SHAKEQ INITIAL SETUP GUIDE
1 Connections
​ShakEQ has two analog RCA inputs and two analog RCA outputs.​
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The inputs 'A' and 'B' are summed internally into a mono signal. You can use either (for mono input signals) or both (for stereo input signals).
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The outputs '1' and '2' send the same mono signal. Similarly you can use either (for a single shaker amp) or both (for two shaker amps). If you have more than two shaker amps, RCA audio splitters can be used to increase the amount of outputs.
ShakEQ should be connected between your audio output device and the bass shaker's amplifier. Many connection methods require special cables. You can find examples of different installations in the Connection Examples page.
2 Input gain optimization
Note: The videos embedded in this guide have been additionally compressed due to our web host’s policy and are intended for preview purposes only. For accurate results, we recommend downloading a suitable video for your system from the links below:
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If the downloadable videos are difficult to play on your system, the embedded versions can still provide reasonably good results.
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You can also access a Youtube playlist here.
Tip: On YouTube, set the video volume to maximum and enable loop/repeat playback.
3 SETTING VOLUME LEVELS​
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Next we will adjust the volume level of your shaker amplifier.
To prevent any damage to your bass shaker, please check that your shaker amplifier’s power rating does not exceed your shaker’s max rating.
1. Set your shaker amplifier’s volume to zero and switch the power on.
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2. ShakEQ should have the right settings preset in it’s initial mode, but it is good to double check the settings. Use ShakEQ’s remote control to set:
• Master preset to CINEMA 0 (C0)
• LOW CUT to 4Hz (LC 4)
• GAIN to 0
3. Take out a movie or a game you are familiar with and play a scene with lots of explosions and loud sounds. The listening volume should be at your typical listening level.
4. Gradually turn up the volume of your shaker amplifier until the level feels satisfying. The goal is to set the maximum tactile level you want to experience during intense scenes.
4 Calibration​
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ShakEQ can measure and equalize the total frequency response of your shaker system at the listening position. This process eliminates resonance peaks caused by the mounting structure and boosts areas that may be lacking. This results in a wider and more balanced tactile response.
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1. Take out the included red sensor discs. Connect the 3.5mm sensor jack into ShakEQ’s sensor connector.
2. Place both discs on your seating position of the furniture to be equalized. The flat side of the disc should be against the furniture. Sit on top of both discs (one for each buttock) and center your ischial bones on the indentations of the discs.​
3. Increase the volume using the Wet/Dry +/- buttons until you feel a noticeable amount of vibration.​
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The display shows how strong the signal picked up by the sensor disc is. A blinking plus sign (+) indicates that the volume should be raised further.
Once the plus sign stops blinking, you’ve reached the minimum level required for a valid calibration.
If possible, it's recommended to perform the calibration at a level higher than the minimum.
If you're unable to reach the minimum threshold, simply find the strongest reasonable volume level you can and proceed with the calibration at that setting.
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4. Press SAVE to start the calibration. For the best result sit with maximum weight on your ischial bones. Avoid leaning on the backrest. Stay as still as reasonably possible.
The calibration sweep takes about 40 seconds. When the first measurement is done the display reads "NEXT". You can cancel the calibration at any time by pressing the CANCEL button or by unplugging the sensor jack.​​
5. The calibration requires three sweeps at different positions to complete. Once the first position is measured, move yourself and the measurement discs about 10cm (4 inches) (preferably forward or backward). Press OK to measure again. Repeat this until you get a total of three unique measurements.
​​When the last sweep is done ShakEQ returns to display the current profile. The correcting EQ is now activated and the sensor jack can be unplugged.
5 VERIFYING the frequency responsE​
ShakEQ gives you tools to inspect and verify your shaker system’s frequency response. To view the response visually, you can export the measured graph from a calibrated ShakEQ unit:
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1. Format a USB memory stick using the FAT32 file system*.
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2. Disconnect ShakEQ’s power cord, insert the USB stick into the USB port, and then power it back on. A progress bar will appear on the display.
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3. Once the process completes you have two frequency responses stored on the medium. “Before” represents your system response before calibration. “After” represents the response with the automatic equalizer applied. The frequency responses are stored in graphic format and as text files. The text file can be imported to e.g. Room EQ Wizard software for more detailed analysis.
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*) Note: memory sticks with the capacity of 64 GB (or more) are normally formatted using the exFAT file system. This format is not compatible with ShakEQ. If you want to use such large capacity stick, ShakEQ has a built-in feature which allows formatting to the supported FAT32 file system.
To format a memory stick with ShakEQ, attach it to ShakEQ's USB port. Press and hold CANCEL until you see "MENU" displayed on the screen. Navigate the menu using WET/DRY, and locate the "FMT" (Format) item. Press SAVE to select the item and follow the directions on the screen. (Completing this process will automatically perform the steps 2 and 3 described above. The response files should be stored on the memory stick after the process is completed.)
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Please note that any existing data stored on the medium is permanently lost during the format. Proceed with caution!
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It is also possible to inspect the frequency response perceptually. ShakEQ features a sine generator which can be used to scan through different frequencies and compare their relative amplitudes. To use the sine generator feature:
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1. Press and hold CANCEL until you see "MENU" displayed on the screen.
2. Navigate the menu with WET/DRY and select the item labelled "GEN". Press OK to start the generator.
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3. The generator starts at 99Hz. The signal goes through the EQ that was made during the calibration.
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Adjust volume with GAIN.
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Adjust frequency with WET/DRY.
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Test and compare the response without the EQ by pressing BYPASS.
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It is possible to quickly jump between three different frequencies using the buttons 1, 2, and 3. Default frequency values are 20 Hz, 40 Hz and 60 Hz. To change these values, dial to a frequency you want to use instead and press SAVE. The screen starts to blink. Press 1, 2, or 3 to store the current value to that slot.
6 Troubleshooting​
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If you are pleased with the results you can proceed to the next part. If you feel some areas might still be improved, here are some tips that can be helpful in getting the best possible result:
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1. Redo the calibration
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If something feels off about the response, it is possible that something went wrong during the calibration. Possible reasons include:
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Calibrating with a level that is too low.*
If you barely felt vibrations during the calibration, it is likely that your calibration level was too low. This results in bad signal to noise ratio, and some large shakers might even stop moving at higher frequencies. -
Calibrating with a level that is too high.*
Calibrating with a high level can result in overemphasis of the lowest frequencies with some shakers. This may leads to weak low frequency reproduction. If you are using a shaker mounting plate under the seat’s leg the shaker might start jumping during the calibration. This also skews the response at the lowest frequencies. -
Insufficient coupling of the sensor to the system.
The way you sit on the sensor has a big effect on signal levels the sensor is able to measure, especially from 50Hz and higher. Try to couple your weight via your ischial bone to the sensor as efficiently as you can. -
Sensor placement:
If you see any steep notches in your frequency response that you don’t feel with the sine generator, it is likely that the three measuring spots have not been varied enough. Simply change your measuring spots slightly and redo the calibration to get rid of the notches.
*) There is no fixed calibration volume because shaker systems often have non-linear frequency responses that vary with playback volume. The amount of energy picked up by the sensor, especially in the shaker’s lowest and highest frequency ranges, is influenced by playback volume. For optimal results, you may need to experiment with different calibration levels. The figure below shows volume-matched frequency responses of a commonly used large shaker. The shaker was operated freely (no load attached) at five different volume levels, each spaced 3 dB apart.
New calibrations can be done by reattaching the sensor plug to ShakEQ and running the calibration again. Old measurements are overwritten when the calibration routine finishes.
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2. Reduce the Auto EQ’s strength
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If redoing the calibration doesn’t help, you can try increasing or decreasing the effect of the filters assigned by the Automatic EQ:
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Press and hold CANCEL until you see "MENU" displayed on the screen.
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Navigate the menu using WET/DRY until you see "CORR" (Correction). Press SAVE/OK to select it.
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"CORR" lets you adjust the amount of equalization that was determined during the calibration. The values range from 150% to 0% in steps of 25%.
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3. Add correcting filters with Manual EQ
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Up to three manually assignable filters can be applied on top of the Auto EQ. Manual EQ is accessible through the Sine Generator feature.
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Press and hold CANCEL until you see "MENU" displayed on the screen.
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Navigate the menu using WET/DRY until you see "GEN" (Sine Generator). Press SAVE to select.
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Buttons 1,2 and 3 allow you to jump between user assigned frequencies in the Sine Generator. These slots can also be used to define user assigned filters.
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Press and hold 1,2 or 3. This will open an EQ dialog with the corresponding number. Now you can create a custom filter.
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In EQ mode you have five controls:
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GAIN adjusts how much the filter boosts or cuts in decibels. Note: to disable a filter, set its gain to zero.
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LOW CUT adjusts the width of the band filter in Hz from it’s central frequency. For example a -3 dB filter at 50 Hz with a width of 10 Hz has an effect roughly between 40 Hz to 60 Hz (+/- 10 Hz from the central frequency).
- WET/DRY changes the filter’s frequency.
- CANCEL can be used to undo any changes in the EQ mode. Another press will return you to Sine Generator mode.
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SAVE stores the filter settings and returns you back to Sine Generator mode.
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4. Continue without the calibration, using only the Manual EQ or no EQ at all.
To disable the Automatic EQ, you have two options:​
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Disable correction from the menu by following the steps described at the beginning of this chapter (2. Reduce the Auto EQ’s strength) by setting CORR to 0%.​
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Reset the device and proceed without calibration. Note that resetting the device also resets all saved profiles and Manual EQ settings. To perform a reset:
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Press and hold BYPASS until the screen prompts "RST?".
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Press SAVE to confirm the reset, or CANCEL to cancel the operation.
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7 Wet/Dry & Low CUT ADJUSTMENTS​
Downloadable versions:
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This concludes our setup guide. Your device is calibrated to your system, and you are now familiar with its main functions. Enjoy your experience with ShakEQ!