[LP1]

I am finally taking delivery of a Windows laptop today and plan to download REW so I can take room measurements. I still need a microphone, cables etc. Not sure I need a soundcard with some of the available microphones.

I'd like to keep costs reasonable, but am seeking recommendations for a competent kit to use the REW software. Thanks.

[HAL]

You will need an audio interface to drive your audio system.  For a MIC, the Dayton Audio UMM-6 has worked well for me.  The laptop audio output should drive your system with the correct interface cable.

[Hipper]

The best place for advice is here:

http://www.roomeqwizard.com/help/help_en-GB/html/index.html

Click 'Getting Started' and scroll down about a quarter page for 'Equipment Needed'. It seems the same as when I started a few years ago:

An external soundcard - I use Creative X-Fi which is still available.
Microphone, stand and cable - I use Behringer ECM-8000.
Power for the microphone - I use a Behringer Xenyx 802.
Suitable cables.
Total cost around £200.

More advice on the forums:

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/rew-forum/

Be patient because it takes time to get things properly set up and to learn.

[randytsuch]

I bought a mic and a separate mic preamp, but if I was doing it now, I would get one of these
http://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1

http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-UMM-6-Measurement-Microphone/dp/B00ADR2E68

A calibrated USB mic.

[Glenn Kuras]

I bought a mic and a separate mic preamp, but if I was doing it now, I would get one of these
http://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1

http://www.amazon.com/Dayton-Audio-UMM-6-Measurement-Microphone/dp/B00ADR2E68

A calibrated USB mic.

I also have a separate mic preamp. Anyone use the mic that is listed above running REW? Seems pretty easy.

[HAL]

I use the UMM-6 with REW.  Just plug.in the MIC and use the calibration file from the Dayton Audio website.  Download just needs the serial number for the MIC.

[LP1]

Thanks all. I purchased the MiniDSP UMIK-1 from Cross-Spectrum Acoustics, which is a USB mic that apparently does not require a separate soundcard or phantom power supply. Just plug it straight into laptop (I hope).

[musicapristina]

REW was a god send when setting up my room. I went with a Sapphire Fire-wire interface and the Dayton Mic.

I found one strange reflection at a distance that didn't make sense. Turned out that it was the following path:

Speakers > Ceiling > Back Wall > Back of My Head.

Treating that made the magic happen with the depth of the soundstage.

I will tell you, I went a little batty listening to sweeps night after night, but the work really paid off.

[poseidonsvoice]

Nice improvement in technologies! When I set up my room I used a calibrated Behringer ECM-8000, and an M-Audio mic preamp along with a multitude of cables, and a boom mic stand! Removing the mic preamp would certainly minimize the clutter. The UMIK-1 looks great in that regard.

A small warning on the Dayton Audio UMM-6 (USB version of the EMM-6) from Cross Sprectum's website:

• The UMM-6 microphone has a relatively high noise floor of about 53 dB, compared to a noise floor of 30-40 dBA for the ECM8000 and EMM-6. This noise floor can cause issues with distortion measurements or measurements of quiet sources.

Best,
Anand.

[Nick77]

Thanks all. I purchased the MiniDSP UMIK-1 from Cross-Spectrum Acoustics, which is a USB mic that apparently does not require a separate soundcard or phantom power supply. Just plug it straight into laptop (I hope).

Can anyone confirm the MiniDSP UMIK-1 just plugs into laptop without using an external soundcard? All that is needed is REW, laptop and UMIK-1 for measurements???

Thanks....

[JohnR]

Can anyone confirm the MiniDSP UMIK-1 just plugs into laptop without using an external soundcard? All that is needed is REW, laptop and UMIK-1 for measurements???

Yes, that's all you need.

[SoCalWJS]

Out of curiosity...

I tried doing the REW thing many years ago and gave up out of frustration. I decided to purchase the OmniMic when I found out about it and have used it with pretty good results.

Now I see that REW is getting a bit more user friendly with respect to USB Microphones.

Is it possible to use my OmniMic with REW? Seems like REW has a few features that OmniMic (software) does not that I wouldn't mind playing around with.

[Nick77]

Yes, that's all you need.

Thanks John, but how do you get sweeps into your system. Can you also use Jriver or USB audio out?? Headphone mini jack out??

Thanks

[WGH]

REW was a god send when setting up my room. I went with a Sapphire Fire-wire interface and the Dayton Mic.

I found one strange reflection at a distance that didn't make sense. Turned out that it was the following path:

Speakers > Ceiling > Back Wall > Back of My Head.

Treating that made the magic happen with the depth of the soundstage.

A common problem with us bald guys, how did you treat the back of your head?

Or if you treated the wall, what did you use?

[JohnR]

Is it possible to use my OmniMic with REW?

If it shows up on your computer as an input device, it should be. Hopefully the calibration file would be compatible, but at any rate the first step would be to just try it and see if REW "sees" it.

[JohnR]

Thanks John, but how do you get sweeps into your system. Can you also use Jriver or USB audio out?? Headphone mini jack out??

Depends on what connectivity your system has, but if you need analog the headphone out should work. If you have a USB DAC or direct USB input, then USB, if you have an HDMI input, then you can use that too. If your laptop has optical or SPDIF, then you could use that. In a nutshell, whatever works on both ends.

[Odal3]

I got the Umik as well. It comes with calibration files from the OEM that works with REW, but I purchased it from cross spectrum as well to get it calibrated by a secondary source that has great feedback on many forums. Small extra fee think it was only $20 extra and for that you get the calibration files on an USB stick and a calibration printout.

http://cross-spectrum.com/measurement/calibrated_umik.html

The mic is easy to use and just plug and play at least in windows 8.

To Add To John's point - REW generates the sweep signal and you just connect a cable between lineout/usb dac as a source into your preamp or straight into amp.