Loading FIR filters into Linea Research amplifiers and processors

This page describes how to load FIR filters from FIR Designer M, FIR Designer and FIR Creator EX into Linea Research amplifiers and processors, using the System Engineer control software.

STEP ONE: In the FIR Designer Export tab, select the format “SFI file (Linea Research)” and press Save FIR.

STEP TWO: Run System Engineer (download and install System Engineer here.)

STEP THREE: In the System Engineer toolbar (top-right), click Add Virtual Devices. Physical Devices should appear on the screen automatically through Auto-Discovery. Select a processor or amplifier from the drop-down and click + (add) or +→ (add and open).

STEP FOUR: Go to the Tune view (musical note icon in bottom left corner), select the relevant Output, then click EQ on the lower half of the screen. You can also change the Quick View to EQ (centre of top menu) and select the relevant Output to go straight to that EQ.

STEP FIVE: Under ‘FIR‘ (center-bottom of screen), select the folder icon to load a FIR from file. Once Opened, the FIR file will be enabled automatically, but can be Enabled/Disabled with the ‘Enable FIR‘ button.

STEP SIX: In the file browser popup, select the desired FIR file, and click Open.

Please note that to be compatible with System Engineer, the file needs to have been exported as either 384 taps at 48kHz or 768 taps at 96kHz.

The FIR file will then be opened and visible in the EQ.

This video demonstrates the FIR filter loading process in System Engineer. It also demonstrates how to input your own IIR filter (EQ) settings.
 
Learn how to save this as a preset in this video.
 
Watch a video overview of the System Engineer software.
 

About SFI Files

SFI files include the filter delay setting from FIR Designer and this is used by the device to compensate (across all channels) for FIR filter latency. Other file formats may not include this and so FIR latency compensation must be done manually by adding (or subtracting) delay from the output channel delay settings in the gain delay device tab.

FIR Designer M already compensates for FIR filter delay within the loudspeaker preset workflow and combines necessary alignment delay with each of the channel delays.

If using FIR Designer M and FIR filter SFI files, use the GPD Tab Delay numbers from the FIR Designer M system export tab, and not the Total Processor Delay numbers.