Good cheap or free audio test S/W for Mac?

Discussion in 'Measurement Setups, Systems, and Standards' started by SVChucko, Apr 10, 2018.

  1. SVChucko

    SVChucko New

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    I'm doing some power amp testing - BIG amps, over a kilowatt per channel, for my live music projects - and I'm finding Room EQ Wizard to be barely adequate. REW is really more aimed at speaker characterization. I've got a Focusrite Saffire for analog I/O and a MacBook Pro. What are some alternative S/W packages that won't break the bank? Thanks.
     
  2. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    What are you looking to do with a sw package? I run about 400 per and have used a few EQ plugins if that is what you are seeking.

    cheers
     
  3. SVChucko

    SVChucko New

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    Looking to do some basic characterization - small signal and full power BW, distortion, noise, max power, how it holds up to low impedance loads, etc.
     
  4. SVChucko

    SVChucko New

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    Oh yeah, I've got a couple of Firewire interfaces that are good to 24/96, so it's not just the headphone and mic jacks for converters.
     
  5. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    afraid I cannot help, good luck with your eventual tests.
     
  6. firev1

    firev1 Friend

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    AudioTester seems like what you are looking for, its 39 euros iirc, not too bad and won't break the bank.
     
  7. SVChucko

    SVChucko New

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  8. SVChucko

    SVChucko New

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    If anyone cares, I wound up shelling out $150 for SignalScope Pro: http://www.faberacoustical.com/apps/mac/signalscope_pro/

    Its capabilities overlap pretty heavily with REW. REW's biggest drawback is that audio is limited to 16 bits at present, and I have a 24 bit interface..

    My biggest beef with SSP is that it's not very stable. But it works well enough for my purposes.
     
  9. JohnM

    JohnM Author of REW - Rando

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    REW will be getting 24-bit support on MacOS in the next beta release. The Faber Acoustical stuff looks very good though.
     
  10. SVChucko

    SVChucko New

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    Oh hi John. I wasn't aware you were a participant here. I'll be delighted to test the next REW version when it's available.

    I had bought Faber's iOS apps some time ago, when I was helping set up sound for a DJ, and was very happy with those. Unfortunately their iOS apps have gone to a subscription model. But then I'm not working with that DJ any more either.

    I looked at Metric Halo's Spectrafoo, but would you believe in this day and age it's still a 32-bit app? I don't think it's been updated in 6 years or more. And you have to buy the "Complete" version to get a signal generator.

    SMAART is what the pros use, but I looked at the price and cringed. I'm not a pro, just a bar band hack.
     

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