|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
150.148.14.3
I am interested in purchasing an inexpensive benchtop spectrum analyzer. In shopping for one on eBay, I note that sellers give a frequency range by stating a low end and high end value for frequency. Does this number indicate the bandwidth of the device, or does it indicate the range of frequencies above and below which the analyzer can read-out the frequency spectrum?
Follow Ups:
I found this App in the Mac App store for $50. Looks like it provides some basic tools for audio spectrum analysis and measuring at least THD. Any opinions? The price is right, if it is legit.
Thanks.
"...does it indicate the range of frequencies above and below which the analyzer can read-out the frequency spectrum?"
I don't actually know what you're asking here. The frequency specs for a spectrum analyzer should indicate the range it sweeps for signal measurement. If it says "100 Hz to 100 MHz," nothing outside that range can be measured.
FWIW, I wouldn't bother with a hardware-based analyzer unless you have a lot of money to burn. Good ones are expensive, and for audio use, a soundcard can do just as well.
--------------------------
Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
and you've answered it. Thanks. Any suggestions for a Mac-compatible sound card?
A $100 used PC is more than enough to serve as your spectrum analyzer along with a $100 soundcard.
This kind of software is minimally available on Mac, and if you end up not liking the demo of the one or two software suites available, you get to start over anyway.
Arta would probably do everything you need to do, and it's free for hobbyists, so I would probably start there.
I'm using a PCI card from M-Audio with a dedicated Win XP machine. M-Audio does show MAC drivers for many of their products online, but I don't know whether MACs support the PCI bus. There are a number of external sound processors that are more universal, but you'll need to search to be sure the one you select will be fully compatible with the audio analysis software you want to use. That's not always the case. My suggestion is that you consider setting up a dedicated system for this, maybe using an inexpensive, second-hand Windows PC with software and hardware that are known to work together. That could save a lot of grief in the long run.
--------------------------
Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
It's free
Looks OK for spectrum analysis, but more sophisticated programs can also display THD and IMD. That's essential if you want to design or tweak audio circuitry.
--------------------------
Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
thx.
You should look into something like True RTA. Hard to beat for 100 bucks.
"
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public
H. L. Mencken
We have a few of these Sound Technologies analyzers at my job.Some have balanced in and outs and some are unbalanced in and out.These units are completely unsupported but we still find them to be highly useful.Very rugged and built like brick shithouses.
Oh yes
I have never owned a ST one but I do have a Tektronix 4084 and an HP8903b and they are both great units..I do use a ST low distortion oscillator with the tektronix because I couldn't find a cheap enough Textronix one to go in my mainframe.I do have a tektronix function generator but those have a higher distortion product that adds to measurements. That's why I really the HP,It has a sweep on it and an oscillator built right in.
Pete Millet has great software but not for MAC.
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public
H. L. Mencken
I really like the "Soundcard Calibration" feature of that software. That function is also referred to as "normalization," and it allows removing all the response issues from the system before making a frequency response measurement. I use the free version ARTA for audio work, but I haven't figured out how to normalize it yet. As a result, response measurements are pretty tedious. Difficult to believe they would leave this out, the program does virtually everything else you could ever want...
--------------------------
Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
The free version of ARTA allows for soundcard calibration.
Check the manual starting at section 1.5/page 19.
Are we talking about the same thing? By "calibration," I mean frequency response compensation. There's no button to click in this program to normalize (flatten) the response. That's how it should be done.
--------------------------
Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
Is there a Mac version? The website suggests not.
and haven't since 2007..I think our only option for us Apple users is to go with a USB sound card but and I have found a couple that are 130db S/N and 4 or 5 digit distortion..You can't really run an amp in at full power unless you pad it but then I question the accuracy of the power reading..They work well on preamps tho.
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public
H. L. Mencken
Edits: 02/05/16
My wife has a broken down PC laptop. Maybe I can talk her out of it.
I did a search on Mac-related products. There are many to choose from, but like you say, there's also a learning curve.
Lew
The learning curve isn't too bad..You are a smart guy so I know you can figure it out.
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public
H. L. Mencken
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: