Sms-1 Help!!!!

Dunno. However, the self-EQ is a mere shadow of the manual in that it is limited to the F and Q default values.

I'm not sure what's wrong but you really should be EQ'ing manually, do not use the self-EQ mode. The Self-EQ usually does a horrible job.

the problem is that the self EQ is using default F values which may not be close to where you need to work...it's best to just do the manual EQ.

Always better to do manual tweeking.... The SMS just doesn't have the processing power to cover everything in the room....

Nice to see where your at as a starting point, but I could never rely on it for my final result... Get the Outlaw Manual and go the whole nine yards... Its a great guide, and will cover anything you need to know...
http://pdf.outlawaudio.com/outlaw/docs/sms1guide.pdf

Wow, dude, 40 vol? What's your sub gain set to and also the LFE level set to in your receiver?

Also, for the big null you had, did you try tweaking the phase - it may help as much as boosting those frequencies.

And it's usually easier to make changes in one of the presets - custom for instance - as "setup" effects all the others the same. That way you can have different curves for different functions; HT, music etc.

I see you are boosting at 20hz - not usually a good thing but as the SMS-1 rolls off down there anyway I'm not sure if it's such a bad thing either when using it.

I don't like it. You're asking for trouble. You're cutting 25-63hz and boosting 20hz, 80-100hz to compensate for the null. I think the overall output is low b/c of all the cuts and you'll end up raising master volume to calibrate to 75db for all channels. Problem is, when the movie gets loud, the boosted regions will distort heavy. You will bottom out.
Try The Haunting DTS (chapter 10) and Day After Tomorrow (early in movie when Gyllenhall on plane to NYC, thunder crashes)

I can't say if the master volume of 40 is too high or not (i think it is), because the gain on the back of your sub maybe low. Here's my set up: Processor sub volume is -10db, SMS-1 volume is 16, PC-Ultra just under the third dash for gain, Paradigm Servo 15 is at 1/4 gain.


Turn off the xover in the sub and in your receiver. Unplug your main speakers. Set it back for 20hz tune and show me the uncorrected plot and I'll try to help.

here's the order you should work in:

I am assuming the easiest config, which is all channels set to small, crossed off at 80hz in the receiver/prepro. All other sub adjustments in receiver and sub amp turned off.

1. find the location with the least nulls
2. experiment with port tune and room compensation (on SVS subs )
3. manually EQ under a preset with only the sub playing.
4. now plug in the main speakers. The overlap area may be bumpy. Now play with polarity and then phase for smoothest response.
5. calibrate all channels' output.
6. play test material at increasing volumes until you get to demo/wife's-outta-da-house volumes to see if you can cause distortion. Those samples I mentioned above are the worst offenders in my collection. if you hear distortion or worse, clacking or some other mechanical noise from the sub, somewhere along the chain the output is too high.

can you unplug your mains and set the tune to 20hz please. A lower tune reaches lower, but at the expense of output. Your output from 25hz and lower is too low.

set it at 0 for convenience sake. it'll only matter when you add the mains back in the mix.
i'll show you my curve in a bit.

Rydenfan, what level do you calibrate for the subwoofer level ? 75 dB's, 72 dB's or higher ?

don't worry about that right now.

15hz tune looks a little better. let's leave it at 20hz for now. can the sub be moved? if not then, try room compensation knob on the SVS. Pick one size and lemme know if it helps with the drop off below 30hz. I recall it boosts the output down low. my room has a boost at 25hz so i don't use it.

so the last pic you sent is with room comp on? what does it look like with it off?

I also have the SMS-1 and I'm also learning how to use it. I have mostly boosted in the 50 to 80 hz range as I've got dips ranging from 4 to 10 dB's in that region. All the punch is lost when EQ is disabled because of cancellations.

The only problem is that the bass that I've boosted sounds a bit boomy to me and I think it's because of the Q filters I've used. No where in the manual (or in the Outlaw manual either) does it go into depth about matching Q filters and that narrow Q filters can increase modal decay that those frequencies.

I still have no clue how to match the filter to target resonances because I don't have software to use. I'm just using the SMS-1 and no one has been able to explain how I can reduce the decay times of the "boosting" in the region I'm targeting.

So, yeah.

PS The 74 dB figure you are reading on your SPL meter (it is Radio Shack, right ? ) reads a bit low so you're actually set to around 76 dB's)

Velodyne cautions about performing auto EQ and then manipulating the settings. Warpdrive is correct, the auto set up leaves a lot to be desired. At best it's a good tutorial on how it works. Reset the unit to the defaults and start from scratch. I had a problem where my SMS did a similar thing, three or four sweeps and that was it. I went to the Velodyne site and reloaded the firmware. It may be coincidence but no problems since. The auto set up did an OK job in my room but starting from scratch with the manual EQ was far superior. The SMS overcorrected at 20 Hz by 6 dB, not so noticable with most music but movies were boomy. I don't know why it boosted so much, the sub is very close to flat at 20 in it's current location.