FIR Designer M

Create finite impulse response (FIR) filters & mixed FIR + IIR filtering solutions for loudspeakers.
Build a complete loudspeaker preset with (up to) 6-way, simultaneous multi-channel filter design. Simulate the combined multi-way frequency response & time/frequency (wavelet) behaviour.
Advanced IIR filter functionality: Branded IIR modes, ‘Auto IIR’ automatic EQ, & Reference Editor for filter conversion between brands
Evaluate custom processing with the multi-channel ‘auditionDSP‘ media player & digital processor
Built-in loudspeaker measurement averaging

enhancement

Maximise the audio quality of an individual loudspeaker, device or entire system.

matching

Match different makes & models of loudspeakers in install systems.

tuning

Create tunings & presets with specific phase & magnitude characteristics.

correction

Perform system or room correction.

Work through the system & channel tabs to design custom DSP

Features

  • Intuitive, fast workflow from impulse response import through to filter coefficient export
  • Continuous filter calculation and error display as parameters are updated
  • Multi-channel (up to 6-way) FIR filter design from multi-way loudspeaker driver measurements
  • FIR only or mixed IIR & FIR design
  • FIR Filter sample rates: 12, 24, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz
    • Independent sample rates on input filtering and each output channel
  • IIR filters (unlimited)
    • Bandpass, low and high shelf
    • Low-pass and high-pass Bessel, Butterworth, 2nd order variable Q, Chebyshev I & II, Elliptic, Linkwitz/Riley & Neville Thiele notched crossover.
    • IIR coefficient export: regular transfer function and MiniDSP formats.
  • Generic IIR filter mode includes all above filter types
  • Branded IIR filter modes for Biamp Tesira, Blaze Audio, BSS, Lake, Linea Research, Marani, Powersoft, Pascal Audio, QSC Q-Sys, RAM Audio, RMS-Acoustics & Symetrix. (IIR conversion between brands is not available.
  • Auto IIR function for matching a response to target with IIR filters only
  • FIR filter design
    • Magnitude Adjustment using common filter prototypes, above, and with minimum, linear and maximum phase options.
    • Phase Adjustment using minimum-phase and maximum-phase all-pass filters, and a unique 4th order all-pass parametric phase filter
    • Automatic magnitude correction with smoothing
    • Automatic phase correction with smoothing
    • EQ Voicing (post target) using common filter prototypes
      • Channel linking for voicing across all outputs
    • Unlimited filter prototypes and automatic correction frequency bands
  • Target responses:
    • User-defined parametric magnitude target with low frequency shelf and unlimited slope segments
    • Magnitude filter prototypes with minimum, linear and maximum phase options
    • All-pass filters with minimum and maximum phase options
    • Impulse response target from file (with options to use magnitude only or magnitude and phase)
    • Both user-defined and file responses combined.
  • auditionDSP: a built-in processor & audio player for listening to custom processing (filters &/or presets) during development
  • Use coherence in automatic magnitude and phase correction algorithms
  • Load and view loudspeaker impedance
  • Import measurement resampling (measure at one sample rate and export filters at any sample rate.)
  • Second View: an additional window for any workflow plot, which can be viewed on the primary display or on a different monitor/display.
  • Dark Mode: choose a light or dark user interface
  • Continuous Wavelet Transform display for time/frequency impulse response analysis of individual channels and the combined response.
  • Smaart® Control for live measurement streaming and capture directly into FIR Designer M.
  • Comprehensive range of measurement file formats (TXT – magnitude/phase/coherence, TXT – Klippel, TXT – samples, WAV, STO – SysTune Overlay, TRF – Smaart Trace, ETM – Easera measurement, SPK – Monkey Forest and more)
  • Multiple FIR export formats for loading into FIR-capable processors and amplifiers 
  • Processor gain, polarity & delay settings
  • Generate complete loudspeaker presets via the processor channel summary setting export option
  • Supplementary Responses window for seeing the effect of processing on other measurements, including a polar map (heatmap-style contour plot).
  • Direct-to-processor (DTP) functionality:
    • To LAKE PLM+ amplifiers for the XP 1, 2, 3 and 4 way modules, and to LAKE PLM+, PLM & D series amplifiers for the LAKE FIR 3-way module. Requires the FIR Designer LAKE plugin.
    • To Powersoft X, Ottocanali, Quattrocanali and DueCanali series amplifiers. Works via an XML file which can be loaded into the amplifier’s “Speaker EQ” or “Output EQ”.
    • To Marani processors over the local network.
    • To Lab Gruppen IPX series amplifiers.
    • Optionally side-load pre-existing FIR filters (with automatic sample-rate-conversion, if necessary) from other programs for transfer to LAKE &/or Powersoft. Rewindow longer FIR filters to the LAKE & Powersoft tap limits.
  • Integrated Measurement Averaging
    • Load up to 200 measurements of any type
    • Multiple level matching options
    • Auto time alignment with manual adjustment
    • Four averaging modes: Complex, Power (flat phase), Power (minimum phase) and Power (minimum phase + reference excess phase)
    • Export averaged response in a variety of formats.
  • Moveable license: deactivate and reactivate on a new computer.
  • macOS and Windows versions. (Windows 10 22H2 & above. Or macOS 11 above)
  • Read the release notes
FIR Designer M software for loudspeaker EQ - screenshot of Group Delay Display

Group Delay Display