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Speaker Cab Design Question

#61
Tim C. said:
I use the Beta one. I tried to use the Pro version to enter my own speaker specs but for whatever reason it would never let me save them. I haven't quite figure that out yet. The website says the Pro version has some problems.
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it never accepts manufacturers TS Parameters for me either. unless you can get a pre filled one like the ones greenboy has on his site you are S.O.L. with pro
 
#62
mcapote said:
it never accepts manufacturers TS Parameters for me either. unless you can get a pre filled one like the ones greenboy has on his site you are S.O.L. with pro
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Hell with it. The only thing it does that Beta doesn't is calculate the displacement of the speaker itself inside the box. I'm not sure how big a problem that is, but I assume once I have the speaker itself I can accurately guess-timate how much that is and figure out how to deal with that. It can't be more than a few liters per speaker.
 
#63
Tim C. said:
Hell with it. The only thing it does that Beta doesn't is calculate the displacement of the speaker itself inside the box. I'm not sure how big a problem that is, but I assume once I have the speaker itself I can accurately guess-timate how much that is and figure out how to deal with that. It can't be more than a few liters per speaker.
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Beta is next to useless, all it gives you is box volume and SPL, and that don't mean diddly when you don't have impedance, maximum SPL and excursion plots. Entering new drivers in Pro is simple, you put in Qes, Qms, Fs, Vas, Pe, Re, Sd and Xmax and it calculates everything else. But once you've done that you have to know how to interpret the data, and that's the hard part.
 
#64
billfitzmaurice said:
Beta is next to useless, all it gives you is box volume and SPL, and that don't mean diddly when you don't have impedance, maximum SPL and excursion plots. Entering new drivers in Pro is simple, you put in Qes, Qms, Fs, Vas, Pe, Re, Sd and Xmax and it calculates everything else. But once you've done that you have to know how to interpret the data, and that's the hard part.
Click to expand...

I only use the Beta to make simple adjustments as to cabinet size/dimensions and rough tuning with the initial design. After that I input all the data in Pro and go from there.

I've had some issues with inputting driver data, but most are in there already or I've downloaded Greenboy's driver data.

Beta is like the salad, but Pro is the entree...and then the cab is dessert! ;)

Thanks for the tip Bill (on the necessary parameters and letting Pro calculate the rest). I have a few drivers I've had data issues with so that helps. I just entered one and it works like a charm.

And I agree, interpreting the data is the hard part. Even though I have much to learn, I've become pretty good at having an idea of how a cab will perform based on the graphs alone. I've been doing it for a few years now and I'm still a newb at it, so I always appreciate your knowledge and candor.
 
#65
billfitzmaurice said:
Beta is next to useless, all it gives you is box volume and SPL, and that don't mean diddly when you don't have impedance, maximum SPL and excursion plots. Entering new drivers in Pro is simple, you put in Qes, Qms, Fs, Vas, Pe, Re, Sd and Xmax and it calculates everything else. But once you've done that you have to know how to interpret the data, and that's the hard part.
Click to expand...

Okay, learn something everyday... Glad I'm nowhere near actually building anything yet. :D I don't need anything like the speaker dimensions? That seems like it might be important.

At least I've gotten some practice with the Beta version. :hmm: What would you recommend to best understand impedance and excursion plots? As long as it isn't a college degree I'll invest in it.

Sundogue said:
most are in there already or I've downloaded Greenboy's driver data.
Click to expand...

How do I download Greenboy's stuff?

Edit: Nevermind, seemingly everything's going fine.
 
#66
Tim C. said:
What would you recommend to best understand impedance and excursion plots?
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A lot of reading and a lot of experience. To really understand them you will have to acquire the knowledge equivalent of an Associates degree in Acoustical Engineering, by one means or another. Someone who's only interested in building a cabinet or two would probably find it more trouble than it's worth, just build a fEarful and be done with it.
 
#67
billfitzmaurice said:
A lot of reading and a lot of experience. To really understand them you will have to acquire the knowledge equivalent of an Associates degree in Acoustical Engineering, by one means or another. Someone who's only interested in building a cabinet or two would probably find it more trouble than it's worth, just build a fEarful and be done with it.
Click to expand...

Or build one of your designs. ;)
 
#68
mcapote said:
it never accepts manufacturers TS Parameters for me either. unless you can get a pre filled one like the ones greenboy has on his site you are S.O.L. with pro
Click to expand...

You can open up a pre-loaded driver then edit the parameters to match the driver you want by double-clicking on each parameter when you view the full details - that's the only way I could enter the speakers I wanted to model. Then save each project under the 'real' speaker's name.

HTH
 
#69
ColinB said:
You can open up a pre-loaded driver then edit the parameters to match the driver you want by double-clicking on each parameter when you view the full details - that's the only way I could enter the speakers I wanted to model. Then save each project under the 'real' speaker's name.

HTH
Click to expand...

hmm never tried that. I use to have a fit trying to enter in resonant engineering MT subwoofers in pro. It would never take them. Does the pro calculate displacement of the ports? I know beta never calculated the port displacement or speaker displacement.
 
#70
mcapote said:
hmm never tried that. I use to have a fit trying to enter in resonant engineering MT subwoofers in pro. It would never take them. Does the pro calculate displacement of the ports? I know beta never calculated the port displacement or speaker displacement.
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I don't know if it calculates the various displacements - but I've seen nothing to suggest that it does. I just add 5 litres for a 12" speaker, calculate the port displacement and then add 'a bit' for the bracing.

I must, at this stage, confess to not having built any bass cabs yet - but when it gets warmer outside, and I've less work on, then I've got my cab dimensions ready and waiting.
 
#71
ColinB said:
I don't know if it calculates the various displacements - but I've seen nothing to suggest that it does. I just add 5 litres for a 12" speaker, calculate the port displacement and then add 'a bit' for the bracing.

I must, at this stage, confess to not having built any bass cabs yet - but when it gets warmer outside, and I've less work on, then I've got my cab dimensions ready and waiting.
Click to expand...

my building until now has always been Car subwoofer boxes or home theater cabinets, this will be my first bass cab this weekend.
 

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