Help getting hardware setup for time alignment and delays, XLR Mic

[banshee]

So I am trying to setup REW to properly time align and set delays for my Car Audio system!

My setup includes a W11 Laptop, USB connection to a Scarlett 18i20 with multiple XLR Mic's. For this timing/delay I am using only a single Mic.

I briefly read and followed a tutorial how to do this using a USB Mic using the "acoustic timing reference" option setup and had that working ok.

However using XLR Mic's and loop-back interfaces on this Scarlett I am a little lost.

I have been successfully using this setup for a few months now with the latest Beta 5.20.14 builds, using Multiple MIC Averaging, Auto EQ, XO's, Levels, etc. I have done both PN using RTA as well as measurements all within this setup so my outputs and inputs for this measuring have worked perfectly.

Soundcard setup:
ASIO Drivers:

Output:
1: Output 1

Timing Reference Output
1: Output 2

Loopback input:
Tried loop1, loop2, input 1 input 2, etc....

I have virtual loopbacks on this device and have them set to outputs 1 and 2 to loop 1 and loop 2.

When I run a measurement it plays it, I can hear it, but it never gets the timing reference. I know I am doing something wrong, but have tried about every combination possible (Except the right one, lol), but cant seem to get it working.

I have a single optical output going into the DSP which works great.


Any advice on this setup?

 

[John Mulcahy]

When the timing reference mode is set to "Use loopback as timing reference" the signal from the timing reference output needs to get to the timing reference input. That would typically be via a patch cable from the chosen analog output channel to the chosen analog input channel. An optical output doesn't allow that, so your virtual loopback should allow a signal to be provided, though I don't know how that would be configured on the Scarlett, sorry.

 

[banshee]

Thanks John...

Yea so I think based on what you suggested I have it setup right, but let me post these screenshots to see if any may help.

 

[John Mulcahy]

Looks OK to me, but I don't use that software. Seems a little odd that the loopback is just from "S/PDIF" whereas the outputs are to "S/PDIF Output", hopefully that doesn't mean the loopback is being fed by an S/PDIF input.

 

[banshee]

Looks OK to me, but I don't use that software. Seems a little odd that the loopback is just from "S/PDIF" whereas the outputs are to "S/PDIF Output", hopefully that doesn't mean the loopback is being fed by an S/PDIF input.

I think you may be right, and this maybe an issue? I setup the loopback this way thinking since I only have a single SPDIF output (L/R), that SPDIF 2 (Right) needs to go to loopback, lol. Is this normally not the way it works? To me, SPDIF 2 is pretty much like Right (Output2) so figured that would go to loopback as I am only testing using output 1 at the time?

 

[John Mulcahy]

I suspect the "S/PDIF" there may refer to an S/PDIF input, not to the S/PDIF output. If there's an option for software playback channel 2 to go the loopback use that.

 

[banshee]

I suspect the "S/PDIF" there may refer to an S/PDIF input, not to the S/PDIF output. If there's an option for software playback channel 2 to go the loopback use that.

THAT DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Setting the playback vs SPDIF was the secret. Here is how it looks now. I ran some sweeps and it appears working. I even set a delay to use in the measurement and it worked perfectly!

Now to bring out to car and test there.

Thanks again John!