External mic with WiimAmp
- Thread starter krismusic
- Start date
It depends on the external mic. The miniDSP UMIK-1 is a pretty good microphone, but you won't be able to fully take advantage of it unless WiiM implement the import of calibration files (which is work in progress).
iPhone mics are not all the same. To be on the safe side I would limit RC with iPhone (and even more so other smartphone mics) to the frequency range of min. 60 Hz to max. 700 Hz. Here are e.g. measurements of the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. They proof that these microphones are absolutely useless for room correction below 60 Hz (at least):
blog.faberacoustical.com
blog.faberacoustical.com
My own UMIK-1 is linear within +/-0.5 dB from 27 Hz to 3.9 kHz (+/-1.0 dB from 22 Hz to 10 kHz) with no calibration applied, but only when pointed to the ceiling. You cannot rely on these numbers, though, because they will be different between samples.
My UMIK-2 performs worse in this regard: +/-0.5 dB from 86 Hz to 4.8 kHz (+/-1 dB from 40 Hz to 5.8 kHz) with no calibration, pointing to the ceiling
Summary:
An external mic can potentially get you better results, but this is not guaranteed until WiiM have included support for calibration files.
iPhone mics are not all the same. To be on the safe side I would limit RC with iPhone (and even more so other smartphone mics) to the frequency range of min. 60 Hz to max. 700 Hz. Here are e.g. measurements of the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. They proof that these microphones are absolutely useless for room correction below 60 Hz (at least):
Measured: iPhone 16 Pro microphone frequency response and directivity
Frequency Response In order to measure the frequency response of the iPhone 16 Pro's microphone, a lab-grade reference microphone (PCB model 378B02 1/2-inch pre-polarized free-field condenser microphone) was positioned facing the iPhone mic approximately 1mm
blog.faberacoustical.com
Measured: iPhone 15 Pro Max microphone frequency response and directivity
In the early days of the iPhone app store, I posted frequency response measurements of some iPhone microphones, including before and after certain iOS updates. This post represents the beginning of a new effort to
blog.faberacoustical.com
My own UMIK-1 is linear within +/-0.5 dB from 27 Hz to 3.9 kHz (+/-1.0 dB from 22 Hz to 10 kHz) with no calibration applied, but only when pointed to the ceiling. You cannot rely on these numbers, though, because they will be different between samples.
My UMIK-2 performs worse in this regard: +/-0.5 dB from 86 Hz to 4.8 kHz (+/-1 dB from 40 Hz to 5.8 kHz) with no calibration, pointing to the ceiling
Summary:
An external mic can potentially get you better results, but this is not guaranteed until WiiM have included support for calibration files.
Manusz
Member
As an alternative you may try the Housecurve app (available in the App Store).
From the settings (see screenshot) it seems that it compensates the internal microphone, and that you may select different mics on the iPhone to use for your measurements.
The free version allows you to do only measurements, but it may be sufficient to give you an idea of what is going on....
From the settings (see screenshot) it seems that it compensates the internal microphone, and that you may select different mics on the iPhone to use for your measurements.
The free version allows you to do only measurements, but it may be sufficient to give you an idea of what is going on....
Thank you for such an informative reply.It depends on the external mic. The miniDSP UMIK-1 is a pretty good microphone, but you won't be able to fully take advantage of it unless WiiM implement the import of calibration files (which is work in progress).
iPhone mics are not all the same. To be on the safe side I would limit RC with iPhone (and even more so other smartphone mics) to the frequency range of min. 60 Hz to max. 700 Hz. Here are e.g. measurements of the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. They proof that these microphones are absolutely useless for room correction below 60 Hz (at least):
Measured: iPhone 16 Pro microphone frequency response and directivity
Frequency Response In order to measure the frequency response of the iPhone 16 Pro's microphone, a lab-grade reference microphone (PCB model 378B02 1/2-inch pre-polarized free-field condenser microphone) was positioned facing the iPhone mic approximately 1mmMeasured: iPhone 15 Pro Max microphone frequency response and directivity
In the early days of the iPhone app store, I posted frequency response measurements of some iPhone microphones, including before and after certain iOS updates. This post represents the beginning of a new effort to
My own UMIK-1 is linear within +/-0.5 dB from 27 Hz to 3.9 kHz (+/-1.0 dB from 22 Hz to 10 kHz) with no calibration applied, but only when pointed to the ceiling. You cannot rely on these numbers, though, because they will be different between samples.
My UMIK-2 performs worse in this regard: +/-0.5 dB from 86 Hz to 4.8 kHz (+/-1 dB from 40 Hz to 5.8 kHz) with no calibration, pointing to the ceiling
Summary:
An external mic can potentially get you better results, but this is not guaranteed until WiiM have included support for calibration files.
Unfortunately I'm out of my depth here. I was hoping to simply plug in an external mic and improve the result of Wiims room correction. I see now that it's a bit more complicated than that.
Manusz
Member
When you have access to a UMIK-1 you can just plug it in and use it.
The only issue is that the Wiim Home App does not let you use the calibration data of the mic, so accuracy may be less than optimal. But it will probably be much better than using just the iPhone mic in the Wiim Home App.
The only issue is that the Wiim Home App does not let you use the calibration data of the mic, so accuracy may be less than optimal. But it will probably be much better than using just the iPhone mic in the Wiim Home App.
Manusz
Member
For what it is worth, I attach three screenshots.
The first one shows the results of a measurement with WHA using a UMIK-1 mic (obviously without calibration data in WHA).
The second one shows the result of a measurement two minutes later, same location, same orientation etc. with WHA using the iPhone bottom mic.
WHA settings used: as far as I recall I used the out-of-the-box defaults, but maybe my memory fools me
See third screenshot just to be sure.
Food for thought I guess....
The first one shows the results of a measurement with WHA using a UMIK-1 mic (obviously without calibration data in WHA).
The second one shows the result of a measurement two minutes later, same location, same orientation etc. with WHA using the iPhone bottom mic.
WHA settings used: as far as I recall I used the out-of-the-box defaults, but maybe my memory fools me
See third screenshot just to be sure.
Food for thought I guess....
Similar threads
- Suggestion
