[wushuliu]

I've been reading up on this, by the way John-Great article!
So the way I see it I would get:
 1) Mini DSP in a box
 2) Software Plugin noted in the article
 3) Measurement microphone
 4) USB sound card....this is the only thing I don't fully understand, couldn't we use the Mic inputs on our laptop?? Or is that way of connecting just not accurate hence the USB soundcard. Anybody have suggestions or experience with entry level mic and entry level USB soundcard that could recommend some so we have a place to start?

 Chris (rodge827) and I have been talking about these and I think we'd both like to check them out, thanks in advance..

You mean a mic preamp with 1/8 in. out to laptop input? Isn't that noisy and kind of a no no?

Anyhoos. You'll want a calibrated mic for accurate measurements.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=390-801&FTR=emm-6

This is the usb mic preamp I got

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Icicle-Converter-Preamp/dp/B001EW5YQS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1294473069&sr=8-1

I think the shipping is cheaper on the mic if you get it from amazon too...

[eclein]

Perfect!! Thanks!!
 Ed

[JohnR]

That looks like a great solution. In general the main issues with using laptop inputs directly are a) the need to provide power to the mic (if it needs it) and b) provide the needed gain from the mic to line-level relatively noise-free.