EASY ZMA AND T/S PARAMETERS IN LIMP MODULE OF ARTA – An Illustrated Guide
by Hong Nguyen
Software:
Download ARTA software (current version is 1.8.5) from http://artalabs.hr/download.htm.
Total cost: Free
Hardware Requirements:
Laptop or desktop running Windows 7 or 10.
Duplex soundcard – I suggest you experiment with your current duplex soundcard to see if there are incompatibilities before investing in a new card. More info here: http://artalabs.hr/requirements.htm
Digital Multimeter (DMM).
Appropriate audio cables to connect jig, soundcard and speaker driver.
Weight for added mass method (explained below).
Double-sided scotch tape to secure weight to cone.
Measurement Jig Bill of Materials:
6X3X2 project box:
http://www.parts-express.com/hammond-1591dsbk-abs-project-box-black-59-x-31-x-2--320-714
Dual binding post:
http://www.parts-express.com/parts-express-dual-binding-post-1-red-1-black--090-475
2 pairs of RCA jacks:
http://www.parts-express.com/parts-express-gold-rca-jack-solder-type-with-nut-pair--090-278
One 100ohm resistor:
http://www.parts-express.com/100-ohm-5w-resistor-wire-wound-5-tolerance--015-100
Total parts cost: $15.31
Jig Construction:
To Generate a ZMA file From a Speaker Driver
Connect the finished jig to the computer soundcard using the appropriate cables.
Start the LIMP module. Click Continue in Demo Mode. LIMP is fully functional in demo mode, except for the Save function.
Change the starting frequency to 10Hz, since the graphs of both PCD and WinPCD start at this same frequency.
Right-click on the program to bring up the Graph Setup dialog box, change the Low frequency to 10Hz and click on Update. This will extend the graph from 20 to 10Hz (see lower left corner).
Go to the Setup menu to select the drivers for your particular soundcard:
My soundcard is a Creative EMU 0204, so my setup looks like this:
Next, calibrate the soundcard:
Click on the CAL icon to bring up the Calibrate Input Channels box.
Click on Calibrate in the Dialog Box to calibrate both channels. LIMP will alert if there’s a significant difference between the 2 channels. In the Status box, the channel difference is only 0.11dB, so the calibration process is successful.
Note: Do not connect your speaker driver to the jig during the calibration process.
After calibration:
Position the driver on a hard, flat surface while ensuring that the venting hole is not blocked, and connect the speaker driver to the jig.
Select Pink PN (Pink Periodic Noise) as the generator.
Select the M+P icon (Magnitude and Phase).
Under the Setup menu, select Measurement.