Frequently Asked Questions

How to use Dirac Live Processor with an AVR over HDMI

A common use case for this setup is to take advantage of the Dirac Live Processor Trial on AVRs.

• To do that, first go to this page and activate the trial: Buy Dirac Live Processor | Pricing and Trial | Dirac - Dirac

• Then install Dirac Live Processor: Dirac Live Downloads - Dirac

NOTE: Up to 8 channels.

Considerable setup effort is required which may include re-assigning physical outputs on your AVR. This is meant as a temporary setup and you should return to the original settings to continue the regular use of your AVR.

Step-by-step setup process:

Prepare your AVR

1. Select the speaker configuration in the setup menu that reflects your system:

   • No sub, or single sub configs (e.g. 2.0, 2.1, 5.1, 7.1)

     • No further configuration needed.

   • 2.2 and other multi-sub configs:

     • Keep sub 1 connected to sub output 1.

     • Unplug the rest of the subs and plug into the pre-out channels following the FL and FR (C, Surrounds, etc.).

     • Enable the channels you have connected the rest of the subs to, and set them to pre-out in the layout menu. (If available, this depends on the platform.)

     • Disable sub 2 in the layout menu.

2. Disable any other room EQ (if any previous Dirac filters exist, disable that as well).

3. Set all speakers to full range and disable any bass management.

Connection to your computer

1. Connect your computer to the AVR via HDMI (the port designated to media player/PC input if available).

2. Select input source on your AVR.
   For example: Computer connected to HDMI 2 (Media Player) – select Media Player as your source.

3. Open Dirac Live Processor and log in.

Configure your system audio settings (Windows/macOS)

Windows:

1. Go to Menu -> Windows Sound Panel...

2. In Windows Sound Panel select your AVR -> Configure -> Select the correct* Speaker configuration -> Next and complete the setup wizard.
   *The AVR’s output (speaker) channels need to be included, but doesn’t need to match exactly.

macOS:

On macOS, you need to configure two devices separately: your physical output device (where sound comes out) and the Dirac Virtual Audio Device (the input side of DLP).

1. Go to Menu -> macOS Audio MIDI Setup...

2. In Audio MIDI Setup select your AVR → Configure Speakers…
   Note: Do NOT set this as your default output device. The Dirac Virtual Audio Device must be the system default so that all audio passes through DLP before routing it onward to your playback device.

3. Choose a configuration that reflects the amount of speakers you have*, then press Apply → Done
   *The configuration needs to cover at least the amount of speakers, but also include the correct speakers (where you connected your additional subwoofers), as configured on the AVR.

4. Select Dirac Virtual Audio Device in Audio MIDI Setup → Configure Speakers…

5. Choose the configuration that matches your input content format, not your physical speaker count, then press Apply → Done
   (The Dirac Virtual Audio Device represents the source signal entering DLP, so it should reflect the format of your audio content rather than your speaker layout. For example, if you have a 5.3 speaker setup but are playing 5.1 content, select 5.1; if you have a 2.4 setup playing stereo content, select Stereo.)

Dirac Live Processor’s audio settings

1. Go to Menu -> Audio Settings... -> Select your AVR as output

   • In case of 2.1 deactivate Output 3 with the checkbox.

   • In case of 2.2 deactivate Output 3 unless you plugged your subwoofer 2 into Center output on your AVR.

   • In case of 5.0.2 deactivate Output 4.

2. In Dirac Live Processor select the speaker configuration in the drop-down menu from the upper right corner. In case of 2.1, 2.2 or other multi-sub configs, select “Custom”.

3. If you have a 2.1, 2.2 or other multi-sub setup:

   • Go to Menu → Custom Channel Config…

   • Choose your input "Channel configuration", which is usually Stereo, 5.1, or 7.1 depending on the source format.

   • Click "Add Subwoofer" for each additional subwoofer you have connected, then close the window.

   • Make sure to select the correct Output no. for each channel (e.g. if you plugged subwoofer 2 into Center output on your AVR, you should switch Output 3 and 4 in this list).

Example of a 5.3 system:

4. Close the Menu and press Calibrate.

Start the calibration steps in the Dirac Live application

1. Connect USB microphone to your computer.

   • Or via an audio interface if available

2. Select USB calibration microphone (or audio interface input) as recording device.

3. Add microphone calibration file.

4. Proceed to Measurement Levels.

5. Start playing the test noise and set the AVR master output in combination with the software Master output to a comfortable listening level.

6. Make sure that each test noise is playing from the correct speaker. If not, go back to Custom Channels Config and check the output numbers, as well as the active channels in Audio Settings.

7. Complete the calibration as prompted.

Start listening

• Select Virtual Audio Device (Win) / Dirac Virtual Audio Device (macOS) as the playback device of your OS.

• Play the audio from a streaming service/media player on your computer.