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Dirac Setup

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NAD-KB18-Y01

Introduction

This Help Centre Article will walk you through the complete process of setting up the DIRAC Live room correction software on your NAD Audio/Video Receiver or NAD Masters Series product. This process will take approximately 45 minutes.

Tools Required

  • SPL Meter or SPL App on a smart phone or tablet
  • Tape Measure
  • A personal computer running Windows or macOS
  • The DIRAC software for your specific NAD Product downloaded from https://nadelectronics.com/dirac-live/ 
    IMPORTANT: No other DIRAC software will work for your NAD product
  • The DIRAC hardware kit included in your NAD Product pacakging
    • USB microphone adapter
    • mono to stereo minijack adapter
    • microphone

Setting Up DIRAC

Completely install your NAD product;

  • All speakers should be connected to the product and placed in the final locations
  • All sources should be connected and configured
  • The BluOS Kit included with your NAD product should be insatalled intoo the USB port near the rear HDMI ports

Ensure you are running the latest software on your NAD product;

  • Your NAD product should be connected to your Home network using the BluOS Controller App (click here for instructions)
  • Your NAD product is running the latest version of BluOS
    • In The BluOS App, select the Product from the Player Selection Drawer
    • In the Navigation Drawer, select Help, Check for Upgrade
    • Follow on screen prompts if an Upgrade is available
  • Your NAD Product is running the latest version of the chassis firmware
    • Open the On Screen Display Menu (OSD) using your NAD Remote
    • Select System Info, Check for Upgrade
    • Follow on screen prompts if an upgrade is available

Set and place your speakers;

  • Open the OSD and select Speaker Setup to set your Speaker Type and Crossover points
    • Small/80hz is the THX standard but check with your speaker manufacturer for their preferred settings
    • Be certain to turn off any channels not connected to speakers that will not be used
  • Using the Built in Test Tones, set your Speaker Levels using the SPL meter or the SPL app on your mobile device
    • Set all speakers to 75 db (or as close as possible)
    • Measure the distances from the primary listening position to each speaker’s primary tweeter
    • Enter each distance measurement in the Speaker Distance menu of the OSD
    • Adjust sub-woofer level using the physical hardware volume on the sub-woofer and not the OSD soft settings

Connect The DIRAC Calibration Microphone;

  • Assemble the Microphone and USB adapter as shown
    • Pro Tip: Be sure not to use too much force when inserting the mono to stereo mini-jack adapter into the USB adapter. Later in the process, if the DIRAC program constantly gives “Level to Low” errors, pull the mono to stereo adapter ever so slightly out of the USB dongle to get a better connection.
  • Connect the USB adapter to a free USB Port on the rear BluOS Expansion Kit of your NAD product.

Dirac_Dongle_Assembly.jpg

Calibrate Your NAD Product;

  • Launch the DIRAC app on your computer. It should automatically find your NAD product on your network
    • If the product does not appear, please disable your firewall and virus protection software to prvent communciation from being inadvertnetly blocked
    • select RESCAN
  • All fields will populate automatically as DIRAC reads the info from the NAD product

Dirac_-_1.png

  • From the Mic Config tab, select the Recording Device connected to your NAD product
  • Once selected, the Recording Channel field is filled in automatically
  • Select Load File browse to the supplied microphone config file
    • If you are using a 3rd party mic, the mic should be certified for use with DIRAC and will come with its own config file

Dirac_-_2.png

  • With the microphone positioned at the listening focal point or 'sweet spot' of the room, limit as much noise in the room as possible
  • On the Output & Levels tabSet the Input Gain slider to 0
  • If the Background Noise reading is above -24 dB on the level meters, lower the Input Gain until the level metres are consistantly below -24 dB.
  • Select the Test (Play) but on the Left Speaker option to play a test tone from that speaker
  • Gradually adjust the Output Volume until the level meter consistently reads in the center of the green area replaying the test tone to confirm
  • Repeat this process with each of the remaining speaker channels turning the Output Volume on that particular channel slider DOWN if the test tone exceeds the top of the green zone, but DO NOT turn the Output Volume UP if the test tone seems to be too quiet this is part of the calibration process
  • If your subwoofer has its own level control, use that to set the volume of the test tone for the sub instead of using the Subwoofer Volume Slider in the DIRAC program
  • From the Measurements Tab, with the microphone remaining in the exact sweet spot of your listening area, press Start to begin a signal sweep
    • A sweep will occur starting in the left speaker, then go through every speaker in the system.  It will finish with the left speaker a second time.  If it completes successfully without errors, the program will move you on to next steps
    • Select a green dot in the graphics to correct a bad measurement

Common Errors

  • Signal Level too low – Your receiver may be playing too quietly
    • Return to the Levels Tab and ensure your measurements are correct
    • Ensure you microphone assembly is correct and installed in the USB Port of the product
  • Clipped signals – The level is too high or there were loud transient noises that disrupted the signal, like a door slam. This is easily noticeable on the signal graph as a big red line

Once all 9 positions are completed successfully, it is recommended to save your project. Use this as a reference for future measurements of this installation. If you want to make changes, you won’t need to perform a new signal sweep unless something in your room has changed such as moving a speaker or rearranging the furniture. The file name you use will become the name of the DIRAC filter in the on-screen display of the NAD product.

Finishing up and Saving

  • From the Filter Design tab, select Optimize to have DIRAC automatically apply corrections and set the response curve as close to the orange line as possible
  • Advanced users can manually move around the orange target line by clicking and dragging the orange dots
    • Unless you are extremely familiar with DIRAC and your room, this is not advised
    • You can apply different Target Curves by clicking Load Target Paul Barton, Chief Designer of PSB SPeakers, has provided the RoomFeel™ curve is supplied
    • If you apply the RoomFeel™ curve, omit the subwoofer to avoid extremly loud bass
  • You can expand or reduce the frequency area you’d like corrected by clicking and dragging the grey hands on the lighter area
    • A DIRAC Pro License is needed to correct frequencies above 500hz (Included in the NAD M17v2)
  • From the Export Tab, click and drag your newly created filter down into one of the available DIRAC slots below. The DIRAC program will say “Loading Filter…” and the front panel of the NAD Product will say “Saving Filter”
  • To clear a filter from a slot, click and drag it up to the Trash Can
  • Repaet the above steps for any other additional filters
  • NAD products can hold up to 3 DIRAC filters

Notes

  • A third party microphone can be used. Please review your third party microphone documentation for calibration instructions

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