Room Acoustic Analysis/Measurement with Room Eq Wizard - Part 1

Part 1 of Room Acoustic Analysis/Measurement, equipment required, how to setup and make the measurements.
The room is part of the sound your speakers produce. Different room sizes and shapes affect your room acoustic. Room acoustic treatment and speaker EQ help balance the levels to a flatter response.
P.S. I'm no expert in this field, but this procedure helps me have better mixing and mastering outcomes. Feel free to comment.
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[@joeguitar7164]

more than 6 years old, this video was still a REALLY great help to setting up REW in my studio. Thanks man!

[@micedevice2389]

This is the best tutorial of REW in the net. Thanks!

[@RecordingStudio9]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cetaceous_rex]

I haven't even done a proper test yet and this is already so much more helpful than anything else I've found online. Thank you so so much!

[@precisionsoundworks8371]

When I first downloaded and opened up REW I thought, "No way.", but... then found your video and you made it SOOOOOOOOOOO easy. Excellent demo! THANK YOU, Vatche!

[@stefanurosevic3090]

This is awesome. Now i can track the difference in acoustics for the skyline diffusers and bass traps ive built. Well done!!

[@Mineiro426]

I’m very happy I found your video on this subject. Very informative and well explained tutorial. I have no words to say how thankful I am. Hope you produce a part 2 soon.

[@RecordingStudio9]

Thanks for the comment. I'm in the process of recording the part 2, coming soon.

[@AndrewMcKean127]

This is by far the best tutorial for Room EQ Wizard I have seen. You should but a room EQ wizard tag on it so that people will see this when they look up tutorials on how to setup the program. Thanks for being so thorough!

[@RecordingStudio9]

Thanks. Just updated the title.

[@fastestgazelle9505]

Thanks. Very practical, just what I need to know to get started. :-)

[@danieleanzanello]

Fantastic tutorial and explanation ! Thank you !!

[@RecordingStudio9]

+Daniele Anzanello Thank you for the feedback. You are most welcome. Now I have to finish off part 2.

[@AtticVibes]

Great video, agree with some of the others, thanks

[@jonilaw1923]

Very intuitive. Thanks.

[@RecordingStudio9]

+Joni Law Thanks. I wish I had time to do part 2. Maybe one day.

[@gastonjabaly]

Awesome thanks!!

[@andrewludlam5686]

Great stuff. Thank you sir.

[@RecordingStudio9]

Thanks. Make sure you also watch part 2.

[@XavierJacome]

Thank you!!! (again)

[@SunTzu192]

Thank you!

[@ocean457]

Thank you my friend

[@andivax]

very usefull! thanx

[@ameyagundale]

On the Yamaha AG03 and the AG06 that you own, Loopback feature is only a switch - no cables needed.. Loved your video.. Keep it up

[@RecordingStudio9]

Thanks. I have a series of videos about my AG03 you might want to watch, that might help you out.

[@elviscesar8021]

verry usefull vid thanks bro keep up.

[@RecordingStudio9]

KING STUDIO Thanks for the comment. Hope it helped you.

[@reginaldmorton2162]

good stuff

[@khoaidol]

Thanks alot bro

[@aevin_io]

thank you sir !

[@RecordingStudio9]

+aevin Welcome. make sure you watch part 2 as well that I did recently.

[@brandonhauser97]

I think you are referring to your audio workstation as a daw, which would actually just be the program found on your computer (hence the "digital" part of "digital audio workstation"). Very helpful video btw, I will be trying this soon!

[@TeacherFlash]

my audio interface steinberg u12 doesnt have this plug for loop cable!? what now?!

[@SaifSameer]

Thanks a lot mate, it is really detailed and straight forward tutorial... I wonder if the same concept would be applied to tune/EQ concert halls or stadiums. Thanks once again... I appreciate it

[@RecordingStudio9]

+Saif Alsarraj Yes, I'm sure every large concert audio management would have audio analysis and room correction. eg. Behringer Ultra Curve Pro DEQ-2496.

[@RecordingStudio9]

+rubkam96 Thanks. You are correct. The larger the room, the less issue for low frequencies, but they have other issues. For small rooms, like mine, EQ correcting means my speakers will give a better and more accurate audio, specially when mixing and mastering. Having said that, I still listen on my in-ear phones and in the car, to make sure my song can be compared with similar commercial music.

[@susilokurniawan7260]

nice

[@ThomasVeheim]

Thanks for a great tutorial! I just bought a Zoom H1 microphone, and I wanted to use the microphone to to compare the frequency response on 3 different bluetooth speakers. This is a brand new area for me, but I find it interesting and want to learn more! Is it possible to measure the frequency response this program using only my mac and my Zoom H1?

[@RecordingStudio9]

+Thomas Veheim Good question. Since you are not trying to correct a room, and want to find out the differences in 3 speakers and compare them in reference to your Zoom H1, then yes. Place the 3 speakers at the same location as you would listen to them, and position the Zoom H1 at the location you would normally sit to listen. Follow my video instruction on how to generate the audio sweep to play from each of the (you need to work this out). Connect the Zoom H1's phones/line out back into your iMac's Line -In, so REW can graph them for you. Hope the above makes sense.

[@davekirkey8269]

Although this is a few years old it is great information on the set up. I have the ECM8000 but it did not come with (or I can not find) the calibraition chart for the specific Microphone.. .so, I may go ahead and order one of the Dayton Mics with the calibration scale and information.. I am very impressed with the REW software and Now, I have lots of tests I need to do. In this video you show the how to analyze the room so the Mic is straight up... but, If I were to want to check the specific speaker response, I've always pointed the mic at the speaker tweeter at about 3' from the speaker. Does that seem right to you

[@RecordingStudio9]

If you are measuring each speaker, then yes, the mic is pointed to it.

[@davekirkey8269]

So hopefully I will get some time this week and run some tests I will be interested in seeing what the differences will be with the Mic pointed at the speaker vs the "Room" set up like you have. Currently i have 2 different Monitor setups, One is Yamaha NS40 monitors driven by a Haffler p3000 and the other are Mackie HR824 monitors, both I have had for years and I often run RTA's on them to make sure they are in spec... Have you ever run the RTA specifically for each Speaker to see what the difference is between that reading and the room ... that may be interesting to see.

[@RecordingStudio9]

Curious to find out. Please keep us updated on the results.

[@edmartick]

How can I /where can I connect the cable for a loop , on a Komplete audio6 interface.Is there an other sollution to create a loop.

[@riverkelly3025]

oh boy I hope this still works ! CAUSE THIS IS 2014 AND it's 2020 aha but maybe it'll still work

[@vincicoolify]

Hey can i use the program with just a computer and a mic?

[@pavelshalman]

Thank you for a great video. Easy to follow and understand. I have a question if you don't mind: I mainly plan to use my room for recording, and will mainly track on headphones. Would this procedure still apply? I do not have proper reference monitors, can you do this with any speakers? Should I put the microphone and the speaker where a musician would stand during the recording? Should I try different parts of the room? I could not find much info in general about treating a live room on KZbin, it's all mostly about a control room. Thanks a lot and greets from Austria.

[@RecordingStudio9]

You can certainly 'ring' the room, meaning play pink noise and find the best flat response location in your 'recording' room and place the vocal mic there. Depending where you place the mic, will have some effect on the frequency response of the mic and the singer.

[@pavelshalman]

@@RecordingStudio9 Thanks for the quick reply and the info!

[@ThunderPantaloons]

I have a Steinberg UR28M and am trying to get the soundcard frequency response. I have a balanced 1/4" going from ouput 1 into input 1 with an XLR connection. Within Room EQ Wizard, in preferences, I have selected Steinberg UR28M as the Output Device with Left as the output channel. The Input Device is also Steinberg UR28M with Left as the input channel. I click the Calibrate button and can set the 1khz level. The next step automatically does the frequency sweep and here is where I run into problems. The result I get is not a smooth line that is flat like your example. Mine has constant peaks and valleys all the way up the frequency spectrum. Any ideas of what I may be doing wrong?

[@RecordingStudio9]

The loop link should be line level, meaning Line Out TRS jack to Line in 1 TRS jack, not XLR. That could make the difference.

[@reikisponge]

It seems like after the whole process, and applied the PEQ to the Equalizer APO. I turned on and off to compare before and after, it sounds like with the calculated PEQ, it sounds a bit dull. Not sure if I do something wrong or it should sound like that. Cymbals and crash are kinda muffled/dull. I'm testing from a living room, not the best placement because of the layout (narrow long room) so the TV/speakers are on long side of the front room. BTW, I found an easy way of using Equalizer APO. After 'match response to target' in REW, you can just export out the calcuated EQ data by clicking "export filter settings as text' few buttons below. then in Equalizer APO, click +, Control, Include. Then import the file. No need to type the data ever again!

[@RecordingStudio9]

Is your system sounding dull for commercial music? then you may have to change the expected graph to flat, rather than an angle at the higher frequencies. Thanks for the tip of export/import of data from each app.

[@reikisponge]

Both classical and electronic music. Classical being less affected. I am guessing electronic music probably EQ beforehand to suit most speakers at regular home. I did a few tests for a different sets of speakers (bookshelf instead of satellite), bookshelf speakers sound a lot better and did reap the benefit of PEQ :) Thank for making this tutorial video. If you have any 'advanced' tricks/moves, please share! :)

[@RecordingStudio9]

You can also watch part 2 if you have not done so already. hope that helps further.

[@AtticVibes]

RecordingStudio9.com great video, just looking for info on this, just the right detail, thanks.

[@rodrigostaub4795]

great video!!. the patch cable is mono or stereo ??

[@RecordingStudio9]

It would not matter. 99% of audio interface inputs are mono (use 2 channels for stereo) and depending on the make, balanced (TRS) or unbalanced (TS) socket. So either cable will work.

[@rodrigostaub4795]

great info thanks !!

[@RosarioLUCA-dv7ju]

Hi, thank you for this clear and useful tutorial. I wish to measure my room to improve the performance of my HIFI, I'm using a Behringer UMC202 ad interface , it's not clear to me how to connect the patch cable. I also had a look to your AudioBox 1818 but I didn't see and line input connection... Could you please help me ? thanks

[@RecordingStudio9]

Most times you can skip the audio interface check as any current audio interface will have reasonable AD/DA converters.

[@RosarioLUCA-dv7ju]

Thanks for your answer . I I'm using an Behringer UMC 202 as audio interface , should I connect my HIFI ampli for the room measurement ? Or Maybe I have just to connect only the speakers ?

[@Kenjikenification]

Is it necessery to use TRS cable for loopback? because I tried TS and my results are not acceptable. Also why to use another SPL meter, Room Eq WIzard has its own SPL meter isn't it?

[@RecordingStudio9]

TS should still work. Make sure you follow my instructions, you may be missing a step. You first need to calibrate the built in SPL meter, so I use an external one.

[@alekhristov9590]

Hi, i don't have sound card but for interface i use a Roland MX-1.Please tell me where i must put the patch cable? I suppose one side of the cable must put to one of mix out but i don't know where put the second side :( I have a VT-3 theре is a phantom power for mic.The second side of the cable i must to put in VT-3?Sorry for my bad english.Please help me.Best Regards Alex

[@RecordingStudio9]

Not knowing about the Roland MX-1, can't help you much. The patch cable I guess can go from the "MIX OUT L/MONO" to "INPUT 1 L/MONO", for the audio interface testing. Then use Input 1 L/MONO for Mic? when doing the audio sweep. Sorry, can't help you further.

[@alekhristov9590]

ok thanks for your fast answer :)

[@edmartick]

Is it possible for a loop to connect the cable in Microphone input and output to L or Right speaker output ?. I am using Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6. or is there maybe no need for cable - looping with little interfaces?

[@RecordingStudio9]

No need for the loop test for room analysing.

[@edmartick]

Oh ok thanks dude

[@edmartick]

RecordingStudio9.com thanks

[@godbear6241]

hello there thanks! What is a reasonable graph? I mean, How do I know that this is what I want my room to sound? how should a good graph look like? thanks

[@RecordingStudio9]

You would want to have as flat line as possible from around 30Hz to 16Khz, +- 3db is ideal, but +- 6db is normal (meaning from the highest peek in any given frequency, to the lowest dip in any given frequency, the difference should not be any larger then 12 db, +6 to -6) Hope this is clear enough.

[@godbear6241]

Thank you so much! it's very clear and you're doing an amazing job as always! I want your opinion about a live room I'm trying to treat. The thing is, it is small (width 3,44m/lenght 3,31m/ height 2,50m) and it is all covered with perforated platter (4 walls). it sounds very dry inside (I don't know if it's a good thing or not). it's for recording music and voice overs. is a dry (almost no reflection) live room any good?

[@RecordingStudio9]

+God Bear Depends what audio source you are trying to record. For vocals, guitar, bass etc, you want it dry. For drums, you might want to have some natural reverberations. Maybe hang some wooden panels to get some.

[@RecordingStudio9]

+God Bear Your room is a square, almost a cube. Not a good size for control room or playback

[@godbear6241]

Thanks a lot! Keep up the great work! I'm learning a lot thanks to your vids greetings from casablanca

[@JimJWalker]

What is that tone at like 13K-13.5K?

[@RecordingStudio9]

Very painful? But it gets a bit too high for me to hear clearly. I'm getting old :P

[@JimJWalker]

RecordingStudio9.com Its not painful, and I admit I had to use a frequency generator to find out exactly where it was. Maybe I was bragging more than complaining. =)

[@RecordingStudio9]

Could it have been the noise from my cheap clip Mic I used to use few years ago? Or are you referring to the generated Pink Noise?

[@JimJWalker]

RecordingStudio9.com It was the mic, definitely.

[@basarrr]

Ahh that noise bugged me so much

[@ralfsteikowski9184]

can´t find part 2 of this nice video :-(

[@RecordingStudio9]

Part 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn_SYqmVlJiDqJo

[@filnad9564]

I guess you generate a pink noise when calibrating room level. right ?

[@RecordingStudio9]

Yes, REW has Pink Noise generator to adjust/measure levels.

[@liamarliana5792]

whether the equipment on the video is sold publicly?

[@RecordingStudio9]

Every equipment you see are all available. eBay etc. Software demonstrated is free.

[@pvampman]

How do you equalize after measurements?

[@RecordingStudio9]

by watching part 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn_SYqmVlJiDqJo

[@accountnew6474]

dude where are you from?

[@RecordingStudio9]

Sydney Australia

[@accountnew6474]

@@RecordingStudio9 I like the accent a lot! It reminds me to the accent people have in my country Yugoslavia. Hey... I am also building a studio I have one question, you have shown here how to test room acoustics for monitoring music. That is okay but how about singing? If I want to test acoustics for singing. For example>>> Should I put monitor where singer would stand and then put the mic right in front of it?! Please respond... I have been reading days and days and can't figure it out. Also I got beyerdynamic mm1, should i put this device upright? Like tip of the microphone pointing to the ceiling?! Please reply thank you so much for those videos! If I could I would buy you a drink man

[@RecordingStudio9]

Normally the singer would use headphones during recording to avoid any audio bleed into the Mic. As to Ref Mic MM1, you need to follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Point it up to measure room, point to speakers to measure speaker response in your room. Acoustic absorbing and/or deflection panels are your first method to control your room acoustic response. Measuring will give you the result, but not fix it.

[@accountnew6474]

@@RecordingStudio9 hello, thank you so much for responding.. that wasn't what I've asked though. I said that singer produces sound and this sound that he produces bounces around the room and reflects back to the vocal microphone. Can I instead of a singer (put monitor) and instead of a vocal mic( put measurement microphone) to see what mic picks up when monitor is infront and producing sound just like the singer will be infront of it and will be producing sound.

[@RecordingStudio9]

@@accountnew6474 I understand now. I guess because you can't get the singer in your room again to sing, so you use a speaker instead. Yes, the concept is the same and REW should give you a graph from singer's perspective. Here is a similar test example video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpqZppKejptmepY

[@donnyyeo]

My tinnitus is getting worse. OMG. Very loud ringing.

[@steenbreker60]

Why don't you have a feedback problem? Pointing the microphe at the own system speaker....

[@RecordingStudio9]

Because unlike a PA system, the audio from the microphone is not coming out of the speakers.

[@steenbreker60]

@@RecordingStudio9 Normally it does. Where in de signal chain do you stop mic signal.

[@steenbreker60]

@@RecordingStudio9 Thanks for your quick answer, btw

[@RecordingStudio9]

@@steenbreker60 This depends on your model of Audio Interface. Turn Direct Monitoring off.

[@pergunnarvikmjlhus3597]

This stuff is too boring and complicated for me. I just want to make music. I just mounted 20 acoustic panels up on the wall without testing and called it a day. My problem is that I don't hear the difference when it comes to minute changes in sound. That's why I'm not good at mixing and mastering. Besides, I don't want to spend money on a measurement mic. Then I would have to sell it immediately after, and that's just too much hassle to go through.

[@RecordingStudio9]

Yes, it can be complicated, but once you do it correctly for the first time, you will say "That was it?!". Normal foam acoustic panels take care of high frequencies in the room, but the problem is the low frequencies at the seating location when you are mixing. Without testing and visually looking at the graph, it would be hard to identify problem frequencies and how to fix them. You will need to run the measurement again every time something major changes in your room, so you never have to sell the Ref Mic. Again, it all depends how accurate you like your mixes to translate everywhere. Thanks for watching.

[@FunkyLebaFin]

" That's why i'm not good at mixing and mastering"...maybe because your room sounds like shit you THINK you are not good....

[@dedskin1]

after rolling with this REW software , SPL , spectrometer , waterfall , all these things , i came to a conclusion . Standing waves are such a pain in the ass it almost unbelievable. take a frequency generator in this software , its free , play the tone and move , after you hear that youll know how impossible is to make a mix that sounds good everywhere . Only tools can help , spectrometers for the most part , i think , and head phones , different rooms and sets

[@RecordingStudio9]

+Pavle Pavlovic LOL, you are absolutely right! I normally use good headphones to mix and master, use spectrometers and spectrographs to visually level things, and finally listen on my speakers, sitting in my normal place. Then I walk in my room, open the door and walk outside the room and listen how it sounds, and finally in my car. If it fails in my car, then back to faders and levelling... Until I'm happy. But, having fairly flat EQed speakers do help the mixing process. What happens to it while others are listening in their earphones, HI-FI system or small stereo, who knows? Hey, What about each person having different ear sensitivity? The list goes on, but as long as we enjoy the music created.

[@dedskin1]

RecordingStudio9.com of course im correct , im correct about additional SPL meter too .But you just need a minute to think about that one

[@dedskin1]

RecordingStudio9.com that one with leaving the room and listening from outside , thats a very good technique cuz normally melody and voice should be the main thing you hear outside . Another must technique is , using mono/stereo switch , to see if it is compatible , ive seen these things in analog , as rack mounted units, but the dont say is it left mono or right mono , it can make difference . So i use software tool for that

[@RecordingStudio9]

+Pavle Pavlovic I'm sorry to say, but you do need external SPL meter. I can have my speakers really loud and have the RTA mic input fader/volume really low, and the REW SPL will still read different to actual sound level in the room. Read the instruction within REW and it will inform you. Speakers have different sound reproduction at different volume levels. Sure you can run an audio sweep at any volume, but when you change the volume of the speaker, the response graph will also slightly change. This change will also be effected by the room's reflection and standing waves at different volume level. I'm no expert, but I know what I'm talking about. Hope this explains.

[@RecordingStudio9]

+Pavle Pavlovic I mix while all my tracks are panned centre. I make sure I can hear each and every instrument. Use Compression, EQ and other effects to provide slice of frequency for each instrument. Once done, I simply pan them to my imagined virtual stage. They all sit in place.

[@dedskin1]

Room EQ has a built in SPL meter u knob

[@RecordingStudio9]

+Pavle Pavlovic Yes it does, and it needs to be calibrated first with external SPL meter. Plus, how would one measure what level of signal the mic connected to REW is picking up to display the correct level with REW? One needs already calibrated SPL meter to adjust. Hope this helps.

[@sewind6613]

I really wanted to watch this video, but the background music is driving me nuts. Sorry.

[@RecordingStudio9]

+s ewind Thanks for the feedback. The background audio I add is at most times -25db below my vocal level, and can hardly be heard. Not sure how you can hear it so loud to drive you nuts.

[@tabrandt99]

Man you are an audio guy fix that annoying ass ringing noise in the background!

[@RecordingStudio9]

This video was recorded 7 years ago, then with a faulty tie-clip mic that I was not aware.

[@mrkiwiboy2011]

Awesome thanks !