#1434247 - 09/07/08 09:56 PM
Getting ready for a show
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TtownCLS
Dream it Design it Build it
Team SoundDomain
Registered: 11/02/08
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Here is just a sample of what we do getting ready for a show. I decided to add a little more deadening to the doors. I've been trying to improve the tonality of vocals a little without adjusting the EQ too much.
That's right. The door panels are off. I broke one of my new clips getting them back off. Luckily I had just enough spares to fix it.Sometimes I wonder why I do this with only a few days before a show.
If you look closely at the pic above and below, you will see the white foam I'm stuffing into the doors. That's in addition to the layer of deadener and a layer of SecondSkin overkill that's glued to the door skin. I didn't get a good shot of it. Trying to get this thing back together so I can test it.
I just taped the mic to the headrest to run a quick RTA curve on it and see what it looks like.
Now for a little tuning. The foam changed the frequency response of the 6.5's in the door enough that I will have to tweak the EQ a bit more.
I set my laptop RTA up on my workbench so I can see it through the windshield and tweak away. Pink noise can make you have evil thoughts after an hour or so, but it's necessary to get things at a good base line.
Then I listened to real music for a bit. I think I can work with this. The foam helped the frequencies I was having trouble with, but made a couple of others worse. Guess I'll do more tuning tomorrow. Truth is, I probably won't have it exactly where I want it until the night before the show. Even then, I'll find something I wish I had more time to work on.
This is light compared to what some people do just days before a show.
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#1434344 - 10/07/08 06:19 AM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: TtownCLS]
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Thumper26
Representing the
SD New School
Registered: 12/09/04
Posts: 35462
Loc: Chattanooga, TN
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i have no pics, but i do about the same with the rta. i actually set my laptop on my sunroof and run a cable out, and start and stop the pink noise via remote. i'll watch and make changes, then test again.
i'll do two or three sessions targeting a specific area, then get in and listen. rinse and repeat until i'm satisfied.
the night before i detail my car. since i have shows almost every weekend, it's usually not that bad, just a wash, and a quick wipedown inside. the morning of, i'll put on the team sticker, usually in a parking lot before i get to the show. sponsor stickers are removed before i get home. i love my stereo, i don't need anyone taking it for me.
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#1434387 - 10/07/08 07:21 AM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: Thumper26]
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Foam
Team SoundDomain
Registered: 09/06/08
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this show has been different for me. I'm actually getting the car ready for a full on rebuild of the front stage, so in preparation for that I have done a lot of deadening and rewiring of the vehicle. I'll have some pics and a write up in the near future of the entire process.
Tonight I'm putting my amps back in, and will get to the above tuning. The car will be rough for this weekend, but it goes to Jeff Smith at Sounds Sensation on Sunday to begin the rebuild. It should be good to go come August 1st.
I'll get some pics up later of some of the stuff I've been doing and tonight of the tuning process.
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#1442317 - 19/07/08 06:21 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: Foam]
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Thumper26
Representing the
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Registered: 12/09/04
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Loc: Chattanooga, TN
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last weekend at Hi Fi Buys was spent tuning until about two in the morning, then getting back up to be there by 9 in the morning. We had three cars, with all of us listening to everyone's stereos and comparing what we heard to make them better. This worked out GREAT. Everyone can compare what they're hearing, and you get multiple opinions on things going on. Plus, everyone is picky about different things, so everyone is listening for different cues.
This weekend TTownCLS and I are doing the same thing. We're at a hotel tuning on each other's cars. I have someone else that I'll compete against coming in later tonight that we will help some (i might have to "fix" some issues for him  ). To me, that's the most fun about this hobby: everyone helps everyone, even if they're a competitor. Everyone for the most part is a good sport. We have fun, give each other a hard time *coughandycough*, and help each other with their cars. It's pretty cool.
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#1442329 - 19/07/08 07:14 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: Thumper26]
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bikinpunk
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Registered: 17/08/04
Posts: 2759
Loc: Al
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Robert, the curve on your laptop... looks somewhat like a loudness curve on the lower end... is that what you tune to? When I tune via RTA I go for a flat response and always wind up bumping the low end on my own.
Wish I could've came out tonight to hang out but I gotta get my car ready for the insurance guys Wednesday since I'm switching to a new company. Can't let them see it with no door panels! 
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#1442512 - 20/07/08 05:43 AM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: bikinpunk]
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Thumper26
Representing the
SD New School
Registered: 12/09/04
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Loc: Chattanooga, TN
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i've seen the listening curve for a few people's vehicles. none of them are flat. they are, however, smoothly sloped, usually higher on the subs, and slope down to the tweets. your goal is to get left and right identical.
aaron uses the spl meter and filtered pink noise on L and R. I prefer to listen to mono pink noise, and center it by ear. Whenever we're having an issue, we throw the RTA in to see what exactly is going on. It also really helps with learning what frequencies do what. You can play Spanish Harlem and watch her hit exact frequencies on the RTA...the bar will spring up and warble with her voice inflections. It's pretty cool.
Aaron, my setup cost about 150 for mic, usb powr, cables, and mic stand for the car. If you have a mic and usb cable lying around, you can save a few bucks there. Also, if you want to sit in the car and hold the mic or tape it to the headrest, you can skip the stand. Mic and power supply for it can be found at guitar center or order it from musiciansfriend.com.
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#1442718 - 20/07/08 03:46 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: Thumper26]
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MartyV1
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Registered: 02/07/01
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Loc: albany
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I wonder what my truck would look like on a RTA....prob really bad lol
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#1442746 - 20/07/08 05:49 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: MartyV1]
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Foam
Team SoundDomain
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#1442751 - 20/07/08 05:53 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: Foam]
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Foam
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^that's a pretty good idea of the limitations of an RTA. That graph does not look all that bad. Yea its got some roll off in the real subbass area, and it the very upper midrange. A couple of peaks--but nothing shocking. THis is with no EQ.
However---that car sounds like 10 levels of ass. It has no imaging at all--at all. THere is no midbass--what little actually exists is being played by the subwoofer and thus is not as tight as you would want it. The midrange is harsh.
Really there isn't much good about that system. Looking at the RTA though--it doesn't look bad at all.
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#1444432 - 22/07/08 03:51 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: MacLeod]
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TtownCLS
Dream it Design it Build it
Team SoundDomain
Registered: 11/02/08
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Agreed 100 times over. I found out the hard way that a flat RTA sounds like.........well A$$. I use it totally as a base line and tune from there by ear. I know what real music sounds like, so I use the RTA to help me find those pesky peaks. I am still learning what frequency corresponds with a B flat on the trumpet. The RTA is very helpful for that.
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#1444522 - 22/07/08 05:53 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: TtownCLS]
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Thumper26
Representing the
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Registered: 12/09/04
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Loc: Chattanooga, TN
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the A string on a guitar is usually 440Hz. If you've heard that, you can reference what you're listening to and decide if it's higher or lower.
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#1446859 - 24/07/08 06:57 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: Thumper26]
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TtownCLS
Dream it Design it Build it
Team SoundDomain
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Back on the "Getting ready for a show" theme. Team SoundDomain is attending Elite Summer Nationals in Spartanburg SC. That's right, The whole team will be there. I am working on getting the car ready for this show. I will be competing in IASCA, MECA, and the top 30 Money round. That means three completely different sets of criteria for judging the car. The Top 30 is Judges using anything they choose to listen to. For me, that's the biggest challenge, getting my car to play ANY type of music and do it well enough to convince you that you are listening to the live performance. I'll post some pics etc. of what's going on getting ready for this show.
I've heard some pretty crazy things being done to the cars this week in perparation for this show. Should be interesting.
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#1446889 - 24/07/08 08:38 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: TtownCLS]
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rividude
SD Ralph Wiggum
Registered: 01/07/08
Posts: 20
Loc: alabama
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Don't leave Harry in your car unattended.
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#1446966 - 25/07/08 05:47 AM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: rividude]
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Foam
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Registered: 09/06/08
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^  Good times.
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#1447041 - 25/07/08 08:07 AM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: Foam]
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sq civic
SD Newbie
Registered: 14/05/08
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Yes Harry can find unusual ways to amuse himself.
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#1452646 - 02/08/08 08:05 AM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: sq civic]
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TtownCLS
Dream it Design it Build it
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We're getting close to Elite now. It's time for more work on the cars, or for some, a complete rebuild I won't call any names. I have made almost no progress on my list of things to do. So far all I've done this week is install the bluetooth module for a better hands free solution in the car. I also smoothed my dash around the HU. Neither of those will help my score at Elite, so I'm not sure what I was thinking there. I'll be putting up some pics and details of the KCE-300BT install over in HU help. I guess I'll be working on the IASCA punch list and tuning right up till the minute the car get's judged. Nothing like pushing a deadline.
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#1452710 - 02/08/08 12:04 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: TtownCLS]
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Thumper26
Representing the
SD New School
Registered: 12/09/04
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Loc: Chattanooga, TN
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yup. i've been fighting a head cold all week, so i haven't been able to do anything either. i'm thinking about playing with the tweeters some before elite, but will prolly wait until afterwards.
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#1452729 - 02/08/08 02:05 PM
Re: Getting ready for a show
[Re: MacLeod]
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Thumper26
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Registered: 12/09/04
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glad to hear it's coming together.
lol, after you saying that, i think i'll wait on working on my tweets until after the show.
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