Official DataSat RS20i thread. (Setup Tips, Questions,General Info, etc) - Page 10

Thanks for the details. Plenty of flexibility!

I really don't think it is Dirac's/Datasat's job to replace a full measurement program. What we need is a measurement program more suited to measuring 7.1.

And lo and behold check out this thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1449924/simplified-rew-setup-and-use-usb-mic-hdmi-connection-including-measurement-techniques-and-how-to-interpret-graphs

I have not read the thread yet but if this is true it would go a long way to solving our measurement problems.

This was recently posed on the Official Theta thread:

Currently for the RS20i we have to manually input distances and levels. Are there any rumors for a new unreleased Dirac Live or has Theta just designed a better implementation?

Any updates when the DD card will be ready?

Expect DD cardbto start shipping in March. Dirac already has a 2.0 runtime- it needs to be adapted to RS20i- that's probably a year or so away.

However, that statement sounds to me like impulse response measurement. As time goes on, I see lots of improvements for the RS20i clming down the road; Datasat has been berg responsive to dealer feedback.

Dan

Thanks Dan.

The DD card must be a real devil to implement.

Not familiar with the term "2.0 runtime." Could you expand?

Datasat has always been responsive to my questions and suggestions during the last two years. Their location is only some 30 minutes from me and they have paid me a couple visits. A very top notch company.

"Not familiar with the term "2.0 runtime." Could you expand?"

Okay, here's the scoop. The Theta people are using a different version of Dirac Live than what is in the Datasat products. Dirac Research calls what is in the Theta Casa their "version 2.0 or V2 runtime". The V2 runtime uses a different configuration GUI than what Datasat uses. The V2 GUI is infact this tool ...

http://www.dirac.se/en/consumer-products/dirac-rcs.aspx

OEMs such as Theta add custom software to bridge between the Dirac Live application and their hardware. Datasat has been looking at the possibilities of migrating to V2 but as of yet have not made a commitment.

Is Dirac Live V2 better than V1?? Nope, my testing says they produce the same results. The only advantage to V2 is one that is important to the OEM, in that it takes fewer MIPS to process a V2 filter.

Automagically computing delays is in both Dirac Live V1 and V2. Unfortunately it was never implemented in the Datasat AP20/ RS20i. Setting levels automatically is tricky because there are so many things outside of Dirac Live that can affect them. As result I expect you will always need to check them.
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Best Regards,
Carl Huff
Edited by Carl_Huff - 1/24/13 at 11:10am

With thanks to Abone from avforums in the UK the following is a picture of the new card for the RS20i:

Soon! I am told they have been released to manufacturing.
______________
Best Regards,
Carl Huff

Depending on your setup calculating delays can by tricky as acoustical delays can be quite different from electrical delays. It is a shame that Dirac cannot even display the delays so that one could manually input them.

Ceenhad recommends using the delay feature in REW, which will work fine, but forces you to do another set of measurements. OTOH using REW with HDMI will allow you determine delays with all the eqs applied and will also allow you to set levels accurately.

New software has been released but unfortunately the release notes are not available.

http://www.datasatdigital.com/docs/cinema/download.php?doc_pid=916&doc_cid=895

Wonder what they did?

Yo can determine delays in REW by using the loopback function. If you run a doubler from your rs20i outputs one end goes to your poweramp as usual and the other end of the doubler goes back to the REW soundcard.

When you make a measurement it will tell you the time difference between the signal leaving your rs20i ( the loop back informs REW exactly when the signal was sent) then REW picks up the signal from the speakers via your mic and then calculates the distance.

And big thanks to the datasat team for the latest firmware update.

This has rectified a few issues I was having with my unit.

I can now get dts neo6 on a DD2.0 stream. And also am now able to matrix the stereo analogue inputs to not just sides but also rears, which before I could not achieve.

One situation I would not rely on measured delays from REW is for subs. AFAIK REW uses peak of the impulse response to determine time delay which may not give best integration for subs. For all other channels it should be fine.

Datasat have provided their release notes for the latest software update:

1. A fix was made to correct an issue with a DSP1 error when Dirac software is started.
2. Resets the bass management after a Dirac setup process.
3. Copy side surrounds to rear surrounds with nonsync
4. Plays DD2.0 with neo6
5. No longer reboots in case progamming hsr fails. Added error boxes when hsr program instead. This avoids an
endless reboot cycle that has been known to occur on at least one unit.
6. Update for HSR5. Firmware Release 39, Version 11, Rev3. (MDS Released version based off of Rev2)
a. - Minor adjustments to HDCP Authentication behavior.
b. - Minor fix to EDID parsing issue (extremely rare).

In respect to the point 2 fix - I assume it still means we should turn off bass management when running Dirac but it simply turns it back on after completion?

"In respect to the point 2 fix - I assume it still means we should turn off bass management when running Dirac but it simply turns it back on after completion?"

My habit (as a best practice) is to make a point to turn BM OFF when doing a Dirac config and back ON when I am done. That way I make no assumptions and know for sure whether or not BM is running.
_____________
Best Regards,
Carl Huff

Thx Carl, as you note - best not to ass/u/me and be safe rather than sorry!

Same problem here!

Also disappointed that a fix for the fan wasn't included...

Download/update by usb went without a hitch for me.

Hmmm, most odd. Update via main server was complete, without problem, in under 5 mins.

If you see a lot of build-up you can pop the cover off (with the power disconnected of course) and wipe the fan blades with a moist towelette. The towelettes that I am describing are the ones that come in the foil wrapper that are intended to clean your hands. Avoid using compressed air (or even can spray air) on the circuit boards as you don't want to drive particulate into the chips shorting their pins to one another.

Buildup on the fan will make it less efficient moving air. And that will cause the fan to run faster and louder.
______________
Best Regards,
Carl Huff

IIRC I think I read in the manual that you could lightly vacuum at the vents to clear dust.

This is probably not the thread for this question but has anyone used the software version of Dirac that can run on a PC based music server?