Ultimate Equalizer in SoundEasy V17 - business proposal

[ByronH]

Hi there, I don't know if this is the correct section for this post but here goes...

As some SoundEasy users may already be aware, version 17 has been released with some significant feature additions. Now I'm assuming most of you belong to the SE Group on Yahoo, but just in case you aren't or have stopped checking up on the emails, I thought I'd post an interesting announcement by the author of the SE application. I'm hoping that a South African may jump at this opportunity!

Ultimate Equalizer in SoundEasy V17 - business proposal
Sat Apr 24, 2010 1:43 am (PDT)

Dear All,
My second communication about V17, is solely focused on “Ultimate System Equalizer” feature.

I have recently came across an interview with Neville Thiele http://www.audioxpress.com/magsdirx/voxcoil/interview-thiele105.pdf, where he makes two important predictions:
(1) moving coil loudspeaker will be around for many years and
(2) future of loudspeaker design lies in actively equalized systems.

The evidence of these comments is already quite visible on the internet, and this is why the “Ultimate System Equalizer” came into being.

This is the most advanced DSP feature built into the program. It combines the power of Hilbert-Bode Transform, Forward-Reverse FIR filtering scheme and Partitioned Convolution scheme to create the most advanced filtering and signal-combining device available for multi-way loudspeaker systems. John K has collaborated on the theory and performed extensive testing on the software and confirmed it's unique features.

The next evolutionary step for this device is its implementation into a free-standing DSP engine, to form a complete, powered loudspeaker system.

Therefore, this communication is really a group-wide page for loudspeaker manufacturers to express their interest in commercializing this device. If you are a loudspeaker manufacturer, and are looking for establishing a unique commercial advantage, please contact me directly with an expression of interest regarding the Ultimate System Equalizer.

With the release of V17, you can freely use the Equalizer, thus experience first-hand potential capabilities of the device. However, V17 does not export the final Impulse Response of the Equalizer. This feature will be enabled on exclusive, world-wide basis, to the commercial partner who will implement the Equalizer into his DSP.

Alternatively, I can break away the Equalizer and MLS systems and make them into a specialized free-standing, one-only, program.

The important point here is, that should you decide to take up this offer, you will be rewarded with an exclusive, world-wide rights to implement the Equalizer in your DSP. In other words, you do not have to worry about competition.

For serious proposals, please contact me directly at bodzio [at] interdomain.net.au

Best Regards,
Bohdan

[AudioEngineer]

Thanks for posting this ByronH. I also believe that this is the future of speakers. I've built a set of active Linkwitz Orion++ speakers and I believe it would be fantastic to make this approach more accessible to speaker designers.

I might take Bohdan up on his business proposal. I have access to some of the best DSP, software and digital electronic engineers in the business.

Regards
Jaco

[ByronH]

Hi Jaco, that's great to hear Keep us posted if you do decide to go for it!

[Shonver]

How is this different to REW? It seems MiniDSP is negotiating with REW to do the same or similar.

[ByronH]

I just read a response from the author of SE regarding miniDSP:

Sun May 9, 2010 3:28 pm (PDT)
I am corresponding with them on the [Ultimate Equaliser (UE)] but currently the miniDSP doesn't have the capability to emulate the UE filters. Still looking at doing something with them.

[Shonver]

That was John Kreskovsky, who works quite closely with Bohdan Raczynski (the author) as a tester. I get the impression he also makes significant inputs into new design features and such.

It seems that this feature may not be for DIYers, as they want to make it exclusively available to a commercial entity.

[ByronH]

JK's email, but BR's response

I suppose this had to happen at some point considering how relatively inexpensive SE is, it's just a pity that DIY'ers won't have direct access to the feature. I'm holding thumbs that this won't always be the case...

[Shonver]

Here's an interesting conversation about the UE http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/161768-violet-dsp-evolution-open-baffle-project-16.html. Starts at post #154.

[AudioEngineer]

Hi All,

Just a quick update. I've contacted Bohdan regarding his business proposal. So far I've had discussions with both John Kreskovsky and Bohdan Raczynski over the past weeks during which we investigated the processing required for the stand-alone DSP Ultimate Equalizer UE). We seem to have found common ground. The UE will be a collaborative effort between Bohdan, John and me. I'm sure that either of them will post something regarding this in the near future. I have already selected a DSP chip with the right features and processing ability and we are converging towards a conceptual design of the UE. The first prorotype is being developed.

Regarding the miniDSP kit mentioned above - it simply does not have the processing power to implement the filters required for the UE, so that rules it out as an option.

Regards
Jaco

[Shonver]

That is quite exciting news, Jaco. Can you enlighten us on how this arrangement is going to work (from a product/business perspective)?

[AudioEngineer]

Hi Shonver,

At the moment we are still working on a business plan/model for the UE, so unfortunately I cannot say anything yet in this regards. As soon as we have something more concrete I'll post here, or maybe Bohdan or John would prefer to communicate the news.

Regards
Jaco

[ByronH]

Fantastic! Keep us posted

[GearSlave]

Can you maybe share some thoughts on the hardware you plan to use? DSP type and whatnot?

[AudioEngineer]

I don't mind sharing some information, but this may all still change as the concept and prototype evolves. The Ultimate Equalizer (UE) board will be based on an Analog Devices DSP chip that provides enough memory and speed to support the requirements of the UE. It will have on-board ADCs and DACs for up to a 2x4 crossover configuration, but will also provide an extension port for other I/O boards, e.g if you want to use other ADCs or DACs. It will also have an S/PDIF digital input that supports up to 24-bit at 96kHz. The board will be configured from SoundEasy or a specialized UE-specific version thereof via a USB interface. The internal processing will run at a sampling rate of 48kHz. This may later be upgraded to 96kHz. The on-board ADCs will be 24-bit and 48kHz, and later even 96kHz.

[AudioEngineer]

Here's a status update regarding this development. The major part of the software running on the DSP board has been implemented. In parallel Bohdan has also written a customised version of SoundEasy that will be called something like the Ultimate Equalizer (UE). Over the next few months the UE application and the DSP board will be integrated via USB and thoroughly tested, as well as the final DSP boards designed.