Verifying DSP Studio

This Page is a Work in Progress

Overview

DSP Studio has a lot of options which interact with each other and it can be easy to make small mistakes that negatively impact sound quality. The ability to measure the output from Media Centre is therefore an extremely useful thing to be able to do. This page describes how to do this using freely available tools.

Platform Limitations

The ability to route external audio input through JRiver is only implemented on Windows.

Linux and MacOS users will need JRiver to play the test signal instead. This is described in [insert section here]

ASIO vs WDM

Windows users can choose between two input methods:

• ASIO Line In
• WDM Driver

ASIO is typically preferred if the hardware supports it, this usually means you are using a pro audio interface.

Examples will be given using both methods.

Setup

Common Steps

Room EQ Wizard (REW)

Install REW from https://www.roomeqwizard.com/beta.html (note that the beta version is the generally recommended version to use)

Windows: WDM Setup

Media Centre

Ensure the feature is activated and working as per the instructions in WDM_Driver

Creating a MC -> REW Audio Path

The target signal chain is

Loopback Signal Chain

HifiCable

Install HifiCable from https://www.vb-audio.com/Cable/ (scroll to the bottom to find the HifiCable & ASIO Bridge package)

Open each audio device in the Windows Mixer in turn and ensure that each one is set to 2 channel, 24bit, 48000Hz operation

There are three devices to be configured

HifiCable Playback

HifiCable Recording

MC Playback

Configure REW

Launch REW and open the preferences screen. Set the following options on the Soundcard tab

• Drivers: Java
• Sample Rate: 48kHz
• Output Device: Default Device
• Input Device: Hi-Fi Cable Output (VB-Audio Hi-Fi Cable)

Configure MC

Launch MC and open the options screen, select the Audio page and choose the IPC zone. Set the following options;

• Audio Device: Hi-Fi Cable Input (VB-Audio Hi-Fi Cable) [WASAPI]
• Bitdepth: 24bit

NB: The bitdepth option is accessed via the "Device Settings..." option

Open DSP Studio, deselect all blocks including output format.

Verify the Signal Chain

Open the REW generator Play pink noise Check the output meters go up

Open MC DSP Studio/Analyser Check the analyser displays a wobbling straight line (i.e. pink noise)

Back to REW Check the input meters are moving

Stop the noise Now measure a sweep Check it records successfully (i.e. you have a flat line in the sweep)