UMIK-1 mic support for room correction

[mveloman]

I plugged a UMIK-1 mic into my iPad when doing room correction with my Pro Plus. I assume it worked, since I got a much different (and to my ears, better) equalization curve then when using the internal iPad mic. However, there is no way that I have found to apply the UMIK-1 calibration file. Support for high quality external mics with calibration files would be a great enhancement.

 

[onelivewire]

Very cool update. With RC now available on the Mini I was able to upload calibration and run correction in my bedroom with no issue this morning. Very nice to have individual channel EQ available on those devices now.

 

[harkpabst]

for anyone interested :

View attachment 17921

Your quote would be even more helpful if you had included the source (miniDSP in this case).

I agree that there's no advantage in using the 90° calibration and pointing the mic towards the ceiling with stereo systems, although the differences will be small if matching calibration files are used and the frequency range is limited to what makes sense for the purpose of room correction.

In the (not so distant) past I had specifically recommended to use the UMIK-1 pointing upwards and limiting the correction range to below 3 kHz, but that was prior to WiiM's implementation of the cal file import. Now that we finally have this great feature I see no longer a reason to keep up this advise. Even more so, since the 90° calibration file is not a result of a direct calibration, but just calculated from the 0° file.

 

[EddNog]

...In the (not so distant) past I had specifically recommended to use the UMIK-1 pointing upwards and limiting the correction range to below 3 kHz, but that was prior to WiiM's implementation of the cal file import. Now that we finally have this great feature I see no longer a reason to keep up this advise. Even more so, since the 90° calibration file is not a result of a direct calibration, but just calculated from the 0° file.

So are you suggesting to actually use full range? or are you saying to adjust the limit to, say, under 5KHz or under 8KHz or under 10KHz or under 12KHz etc?

-Ed

 

[rccarguy]

So are you suggesting to actually use full range? or are you saying to adjust the limit to, say, under 5KHz or under 8KHz or under 10KHz or under 12KHz etc?

-Ed

Work out where you need correction, I used REW with my UMIK1 to determine where I have peaks, and then limited Wiim correction to that.

Generally room correction <400hz or so. Unless your speakers are broken design with a +20dB peak at 18khz.

 

[harkpabst]

So are you suggesting to actually use full range?

No.

or are you saying to adjust the limit to, say, under 5KHz or under 8KHz or under 10KHz or under 12KHz etc?

I say to adjust the correction limit to under 3 kHz with no calibration file. And even with a calibration file it's probably best to not go up that far at all.

I do support those asking for separate speaker EQ and room EQ.

 

[EddNog]

Work out where you need correction, I used REW with my UMIK1 to determine where I have peaks, and then limited Wiim correction to that.

Generally room correction <400hz or so. Unless your speakers are broken design with a +20dB peak at 18khz.

It would beneficial if WiiM would allow us to separately set floor and cap for the correction. For example, maximum 0dB boost ceiling and maximum (minimum?) -6dB floor for cuts. Sick of the thing trying to boost room nulls.

...I do support those asking for separate speaker EQ and room EQ.

100% to this!

A couple of other suggestions:
If room correction and general EQ could be separate, then room correct for flat and then on separate general EQ allow not just the basic adjustments but also include standardized curves. So for example, instead of having the room correction offer flat/B&H/Harman curves, just let room correction aim for flat response, then in the separate EQ section, have a drop down for reset-to-Harman and reset-to-B&K and then we can further adjust from there.

But with all that said, I am happy to see that some of the previous requests are already addressed, including mic calibration and also L/R with bass management (currently in beta).

-Ed

 

[rccarguy]

Yes I agree, set max boost and cuts.Pretty important.

I've just allowed it to correct it, then for any boosts I've disabled that filter.

On my speakers when I opened up REW it's fairly smooth >400hz, it's just <300hz or so I have a few large peaks.

 

[dominikz]

It would beneficial if WiiM would allow us to separately set floor and cap for the correction. For example, maximum 0dB boost ceiling and maximum (minimum?) -6dB floor for cuts. Sick of the thing trying to boost room nulls.

100% to this!

A couple of other suggestions:
If room correction and general EQ could be separate, then room correct for flat and then on separate general EQ allow not just the basic adjustments but also include standardized curves. So for example, instead of having the room correction offer flat/B&H/Harman curves, just let room correction aim for flat response, then in the separate EQ section, have a drop down for reset-to-Harman and reset-to-B&K and then we can further adjust from there.

But with all that said, I am happy to see that some of the previous requests are already addressed, including mic calibration and also L/R with bass management (currently in beta).

-Ed

Perhaps you'd find some of these suggestions interesting enough to upvote?

 

[EddNog]

Yes I agree, set max boost and cuts.Pretty important.

I've just allowed it to correct it, then for any boosts I've disabled that filter.

On my speakers when I opened up REW it's fairly smooth >400hz, it's just <300hz or so I have a few large peaks.

I have a huge dip around 185Hz or so that this thing ALWAYS tries to boost the hell out of. It's a waste of a slot since it's limited to only 10 adjustments.

-Ed

 

[EddNog]

Perhaps you'd find some of these suggestions interesting enough to upvote?

Done.

-Ed

 

[Pecka]

What is the consensus regarding the internal mic on an iPhone vs a UMIK-1, is it worth the investment?

 

[Burnside]

What is the consensus regarding the internal mic on an iPhone vs a UMIK-1, is it worth the investment?

Get a Dayton Imm-6c

 

[onelivewire]

The reco from @Burnside is probably best.

I've tested with the UMIK and compared against newer Pixel and older iPhone mics.

The UMIK outperformed both, but made a much more marginal difference than using stereo correction or selecting the correct target curve, for example. Certainly well with the margins of 'adjustment to taste'

 

[Manusz]

What is the consensus regarding the internal mic on an iPhone vs a UMIK-1, is it worth the investment?

As an alternative to purchasing a microphone you can try HouseCurve, available on the App Store.
It "knows" how well the iPhone mic performs, so no need to purchase a separate microphone.

 

[canard]

As an alternative to purchasing a microphone you can try HouseCurve, available on the App Store.
It "knows" how well the iPhone mic performs, so no need to purchase a separate microphone.

I'm afraid it can't be compared to the use of the Dayton USB and its individual cal file. Otherwise, HouseCurve and Dayton USB could be interesting
;-)

 

[Manusz]

I'm afraid it can't be compared to the use of the Dayton USB and its individual cal file. Otherwise, HouseCurve and Dayton USB could be interesting
;-)

Please read what the HouseCurve author has to say about this: microphones
Of course an external mic with calibration file will perform better.

 

[Pecka]

Thanks guys for the answers.

I have only done one calibration with an iPhone 13 mini. Realized afterwards that I had the mic pointing in the wrong direction (away from the speakers). Even with that error I find the result pretty satisfying.

 

[harkpabst]

Thanks guys for the answers.

I have only done one calibration with an iPhone 13 mini. Realized afterwards that I had the mic pointing in the wrong direction (away from the speakers). Even with that error I find the result pretty satisfying.

If you plan to dig deeper into acoustic measurements the (still pretty reasonably priced) UMIK-1 is certainly a very good investment. It's the "de facto standard" for working with Room EQ Wizard.

If all you want is more precise results from WiiM room calibration, the iMM-6C will do the job (and it also comse with a calibration file). It can also be used with Room EQ Wizard, but the UMIK-1 is the more capable mic.

For even less money the HouseCurve app for iOS includes some generic calibration for many iPhone microphones, but making a WiiM room EQ from the results requires a little more effort. Also, precision can still suffer at the lower and the upper edge of the frequency range.
You can add an iMM-6C later (but will need an adapter unless you haven iPhone 15 or newer).

 

[canard]

For this use "rc", what is welcome is 90 degree cals...

maybe Dayton and Wiim could agree on a small "special series" USB offering it
(what the umik provides it seems to me)
;-)

 

[harkpabst]

For this use "rc", what is welcome is 90 degree cals...

maybe Dayton and Wiim could agree on a small "special series" USB offering it
(what the umik provides it seems to me)
;-)

This is a useful reminder, but mainly for multi-channel setups (and in particular when the RC algorithm tries to determine distances through acoustical measurement).

For the classic WiiM stereo setup (subwoofer or not doesn't matter) 0 degree measurements are just fine (or even better, if you still want to do broadband correction).