Sonolink Studio Project

[sonolink]

Glenn,
thanks for your time. Sorry for the amount of pics
Here's the Squared Log Impulse Response for Left and Right Mix position.

SonoMixLeftSquaredLogImpulse.jpg

SonoMixRightSquaredLogImpulse.jpg

I'm trying to figure out how to get Fuzzmeasure to playback through both speakers. Maybe an option would be to connect my speaker controller and run it in mono? I figure I would have sound through both speakers. Would that do the trick?

The studio is still empty.
Cheers
Sono

[sonolink]

Hello again,
I built a Y cable to manage to measure the room with both speakers...so I took new measurements of everything and here's the pics for the new readings. Mix and Couch positions. Frequency Response, Energy Decay Curve and Log Squared Impulse Response. If you need any other info, please let me know.
Sorry for the hassle and again, thanks for your time and help.
Cheers
Sono


MIX POSITION
Freq Response and Energy Decay Curve

Sono.FreqResponse-EDC.MixBothSpeakers.jpg

Sono.FreqResponse-EDC.MixLeft.jpg

Sono.FreqResponse-EDC.MixRight.jpg

Freq Response and Log Square Impulse Response

Sono.logSqImpRes.MixBoth.jpg

Sono.logSqImpRes.MixLeft.jpg

Sono.logSqImpRes.MixRight.jpg

COUCH POSITION
Freq Response and Energy Decay Curve

Sono.FreqResponse-EDC.CouchBoth.jpg

Sono.FreqResponse-EDC.CouchLeft.jpg

Sono.FreqResponse-EDC.CouchRight.jpg

Freq Response and Log Square Impulse Response

Sono.logSqImpRes.CouchBoth.jpg

Sono.logSqImpRes.CouchLeft.jpg

Sono.logSqImpRes.CouchRight.jpg

[gullfo]

looking at the log2 it looks like any reflections are down -20db off the initial peak. maybe zoom in on just the log2 for the mix position for the first 100ms (so just 2 pics this time...)

presumably you run your speakers in mono then if FM cannot support both.

[sonolink]

I keep posting more pics than you ask
Here's my conversation with FM's developer:

As FM only sends the sweep through one output, I connected each speaker to get a measurement for Left and Right, and then I built a Y cable to connect them both. So yes, when using FM the speakers are running in mono. Is there a way to run a sweep in stereo at all? I mean, the content would be the same in both channels, wouldn't it? Is running the speakers in mono for the measurement a problem?

Ok, here's the zoomed log2.

MIX Position Left, Right and Both Speakers

SonoLog2zoomMixLeft.jpg

[sonolink]

I keep posting more pics than you ask
Here's my conversation with FM's developer:

FuzzMeasure sends its signal through only one channel, as that's the ideal way of conducting these kinds of measurements---one speaker at a time.
If you really need to send something through two channels, you'll have to use a Y adapter to pull that off.
Cheers,
Chris Liscio
http://SuperMegaUltraGroovy.com

[quote/]

As FM only sends the sweep through one output, I connected each speaker to get a measurement for Left and Right, and then I built a Y cable to connect them both. So yes, when using FM the speakers are running in mono. Is there a way to run a sweep in stereo at all? I mean, the content would be the same in both channels, wouldn't it? Is running the speakers in mono for the measurement a problem?

Ok, here's the zoomed log2 (in case your wondering, that's the max zoom I could get...)

MIX Position Left, Right and Both Speakers

SonoLog2zoomMixLeft.jpg

SonoLog2zoomMixRight.jpg

SonoLog2zoomMixBoth.jpg

Thanks mate
Cheers
Sono

[gullfo]

it looks roughly ok, there seems to be a slight spike on the left hand that is not on the right - very close after the initial spike - like you might see off the desk or some other object within a couple of feet

[sonolink]

There's nothing in the room. Maybe a reflection from my macbook's screen?

What's next? Can I put stuff in or are there corrections in order?
I know you can't hear the room, but what's your overall verdict?

[gullfo]

i mean overall i think you're in good shape. i'd say put the equipment in and do some mixes.

[sonolink]

Excellent!!!! That's great news mate!!

[sonolink]

Hi again,
sorry for the delay in giving some update but I was a bit busy, then my wife gave birth to a lovely girl and then I got busy again and you know, time just flies....
Anyway, I did some mixes. Actually I mixed 2 CDs after a few weeks getting familiar with the room. I can now say I am very happy with it and everybody that hears the room is overwhelmed by the definition and natural feeling the sound has in it. Simply put: Bass is God
As you might imagine I am VERY happy. And I owe you, John and this forum quite a bit.

Now I am building the desk. I'm nearly done. Photos soon
I hope it won't affect the sound very much, at least negatively. I am also installing the computer and HDDs in a "machine room" and I got a 1300VA UPS for the studio. I have a little question regarding this:
I have 2 feeds of electricity. One is the House circuit, originally feeding only the basement outlets (lights and the rest of the house are on different loops, the water heater is on its own loop). The other one is an independent loop, made especially for the studio. It is intended to feed all the outboard gear, amps etc, basically all the analog stuff that carries audio.

My question is: should I plug the computer on the House or the Audio loop? What about the external HDDs, screens, etc?
My idea was, since the UPS is 1300VA to plug the comp, HDDs, Screen and that kinda stuff on the house loop through the UPS, and plug everything that carries audio (soundcard, outboard, amps, etc) on the studio loop.
What do you reckon?

Cheers
Sono

[BriHar]

I have a similar configuration of power, and set it up in a similar fashion.

The UPS should only supply the PC and its required peripherals, and if you have software with it, set it up to initiate an orderly shut down in the event of a power loss. You might also add maybe an emergency LED light circuit so you can see your way around if it suddenly all goes dark

The desk and your audio gear should be on good quality power conditioners like SurgeX or even APC.
On no account run your audio gear off the UPC - most of these units do not put out a true sinusoidal current and could induce artifacts or other distortion through your gear - just a caveat.

I also added a voltage stabilizer as the UPS seemed to be acting up from line inconsistencies. This may no longer be a problem for me, I used to live in the vicinity of a hospital which I was told could account for the problems I was having. Anyway, if brownouts are a problem you might want to add one of these.

[Soundman2020]

Like Brian said, use the UPS only for non-audio loads, unless it is a true on-line UPS with double conversion and sine-wave output. What brand and model did you buy?

One thing that will be an issue, is your grounding system: Since you will be supplying some loads through the UPS and others directly, you run the risk of creating a ground loop between the two, depending on how the UPS needs to be wired. One way to deal with this, if your local electrical code allows it, is to use the output side of the UPS as the center of your star grounding system, or if code doesn't allow that, then use the input side of the UPS as the center.

- Stuart -

[sonolink]

Brian, Soundman, thanks for your replies. Very helpful and I'm glad my idea was the right one

@Soundman
One thing I don't understand: audio gear would be on a dedicated loop. Computer and peripherals would be on a different loop. The only connection between both loops would be through data cable connecting the computer to the soundcard breakout box (it's a MOTU 2408).

How can I have ground loops this way?

Cheers
Sono

[Soundman2020]

only connection between both loops would be through data cable connecting the computer to the soundcard breakout box

There's your answer! If those two circuits are on different physical grounds, or if there is reason at all why they might not be at the exact same potential, then you'll have ground current flowing through that data cable, and thus you'll be injecting noise into the entire system.

Believe me, I've spent way too many hours chasing down silly things like this in post production suites, disconnecting things one by one, starting with the things waving red flags saying "I am the culprit", and not finding any problem until I get down to the last connection in the bottom of the last rack, the one that says "Don't look at me! Not guilty! I cannot POSSIBLY be a ground loop!". Yet that's what it is. Ground loops have a wonderful way of popping up in the least expected places, for no apparent reason. Just last week I had a projector moved from sitting on a table (where it has been for years, with no problems) to hanging from a ceiling mount, and all of a sudden hum appears in the sound system (this is in a church). There is no link between the two! But the projector is definitely the culprit, since the hum disappears when you unplug the VGA cable... Turns out the computer that runs the projector is plugged into the same circuit as the sound system, but the new projector mount is grounded to the building frame... Bingo! Ground loop!

They are sneaky little guys, and will get you any time you aren't looking, so you might as well take all possible precautions.

- Stuart -

[sonolink]

Damn.....I didn't think that data cable could be a problem....
Is there a solution to this at all? Maybe a ground-lift on that cable? It's a firewire cable with Motu's proprietary pin layout.
Any ideas and suggestions most welcome

EDIT: sorry Soundman, I just reread your previous message where you suggest a solution. The thing is I don't quite understand what you mean. Could you please elaborate? Cheers