Pioneer MCACC Setupguide

The ultimate Masterpiece by ENCOM Bluray-disc.de

Preposition and Introduction
What is MCACC ? Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System
MCACC is no wonder drug against light dependent and asymmetrical sounding
rooms. MCACC is a tool, with which one the weak spots frequency-sided of a room can
be visualised. It is also possible to throttle or boost each frequency individually, to get
a result that fits with the preferred sound condition in the current used room, or in
the new built homtheatre room. This Blog contains everything which is necessary
for an easy MCACC Setup. It is built on step by step.
Preparation of the room.

For all of you which are up to install acoustic absorber in the near future, i strictly
suggest you to complete the room remodeling first, to save time that could be
wasted for doing some stuff like calibration and modification a several times. For all
of those technical maniacs, which have unlimited time for doing some kind of
epic work, i suggest you to do one measurement in the clean room first without
any speakeradjustment. This is just for comparing the first measurement with the
measurement in the completed room. With this procedure you can see the
efficiency work of the installed acoustic absorber.

This Blog describes in detail, how i got the best sounding result.
I have studied all the MCACC features an options plenty of hours / days.

My main target was focused on getting a warm and harmonic sound impression.
I have considered the result curve not permanent, cause the most perfect
curve do not guarantee the expected perfect sound. A full linearized system
will bring the sound true to original, but everybody has its own flavor. I prefer
a warm and harmonic sound. I have spent a lot of time to get the most
possible experience for using / playing with different time slots which are
responsible for the systemcalibration and the results after measurement.
The final result ( Sound ) with the correct time slot sound way more better
than the result done only with a straight systemlinearization. The only very
important point during this procedure is to take care about the preferred
frequency domain. Its a fact, that all the frequencies around the speech range
are very complexe. Thats why i have decided to set and calibrate the system
that way to get a clear and harmonic sounding around the speech range. The low
frequency ( Bass ) didnt cointain that much wave bands, than the speech array
does. If anybody wants to enhance or modify the bass range in case of
getting more bass, it isnt that difficult and can be easily done by manual.

Important - Basic condition !
Please remove Speakercover an all 5,7 a.s.o Speakers !!!

Comparative measurments has shown, that they dont have a constant porosity.
In many cases it is possible to get different results or faulty measurements.
Especially on Symmetrie Mode you cen get a plenty of Phase errors. So i recomend
you to remove all Speakercover on every speaker bevor starting the MCACC procedure.
The amount of faulty measurment, phase errors or other untypical phenomenons, has
been reduced to a non mentionable quantity, after removing all Speaker cover.
To successfully calibratate and run the basic measurement, it is very important to
know the corrrect dimension of the room and also to run a correct basic measurement.
The Speakerdistance is also a very ipmortant point an can only be successfully
determined without any errors. I also recommend you to place the Mic on a Tripod.
Placed on the back of the couch or other seating also occur faulty measurements.
To adjust the Tripod via water level device can be very helpful. The result of a
slope placed Tripod can be faulty measurement and wrong time slots, which occurs
a level offset. Please set the X Curve, Bass and Treble level to 0 db before starting with
your systemcalibration. It is very important to hear the changed or modified
sound stage without any sound manipulation. After changing several parameters on
the EQ you want to judge the " new " sound without any Mods via DSP Element.
Preparation before Measuring

Personal experiments has shown, that i is not enought to settel with one
--- savespot ---. There will be come one day, where you found a CD, DVD, BD,
or even a Vinyl where you wont be happy with your setup anymore. This ist the
point where you are gonna start to botch. You will copy your beloved --- Savespot ---,
manipulate the EQ and at the end of the day nobody knows what exactly has been
changed. The only thing that is for 100 % clear, is that your once perfect sound
doesn sound that way anymore.
Well, whats the big deal ???
The whole MCACC Setup takes from this point on round about 2 hours,
assumed that all the speakers are on their final spot placed.

1.) Measuring the Room.
2.) Calibration of the System an creating 3 Savespots for all 3 possible
measuring method.( Symmetrie / All Chan. Adj. / Fornt Align.
3.) Analysis of the room and determine the right time slot.
4.) MCACC
5.) Linearizing and modding the sound stage.
6.) Tips and Tricks. This is for enhancing the sound for the personal flavor.
With this options you will quit the path of correct linearizing and accurate
MCACC Setup.

Chapter 1 - Room measurement and Speakersetup.

--- Savespot 1 --- usage.

1.) First of all run a full automatic MCACC on Symmetrie mode.
1.Advanced MCACC a. Full auto MCACC – Mode Symmetrie --- Savespot 1---
2.) Set preferred speaker to small and chose the right X Over for your system.
4.Basic Setup – a. manuel Speaker Settings – 2. Speaker Setup

Important: Not every type of speakers has to be run on small mode.
The precision of the speaker depends on the speakertype and
connected electronic, like Receivers, AMPS and Players. And please dont forget
your preferred flavor of sound. On my expample i run the Center and
Surround on small mode. Front left and right are still on large mode. Used X Over
is set to 50 Hz. The complete Frontstage is wired with Bi Amping Customcable.
For additional Subwoofer usage, i set ever speakers to small and raise
X Over up to 80 Hz.
3.) Please copy this stored --- Savespot 1--- to --- Savespot 2 & 3 ---

Chapter 2 - Systemcalibration and creation of needed Savespots.

4.) The next Step is to run the automatic EQ Calibration. Please set the
parameter to KEEP SPEAKER SETTINGS. With this setup you are able to
calibrate the System without changing the EQ.
1. Advanced MCACC - b. Automatic MCACC.
At the top where you can find the word ALL, you have to click once to the
right till you can read KEEP SPEAKER SETTINGS.

No we are ready to assign the 3 operating mode to the preferred -- Savespots --

Savespot 1 = Symmetrie
Savespot 2 = Chall Chan. Adj.
Savespot 3 = Front Align
Run measurement !!
Now the System is calibrated for all 3 operating modes depending of
the room characteristic.

Chapter 3 - Analysis and search for the right Time slot. Room specific !

5.) First switch to --- Savespot 1 --- Symmetrie and run a reverberant
measurement to get the real time developing of all frequencies in your room.
1. Adavnced MCACC - c. Manuel MCACC - 5. EQ Professional - a.
Reverbtime Measurement EQ set off

Important:
This procedure is necessary for a smooth precalibration of the internal EQ.
If you get interrupted or you have to quit, please consider on the next day the
first job is to regain the last postition of the Mic. To find the last position of the
Mic, just use the option of smooth adjustment, to get the correct distance. This
procedure is very annoying and takes in some circumstances much time.
Thats why i recommend you to do all Steps from 1 to 5 in one clear run.

6.) Please download your MCACC File to your computer.
Take a look at the reverbtime measurement ( After ). If there are some
frequencies which are way to far away from the average value, just change your
time slot and restart your process. This occur in most of cases, because the set
time slot is to long. Low frequencies and high frequencies have different
delay times and will be noticed by human ears with different level - audibility.
DBA Vs. DBC measurement.

To make the analysis of the downloaded file and curve easier for everybody,i will discribe it in a few words from where the problems came from.
The major point is, that you first start your AV Navigator an press at the
top right the AFTER Button, ´cause only the reverbetime display after
measurement is important for us now. If the resouloution of the Curves are to
high, you can toggle it 3 - 4 clicks down. Arrow to the left of Z Button. This
procedure will smooth the display a lil bit. ( Z Button ) If Z is set to max, it will
be very very difficult to get all frequencies on one level, cause there are several
facts, that occur different measurements. Faulty measurements, depending on
the tolerance of the device itself, ambient noise and so on. If you repeat
measurements 10 times on max Zoom, you will eventual get 10 different results.

To long measurement time = All Frequencies will be booste enormous.
Especially high Frequencies, ´cause they dont need a long reverbtime.
If the Time slot is too long, they have alle the time to ge refleceted from
every acoustic contact surface. Also Bass can occur much acoustic buzz.
To short measurement time = Bass Frequenzies will be claibrated very flat,
cause they need more time to get reflectet, than mid. and high Frequenzies.
Also in some circumstances it is possible, that every Frequency is too flat,
depending on them room. Physical considered. So it is recommended to find a
time slot, that your first reverbtime measurment after setting the time slot
shows you a chart with no extremely wiped out Frequencies.
Why ? Cause with the time slot you can take influence at the EQ range. For
example if you have the wrong time slot in some cases it is necesarry to set 2 or
more Frequencies up to 8 or 10 Db +. This can provoke the Message OVER in the
EQ. Same für reducing the level of frequencies to the lowest level. The time slot