Most of my devices do not work with the WiiM Home App

[Bernhard]

Today my new UMIK-1 arrived and I tried several units to find the most elegant way for my RoomFit measurings.

Unit 1: Laptop, Windows 11 - the Home App was easy to install, I could open it but there was no RoomFit option at all

Unit 2: Desktop-Computer, Windows 11 - trying to install the app only produces error messages, no idea why

Unit 3: iPad 5th generation with iPadOS 16.7.10 - the app works including RoomFit but does not recognize the UMIK-1

Unit 4: iPad 9th generation with iPadOS 18.6 - the app works including RoomFit but does not recognize the UMIK-1 as well

Unit 5: iPhone 16Pro with IOS 18.9 - everything works as it should, UMIK-1 is recognized, the calibration files imported

Finally I can work at least with my iPhone but am I the only one with such problems or is it a common problem with these devices, maybe with PC in general or with older Apple devices with lightning connectors?

 

[harkpabst]

The WiiM Home app for Windows is a beta version with vastly reduced functionality. Personally I suspect this is never going to change.

I would expect the iPadOS version to work just like the iOS version. I cannot remember anyone reporting such problems but I might be wrong and even if I'm not that's no proof.

PS:
Did you try to perform a measurement with no calibration file added on your iPads?

 

[Smartplug]

Today my new UMIK-1 arrived and I tried several units to find the most elegant way for my RoomFit measurings.

Unit 1: Laptop, Windows 11 - the Home App was easy to install, I could open it but there was no RoomFit option at all

Unit 2: Desktop-Computer, Windows 11 - trying to install the app only produces error messages, no idea why

Unit 3: iPad 5th generation with iPadOS 16.7.10 - the app works including RoomFit but does not recognize the UMIK-1

Unit 4: iPad 9th generation with iPadOS 18.6 - the app works including RoomFit but does not recognize the UMIK-1 as well

Unit 5: iPhone 16Pro with IOS 18.9 - everything works as it should, UMIK-1 is recognized, the calibration files imported

Finally I can work at least with my iPhone but am I the only one with such problems or is it a common problem with these devices, maybe with PC in general or with older Apple devices with lightning connectors?

Im just using iPhone 16 pro max to run roomfit. It was surprisingly good result. I’m not sure how much better umik 1 will bring to the table but if the return investment is just few percentage over iPhone mic it’s not worth it in my opinion. Umik 1 may serve for those who does reviews of audio gear as hobby or for a living. The implementation of combination of rc and eq would serve most wiim users. With that said, you probably spending more time measuring and tweaking than listening your favorite music. Keep tweaking the eq till it makes your ear happy.

 

[Bernhard]

I did not perform a measurement with my iPads as they did not recognize the UMIK-1 and using the iPad's microphone is rather unwieldy ..

And I just measured my car again with the UMIK-1 .. and it is an audible difference. So I am glad to have the UMIK-1 now, will use it at home as well and I will keep it for future purposes. I intend to optimize my living room in the closer future step by step, the UMIK-1 will be a big help then.

And no worry .. I am retired and still have plenty of time to listen to my favorite music

 

[harkpabst]

I did not perform a measurement with my iPads as they did not recognize the UMIK-1 and using the iPad's microphone is rather unwieldy ..

my question was along the line of how did you tell the UMIK-1 was not recognised?

 

[Bernhard]

The UMIK-1 did not appear in the iPad's Wiim Home app. No microphone, no calibration file. Starting the measurement would mean using the iPad's microphone. I suspect it's the Lightning connector and the UMIK-1 only works with USB-C devices.

 

[QuarryHunslet]

How did you try to connect your microphone to the iPads with Lightning connectors?

I think that you would need to use an Apple camera adapter for it to be recognised.

 

[Bernhard]

You are probably right, I just used an USB-C to Lightning cable. It is not such important. It only would have been more comfortable to measure. But an additional adapter in-between negates the advantage ..
I'll probably stick with the iPhone. Everything works there.

 

[Machiavelli]

How did you try to connect your microphone to the iPads with Lightning connectors?

I think that you would need to use an Apple camera adapter for it to be recognised.

that is correct. tried it with the camera adapter but it did not work. with the usb c devices it works. did not use it for room fit, so nothing to say about that.

 

[Bernhard]

I measured my living room today and compared the results with iPhone 16Pro vs. UMIK-1.
They look different and they sound different, I prefer the UMIK-1 result.

iphone 16Pro:



UMIK-1:

 

[harkpabst]

Cut-Only Mode has not been used with the UMIK-1?

Honestly, I would have expected a difference, but not in this way, with various ripple-like peaks disappearing.

 

[Bernhard]

I did not use the Cut-only mode but limited the max gain to 3dB (iPhone) and 1dB (UMIK-1). It is nearly the same but not such strict, Cut-only mode would mean max gain = 0dB
This may explain the different height of the hump but not the ripples. I would see this as an acoustical effect with the iPhone's microphone. Its assembly in a small rectangular area is less optimal, in no case it can have a rotationally symmetric frequency response anymore. So it records sound from different angles in a different way. I assume this as the source of the ripples with the worst case around 1.6kHz.

 

[harkpabst]

Cut-only mode would mean max gain = 0dB

No, not in the same sense as setting max gain to 0 dB.

With Cut-Only Mode enabled and Max Gain set to e.g. 5 dB, individual peak filters can still use positive gain. But the gain of all filters combined will be <= 0 dB.

I'm quite happy with Cut-Only Mode so far (except for the name).

 

[EddNog]

I did not use the Cut-only mode but limited the max gain to 3dB (iPhone) and 1dB (UMIK-1). It is nearly the same but not such strict, Cut-only mode would mean max gain = 0dB
This may explain the different height of the hump but not the ripples. I would see this as an acoustical effect with the iPhone's microphone. Its assembly in a small rectangular area is less optimal, in no case it can have a rotationally symmetric frequency response anymore. So it records sound from different angles in a different way. I assume this as the source of the ripples with the worst case around 1.6kHz.

The differences in that middle range are more likely to be variation in room interaction between the location where the UMIK-1 was placed versus where the iPhone mic was placed. Typically, it is on the very lowest bass and also the very highest treble where the proper mics like UMIK-1 show significantly improved accuracy over phone mics, which are cost-optimized to focus on midrange accuracy and clarity over extension.

-Ed

 

[Bernhard]

With Cut-Only Mode enabled and Max Gain set to e.g. 5 dB, individual peak filters can still use positive gain. But the gain of all filters combined will be <= 0 dB.

Ah I see the difference. So I should switch on the Cut-only mode but also allow a higher gain. This allows for example to pull up a frequency in-between two minima again but without exceeding the zero line (excuse my non-native speaker expression).

I will try and check the difference tomorrow.

 

[Bernhard]

I measured one more time changing two items. Now the Cut-only is active and the UMIK-1 points to the loudspeakers. Formerly it pointed upwards following some general recommendation that I had read somewhere. But this upright setup is obviously for multi channel setups, not for my pure two channel monitoring.
I also unswitched the subwoofer measurement at home (in the car there is no subwoofer). After calibration I now have the option to switch on or off the subwoofer (cross-over 60Hz). Without SW makes sense late at night and for some DAB stations to compensate their cruel bass enhancement.

Both at home and in the car the result is rather convincing for my ears (for sure in the car with acustical limits ..).

I think I have found my personal final setup for both.

 

[harkpabst]

I measured one more time changing two items. Now the Cut-only is active and the UMIK-1 points to the loudspeakers. Formerly it pointed upwards following some general recommendation that I had read somewhere. But this upright setup is obviously for multi channel setups, not for my pure two channel monitoring.

That's the right decision. For 2 channel audio there's no advantage to pointing the mic to the ceiling. You don't have to try and capture sound from speakers all around. The UMIK-1 (like most all measuring microphones) is omnidirectional anyway, or more precisely, it attempts to be. Over the entire frequency range it still works best directly on axis.

In addition to that, only the 0 deg cal file is obtained from an actual calibration procedure. The 90 deg file is just calculated from the 0 deg file, based on typical directivity data obtained for the microphone. This works reasonably well but the 0 deg file provides better accuracy.

I also unswitched the subwoofer measurement at home (in the car there is no subwoofer). After calibration I now have the option to switch on or off the subwoofer (cross-over 60Hz). Without SW makes sense late at night and for some DAB stations to compensate their cruel bass enhancement.

I'm not sure I fully understand what you did here. Each RoomFit profile can only be correct for the subwoofer enabled or disabled.

If you prefer reduced bass output in certain scenarios (and there are many perfectly valid use cases) the best (and most flexible) way is not switching off the subwoofer but applying EQ! Getting rid of pretty much all bass below the crossover frequency will surely reduce bass output, but typical kick bass around 100 Hz could still potentially upset the neighbours or impact your listening pleasure. With EQ OTOH you can freely configure how much bass reduction at which frequencies you really want without the need to disable the sub.

So far three WiiM devices offer separate RoomFit calibration and EG:

• WiiM Ultra, starting with firmware 5.2.725647
• WiiM Pro Plus, starting with firmware 4.8.726047
• and the already legendary WiiM Amp, starting with firmware 5.0.726147

The other products will surely follow very shortly.

If I got your setup wrong please elaborate further.