Noisy Real Time Analyzer?

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RawDepth

RawDepth

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I am testing out a borrowed toy. The Behringer Ultra-curve DSP8000. (No doubt an older model, now replaced by the DSP8024.)

At any rate, I inserted the unit into the signal path between my Central Station and monitors. I set it to automatically pink noise the room with the test mic in the sweet spot. It ran its course and finally settled on a custom EQ curve just for my room. The monitors sound full, rich, and natural now. The only problem is that the Behringer added a slight hiss to my monitors that was never there before. They used to be silent when not playing music.

Is this hiss present because the highs were boosted slightly, or because the Behringer uses crappie circuitry? Would the newer model 8024 be quieter?

I would like to buy an analyzer like this and keep it in my signal chain all the time. Is there another “better” brand of RTA that sets a curve and allows me to use it like an everyday EQ?

Thanks folks
 
What changes did it make to say... the 5Khz and above portion of the audio spectrum??
 
I don’t know what the curve looked like before it started because I never had an EQ hooked up to the system before. I just hooked this thing up, fired it up and pressed Auto-Q.

It did change and adjust all 31 bands simultaneously. Some went up slightly, some went down slightly. It continued to make changes until it had the curve mostly flat.

I guess the highs are up some because the monitors sound a bit brighter now.

Can you recommend any RTA/EQ's? I want to buy one because I may move my monitors from time to time.
 
FWIW I did the same thing with the DEQ2496 as an experiment but pulled it out cause it it seemed to play with the stereo imaging a touch and added a touch of grit.

Now I run it in parallel and just use it as a RTA to monitor what my Benchmark DAC-1 is 'probably' feeding the active monitors...I didn't want the DEQ2496 in the same path as the DAC-1.

Maybe I'll try it again now that I've done some acoustic adjustments and upgraded monitors and see if I can hear any grit. It would be cool to hype the bass or mids from time to time during mixdown or mastering I think ! Sort of like the newer Alesis and Dynaudio monitors can do.
 
Behringer DSP8000 , DEQ2496

I bought the DEQ2496 recently for it's RTA capablilities when I am mastering for CD. As an RTA, I absolutely LOVE it and would be hurting without it. I even like it better than Waves RTA plug in. I thought the LCD screen would be too small, but it's not at all. It allows you to scroll through your dynamic range, so the screen size isn't an issue. I have no desire to use it's EQs or other sound processing functions because, when it comes down to it, Behringer's A/Ds, D/As and it's signal processing are kind of cheap sounding on their cheaper stuff (most of their stuff). I would never use it to process my signal in any way, because I have better stuff to do that with, and the quality of EQs, compressors, etc. are probably most important in the mastering phase.

But, I have played around with the EQs and dynamics a little and even cleaned up some old cassette tapes with it (in conjunction with Waves restoration bundle). Although they aren't the best quality of signal processing you can get, they actually aren't nearly as bad as I would have suspected. I was actually amazed how nice they sounded compared to other, more expensive rack equipment. I still wouldn't use it for anything I'm getting paid for, but they are pretty damn good for the money and definitely suitable for a home recording/ budget recording set up. It should work just fine for tuning a room and I doubt that it would create much noticeable noise.

I, for one, did not notice any extra noise or hiss generated from the DEQ2496; it's pretty transparent in terms of noise. Even with the EQs and Dynamics going full force, there was not any extra noticeable noise (which, with digital processing, there shouldn't be).

I'm not too familiar with it's predecessor, the DSP8000, but I've used it once and hear a lot about it. From what I found in my own use of it and what I've heard people say, it's pretty crappy compared to the DEQ2496. I've heard other people say that it has cheap circuitry and that it doesn't allow you to do a lot of the stuff the DEQ2496 does (like using the eq and having the RTA monitor the output signal, post eq). I'm not sure if the DSP8000 actually adds any amount of noise to the output signal, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's where it's coming from. Although, it might be possible, that when you engaged it's auto EQ after tuning your room, that it amplified certain high frequencies in your signal that contained that hiss coming into the 8000 and you were only hearing it now because it was amplified by the EQ (i.e. maybe the noise was a part of the signal already, or was generated by something before the DSP8000 and the EQ made it more noticeable).

Whatever the case, you should consider getting the 2496 because it's definitely a superior piece of gear. The awesome RTA alone is worth the price. If not, you can always get a seperate, nicer Graphic EQ and tune your room manually in conjunction with the 8000's RTA. Also, if I'm not mistaken, DOD makes a similar piece of gear (room RTA), but it's not nearly as versatile as the 2496 (and I think you have to buy the companion graphic eq seperate).

If you have any questions about the 2496, I'd be glad to answer them; I mean, I sit right it front of it almost all day! It's looking at me right now, in fact....
 
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Hey, if you're interested, I have a DSP8024 that I was planning to put up on ebay this week. It also comes with the microphone.

I used it just a few times to set up a live sound app (and it worked fine). However, I no longer have any use for it.
 
What RTA's are out there? I only hear about the Behringer products.
 
RawDepth said:
Yeah, I might take you up on that. How much?
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Hmmm...

I dunno, exactly. I see that one went for $208.77 on ebay (that, like mine, also included the calibration mic).

Make me an offer if you'd like. Or, I'll just list it on ebay and you can take your chances... ;)
 
justharold said:
Make me an offer if you'd like.
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Well, I already have an ECM8000 mic so I wouldn’t need that.

The DSP8024 used without a warranty? I’d be willing to go maybe $120. (plus $10 or $15 for shipping)

I do have a PayPal account.
 
DOD analyzer

EddieRay said:
What RTA's are out there? I only hear about the Behringer products.
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I know that DOD makes a rack mount RTA, but I think it's more suited for room tuning. I bought the Behringer 2496 for analyzing my stereo buss signal (for CD mastering). I have never used it's room tuning features though. From what I've heard, though, the Behringer 2496 is better than the DOD analyzer. Anybody know what model of DOD gear I'm talking about? I only saw it briefly once in someone elses portable live rack.

Of course, any decent wave editing program (Sound Forge, etc.) has an RTA, but it's a different type of RTA (with horizontal "wave" lines instead of traditional bar meters). Waves probably makes the best software based RTA, the "PAZ analyzer" plug in.
 
K.C. Maloney said:
I know that DOD makes a rack mount RTA
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I’m not so sure DOD still makes one. I was at their web site and didn’t see any RTAs.
 
Look for the BSR EQ-3000

EddieRay said:
What RTA's are out there? I only hear about the Behringer products.
Click to expand...

Look for the BSR EQ-3000,...

a mid-80's vintage 10-band stereo EQ, with monitor/tape/source select switches and RTA, with built-in Pink Noise. IT SHOULD HAVE a MATCHED CONDENSOR MIC, for the feedback loop,... for monitoring the room environment.

I've seen many of the BSR-EQ3000's sell on Ebay WITHOUT the MIC, so just watch for that. The BSR-EQ3000 originally sold with accomanying matched condensor mic, AND it's essential for actual "room" monitoring of EQ.
 
The BSR-EQ3000,...

Please see my reply on the other post, in the other forum. :eek:
 
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