Want to test my monitors for flatness, but what am I missing? at DVinfo.net

Dave Largent · October 22nd, 2005, 05:37 AM

I found this freeware frequency and spectrum analyzer:

http://www.sarand.com/prd/winsingad/winsingad.html

I've got a pretty flat mic. But what do I play through the
monitors? Do I need some type of tone generator to
step through the frequencies and see how it looks
on the analyzer?

Jerry Porter · October 22nd, 2005, 07:43 AM

You need a pink noise generator and a Real Time Analizer if I'm understanding your question right. Adobe Audition has a noise generator built in. I belive most other audio editing programs will also, but I'm just assuming there.

David Ennis · October 22nd, 2005, 07:48 AM

Dave,
You can get a 30-day trial of a much more sophisticated ($600) system, that includes everything you need (including online tutorials here:
http://www.ymec.com/products/dssf3e/
I've used it to analyze the inputs of my cams and the DXA-8

They also offer a $24 subset (their Real Time Analyzer) that includes a tone generator with a sweep function, an oscilloscope and several other functions.

Dave Largent · October 23rd, 2005, 02:40 AM

What really is pink noise? Just by playing this
pink noise, the analyzer can tell how flat my
monitors are, assuming my mic is flat?

Jerry Porter · October 23rd, 2005, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Largent

What really is pink noise? Just by playing this
pink noise, the analyzer can tell how flat my
monitors are, assuming my mic is flat?

Pink noise are tones that contian the freq's that are reproduced at the same level to test your monitors. OK here's the deal. What has been suggested above will only test your outputs. Not the monitors. You need a RTA that is set in front of your monitors in the place that you listen to them. Placement has an effect on what you hear a when you hear it. IE... a 20KHz wave moves much faster over a distance than will a 80Hz. And because of this looses energy faster and can't be heard at greater distances unless pushed harder.That that's the reason that made the BBE processors and time correctors. So directly in front of your monitor you may be hearing a flat response, but because of the placement and distance what is getting to your ears is not. Although in a small setting like a studio this is not as noticable than say a concert.

Dave Largent · October 24th, 2005, 01:28 AM

Hopefully that freeware program I found has the
pink noise in it.
So, the pink noise runs through all the different
frequencies? Like, steps up from low tones to
the high pitched tones?

Glenn Chan · October 24th, 2005, 06:00 AM

Pink noise contains all the tones at once.

You can also try a test sound which uses sine wave tones which change from low to high. I believe this will give you a different result than pink noise.

October 22nd, 2005, 05:37 AM	#1
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Want to test my monitors for flatness, but what am I missing? I found this freeware frequency and spectrum analyzer: http://www.sarand.com/prd/winsingad/winsingad.html I've got a pretty flat mic. But what do I play through the monitors? Do I need some type of tone generator to step through the frequencies and see how it looks on the analyzer?

October 22nd, 2005, 07:48 AM	#3
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	Dave, You can get a 30-day trial of a much more sophisticated ($600) system, that includes everything you need (including online tutorials here: http://www.ymec.com/products/dssf3e/ I've used it to analyze the inputs of my cams and the DXA-8 They also offer a $24 subset (their Real Time Analyzer) that includes a tone generator with a sweep function, an oscilloscope and several other functions. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

October 22nd, 2005, 07:43 AM	#2
Jerry Porter Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, Fl Posts: 784	You need a pink noise generator and a Real Time Analizer if I'm understanding your question right. Adobe Audition has a noise generator built in. I belive most other audio editing programs will also, but I'm just assuming there.

October 23rd, 2005, 02:40 AM	#4
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	What really is pink noise? Just by playing this pink noise, the analyzer can tell how flat my monitors are, assuming my mic is flat?

October 24th, 2005, 01:28 AM	#6
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Hopefully that freeware program I found has the pink noise in it. So, the pink noise runs through all the different frequencies? Like, steps up from low tones to the high pitched tones?

October 24th, 2005, 06:00 AM	#7
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Pink noise contains all the tones at once. You can also try a test sound which uses sine wave tones which change from low to high. I believe this will give you a different result than pink noise.