Focusrite's VRM Box

It is always healthier not to use headphones. I avoid them every time I can. Check the site headphone.com for quality head gear. I am skeptical of the accuracy and the worth of VRM
monitoring. And what is it you really are wanting to hear? The musicality of your playing?
If so I don't think VRM will improve on that. You are not alone in looking for a better sound or the perfect place.

VRM BOX JUST CAME THIS MORNING!!! BUY ONE!!!

MY, MY, MY!!! This is DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST AUDIO DEVICES I HAVE EVER BOUGHT!!!

If I spent an hour trying to explain how absolutely AMAZING  this thing is, IT STILL WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH TO DO IT JUSTICE. The sound is just FABULOUS.

Before I got this little thing, I just thought it would add a little more realism to the headphone experience. WRONG!!! I HAVE N.E.V.E.R HEARD THE PIANOS IN PIANOTEQ SOUND SO REAL. I BET THIS IS WHAT MODARTT HEAR!!!

I'M PLUGGED INTO THIS THING WITH AKG K240MKII''s.

IF YOU'RE STILL SKEPTICAL, GO TEST ONE OUT WITH PIANOTEQ IF YOU CAN!!!

FAILING THAT, JUST BUY IT!!! NOT HIGHLY RECOMMEND, ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL!!!

That's £75 perfectly spent!

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, YOU AIN'T HEARD IT!!!

Regards,

Chris

The ONLY thing to beware! It uses CPU!!!!

I think I'm going to have to get a low latency USB RME soundcard so that I can use my Intel i5 equiped computer instead of the dual core duo I am currently using.

I think the i5 is quad core??? Looks like it anyhow from the Intel website???

The i5 will have absolutely no problem. In facct, having tweaked and adjusted my setup, I'm getting perfect performance with an audio buffer of 4.0 showing in PianoTeq using my far less powered dual core Intel Core 2 Duo T5450 2.0 GHz laptop. 4.0 buffer isn't the fastest latency, but it's great considering what I'm running, and what I'm running it through!!! Of course, it is a good job I already had the express firewire card to run my Saffire Pro 24 through as this gives far better performance than the ffactory mini firewire port.

As I say, and as you can appreciate, you will have no problems at all with an i5 (quad core).

regards,

Chris

EDIT p.s. the VRM Box's load on the CPU isn't massive, but it is significant.

They are readily available

I got mine in the post (mail order) from Dolphin Music in Liverpool. Google 'Focusrite VRM Box UK' and you'll find plenty of places that sell them all over the country! Just take your pick!

P.s. I was completely WRONG about the VRM Box being processor intensive AND also completely WRONG about needing another audio interface!!! I simply forgot that the VRM Box is ITSELF a TOP QUALITY AUDIO INTERFACE!!! DOOOOOOH!!!!!

I was using it in conjunction with my Saffire Pro 24 and didn't understand why it was so labour intensive!!!! That WAS daft of me!

I realised this tonight when I was testing out my E-MU 0202 with the VRM Box! I thought to myself, "Why do I need two audio interfaces???" Understandably, if was using the VRM Box to monitor a mix and wanted to use the spdif, then I'd have to rig it up that way, but just to listen to pianoteq through headphones as I play, NO PROBLEM. Very LITTLE CPU USAGE!!!

Apologies to all,

Regards,

Chris

Not sluggish in the slightest Hans! And yes, it's very cool!

Regards,

Chris

Please let us know how you get on with yours Hans,

Regards,

Chris

For clarification, this technology is at present available in two products from Focusrite: the VRM box and the Saffire Pro24 DSP Firewire audio interface. (Note: it is not present in the similarly-named Saffire Pro24 interface). There is a difference in how they operate.

From Focusrite's website:

"Does the VRM box have DSP or does it use my host processor? 

The VRM box uses the processing power of your host CPU to process the VRM. To see how much of your CPU the the VRM Daemon is using, you should check the 'Activity Monitor' on your computer."

Regarding VRM technology in the Saffire Pro24 DSP::

"The Method

VRM uses standard headphones to reproduce the direct sound, together with a DSP system that is used to simulate specific monitoring scenarios. VRM's room models are mathematical models which provide greater flexibility in the possible combinations of loudspeakers and listening positions. The loudspeaker simulations are created using convolutions of impulse responses measured using the original loudspeakers. The accuracy of these simulations in different environments is taken care of by the impulse responses themselves and the way they are calculated and manipulated. Saffire Pro 24 DSP takes all the processing load off your computer."

I have the Saffire Pro24 DSP. I can recommend it if you need a quality audio interface for a reasonable outlay. It has a remarkable amount of "bang for the buck". Driver support appears good. But do read what Focusrite say about compatible Firewire interfaces on their website (essentially, Firewire 400  only - not Firewire 800 or mixed 800/400, or combined Firewire and USB cards), From the sound quality point of view I do not think that a RME Babyface would improve my musical experience - your mileage may vary.

Right - I have been trying some first mixes using VRM from my Saffire 24DSP.
Being able to compare between different rooms and speakers does indeed make a difference!
First thing I discovered is that I apparently put more reverb or delay in my mixes than I should.
The effects seem to 'muddify' the sound on a couple of speakers - when I take it back a notch or 3 it's a lot cleaner.
It's very good being able to switch back and forth between the different rooms and speakers and I was a lot more satisfied with the mix than I normally was. Also the bass is something I seem to exaggerate more than needed.
Overall the total sound from the Saffire also seems better than the straight sound from my Mac.
I'm pretty pleased with it so far and for mixing the VRM is deifinitely a cool addition.
The way the rooms and speakers sound in your headphones is spooky... at times I take off my headphones because I have the impression I've got my normal speakers switched on.. The rooms sound that real to me - no 'closed cans' sound but sounding out in the open, sort of.
So ya - certainly pleased with it, but the mixing itself obviously still remains a personal issue. Something can sound good to me and not to others - what I would recommend is playing a cd of which you like the sound in particular through VRM on the different speakers before you start your own mix. That way you have something to compare your own mix to.

cheers
Hans