Difference between revisions of "Room Correction"

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[[File:MC19-DSP-Room Correction.png|thumb|500px|Media Center's Room Correction DSP]]
 
[[File:MC19-DSP-Room Correction.png|thumb|500px|Media Center's Room Correction DSP]]
  
Media Center's [[DSP Studio]] contains an advanced Room Correction system similar to those found on most home theater AV Receivers.  This can be used to optimize the sound output for your room, speaker placement, and speaker size.
+
== What is Room Correction? ==
  
To enable the Room Correction DSP:
+
Media Center's [[DSP Studio]] provides a "Room Correction" module which enables Media Center to behave in a similar fashion to a home theater AV receiver. It allows you to:
* Open the [[DSP Studio]], and click on '''Room Correction'''. Make sure it's enabled by checking the box next to it.
 
* Set the speaker distances for all the speakers you use.
 
* Play something that uses all the speakers.  Note that the DSP Studio dialog is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialog_box#Modeless modeless] so you can still use the rest of [[Standard View]] while you have it open.
 
  
While playing, go through each speaker and tick the 'Level' checkbox at the bottom of the Room Correction page. Adjust the volume sliders until the level tones played by all speakers are the same volume. A decibel meter is best for this stage, but there are also apps that can use the microphone in your phone. You can also calibrate by ear and get passable results.
+
* configure a surround sound system which has speakers are different distances to the main listening position
 +
* apply per speaker gain trims to account for speakers that have different sensitivities
 +
* mark speakers as "small" or "large", i.e. implement [http://www.audioholics.com/subwoofer-setup/bass-management-basics-2013-settings-made-simple bass management] which routes low frequency content to your subwoofer
  
Finally, if you would like low frequencies to be routed to your subwoofer (bass management), configure the bass redirection portion of Room Correction for each speaker.
+
== Setup Instructions ==
 +
 
 +
=== Enable the Module ===
 +
 
 +
Open the [[DSP Studio]], click on '''Room Correction''' and enable it by checking the box next to it.
 +
 
 +
=== Position the Module ===
 +
 
 +
The effect of the room correction module can overlap with the [[Parametric Equalizer]] and [[Convolution]] blocks so therefore we have to make sure the module is in the correct position in the signal chain. How to do this is described in [DSP#Ordering DSPs].
 +
 
 +
The functional overlap occurs because this module can:
 +
 
 +
* apply a delay to each channel
 +
* apply a gain adjustment to each channel
 +
* apply low and high pass filters the specified channels
 +
 
 +
One common approach is to list DSP blocks in the following order:
 +
 
 +
* [[Parametric Equalizer]]
 +
* Room Correction
 +
* [[Convolution]]
 +
* [[Parametric Equalizer 2]]
 +
 
 +
This allows the 1st PEQ block to affect the input (source) channels which can be useful when applying personal preferences to the source content, for example [http://data-bass.ipbhost.com/topic/285-the-bass-eq-for-movies-thread/|Bass EQ]. Room Correction comes next in order to convert the source content to physical output channels. Convolution (optional) and PEQ2 follow which enables further equalisation for the room setup. This can include copying the subwoofer channel to additional output channels and applying independent EQ schemes to achieve a better end result.
 +
 
 +
=== Distance ===
 +
 
 +
This section applies if your speakers are physically located at different distances to the main listening position. To set this, for each speaker:
 +
 
 +
* click the named speaker button
 +
* measure the physical distance from the main listening position to the speaker
 +
* move the slider to measured distance
 +
 
 +
==== Distance and Subwoofers ====
 +
 
 +
Modern commercial subwoofers often contain DSP functionality built into the amplifier. This is used to provide features like PEQ and room correction. SVS are one example of a manufacturer that includes such functionality in their devices, for example https://www.svsound.com/blogs/svs/75346755-understanding-dsp
 +
 
 +
Such functionality will always add latency to the signal chain which has the effect of increasing the apparent distance to the subwoofer.
 +
 
 +
In these cases the physical distance may result in a lack of output around the crossover frequency. There are various ways to tackle this problem:
 +
 
 +
* ask the manufacturer how much delay is added by their device
 +
* if you have a microphone
 +
** measure the actual delay (e.g. using [https://www.roomeqwizard.com/ Room EQ Wizard])
 +
** use the "sub distance tweak" (i.e. use an RTA and measure the combined response, adjust distance to achieve most SPL through the crossover range)
 +
* guess and add ~2ft to the measured distance
 +
 
 +
=== Volume Level ===
 +
 
 +
==== Using an SPL Meter ====
 +
 
 +
This is a simple and reliable way to get the levels right. To do this:
 +
 
 +
* click the "Set levels from decibel meter" link at the bottom of the page
 +
* follow the instructions on the page to play the test tones
 +
 
 +
[[File:set_levels_from_decibel_meter.png|frameless|400px]]
 +
 
 +
* hold the SPL meter at the listening position & measure each speaker in turn
 +
* enter the measured SPL in dB into the form
 +
* Click OK, the level meters will now be set for each speaker measured
 +
 
 +
==== By Ear ====
 +
 
 +
Use Tools > Advanced Tools > Audio Calibration > Volume Calibration to play band limited pink noise through each speaker in turn.
 +
Cycle back and forth through the channels, adjusting the volume sliders as you go until you perceive each speaker as playing at the same volume.
 +
 
 +
=== Bass Management ===
 +
 
 +
This section allows you to route low frequency content to the subwoofer channel while maintaining the correct levels with respect to the LFE channel.
 +
 
 +
[[File:bass_management.png|frameless|400px]]
 +
 
 +
NB: This diagram was created in [https://www.draw.io/ draw.io], edit [[File:bass_management.xml]] if you need to update the diagram.
 +
 
 +
== Alternatives to Room Correction ==
 +
 
 +
The functionality in the room correction module can be replaced by:
 +
 
 +
* using [Parametric Equalizer#Delay] to account for different distances per speaker
 +
* using [Parametric Equalizer#Mixing], [https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Parametric_Equalizer#Remove_High_Frequencies_.28low_pass_filter.29|low pass filters] and [https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Parametric_Equalizer#Remove_Low_Frequencies_.28high_pass_filter.29|high pass filters] to perform bass management
 +
* performing all such functions via [[Convolution]]
  
 
[[Category:DSP]]
 
[[Category:DSP]]

Revision as of 09:38, 25 February 2018

Media Center's Room Correction DSP

What is Room Correction?

Media Center's DSP Studio provides a "Room Correction" module which enables Media Center to behave in a similar fashion to a home theater AV receiver. It allows you to:

  • configure a surround sound system which has speakers are different distances to the main listening position
  • apply per speaker gain trims to account for speakers that have different sensitivities
  • mark speakers as "small" or "large", i.e. implement bass management which routes low frequency content to your subwoofer

Setup Instructions

Enable the Module

Open the DSP Studio, click on Room Correction and enable it by checking the box next to it.

Position the Module

The effect of the room correction module can overlap with the Parametric Equalizer and Convolution blocks so therefore we have to make sure the module is in the correct position in the signal chain. How to do this is described in [DSP#Ordering DSPs].

The functional overlap occurs because this module can:

  • apply a delay to each channel
  • apply a gain adjustment to each channel
  • apply low and high pass filters the specified channels

One common approach is to list DSP blocks in the following order:

This allows the 1st PEQ block to affect the input (source) channels which can be useful when applying personal preferences to the source content, for example EQ. Room Correction comes next in order to convert the source content to physical output channels. Convolution (optional) and PEQ2 follow which enables further equalisation for the room setup. This can include copying the subwoofer channel to additional output channels and applying independent EQ schemes to achieve a better end result.

Distance

This section applies if your speakers are physically located at different distances to the main listening position. To set this, for each speaker:

  • click the named speaker button
  • measure the physical distance from the main listening position to the speaker
  • move the slider to measured distance

Distance and Subwoofers

Modern commercial subwoofers often contain DSP functionality built into the amplifier. This is used to provide features like PEQ and room correction. SVS are one example of a manufacturer that includes such functionality in their devices, for example https://www.svsound.com/blogs/svs/75346755-understanding-dsp

Such functionality will always add latency to the signal chain which has the effect of increasing the apparent distance to the subwoofer.

In these cases the physical distance may result in a lack of output around the crossover frequency. There are various ways to tackle this problem:

  • ask the manufacturer how much delay is added by their device
  • if you have a microphone
    • measure the actual delay (e.g. using Room EQ Wizard)
    • use the "sub distance tweak" (i.e. use an RTA and measure the combined response, adjust distance to achieve most SPL through the crossover range)
  • guess and add ~2ft to the measured distance

Volume Level

Using an SPL Meter

This is a simple and reliable way to get the levels right. To do this:

  • click the "Set levels from decibel meter" link at the bottom of the page
  • follow the instructions on the page to play the test tones

Set levels from decibel meter.png

  • hold the SPL meter at the listening position & measure each speaker in turn
  • enter the measured SPL in dB into the form
  • Click OK, the level meters will now be set for each speaker measured

By Ear

Use Tools > Advanced Tools > Audio Calibration > Volume Calibration to play band limited pink noise through each speaker in turn. Cycle back and forth through the channels, adjusting the volume sliders as you go until you perceive each speaker as playing at the same volume.

Bass Management

This section allows you to route low frequency content to the subwoofer channel while maintaining the correct levels with respect to the LFE channel.

Bass management.png

NB: This diagram was created in draw.io, edit File:Bass management.xml if you need to update the diagram.

Alternatives to Room Correction

The functionality in the room correction module can be replaced by:

  • using [Parametric Equalizer#Delay] to account for different distances per speaker
  • using [Parametric Equalizer#Mixing], pass filters and pass filters to perform bass management
  • performing all such functions via Convolution