> Training > B4 Roadshow

Smaart Fundamentals and System Alignment Applications

Class Length: 8 hrs (10AM - 6PM)

Overview:
This 1-day course is comprised of equal parts lecture and lab to cover the fundamentals of EAW's Smaart measurement software, essential dual-channel measurement theory and their application in sound system alignment. The morning session is focused on the fundamentals of Smaart's dual channel FFT measurements. Emphasis is placed on understanding the time-domain and frequency-domain analysis embodied in Smaart, as well as the significant differences between and the relatives strengths of dual and single channel measurements. The afternoon session covers the application of Smaart in loudspeaker and sound system alignment.  This course relies primarily on in-class measurements and examples of real-world data to cover its subject matter. As much as possible, this course concentrates on data interpretation as much as acquisition and special attention is paid throughout the course to the subject of measurement accuracy and validity.

AM Session

• Fundamentals of Smaart measurement
• Dual-channel FFT measurement
• Measurement capabilities of Smaart
• Anatomy of a Smaart measurement rig
• Hardware requirements
• Basic troubleshooting
• RTA and Spectrograph Measurements
• Calibration for SPL and NC measurement
• Feedback identification
• Impulse response measurements
• Setting the internal delay for Transfer Function measurements
• Measuring delay times for speaker system time alignment
• Transfer Function Measurements
• Magnitude, Phase & Coherence
• Data Storage

PM Session
* Note - Topics covered will vary with class focus, experience and interests.

• Fundamentals of sound system alignment/optimization.
• Fundamentals of system engineering
• System design for "alignability"
• System Alignment Techniques
• Crossovers (including "mains to subs" crossover)
• Delay and support system alignment
• Reading that damn phase trace
• Techniques for improving data quality
• Using averaging and coherence
• Measurement mic placement

Prerequisites:
Course is open to all interested persons - prior measurement / system alignment experience is beneficial.  This course does assume a working knowledge of professional sound system engineering practices and basic audio fundamentals. If you have any questions concerning course prerequisites, please do not hesitate to contact EAW prior to registration.

Course Materials:
All necessary course materials will be provided on site, including course manual and Smaart demo software.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptop computers (PC or Mac) with a stereo line-level signal input (either internal or external).  The measurement signals used in the instruction of the class will be made available to the attendees via a stereo (RCA/Mini) signal distribution system.