Subwoofer Calibration

Find the optimal crossover frequency, which is usually between 60 to 80 Hz, with the assistance of
bass sweeps. These are tones which are set at a uniform level from 200 to 25 Hz. Pay attention to
resonances in the area of the crossover frequency (only listen to the sweep through the subwoofer at
this point).
The positioning of the subwoofer has a great influence on the standing waves or 'room modes'. A
corner position is the least favorable in this respect, followed by a position against a wall. You have
the greatest chance of a uniform sound when the subwoofer is free standing in the room.
In rooms with parallel walls, a virtual partitioning of your studio into uniform 4 by 4 fields, is a
further assistance in the search for an ideal location. Divide the room length and breath by 4 and
imagine lines on the floor, or mark these lines out temporarily with masking tejp(see attachment).
Now you can see on which lines the subwoofer is likely to cause excessive room modes, even when
it is free standing. Therefore do not place it on any of these lines, least of all on the intersections.
When you have found a location where the bass sweep of the solo subwoofer sounds uniform in the
listening position, adjust the phase position between the subwoofer and the monitor. Now play back
a bass sine tone close to the crossover frequency with the main monitors switched on and rotate the
phase of the subwoofer. The phase position in which the subwoofer sounds the loudest in the
listening position is the correct one.
Now listen to your wonderfully mastered favorite Cd's at 85db spl and adjust the level of the
subwoofer in such a way that you intuitively get the right feel for the bass level. Your monitors
should sound balanced at 85db spl in the bass zone.
If you are dissatisfied with the result, systematically proceed with the measurement microphone and
measurement equipment to find the ideal location for your sub and to calibrate your monitoring
system.
There are extremely varied ways of proceeding. I shall outline the simplest ones here as an
example:
1. Position your subwoofer temporarily in your listening position.
2. Play back bass-heavy music and walk around the room. Find the spot in the studio where the
bass sounds best, in the half of the room where the speakers are located, according to the
rules outlined earlier.
3. Install the subwoofer there.
4. Check the subwoofer's phase position. Send low test signals to the monitors including the
subwoofer which are around the crossover frequency at, for example, 60/80/100/ Hz and
move the phase switch of the subwoofer back and forth. The position where the bass sounds
louder in the listening position is the correct one.
5. Play pink noise on your monitor setup, including the subwoofer. Install a measurement
microphone in the listening position with the tip facing upwards and send the signal to a
good spectrum analyser. Now you can calibrate the level and crossover frequency until the
analyser displays a frequency response which is as linear as possible.

Room Partitioning

(source: Internal Mastering by Friedemann Tischmeyer)