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wotugot4me

Copper - Posts: 64

Joined: March 09, 2005

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: February 22, 2007 at 7:58 AM / IP Logged

Im looking at getting into the technical side of audio a bit more so I was looking for some opinions on the tools of the trade that some installers use.

At the moment I plan on getting a woofer tester for thiele/small testing, a hp10s handheld O-Scope and Bass Box pro.

I would also like to get a program like trueRta and a Behringer ECM8000 Mic for some frequency response testing and SPL testing, the only problem is this requires a Phantom power supply and decent usb soundcard for a laptop which really increses the price. Does anyone know of some similar setups at a better price or can recommend some other testing equipment?

Thanks

DYohn

Moderator - Posts: 10,741

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Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: February 22, 2007 at 9:40 AM / IP Logged

I use an M-Audio Mobile Pre USB sound card. It is powered from your USB bus (making it easy to use with a laptop) and has a full-duplex high-quality sound card and microphone preamp. Works great with TrueRTA.

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wotugot4me

Copper - Posts: 64

Joined: March 09, 2005

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: February 22, 2007 at 9:54 AM / IP Logged

Thanks that looks like exactly what I need and I won't need to by a mixer with phantom power. Can I ask what Mic you use and what programs are good for testing? Is Bass Box pro a decent program to use, seems quite good for the price.

Thanks again

haemphyst

Platinum - Posts: 5,054

Joined: January 19, 2003

Location: Michigan, Bouvet Island

Posted: February 22, 2007 at 10:02 AM / IP Logged

I use the same pre-amp (about 150.00), with a Behringer ECM-8000 (about 80.00), True RTA, level 4 (100.00), and JBL Speakershop (priceless). My actual sound card, though, is an external Philips Aurilium PSC805 (100.00, if you can find them). There are many reviews of this item on the net. Really clean, and, for the money, one of the nicest cards I've seen in a long time. Check eBay for them, I'm sure you'll find one there.

It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

wotugot4me

Copper - Posts: 64

Joined: March 09, 2005

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: February 22, 2007 at 10:08 AM / IP Logged

Am I right in saying that I can use the M-Audio Mobile Pre USB as my sound card and pre amp?

haemphyst

Platinum - Posts: 5,054

Joined: January 19, 2003

Location: Michigan, Bouvet Island

Posted: February 22, 2007 at 10:11 AM / IP Logged

I don't believe the USB Pre will actually function as a "sound card" per se. You will still need an actual sound reproducing card. The mobile pre is just that - a pre-amp.

It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

DYohn

Moderator - Posts: 10,741

Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: February 22, 2007 at 10:16 AM / IP Logged

I also use the Behringer mic and a LineraX M52 for high SPL applications. I find Bass Box Pro too limiting for my needs and prefer to work with WinISD Pro. Actually I prefer Leap, but I don't have my own copy yet. TrueRTA Level 4 is one of the best low-cost investments you can make, IMO.

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wotugot4me

Copper - Posts: 64

Joined: March 09, 2005

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: February 22, 2007 at 10:16 AM / IP Logged

Thanks for the quick reply, so even with the Mobile pre I will need to get a good sound card for my laptop, I suppose I can save a bit and buy it piece by piece but you know what its like, you want to do it all in one go. I guess I can start by using the standard sound card just to play around with it until I decide to get more serious and build a box and then test it.

Thanks again to you and Dyohn

DYohn

Moderator - Posts: 10,741

Joined: April 22, 2003

Location: Arizona, United States

Posted: February 22, 2007 at 10:24 AM / IP Logged

Actually the MobilePre does have a sound card built into it.

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wotugot4me

Copper - Posts: 64

Joined: March 09, 2005

Location: United Kingdom

Posted: February 22, 2007 at 10:34 AM / IP Logged

Great, so then I presume the sound card works through the usb? I will look into WinIsd and JBL speakershop and see, the reason I was going to go with BB Pro is that you can get a bundle price with the woofer tester 2 where you save $70 plus free shipping, even to me in the UK.

Thanks again guys

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