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Measurement Mic USB Preamp

whoaru99 said:
On a loop back test of my US-144, the response was 20Hz-20kHz, +0dB, -0.2dB; with -3dB points of ~6Hz and ~23kHz.
Click to expand...

Hey, try the loop back test with the clock rate set to 96KHz... you should be able to more than double your upper 3dB point.

(The US-122 is a great unit, with slightly more flexible connection. But, the extra bandwidth available on the 144 makes it useful for a wider variety of test applications.)

-k
 
I would, but I think the program I use most often (Room EQ Wizard) only gives 44.1kHz or 48kHz options. I'll check again though.
 
ken kantor said:
Hey, try the loop back test with the clock rate set to 96KHz... you should be able to more than double your upper 3dB point.

(The US-122 is a great unit, with slightly more flexible connection. But, the extra bandwidth available on the 144 makes it useful for a wider variety of test applications.)

-k
Click to expand...

I see US 122 "L" which claims 96k:
http://www.amazon.com/TASCAM-USB-2-0-Audio-midi-Interface/dp/B000K6CQP6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1234967554&sr=8-3
Then there's this, the "122" which tops out at 48kHz, and I was not aware of this model before:
http://www.amazon.com/Tascam-US122-Audio-Interface-Software/dp/B0002DOXIK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1234967871&sr=1-1
This model seems to be more expensive than the 122L, though a lower sample rate, but it claims to have insert points. Odd if they are both current models.
 
I'm far from an expert on the Tascam model differences, but here's what I think from the links you sent, and some quick phone calls:

- The 122-A is the old and unsupported original unit. After it was discontinued, Tascam took some heat from pros who used them in specific installations and applications, and so they make small quantities available at a higher price.

- The 122-L is the replacement for the original 122, but its drivers are flakey at the higher sample rates, and so it is mainly recommended for 44.1/48 use. It's solid for that.

- The 144 is the core product now. It is recommended for Vista installs.

I personally think any one of the models will be fine for casual speaker testing. I'd spring for the 144 just because the support will be better going forward.

-k
 
Thanks for the info. I just ordered the Tascam US144.
I have SoundEasy functioning, I believe.
Don't know how to do anything with it though.

In testing MLS measurments I found quirky behavior, hoping that was due to my cheap interface and or operator error; not bugs. Man, I hate Windows software. :tears:

Paratima, did you come to a decision on this mic pre thing?
 
skywave-rider said:
Thanks for the info. I just ordered the Tascam US144.
I have SoundEasy functioning, I believe.
Don't know how to do anything with it though.

In testing MLS measurments I found quirky behavior, hoping that was due to my cheap interface and or operator error; not bugs. Man, I hate Windows software. :tears:

Paratima, did you come to a decision on this mic pre thing?
Click to expand...
Just barely saw this thread while flying through. Ten thousand pardons for my slow responses. I got business problems - the good kind :D - customers wanting delivery! If I can get everybody satisfied, I'll be doing some testing with my 144 and Behringer this weekend. Marked this thread - I'll report back here. In fact, I may be quizzing YOU about SoundEasy!
 
Well, I got the Tascam US-144 running well on MAC, after downloading the latest drivers and firmware. The firmware/driver combo on the installer CD caused the interface to "noise out" after about an hour. Stable so far updated on MAC. (Leopard.)

However.....
Soundeasy is a Windows app.
I am running Parallels on aforementioned Mac laptop, which enables me to run Windows XP.
Previously I was able to use my IMic USB interface in this scenario, requiring an external mic pre and phantom supply, but it was cumbersome and I noticed inconsistencies in measurement results. So I hoped the Tascam would be the solution. It does not work with Sounduneasy in this system.

I am not a Windows guy, this is taking too long, so I'm probably done with this experiment.

I did write the kind folks at Bozio software, the authors, prior to purchasing, but they did not find the time to relay their opinion as to whether or not this rig would work. So I gave it a shot. Let the buyer beware....:nono:

I've tried every one of the Windows drivers.
Gonna give it a rest and see what others have to say.
Then I'll decide if I want to unload the software.

The interface sounds good on the Mac side, FYI.
 
Hi swr,

However.....
Soundeasy is a Windows app.
I am running Parallels on aforementioned Mac laptop, which enables me to run Windows XP.
Previously I was able to use my IMic USB interface in this scenario, requiring an external mic pre and phantom supply, but it was cumbersome and I noticed inconsistencies in measurement results. So I hoped the Tascam would be the solution. It does not work with Sounduneasy in this system.

I am not a Windows guy, this is taking too long, so I'm probably done with this experiment.
Click to expand...


- I'm a Mac guy also / but since PCs are so cheap these days I simply bought a Dell Notebook to act as my audio test platform . Maybe I can help .
- As much as the PC crowd is quite proud of XP / it does remind me of Apples' System 8.6 or 9.2 and the "undocumented" quirks that inhabited those relics .
- So to start ; within XPs' control panel called " Sounds and Audio Devices Properties" / you have selected the Tascam as your input & output device , correct ?
- As opposed to selecting the builtin generic XP soundcard ( whatever it may be called ) that XP defaults to ?

- Anyhow, before giving up / I'd suggest downloading .

This is a powerfull suite of shareware software for audio testing . The free version is fully functional except it can't save or load files . The cost is minimal and one should strongly consider paying the developer for all his efforts .

-Try this software to see if it will "speak-through" the XP shell to the Tascam "XP" drivers .
- Your problem could well be with some Speakeasy setting ( which I don't use / so I can't help further ).

- Also try True Audio' to see if it find & talk to the Tascam drivers . Level 1 of TrueRTA is free .

I did write the kind folks at Bozio software, the authors, prior to purchasing, but they did not find the time to relay their opinion as to whether or not this rig would work. So I gave it a shot. Let the buyer beware....
Click to expand...

-Yes, it's a real drag being ignored once someone has your money .
I've tried every one of the Windows drivers.
Gonna give it a rest and see what others have to say.
Then I'll decide if I want to unload the software.
The interface sounds good on the Mac side, FYI.
Click to expand...

- BTW, I have an M-Audio "Fast Track Ultra" . Very nice hardware but ;
- Their drivers are flakey ( or it's my Dell / or whatever ) .
- The drivers disappear every once in a while inexplicably & need reinstalling .
- Unfortunately, the install disc seems typically to be unreadable / ( it's a .dmg file ) that XP routinely ignores if clicked on .
- A successful driver (re)install involves a labourious method of using the "downloadable drivers" from the companies website / as well as the original install disc .
Using "just the downloaded .exe file" doesn't make for a happy install for unknown reasons ( DC pulses every 30 secs, for instance ) .
- I blame all this on the fact that M-Audio comes from the Mac world & don't seem to follow "Windows install protocals" .

- Hope I was a help >< EarlK
 
Hey EarlK, nice to see you here!
I appreciate your reply and your experience is helpful.

Yes I did select the Tascam in the Windows control panel. It actually functions within Windows to play system sounds, et. al., but as soon as SoundEasy is involved, the interface craps out.

I downloaded all the Windows drivers from Tascam, the newest to the oldest, and tried them all. I did "uninstalls" between each one successively. I can only assume all problematic elements were uninstalled.

I will look into ARTA.

I downloaded the free trial of Fuzzmeasure, and it works pretty great. I'm going to look into whether or not the impedance measurements and the TS numbers it generates are "good enough," and also research the effectiveness of exporting its plot data into design software -- of some type.

It is refreshing, with Fuzzmeasure, to get solid readable graphs which were repeatable to the n'th degree, and a means of easily comparing different measurements in the same window.
 
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Hi, Earl, and welcome to AK!

Earl is a long-time forum pal from LHF, folks.

[That don't mean me and Skywave gotta behave now, tho.... ;) ]
 
Thanks for the welcoming, guys ! It's appreciated .

swr; I followed this thread for some time because most Mac heads with an interest in audio will eventually go through what you are or something similar .

As mentioned , I took the easy way out .

>< cheers
 
None of this is too easy. Ha.
I have been testing Fuzzmeasure. Here's a pic of one graph of DE250/H290/4PiXO/JBL LE8TH with a little EQ. Just testing. Don't know if I can export a legend into the graph:
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Calibration file

Has anyone gotten a calibration file for the Behringer ECM mic? If so, please recommend a good outfit.
 
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