Speaker Design Software Recommendations

[SMKSoundPro]

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am looking for some advice on loudspeaker design software. I am fairly computer literate and have built speakers for the past 25 years. I mainly work in Pro Sound Reinforcement for nightclubs and the like. I am an avid woodworker and engineer and have a vast selection of various JBL vintage components. I have a been JBL recone tech for 20 years and really love to look at this forum.

This is my first post...so please be kind!

SMKSoundPro in Anchorage, Alaska.

[boputnam]

"Please be kind..."


HA!! You sir, are likely a renegade from ProSound Web. They take no prisoners there, boy howdy. Here, we are a quite a bit more civil. Rest assured...

On the software, there's two we use a great deal.
- One is freeware: WinISD - check it out, here: http://www.linearteam.dk/, and make a donation to them if you see fit.
- Another is BassBoxPro - check it out here: http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage....7&WebPage_ID=3 PartsExpress is one of our favored sources.

Both packages contain databases of Thiele-Small parameters for most every driver you might be considering. As well, if you're modelling something with a JBL tranducer in it, use the Search function here, with some inventive strings, and you might find some very intersting DIY stuff.

As well, there are quite a number of real network (crossover) gurus here - so if you're looking for ideas or wanna share some, it'll all be good.

btw, what are you planning...?

[SMKSoundPro]

I just tried WInisd, and found it to be ok. I was looking for something more comprehensive in the vented enclosure that gives a easier to understand porting and venting. I still use "Speaker Builing" book by Weems, 1978.

[yggdrasil]

If you download and try WinISD Pro you will find it has several options for tuning the vented box. QB3 Quasi butterworth, BB4/SBB4 (super) boom box, C4/SC4 (sub) chebychev, EBS3 Extended bass shelf -3 dB, EBS6 Extended bass shelf -6dB.


It's an Alpha version.

[boputnam]

I was looking for something more comprehensive in the vented enclosure that gives a easier to understand porting and venting.

BBPro would be worth a try. But, far as I know, it does not come as a "trial" package.

[johnaec]

Harris also make BassBox Lite for substantially less. You can look up the differences at their website: http://www.ht-audio.com/

John

[Flodstroem]

Hi SMKSoundPro

I have found this site very useful covering every speaker design you could imaging to build, ok, nearly the all, as TL (and similar), ported, horns (different types), sealed, etc.... and all calculation take advantage and corrects for the drivers placing on a baffle.

http://www.quarter-wave.com/

Regards

[whizzer]

There is also UniBox (Unified Box Model), by Kristian Ougaard, an Excel spread-sheet-based tool that seems fairly comprehensive. Just Google Unibox and see what you think of it.

[duaneage]

I still use "Speaker Builing" book by Weems, 1978.

I have that book too. I also have the Loudspeaker Design Cookbook by Dickason, a pretty good reference book it is. WinIsd is a damn good program for most appplications. LEAP is on the very high end but it does everything. You don't need much to design ported and sealed boxes, hand calculator methods work too.
The network is the real challange. Calculated values are only starting points and you need some test equipment to get it right. I need to get an RTA to do what I try to do right.

[tomp787]

Hello,

Here are some other software tools:

http://www.pvconsultants.com/audio/frdgroup.htm


Tom

[Fred Ireson]

great freebie ARTA

http://www.fesb.hr/~mateljan/arta/

[Uncle Paul]

Free crosover design tool:

http://www.aade.com/filter32/download.htm

Gives an ad the first 10 times you run it for their meter kit. After that it stops nagging.

[hjames]

WinIsd is a damn good program for most appplications. LEAP is on the very high end but it does everything. You don't need much to design ported and sealed boxes, hand calculator methods work too.
The network is the real challenge. Calculated values are only starting points and you need some test equipment to get it right. I need to get an RTA to do what I try to do right.

Okay, so which RTA (Real Time Analyzer) software is worth having??

All my Macs are desktop machines - and a laptop is better ...

The only Win laptop I have is an old Compaq Presario 12XL400,
(It MUST be good, it has JBL Pro badge over the little built-in speakers!)
Its a "gift" from my ex-pastor when he left the area ...
and it was corrupted when I got it (WinME that had crashed)

I just wiped an old install of Win2k from it and installed WinXP ...

Well, its a bit older Laptop than I thought -
700mHz AMD processor, 64 meg mem, 10g HD ... no network that I can see ...
- its pretty darned slow running WinXP Pro -
I may need to step it back down to Win2000 or even Win98 (!))

Frankly, I don't see me buying a new Win laptop just for system testing ...

[Loren42]

Okay, so which RTA software is worth having ... I'm currently wiping an old Windows ME Compaq Presario Laptop, and installing WinXP ...

It MUST be good, it has JBL Pro badge over the little built-in speakers!

HOLMImpulse

It is free, too!

Worth following this thread on it as well.

[RedCoat23]

Smith and Larson's Range of products

http://www.woofertester.com/

Woofer Tester 2
Speaker Tester
Woofer Tester Pro

...not to be confused with the one for sale on Part Express. Smith and Larson's product is a fully featured design tool.

Best feature is the ability to model your proposed network in software, run the audio signal through this to your speaker to see how it would sound, tweak it, then assemble the components.

Regards...