How to Use 10EaZy With Smaart

How to Use 10EaZy With Smaart

The 10EaZy is a self-contained measurement unit comprised of a microphone, I/O device, BNC cable, and USB-A-to-USB-B connector cable. In order to ensure maximum consistency, they are calibrated and verified as a whole unit (including the specific cables that they ship out with). They can be purchased in two varieties: Class 1 and Class 2. An in-depth comparison of what differentiates the two can be found here.

While it is largely designed as a "plug and play" unit with no user-configurable settings, there are a few steps you must complete before using your 10EaZy system. Unlike other I/O devices, you don't need to download the drivers for the 10EaZy unit: they are downloaded and installed with Smaart.

As such, you can simply boot up your copy of Smaart. From there, access the I-O Config dialog by either navigating to Config > I-O Config or using the [Alt/Opt] + [A] hotkey. Within the Input tab of this menu you'll see a new option labeled "USB: 10EaZy", followed by your individual unit's four-digit serial number.

Like any other I/O device, checking its box will enable it for use. Once you've enabled your 10EaZy, you only need to select it as your input for SPL metering and/or logging, and you're good to go!

Checking Your 10EaZy's Calibration

Within the I-O Config dialog, you'll see that it has a pre-programmed calibration offset that cannot be edited. The "Calibrate" option still exists within this page. Since the 10EaZy comes factory-calibrated, the Amplitude Calibration dialog that comes up has a slightly different function.

While normally you'd use an SPL calibrator to calculate and apply an offset to your input, you can only test your 10EaZy's offset here. To do so, affix your SPL calibrator of choice to the end of your 10EaZy's microphone and set its level to 94 dB (if it has more than one level available). Ideally, you'll find an offset of +/-1.5 dB or less, which is considered an acceptable range. However, over time (or when damaged) you may see a 'drift' towards a larger value, in which case Smaart will give you the following message:

If you do encounter this message, we recommend first replacing the battery in your SPL calibrator. Strangely enough, a low battery can sometimes affect the level of the SPL test tone it emits. Because of this, we recommend changing your calibrator's battery often.

If you're still encountering an offset greater than 1.5 dB, your 10EaZy may need to be recalibrated. Rational Acoustics is happy to measure and recalibrate your 10EaZy system, while inspecting the system for any damage.

If your 10EaZy system needs calibration, please reach out to support@rationalacoustics.com for shipping instructions. Since the 10EaZy needs to be calibrated as a complete system, you will need to send us the microphone, BNC cable, IO unit, and USB cable. A calibration costs $100 per unit, plus the return shipping fee.