Thread: PC audio extreme,competition/studio level...

alright, I've been active on the audio software thread & the usb vs optical thread & I've been cluttering them up enough with my off topic posts, so for this one I figured I'd just start a thread...

I guess the average guy who clicks on this thread is going to just think this is nutz, but there are a few here who understand what I really want to achieve

the end goal of my project is to have all audio in my new car originate from the pc... I will have no head unit... I also don't have any room for a separate processor control display, so I've been shying away from using an alpine processor which was the original consideration...


I then considered doing all audio processing on the PC, my plan was a dual PC setup that used the rear PC as kinda an audio server, doing all processing through console & vst plug ins ... outputted thru some form of DA conversion.... while this is still a viable option for me, in my research to find the equipment to do audio on the PC & through a mention by red, I found something pretty cool...

a rack mount pro audio processor that does everything that would ever be needed to tune a car... it has 8 outputs & oh well,here :





Product Description

The DB Drive Rack 480 stands at the heart of the Drive Rack® system. The dbx Drive Rack 480 includes 4 inputs and 8 outputs which can be tailored for any configuration. By including every form of processing necessary to drive the signal from the mixer to the power amps, such as pre-crossover EQ, notch filters, speaker delay, multiple crossovers, speaker compensation equalizer, driver alignment delay, and compression/limiting, the 480 is truly the only box you’ll need for any sound system application. Two real time analyzers can be run simultaneously with RTA source inputs capable of being remotely switched on the fly. The 480 is fully programmable from the front panel, with the 480R remote control, or through a computer via the GUI port.



dbx Drive Rack 480 Features

4 Inputs and Outputs with routing
31 band graphic or 9 band parametric equalizer on every input (pre-crossover)
Dual Real Time Audio Analyzers
Butterworth, Bessel or Linkwitz-Riley crossover filters
27 Different Crossover Configurations
Time Alignment and Transducer Alignment Delays
Compressor/Limiter on every output
Speaker Compensation EQ (post crossover)
Multi-level Security System
Separate House and Show EQ with individual lockout
Triple redundant back up of all parameters when running network, 480R and PC GUI
TYPE IV™ Conversion System
Electronically balanced/RF filtered XLR Inputs and Outputs
Proprietary RS-485 Control Network
RS-232 PC Interface for computer display and configuration





Technical Details

Specifications

Inputs
Number of Inputs: 4 (Inputs 3 or 4 can be selected as an RTA Mic input)
Connectors: Female XLR
Type: Electronically balanced/RF filtered
Impedance: >40kOhms
Maximum Input Level: Hardware selectable for +30, +22, +14, dBu
Maximum Input RTA Level: -10 dBu
CMRR:
>40 dB typical
>55 dB at 1kHz
Input Gain Range RTA: 10 dB to 70 dB w/60 dB typical
Outputs
Number of Outputs: 8
Connectors: Male XLR
Type: Electronically balanced, RF filtered
Impedance: 120 Ohms
Output Transformers: Optional
Maximum Output Level:
+25.5 dBu into 1kOhm
+22dBu into 60 Ohms
A/D Performance
Type: dbx Type IV™ Conversion System
Dynamic Range (line):
>112 dB unweighted
115 dB A-weighted
Type IV™ Dynamic Range:
127 dB with transient material, A-weighted, 22kHz BW
125 dB with transient material, unweighted, 22kHz BW
119 dB typical with program material, A-weighted, 22kHz BW
Sample Rate: 48kHz
A/D Wordlength: 24 bits
D/A Performance
Dynamic Range:
112 dB unweighted
115 dB A-weighted
Sample Rate: 48kHz
D/A Wordlength: 24 bits
System Performance
Internal Wordlength: 48 bits
THD + Noise: 0.003% typical at +4dBu, 1kHz, 0dB input gain
Frequency Response: 20Hz- 20kHz, +/-0.5dB
Interchannel Crosstalk: <-85dB at 1kHz, 0dB input gain
Pre EQ
Type: One 31-band Graphic EQ per input channel, or 9 band Parametric EQ per input channel
RTA can be substituted for EQ in channels 3 and 4
Range: +/-12 dB range
Notch Filters
Number: 1-5 per input channel not to exceed 10 for all input channels
Pre Delay
Length: 680ms/channel
Crossover: Type: 1x2, 1x3, 1x4, 1x5, 1x6, 2x3, 2x4, 2x5, 2x6, 2x7, 2x8, 3x4, 3x5, 3x6, 3x7, 3x8, 4x6, 4x8
Filter Type: Butterworth, Bessel, or Linkwitz-Riley
Slope:
6, 12, 18 or 24 dB/octave for Butterworth or Bessel filters
12, 24, 36 or 48 dB/octave for Linkwitz-Riley filters
Post EQ
Type: Parametric
Number: 4 EQ bands per output channel
Range: +/-15 dB range
Dynamics
Type: Compressor/Limiter with PeakStopPlus™
Attack/Release: Program Dependent
Linking: All 8 bands are linkable
Post Delay (Driver Alignment)
Length: 170 ms per output channel
Pink Noise Generator
Position: Pink noise inserted on selected input(s)
Phase Compensation
Number: One per output channel
Amount: 0-180 degrees phase shift
Output Polarity: Reversible
Miscellaneous
Output Transformers: Optional
Network: Proprietary RS-485 Backbone
GUI: RS-232 interface for computer display and configuration
RTA Microphone: Optional
ROM Upgrade: Flash upgradeable through RS-232
Power Requirements
Watts: 100-240V - 50/60 Hz; 35 Watts
Dimensions:
Height- 3.5"
Width- 19"
Depth 12.15"
Weight: 11lbs.





my thinking is, that if I'm going to go out & build a pc for this, & then add the harware & software necisary, including high end hardware anyway, the cost may not be way cheaper than a unit like this anyway.... this thing is like $2,500

the software for this is totally cool, you can do anything through it's gui & never have to touch the unit in the trunk past initial setup.....

this is professional studio grade stuff, so the quality is there, & interface is ideal.... it even has real time analyzer funtions built in... the possibilities are pretty cool with this thing... I could call up the rta in roadrunner & embead it as the visualization, talk about a cool visualization

in the end, what difference is it to me weather my audio is being processed by a core 2 duo slave unit with da converters running console, or weather it's all being done with this stand alone unit... somehow I think the rackmount will be more reliable & less fussy, not to mention booting in maybe 5 seconds

heres a screenshot from the software: