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Author Topic: High End Measurement Software?  (Read 12873 times)

volki

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High End Measurement Software?
« on: May 25, 2011, 09:04:51 AM »

What software products (read: product names) do you guys use for measurement? I can't affort hardware systems like Audio Precision, Neutrik, Prism Sound etc., but I'm not satisfied by all those shareware software, either. I'm looking for a professional software (Win or Mac) that works together with any ADDA converter. Provided that you have a good converter, this solution will be good for most of the tasks in the analog domain at least.

I would need the following features:

SIGNAL GENERATOR
- Sine, square, multiple sines (for IMD & DFD-testing), impulse & step, maybe even custom signals (file import)
- should be able to do freq. & amplitude sweeps, also with multiple sines

MEASUREMENT FUNCTIONS
- Standard stuff like Peak/RMS amplitude (quasi-peak would be nice)
- THD / THD+N
- separate measurement for 2nd & 3rd harmonic (4th & 5th would be nice)
- same for IMD & DFD (2nd & 3rd order distortion components)

REALTIME DISPLAY:
- Bargraph, Waveform-Monitor (Recordable), FFT (customizable windowing)

PLOT FUNCTIONS:
- Freq vs. Amplitude, Distortion vs. Amplitude, Distortion vs. Freq.
- Waterfall & Sonogram would be nice

GUI:
- good editing functions for the graphs/plots would be essential: Combining / layering plots, shifting of Y axis (as to null offsets of different measurements and compare relative value changes), renaming, colours, export to standard graphic file formats.

I/P Processing bandwidth: 96K would be nice, 192K even better

If the software offers some good measurement features in the digital domain, all the better.


Any recommendation of product names is much appreciated!

Thanks,

_______________
Volker Meitz


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Volker Meitz

Jim Williams

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2011, 11:17:52 AM »

There are plenty of programs out there that do this. Unfortunately, all of them are dependent on the resolution of the converters you select. Whatever results you get there are errors buried under the converter errors, a tough thing to differentiate.
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volki

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2011, 01:01:00 PM »

Hi Jim,

Having to strike a balance between performance and budget, I'm aware of this.
I'm actually looking for recommendations of _names_ regarding good software with the above properties. Not knowing those names myself, I am completely lost when searching the web since everything from crap to high end shows up in the search results.

Thanks,
_______________
Volker Meitz
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Volker Meitz

boggy

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2011, 05:27:20 PM »

I'll start with ARTA (STEPS and LIMP are included too) builded by Dr. Ivo Mateljan (University of Split, Croatia)
95% usable free version you can download here:
http://www.fesb.hr/~mateljan/arta/download.htm
User manuals are very descriptive and useful... for (both) programs usage, and theoretical background.
you can download it here: http://www.fesb.hr/~mateljan/arta/support.htm
As I see you can find most of your requirements in this software.
I use it with Lynx L22.

And I agree with Jim Williams that there are a plenty of programs (Sample Champion, EASERA, YMEC, PRAXIS, DSSF3,... ), but they didn't fit well from my point of view, and my needs.

Also, you will find almost all links to examples of audio measurement software (and hardware) at Ivo Mateljan page here:
http://www.fesb.hr/~mateljan/arta/links.htm   :)


Best regards
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volki

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2011, 08:02:28 AM »

Looks interesting, I'll check it out, thanks!

Judging from the screenshots, it only doesn't seem to provide realtime measurement (level, waveform, THD, noise etc.)? But fair enough.

_______________
Volker Meitz
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Volker Meitz

Jim Williams

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2011, 11:42:49 AM »

Whatever program and converters you use you should run a self test to at least determine the baseline measurements of that system. Simply connect output to input and run all the tests.

That will show the system resolution. If you see specs on gear that exceed those measurements, you will know your system's limitations.

"A man's got to know his limitations" ~ Dirty Harry
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volki

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2011, 12:00:28 PM »

As for actual measurement rather than the software tool, I'm not exactly a newbie, so I know that ;)
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Volker Meitz

boggy

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2011, 02:16:47 PM »

Looks interesting, I'll check it out, thanks!
np :)

Judging from the screenshots, it only doesn't seem to provide realtime measurement (level, waveform, THD, noise etc.)? But fair enough.
.....


ARTA can display THD+N, THD and RMS level in real-time.
This functions can be switched off and on (View>Info>...).
I attached example for THD and RMS.
But there aren't waveform display AFAIK.


Best regards
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John Roberts {JR}

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2011, 04:21:12 PM »

29% THD?

JR
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volki

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #9 on: May 27, 2011, 05:40:25 PM »

29% THD?

JR
That's what I was wondering, too... the spectrum doesn't look like it, really...?
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Volker Meitz

boggy

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #10 on: May 28, 2011, 04:07:09 AM »

Reasons for this are artifacts at 48khz, not visible at first image. Sound card is crappy Realtek onboard thing, used only for demonstration. Lynx L22 is in other PC, currently unavailable. Sorry.


EDIT: here is my old post about ARTA+Lynx L22 (192kHz S/R)
http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/m/501003/0/#msg_num_5


EDIT2: I attached second picture with 48kHz sample rate and same onboard Realtek "card"


Best regards,
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DanDan

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Re: High End Measurement Software?
« Reply #11 on: June 01, 2011, 04:17:48 PM »

Not sure you will get that specific wishlist in one program. 
For Mac here's a couple
http://www.faberacoustical.com
http://www.supermegaultragroovy.com/products/FuzzMeasure/

Java, OK with 2Channel interface on Mac, very powerful, great price
http://www.supermegaultragroovy.com/products/FuzzMeasure/

DD
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Dan FitzGerald  MIOA MAES
www.irishacoustics.com
www.soundsound.ie
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