low and high frequency output.

Yep, this is what was meant. 👍

I'd like to get this feature as well.  Using the slot presets for now.  To add more bass at lower volumes, I used to use the compressor function on my sub output and adjust the volume of the input in Windows.  Just got the Flex and now that I use master volume control in the DSP, input levels are constant, so the compressor doesn't do what I want it to anymore.

I think this would be a great opportunity for miniDSP and is only possible with DSP. 

The loudness feature would compensate for our ear/brain insensitivity to various parts of the audio spectrum relative to the midrange. 

The compensation would need to take into account the actual volume in the room (and thus taking into account speaker sensitivity, gains, etc.). Or at the very least, after some initial calibration for a given setup, the position of the volume switch when using, say the Flex, as a preamp. 

 

+ to this topic. I want to use this feature too.