Calibrating Signal Paths with Any Interface (100 Things #99)
Calibrating signal paths is a critical part of any audio measurement, and SoundCheck offers the ultimate flexibility for calibrating audio interfaces. Whether you need two channels or sixty-four, analog or digital, each has its own unique configuration and there is no limit on the number of channels that can be calibrated. For example, its possible to have some channels calibrated with a 6-mic array for recording a response, while others are configured to measure motor vibration and RPM speed. Not only can you mix different devices, but each channel can be calibrated using different audio drivers so it’s no problem to combine something like a Bluetooth headset with analog ear simulators and a digital wav file. Learn more in this short video.
Calibrating Audio Signal Paths
Learn More About Calibrating Signal Paths in SoundCheck
Check out our calibration tutorials (section 2)
Read more about recommended audio interfaces to use with SoundCheck.
Learn more about AmpConnect 621 and AudioConnect 2, Listen’s self-calibrating audio interfaces
Video Script: Calibrate your Signal Paths with any audio interface
In any audio test and measurement system, your signal path begins and ends with your audio interface. Whatever software system and interface you’re using, it’s important to correctly calibrate all input and output channels to get accurate results
SoundCheck offers the ultimate flexibility for calibrating audio interfaces. Any number of channels can be calibrated, so whether you need two channels or sixty-four, each channel has its own unique configuration. This means it’s possible to have some channels calibrated with a 6-mic array for recording a response, while others are configured to measure motor vibration and RPM speed.
Not only can you mix different devices, but each channel can be calibrated using different audio drivers so it’s no big deal if you are combining something like a Bluetooth headset with analog ear simulators and a digital wav file.
This flexibility ensures your test system is future-proofed and can even calibrate hardware that doesn’t exist yet, so long as it conforms to digital audio standards. Over the years we’ve calibrated USB, Bluetooth, Dante, AVB, A2B and more, as well as the more standard types such as WDM, ASIO, Core Audio and WASAPI.
To calibrate an audio device, you need to measure both the Vp in and Vp out values as well as the latency at all the sample rates you will be using.
You can do this directly from the hardware editor itself. You’ll need an AC multimeter that’s accurate to at least 250Hz, and an adapter to insert it in the input / output chain of the audio interface during the calibration process. Should the need arise for field calibration, that can also be done using this method.
To avoid this step, when you purchase a 3rd party interface directly from Listen, we’ll determine the Vp values and the latency before it leaves our facility. All you need to do is enter the device values from the provided calibration sheet into the hardware editor, and you’re ready to start measuring.
Our own all-in-one audio test hardware takes this one step further with self-calibration. With both the 2-channel AudioConnect 2 and the 6-in, 2-out AmpConnect 621, hardware editor values are measured during manufacture and stored on the device. These values are auto-populated in the hardware editor when it’s connected via USB, so you never need to manually calibrate these devices. If you swap hardware, the calibration is automatically updated.
To learn more about calibrating signal paths in SoundCheck, check out our online knowledgebase and user manual.
