Jeff Bagby's Loudspeaker Design Software
Passive Crossover Designer 6.20 / Woofer Box and Circuit Designer 3.2 / Frequency Response Modeler 2.0
last update: April 6, 2008
last update: April 6, 2008
The Woofer Box and Circuit Designer is an advanced woofer and box design tool using MS Excel. It has a complex box model that can show either sealed or vented box results. However, it also has a filter section that allows you the ability to model a very wide range of filter response shapes. The intent of this program is to give you the tools you need to design a subwoofer using a wide variety of available plate amps, many of which posses varying degrees of equalization or adjustment, as well as other crossovers, digital processors, and equalizers as well. You may also import a filter transfer function that was saved as an frd file, from any other software and this program will incorporate that imported data into the model and its results.
The features of the filter section include a five band parametric equalizer, two stage second order high pass filter (to model boost, and possibly a lower infrasonic filter as well, or a 4th order High Pass filter), a selectable low pass filter that offers a number of response shapes up to Eighth Order L-R. and a Linkwitz Transform section.
Graphs are provided that show frequency response, phase, impedance, maximum output, filter response, cone excursion, vent velocity, group delay, and Impulse Response. All calculations and graphs include the effects from the filter settings selected.
Finally, buttons are available to output final frequency response and phase to an frd file and impedance to a zma file (text files readable by other software). You can also save the circuit response as an frd file as well, to use in other software if desired. You may also save woofer and box parameters to a session file to build a library or designs, and you can save filter settings to a separate file. This allows you save a particular plate amp's response and use it many different woofers as you design.
You have the ability to change the frequency range to whatever range is desired. This range will then be used for all calculations, graphs, and save files (frd and zma). You may also save any graph at whatever size and shape desired as a small gif file.
The file requires Excel 2000 or higher with Service Pack 1 and 2 installed and must have the Analysis Toolpak and Analysis Toolpak VBA installed in the add-ins, and security must be set to allow running of macros. The program includes a dll file named "fftdll.dll" that is used to speed up the function of the impulse response calculations. This file should be placed in your Excel default folder. (The impulse response will run without this file, it will only run slower).
click here to jump to the Woofer Box and Circuit Designer download section
Spreadsheet (and all previous versions), its VBA Modules, and its file structure -
© Copyright 2001- 2007
Jeff Bagby - File Design, Structure, Mathematics, and selected VBA routines
Charles Laub - Selected Mathematics
Paul Verdone - Selected VBA routines
File is Free for personal DIY Speaker Design use.
Commercial use is prohibited without prior authorization of the author
Info: click here to EMail Jeff Bagby
The features of the filter section include a five band parametric equalizer, two stage second order high pass filter (to model boost, and possibly a lower infrasonic filter as well, or a 4th order High Pass filter), a selectable low pass filter that offers a number of response shapes up to Eighth Order L-R. and a Linkwitz Transform section.
Graphs are provided that show frequency response, phase, impedance, maximum output, filter response, cone excursion, vent velocity, group delay, and Impulse Response. All calculations and graphs include the effects from the filter settings selected.
Finally, buttons are available to output final frequency response and phase to an frd file and impedance to a zma file (text files readable by other software). You can also save the circuit response as an frd file as well, to use in other software if desired. You may also save woofer and box parameters to a session file to build a library or designs, and you can save filter settings to a separate file. This allows you save a particular plate amp's response and use it many different woofers as you design.
You have the ability to change the frequency range to whatever range is desired. This range will then be used for all calculations, graphs, and save files (frd and zma). You may also save any graph at whatever size and shape desired as a small gif file.
The file requires Excel 2000 or higher with Service Pack 1 and 2 installed and must have the Analysis Toolpak and Analysis Toolpak VBA installed in the add-ins, and security must be set to allow running of macros. The program includes a dll file named "fftdll.dll" that is used to speed up the function of the impulse response calculations. This file should be placed in your Excel default folder. (The impulse response will run without this file, it will only run slower).
click here to jump to the Woofer Box and Circuit Designer download section
Spreadsheet (and all previous versions), its VBA Modules, and its file structure -
© Copyright 2001- 2007
Jeff Bagby - File Design, Structure, Mathematics, and selected VBA routines
Charles Laub - Selected Mathematics
Paul Verdone - Selected VBA routines
File is Free for personal DIY Speaker Design use.
Commercial use is prohibited without prior authorization of the author
Info: click here to EMail Jeff Bagby
The purpose of The Frequency Response Modeler is to allow the user the ability to create and save modeled frequency and impedance files (.frd & .zma) for use in other software, such as crossover design programs. It also allows for the user to import existing frequency response files and modify them in various ways such as splicing box response data, adding in baffle diffraction data, raising or lowering a level, adding or subtracting delay, applying various types of equalization, or applying standard crossover functions to the data. The program can also extract the minimum phase data from a modified frd or zma file as well. The program is broken into four sections, The Response Modeling section, The Impedance Model, The Box Response Model, and The Baffle Diffraction Response Model.
In this main section you will find the "Minimum Phase Equalization Modules". Using these functions it is quite easy to add or remove response peaks from a frequency response. Below this area you will find a Low Pass and High Pass section. You may model the low pass and high pass roll-off characteristics using the Coefficients for a standard Fourth Order polynomial. There are several standardized textbook responses that are available or you may custom shape a roll-off by manually adjusting the coefficients.
The Impedance Modeling and Box Modeling Section are tied together with both using the same data. Almost all of the data is entered into the Impedance Modeler and the Box Modeler simply shows the calculated box response results. Since both frequency response and impedance data are needed for accurate crossover modeling and simulations it was important for this modeler to include a tool that could create a very accurate impedance model that could then be saved out as a zma file.
The Response Modeler's impedance modeling tool is among the most accurate available anywhere. Since voice coil inductance does not behave as a true inductance simply using Le in a model will not generate an impedance curve that is accurate enough for most crossover design modeling. Because of this I have built a complex proprietary expression for a driver's rising impedance with frequency that allows the user to shape the curve to the correct impedance fit. There are three different impedance modeling modes available as well: 1) Modeling using full Thiele/Small parameters, 2) Modeling using only the Voice Coil Parameters and the Minimum Phase EQ modules, and 3) Modifying an imported curve using the Minimum Phase EQ modules only.
Once the driver and box parameters have been entered and the impedance modeling is complete you can move back up to the Main Response Modeling section and prepare to splice this modeled bass response onto the frd file that you are working with. (You can also unsplice the bass response if you don't like the result and adjust some more. This unsplice feature is a useful function at times.)
A very useful feature in modeling frequency response is the accurate model of baffle edge diffraction. Below the Box Modeling Section you will find the Baffle Diffraction Response Modeling Section which will do exactly this. This section offers some features you will not find in many baffle edge diffraction programs. For example, this program will accurately model the diffraction taking into consideration baffle edge radius and driver piston directivity. The program can calculate the baffle response of an open baffle as well, and will calculate the phase response of the diffraction signature. You can model the diffraction as a loss function, a gain function, or you can model it inverted, which is useful if you want to subtract the baffle effect out of a frequency response curve. Once the baffle diffraction is modeled you can save it out as an frd file of its own to use in other software or you can transfer it to the Baffle Diffraction registry and it will be included in the modeled response of the driver. If you already have baffle data saved the program is also capable of importing a BDS file using that instead.
This program also includes a Hilbert-Bode FFT Transform that allows you to extract the minimum phase from an frd or zma file. Once you have made all modifications to a file that you want to do then save the file as an frd file and then click the button for "Auto Extract Phase from FRD File", find that file, let the program extract the phase, and then save as the same file name (or another if you want) and the new file will contain the correct minimum phase data.
The file requires Excel 2000 or higher with Service Pack 1 and 2 installed and must have the Analysis Toolpak and Analysis Toolpak VBA installed in the add-ins, and security must be set to allow running of macros. A small .dll file has been included with this program named "fttdll.dll". This file is needed to quickly perform the inverse Fast Fourier Transform for the minimum phase extraction. The file needs to be placed in your default Excel folder. This is the folder that Excel automatically goes to if you click on "File Open". If the dll file is not present in that folder it will still perform the phase extraction but it will be much slower.
click here to jump to the Frequency Response Modeler donload section
Spreadsheet (and all previous versions), its VBA Modules, and its file structure -
© Copyright 2001- 2007
Jeff Bagby - File Design, Structure, Mathematics, and selected VBA routines
Paul Verdone - Selected VBA routines
File is Free for personal DIY Speaker Design use.
Commercial use is prohibited without prior authorization of the author
Info: click here to EMail Jeff Bagby
All files are self-extracting WinRAR archives.
Download the files to your computer and then run the executable to install the program.
Download the files to your computer and then run the executable to install the program.
This page Sponsored By:
Project Descriptions, Pics and an extensive page of links to DIY speaker building resources.
screen shot
(click to enlarge)
(click to enlarge)
click on a screen shot above to enlarge the image
click on a screen shot above to enlarge the image
The Passive Crossover Designer is a crossover simulation and speaker design tool built into an Excel spreadsheet. The original passive crossover design tool has now been expanded to include a box model, an impedance modeler, and a full active crossover design section for each driver than can be used along with the passive crossover features if desired. New to version 6.0 is the inclusion and update of the "Passive Crossover Design Calculator" which includes many electrical and acoustic textbook calculator tools.
This spreadsheet will produce the frequency, phase and impedance response of 2 way, 2.5 Way standard and cascaded versions, and 3 way parallel systems, as well as 2 way series, 2.5 combined series/parallel designs, and can even be used to design 3 way series networks. It is designed to work with actual driver frequency and impedance data in the form of .frd and .zma/zda files which can be imported into the program.
It makes use of full x,y,z geometric location of the individual drive units and gives you a movable listening axis, both vertical and horizontal which will allow you to see the driver summation at almost any point in the front hemisphere of the speaker. This model now includes driver directivity, so off-axis simulations will also include directivity response variations as well. This proprietary tool offers very accurate simulations of the summed and individual drivers response at various axial locations.
The program has individual sections for woofer, tweeter, and midrange circuits, each with SPL and Impedance charts, as well as System charts that show summed SPL response, approximated power response, phase response, system impedance, and crossover transfer functions. There is a section for system input impedance equalization also.
Other features include - options for two woofers, or two midranges, and either wired in series or parallel, automatic calculation of L-Pads, Zobels and series RLC compensation circuits at the click of a button, user selectable built-in or imported Target responses that are overlaid with the driver's response in each section. And all crossover values can be continuously changed via "spinners" with the response will changing in real-time on the charts, allowing for quick curve-fitting of the response or impedance curves.
As mentioned above, the program includes an accurate box design tool with the ability to model the response of both vented and sealed systems. This add-in includes a unique and proprietary impedance modeler that will accurately model the impedance of the woofer in the box used and allow you to use this impedance curve in the crossover design section if desired. In addition, an active crossover section is included that contains high and low pass slopes up to eighth order, five band parametric equalizer (for each section), Linkwitz Transform, and level and delay adjustments. This section can be used with the box model to design subwoofers using active EQ and filters.
The program includes the ability to save out all individual driver, crossover (active or passive), and system SPL and Impedance responses to frd and zma files that can be used in other software. It has the ability to print or save charts, and a special system summary print-out page for your project. Included are Pop-up parts layout schematics for each crossover section. And finally, it also contains the ability to save all session data to very small files that can be imported again later thereby resetting all settings in the file to match the previous session or project. This gives you the ability to create a library of crossover designs while taking up very little space on your drive.
The file requires Excel 2000 or higher with Service Pack 1 and 2 installed and must have the Analysis Toolpak and Analysis Toolpak VBA installed in the add-ins, and security must be set to allow running of macros.
There is an additional download available that includes a 35 page User Guide in pdf file format and several sample files that can be imported to demonstrate the programs features.
Click here to jump to the Passive Crossover Designer 6.20 download section
Version 6.1 Update Info: Corrected error on Box Model page with Fb and Vent diameter not showing in vented mode. Corrected error on System Description page that showed some values that were turned off. Changed the way phase response was exported into an frd file for the summed response. And, added driver polarity buttons to the charts, so you can change the polarity of the midrange and tweeter and without scrolling down.
The Version 6.11 release fixes a bug in the overlay routine.
The Version 6.12 release corrects an error in the impedance overlay routine.
The Version 6.20 release corrects an error in the 2.5-way power response calculation.
Spreadsheet (and all previous versions), its VBA Modules, and its file structure -
© Copyright 2001- 2008
Jeff Bagby - File Design, Structure, Mathematics, and selected VBA routines
Paul Verdone - Selected VBA routines
File is Free for personal DIY Speaker Design use.
Commercial use is prohibited without prior authorization of the author
Info: click here to Email Jeff Bagby
This spreadsheet will produce the frequency, phase and impedance response of 2 way, 2.5 Way standard and cascaded versions, and 3 way parallel systems, as well as 2 way series, 2.5 combined series/parallel designs, and can even be used to design 3 way series networks. It is designed to work with actual driver frequency and impedance data in the form of .frd and .zma/zda files which can be imported into the program.
It makes use of full x,y,z geometric location of the individual drive units and gives you a movable listening axis, both vertical and horizontal which will allow you to see the driver summation at almost any point in the front hemisphere of the speaker. This model now includes driver directivity, so off-axis simulations will also include directivity response variations as well. This proprietary tool offers very accurate simulations of the summed and individual drivers response at various axial locations.
The program has individual sections for woofer, tweeter, and midrange circuits, each with SPL and Impedance charts, as well as System charts that show summed SPL response, approximated power response, phase response, system impedance, and crossover transfer functions. There is a section for system input impedance equalization also.
Other features include - options for two woofers, or two midranges, and either wired in series or parallel, automatic calculation of L-Pads, Zobels and series RLC compensation circuits at the click of a button, user selectable built-in or imported Target responses that are overlaid with the driver's response in each section. And all crossover values can be continuously changed via "spinners" with the response will changing in real-time on the charts, allowing for quick curve-fitting of the response or impedance curves.
As mentioned above, the program includes an accurate box design tool with the ability to model the response of both vented and sealed systems. This add-in includes a unique and proprietary impedance modeler that will accurately model the impedance of the woofer in the box used and allow you to use this impedance curve in the crossover design section if desired. In addition, an active crossover section is included that contains high and low pass slopes up to eighth order, five band parametric equalizer (for each section), Linkwitz Transform, and level and delay adjustments. This section can be used with the box model to design subwoofers using active EQ and filters.
The program includes the ability to save out all individual driver, crossover (active or passive), and system SPL and Impedance responses to frd and zma files that can be used in other software. It has the ability to print or save charts, and a special system summary print-out page for your project. Included are Pop-up parts layout schematics for each crossover section. And finally, it also contains the ability to save all session data to very small files that can be imported again later thereby resetting all settings in the file to match the previous session or project. This gives you the ability to create a library of crossover designs while taking up very little space on your drive.
The file requires Excel 2000 or higher with Service Pack 1 and 2 installed and must have the Analysis Toolpak and Analysis Toolpak VBA installed in the add-ins, and security must be set to allow running of macros.
There is an additional download available that includes a 35 page User Guide in pdf file format and several sample files that can be imported to demonstrate the programs features.
Click here to jump to the Passive Crossover Designer 6.20 download section
Version 6.1 Update Info: Corrected error on Box Model page with Fb and Vent diameter not showing in vented mode. Corrected error on System Description page that showed some values that were turned off. Changed the way phase response was exported into an frd file for the summed response. And, added driver polarity buttons to the charts, so you can change the polarity of the midrange and tweeter and without scrolling down.
The Version 6.11 release fixes a bug in the overlay routine.
The Version 6.12 release corrects an error in the impedance overlay routine.
The Version 6.20 release corrects an error in the 2.5-way power response calculation.
Spreadsheet (and all previous versions), its VBA Modules, and its file structure -
© Copyright 2001- 2008
Jeff Bagby - File Design, Structure, Mathematics, and selected VBA routines
Paul Verdone - Selected VBA routines
File is Free for personal DIY Speaker Design use.
Commercial use is prohibited without prior authorization of the author
Info: click here to Email Jeff Bagby
