SPLab - Acoustic Laboratory

Subjects studied here: Studioengineering
Person responsible: Ing. Jiří Schimmel, Ph.D.
Area of study: Acoustic signal processing

The laboratory is used for recording and processing of audio signals, testing of algorithms for digital processing of music and speech signals, subjective listening tests, testing of microphone and reproductive techniques etc. The laboratory provides a high-quality acoustic environment for research of multimedia technologies and algorithms for digital processing of audio signals in modern multichannel systems. The listening field is made ​​up of a reproductive system with configuration 6.1, as recommended by ITU-R BS.775-1, with Genelec 1032A bi-amp monitors with THX pm3 certificate and Event Electronics 20/20 subwoofer. Acoustic tiles and other acoustic adjustments of the room ensure a very short reverberation time with frequency-balanced characteristics and high soundproofing, while suppressing exterior noise. The room meets the requirements of ČSN 73 0526 for control rooms. The technical equipment of the laboratory is mobile and along with the laboratory facilities it can be used in two configurations: the configuration for editing, mixing and mastering of audio recordings and listening tests in stereo and multichannel surround sound formats and the configuration for recording and multichannel sensing techniques in semi-diffuse sound field.

The laboratory is equipped with a technological desk with a professional workstation for recording, processing and mastering of audio recordings with two systems based on Windows and an Apple iMac computer.
The first system, designed especially for processing and mastering of audio recordings, has a MOTU 896mk3 sound interface with 24 bit/96 kHz transducers. With additional A/D converters with MOTU 8Pre and RME Octamic microphone preamplifiers, this sound card offers, in addition to digital interfaces, 24 general purpose analog inputs and 10 outputs. The system is further equipped with a RME HDSP MADI audio interface with 64 input and 64 output digital channels that are divided with a RME ADI-648 converter into 8 input and 8 output groups of channels, and an ADAT digital interface, to which any A/D and D/A converters can be connected. The second system is an experimental device Dmatrixx developed in cooperation with industry, which has a MADI interface and allows multichannel processing, routing and mixing of audio signals controlled remotely via the Internet.
In addition to the software that was developed within the research, the laboratory is equipped with Cubase 5 software for the production of musical recordings, Wavelab 6 editing and mastering software, packages of software sound synthesizers Native Instruments Complete 6, Arturia V Collection and Steinberg Halion, a package of Waves Gold Bundle software effects processors and Steinberg Surround Edition surround processors. The workstation also includes a TC Powercore DSP system with another package of mastering effects processors. The EASE program for simulation of acoustic areas and the EASERA program for acoustic and electroacoustic measurements are also available. The laboratory is also equipped with a Mackie Control Universal Pro DAW controller with motorized faders, Art HeadAmp headphone amplifiers and Sennheiser HD280 pro closed headphones.
The laboratory equipment also includes an Alesis ADADT HD24 24-channel hard disk recorder, electronic musical instruments (a Roland V-Drums electronic drum set, an Akai EWI 4000S breath controller, a NS Design electric jousel, a Fokus electric guitar), a Line6 SpiderValve 112 guitar combo, a Roland A33 MIDI keyboard, a M-Audio Axiom Pro MIDI keyboard and a Behringer FCB1010 pedal controller.
This laboratory can also be used for elaboration of bachelor’s or master’s theses and individual projects. The laboratory has been used for solving of MPO and GAČR projects and contract orders for companies (DISK Multimedia, DISK Systems). Upon agreement with the Laboratory Manager, students can use the laboratory in their free time for recording, processing and mastering of audio recordings.

Specific devices:

• Genelec 1010A audio monitors – active bi-amp reproductor systems with THX pm3 certificate. (link)
• MOTU 896mk3 sound interface – a professional audio interface with high-quality 96 kHz/24 bit A/D and D/A converters for multichannel recording and playback of audio signals using a personal computer. (link)
• MADI digital audio interface with a RME HDSP MADI + ADI-648 converter – an interface to transfer up to 128 digital audio channels over long distances, completed with a converter for MADI/ADAT interface to connect all types of A/D and D/A converters. (link)
• TC Powercore DSP system  – a supporting system for processing of audio signals in real time on personal computers. (link)
• Cubase music production software – a professional multichannel music software for recording and editing of audio signals and music production. (link)
• Rolad V-Drums electronic drum set – an electronic synthesizer of sounds of percussion instruments with pads that allow playing as a classic set of percussion instruments. (link)
• Arturia software synthesizers – a package of virtual music synthesizers, simulations of the legendary electronic musical instruments Moog Modular, Minimoog, Prophet, Jupiter, Arp and CS-80V in addition to programs for music production. (link)
• Waves software effects processors – a package of software effects processors for music effects and mastering to complement programs for sound processing and music production. (link)
• Native Instruments software synthesizers and effects – a package of virtual musical instruments and software effects processors to complement music production programs. (link)

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