DSP for active speaker crossovers using computer and sound card

Jump to Latest
A

anchorman

Member
Joined 2009
#1
Is there an easy way to cut a mini-DSP unit out of the picture for making an active digital crossover, by using the front/rear outputs of a typical sound card instead? If so, is there good/easy to use filter design software to be had? I want to do some experiments with basic crossovers/notch filters/eq on the computer with some speakers, and then use an analog board with appropriate filters using jet or opamps buffers to do the final box that will be run with the speakers/amps in day to day use.

I already have computer and sound card, was looking at saving myself buying an extra piece of hardware for now, but allowing some projects to go forward without having to buy more stuff at the moment.
 
#2
I read a thread about how to fake it with mono sound out and VLC, but this seems like a really clumsy approach to what I want to do. Wondering if there’s a way to do this and change the frequency of the crossover on the fly for the purpose of experimenting?
 
#5
#6
AllenB said:
^ Good example.

If your source is your computer, you can even do away with needing the inputs... Can we assume you use windows?
Click to expand...

can do windows or linux or mac, although with mac, I only have two channels out without buying an external sound card/dac. not really a problem if just using for crossover testing. the goal is to make analog unit after that matches the digital crossover. I thought about the adjustable crossover board that is available from the store, but this seems even easier for prototype to keep strictly in the digital domain.
 
#8
Another for Linux which is simpler and can be modular if say, you just want an equaliser - Pulseaudio Crossover Rack - multi-way crossover design & implementation with linux

About your two channels. Some cards have more outputs in theory. Here are three possibilities... You can convert inputs into outputs. You have a digital output that represents channels for which there are no other output jacks. You have the capability for front audio connectors on the motherboard that can be put to use.

Using two cards can be tricky with regards to timing so it is probably simpler to get them all from one.
 
#9
AllenB said:
About your two channels. Some cards have more outputs in theory. Here are three possibilities... You can convert inputs into outputs. You have a digital output that represents channels for which there are no other output jacks. You have the capability for front audio connectors on the motherboard that can be put to use.

Using two cards can be tricky with regards to timing so it is probably simpler to get them all from one.
Click to expand...

I have an old pc that will do windows or linux that has 5.1 on the motherboard, plus a couple of extra similar soundcards. the mac I use at work doesn't have anything but headphone out built in, so I'll probably be using this old PC, which hopefully isn't too old to handle it.
 
#12
anchorman said:
Is there an easy way to cut a mini-DSP unit out of the picture for making an active digital crossover <snip>

I already have computer and sound card, was looking at saving myself buying an extra piece of hardware for now, but allowing some projects to go forward without having to buy more stuff at the moment.
Click to expand...

The easiest, IMO, is to do it half-assed, in which case, you don't even need a sound card.

1) make a really minimalist passive crossover: a single cap, or whatever you need to protect the HF driver(s) + one coil for the woofer.

2) measure.

3) use Equalizer APO to edit the signal, so that the output is ~flat.

This worked well when I tried it in a small speaker. Before applying EQ, the raw response was fairly well behaved, but the tweeter was far more sensitive than the woofer.

Probably not good if you have hard to tame drivers, and probably a bit annoying if you constantly switch between outputs (e.g. headphones and speakers) when using the PC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom