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#1
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Focusrite VRM Box Review
I just posted a review of the Focusrite VRM Box on my web
site. This is a USB playback gadget that simulates the sound of several different speakers in a few different rooms. It's not a substitute for good monitoring, but an interesting way to check your mix to see how it sounds to the rest of the world. http://mikeriversaudio.files.wordpre...box_review.pdf -- "Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge of audio." - John Watkinson http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and interesting audio stuff |
#2
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Focusrite VRM Box Review
On May 4, 8:39*pm, "Soundhaspriority" wrote:
"Mike Rivers" wrote in message ... I just posted a review of the Focusrite VRM Box on my web site. This is a USB playback gadget that simulates the sound of several different speakers in a few different rooms. It's not a substitute for good monitoring, but an interesting way to check your mix to see how it sounds to the rest of the world. http://mikeriversaudio.files.wordpre...srite_vrm_box_... Excellent review. I have a couple of opinions: 1. The function of this box could be done entirely in software. My own suspicion is that it actually is, with the box serving as a security dongle, and satisfying the craving of some for tangible hardware. 2. Ten years ago, I was listening to movies with a Sennheiser device, about the size of a remote control, that attempted to create a 3D headphone environment from analog Dolby matrix input. It was a mildly successful gadget, packaged with the excellent 580 headphones. In comparison with Focusrite, Sennheiser did not ignore a salient fact: the 3D image perceived by human hearing is largely a result of modulation by the pinnae, that funny convoluted thing that each of us has two of on the sides of our heads. Each person's pinnnae are different, and each person's brain is customized to interpret the comb filter unique to his set. Without individually modeling each person's pinnae, a headphone simulation cannot approach what is possible. Sennheiser achieved all this with a very simple microprocessor, probably an ARM. The user calibrated the system to his pinnae by listening to and choosing from sets of white tones, for optimum localization. If Sennheiser could do it a decade ago, Focusrite has been a little light on engineering not to include it in their current product. 3. The choice of Focusrite to define the interface appearance of the hardware as a Microsoft standard usb audio device is limiting. Perhaps they want to see how it flies. Perhaps this will inspire others to do better. It's about time. Bob Morein (310) 237-6511 I still have the Sennheiser box that came with my 580 headphones. It's attached to my home audio preamp and I use it to listen to the TV late at night so I don't wake up my wife. It's a great headphone preamp. It does seem that a software only solution should be available. |
#3
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Focusrite VRM Box Review
On 5/4/2011 11:39 PM, Soundhaspriority wrote:
Excellent review. I have a couple of opinions: 1. The function of this box could be done entirely in software. My own suspicion is that it actually is, with the box serving as a security dongle, and satisfying the craving of some for tangible hardware. On the VRM box, the modeling software does indeed run on the host computer. I'm pretty sure I mentioned this in the review. The box serves as the connection between the model and the headphones (as well as between the source and the model when using the S/PDIF input). It's a nice industrial design, and probably does serve as a deterrent for those who want to try to run the software without the box. The original implementation was as part of an interface with a DSP mixer, and on that one (so says Focusrite anyway) the model runs on the hardware DSP chip, which also provides some reverb for the monitor mix. On the Pro24 DSP, there's also software that runs on the computer, but it's just the driver and control panel part., 2. Ten years ago, I was listening to movies with a Sennheiser device, about the size of a remote control, that attempted to create a 3D headphone environment from analog Dolby matrix input. It was a mildly successful gadget, packaged with the excellent 580 headphones. In comparison with Focusrite, Sennheiser did not ignore a salient fact: the 3D image perceived by human hearing is largely a result of modulation by the pinnae Sennheiser achieved all this with a very simple microprocessor, probably an ARM. The user calibrated the system to his pinnae by listening to and choosing from sets of white tones, for optimum localization. Did you read the AES paper on developing the speaker model? I didn't dwell on it, but it, through references to the MIT study, suggested that the ear was included in the model, though not customized. I never thought about it, but I never really got a "3D" sense when listening to the VRM Box, nor is that really its intent as far as I could tell. I got a sense of distance in front of me and reflective walls around me, but not a "behind me" sense. 3. The choice of Focusrite to define the interface appearance of the hardware as a Microsoft standard usb audio device is limiting. Well, of course, and that's why they provide a driver that gets installed along with the modeling and control panel software. The class compliant USB part is a matter of convenience. Without the driver, it works as a headphone amplifier and volume control, and that's all. I guess they didn't have to do that, and not providing this option wouldn't necessarily make it better. Perhaps they want to see how it flies. Perhaps this will inspire others to do better. It's about time. Maybe. Or maybe they wanted to offer an inexpensive way for people without a collection of speakers to get another view of their mixes. It's not perfect, and someone using it the wrong way could get misled at times. It's just another tool. I hope in the review I didn't sound ecstatic about the VRM box. I've read a couple of reviews that were more enthusiastic than mine. I just thought it was interesting and potentially useful, and I think that's the way more of us should look at more of the audio tools that are available to us today. It sure isn't a game-changer (at least not for me) nor did it blow me away. The review is there to give others who might be curious about it a sense of what they might find. -- "Today's production equipment is IT based and cannot be operated without a passing knowledge of computing, although it seems that it can be operated without a passing knowledge of audio." - John Watkinson http://mikeriversaudio.wordpress.com - useful and interesting audio stuff |
#4
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Adventures in 3D sound (was: Focusrite VRM Box Review)
On Wed, 4 May 2011 at 23:39 -0000, Soundhaspriority wrote:
2. Ten years ago, I was listening to movies with a Sennheiser device, about the size of a remote control, that attempted to create a 3D headphone environment from analog Dolby matrix input. It was a mildly successful gadget, packaged with the excellent 580 headphones. In comparison with Focusrite, Sennheiser did not ignore a salient fact: the 3D image perceived by human hearing is largely a result of modulation by the pinnae, that funny convoluted thing that each of us has two of on the sides of our heads. Each person's pinnnae are different, and each person's brain is customized to interpret the comb filter unique to his set. Without individually modeling each person's pinnae, a headphone simulation cannot approach what is possible. Last weekend Studio 360 had a feature on something new with 3D sound: http://www.studio360.org/2011/apr/29...ures-3d-sound/ In addition to this segment, listen to the first 3 minutes of the full broadcast to get a couple of other examples. Like the Focusrite, this sounds like it is a fairly simple DSP process. I'm sure it took a lot of work to get all the parameters working satisfactorily. It has a definite sweet spot. I heard the broadcast in my car and really didn't understand what the fuss was about. I did guess that it had a center sweet spot, but I wasn't able to move my head enough to hear any change. Hmm, I wonder if I have my car system set to FM mono, the station intended to broadcast stereo since during the station break there was a comment about the samples in the program intro. The photo on the web site shows a Fritz style head which I didn't hear mentioned in the broadcast piece. This technique might be interesting to convert binaural recordings from headphone based to speaker based. There is a different sample for headphones. I didn't listen to it but wonder if it has any processing beyond being a binaural recording. I'll let Scott and others discuss why this is a toy and not something generally useful. Stuart -- I've never been lost; I was once bewildered for three days, but never lost! -- Daniel Boone |
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