Holm HOLMFIR User manual

HOLMFIR User Guide
Document version 0.4.4 (November 1, 2008)
Compatible HOLMFIR versions 1.0.8.x
Compatible DSPre version DSPre 1
Compatible Microphone Mic 1

CONTENTS i
Contents
Contents i
I HOLMFIR in Basic Mode 1
1 Introduction 2
1.1 How to use this User Guide ........................... 2
2 Quick Start 3
2.1 The DSPre .................................... 3
2.2 Installing HOLMFIR ............................... 4
2.2.1 Computer Requirements ......................... 5
2.3 DSPre-1-way Setup ................................ 6
2.4 DSPre-2-way Setup ................................ 8
2.4.1 Adjusting Gain Levels .......................... 10
2.5 DSPre-3-way Setup ................................ 11
2.5.1 Adjusting Gain Levels .......................... 13
3 Crossover & Target 14
3.1 Crossovers (Only for DSPre-2,3-way) ...................... 14
3.2 Low Frequency Rolloff .............................. 15
3.3 High Frequency Rolloff .............................. 16
4 Equalization - Tonal Balance 17
4.1 Zoom with the Pointing Device (e.g. a mouse) ................. 18
4.2 Graphical Equalizer Tool ............................. 19
4.3 Enable/Disable Equalization ........................... 20
4.4 Open and Save Equalization ........................... 20
4.5 Presets ....................................... 21
5 Filter Bank 22
5.1 Save and Open Configurations .......................... 23
5.2 Copy Filter Configuration ............................ 23
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CONTENTS ii
6 Control the DSPre 24
6.1 Source Text in the Display ............................ 24
6.2 DSPre Mixer (Windows XP) .......................... 25
6.3 DSPre Mixer (Windows Vista) ......................... 26
6.4 Playing Music via USB .............................. 27
6.5 Analog Input Gain ................................ 28
7 Customization (Look and Feel) 29
7.1 Linewidth ..................................... 29
7.2 Colors ....................................... 30
II HOLMFIR in Advanced Mode 31
8 Introduction to Advanced Mode 32
8.1 Functionality ................................... 32
8.2 Configuring the DSPre with Full Correction .................. 32
9 Get Ready to Measure 33
9.1 Microphone Connection ............................. 33
9.2 Microphone Calibration File ........................... 34
9.3 The Measurement Chain ............................. 35
9.4 Protect Your Ears ................................ 35
9.5 DSPre Volume and Surroundings ........................ 35
9.6 What is Measured - and How? .......................... 36
10 Control Measurements 37
10.1 Target Frequency & Impulse Response ..................... 37
10.2 Making a measurement .............................. 38
10.3 Customization and Presentation Options .................... 40
10.3.1 Impulse Response Axis .......................... 40
10.4 Measurement Quality .............................. 41
10.5 Errors and Warnings ............................... 42
10.6 Compare Different Measurement Conditions .................. 42
11 Automatic Driver Alignment 43
11.1 Time Alignment ................................. 44
11.2 DSPre-2-way Automatic Alignment ....................... 45
11.3 DSPre-3-way Automatic Alignment ....................... 46
12 Driver Correction 48
12.1 Extended Range ................................. 48
12.1.1 DSPre-1-way Extended Range ...................... 49
12.1.2 DSPre-2-way Extended Range ...................... 49
12.1.3 DSPre-3-way Extended Range ...................... 50
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CONTENTS iii
12.1.4 Uploading the Extended Range Filters ................. 50
12.2 Customization and Presentation Options .................... 51
12.3 Correcting a Bass/Subwoofer (DSPre-2,3-way) ................. 52
12.3.1 Verification ................................ 54
12.3.2 Limit the Maximum Gain ........................ 54
12.4 Correcting a Midtone Driver (DSPre-2,3-way) ................. 56
12.5 Correcting a Tweeter (DSPre-2,3-way) ..................... 56
12.6 Correcting a Bookshelf Speaker (DSPre-1-way) ................ 56
III Appendices 57
A Support 58
A.1 The Forum at www.holmacoustics.com ..................... 58
A.2 Emails to supp[email protected] ..................... 58
A.3 Remote Assistance ................................ 59
B Frequently Asked Questions 60
C Troubleshooting 61
D Technical Note - Measuring Response 62
D.1 Frequency Response ............................... 62
D.2 Nonlinearities ................................... 62
E Technical Note - Fourier Transforms 63
E.1 The Time Window ................................ 63
Index 64
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1 of 65
Part I
HOLMFIR in Basic Mode
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Introduction 2 of 65
Chapter 1
Introduction
The HOLMFIR application allows you to configure the DSPre using bleeding edge algo-
rithmens, but to begin with you just want to get the DSPre playing.
HOLMFIR in ’Basic Mode’ lets you configure the DSPre as a digital active crossover (2,3-
way) with equalization option.
The ’Basic Mode’ makes it easy to configure the DSPre as the cornerstone of your personal
setup with amplifiers and speakers. The Quick Start (Chapter 2) guides you through the
initial setup of the DSPre, which can be done in just a few minutes.
1.1 How to use this User Guide
Please note that throughout the text the following nomenclature is used:
HOLMFIR The application HOLMFIR developed by HOLM Acoustics. Version 1.0.8.x
DSPre The DSPre 1 manufactured by HOLM Acoustics
DSPre-1-way A set of fullrange speakers
DSPre-2-way A set of bi-wired speakers with or without analog crossover
DSPre-3-way A set tri-wired speakers with or without analog crossover
HOLMFIR can be used to setup 1,2,3-way systems, so skip the pages not relevant for you
- hence do you have a DSPre-2-way system then skip the DSPre-1-way and DSPre-3-way
chapters/sections.
Typical usage of this user guide in ’Basic Mode ’is:
•Chapter 2Quick Start: Get the DSPre playing within a few minutes
•Chapter 3Crossover & Target: Tune the Crossovers and/or target for your system
•Chapter 4Equalizing: Experience some of the cababilities in a DSPre
•Chapter 5,6,7: Use these chapters when needed
When you are familiar with HOLMFIR in ’Basic Mode’ and would like to take the DSPre a
step further regarding perfection of sound, then continue to Part II: HOLMFIR in Advanced
Mode.
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Quick Start 3 of 65
Chapter 2
Quick Start
The purpose of this chapter is to get the DSPre playing in your setup, i.e. get sound out
of your speakers within a few minutes.
2.1 The DSPre
The DSPre interface with display fields is very simple:
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Quick Start - Installing HOLMFIR 4 of 65
All connections are kept on the back panel of the DSPre:
2.2 Installing HOLMFIR
HOLMFIR is installed using a Microsoft installer package. It is recommended to
download the latest version found at www.holmacoustics.com/holmfir.php
HOLMFIR-1.0.8.x-wxp.msi Installer package for Windows XP (32 bit)
HOLMFIR-1.0.8.x-wvista.msi Installer package for Windows Vista (32 bit)
When executing the installer package you can safely answer ’Run’ to below security
question
Note when upgrading HOLMFIR then just execute the new installer package - it is not
necessary to uninstall the previous version.
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Quick Start - Installing HOLMFIR 5 of 65
2.2.1 Computer Requirements
HOLMFIR is a lightweight application, but does require some computer power. HOLMFIR
will work if your computer is from an older date, but updating the graphs might take a
while.
Hardware requirements:
•Minimum 1 GHz CPU
•Minimum 512 MB RAM
•Minimum 50 MB free disk space
•USB port
Software requirements:
•Windows XP or Windows Vista
•.Net 2.0 platform (Standard free library for Windows XP and Vista )
Note, that when the DSPre once has been configured you can use ANY computer to play
sound via USB without having to install HOLMFIR - that is any computer supporting
the USB 1.1 audio standard. The most commonly used operative systems support this as
Plug’n’Play without installing any special drivers: Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows
XP, Windows Vista, Mac OS X, Linux (Ubuntu, fedora, RedHat, ...) .
See Section 6.4 ’Playing Music via USB’ for further details.
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Quick Start - DSPre-1-way Setup 6 of 65
2.3 DSPre-1-way Setup
In a DSPre-1-way setup the DSPre basically acts as a pre-amplifier with digital correction
and equalization options.
To use the DSPre-1-way setup you need:
1. A DSPre 1
2. A stereo amplifier (or two mono amplifiers)
3. Two full range speakers
4. Signal and speaker cables
5. A computer running Windows XP or Vista (only needed to configure the DSPre)
Connect the Cables
Connect the cables as shown in the diagram below.
Input sources available: 1 USB, 2 analog and 5 digital
HOLM Acoustics HOLMFIR User Guide v0.4.4