Comparative research in Room Acoustics Simulation Software

Abstract

In rooms for speech and music, the suitable sound environment is one of the most important components of space design. Room Acoustics Simulation Software is often used to predict sound conditions in a non-existing room. However, the design process presents many unknowns such as the room geometry, settings, and materials. All these uncertainties might cause an error in the prediction. The simplifications of complex sound behavior in Geometrical Acoustics are another source of error. The understanding and evaluation of expected inaccuracy give the user insight and the ability to critically assess the simulation results. In this research, three software packages, widely used among the practitioners in the field, are compared: Odeon Auditorium and CATT-Acoustics v8.0 and v9.0. Through a model ’tuning’ process, a relationship between reality and simulations was established, enabling the comparison between the two. Simulated Room Acoustics Parameter values at specific receiver positions are com-pared to measured values in existing large rooms: Grosse Muzikverein in Vienna, Malmö Live concert hall in Malmö and Norconsult AB Canteen in Göteborg. The models with di˙erent level of detail and varying types of audience area geo-metrical simplifications were used to determine the accuracy and limitations of the software predictions.