Resources

Which version of EASE should I buy - JR, Standard, or Pro

In order to assess if a project can be simulated adequately based on the room´s characteristics it is important to know about the different calculation methods used within the different versions of EASE.

AFMG offers three calculation levels within the product family of EASE – the industry standard electro-acoustical simulation software:

EASE JR

EASE JR requires the least amount of time and data to obtain answers about the room’s acoustics and the performance of a sound system in the room. It allows quick geometry entry by an integrated light-weight editor or by CAD file import and serves as a good starting point for performing acoustical and electro-acoustical simulations.

For the computation of the reverberation time EASE JR uses a statistical approach based on Eyring formula. This method assumes that the sound field inside the room is diffuse. These kinds of sound fields are more commonly encountered in rooms where the absorption is homogeneously distributed over its surfaces, and where its geometry does not propagate concentration of energy in specific directions.

EASE JR is especially helpful:

  • When the project’s focus is the design of sound systems and the evaluation of the system’s performance in the room, that is, the configuration of the loudspeakers with respect to direct field coverage and to those surfaces or parts of the room that should be avoided.
  • When the reverberation time needs to be estimated given the room geometry and information about the acoustic materials is available.
  • When a given amount of absorption by surface materials needs to be verified or when required absorption needs to be confirmed - based on a calculated or measured reverberation time.
  • For a rough, preliminary investigation of more complex rooms to get an initial overview. This can be in the conceptual or early design phase of a project, when you need to weigh the investment of resources as efficiently as possible and need to get a good assessment of the project´s requirements quickly.
  • For superficial evaluation of the behavior of early reflections in the room (up to the 3rd reflection order).

With respect to room entry, there are no restrictions to entering or importing room geometries into EASE JR. That is why larger teams or offices may use EASE JR to draw models that will then have the full room response calculated on more powerful computers running EASE Pro.

With EASE JR it is also possible to create auralizations of the direct sound. These can be used to study the audible performance of the sound system at different listening positions.

Typical use cases / room examples are:
Planning of sound reinforcement systems. Acoustic design for rooms with little to medium absorption and relatively simple shape, or with geometries that do not focus sound energy, for example multi-purpose rooms, lecture halls, convention halls, churches, certain kinds of classrooms and office spaces.

  • For more advanced investigations and types of projects as well as complete auralizations it is recommended to consider EASE Standard or EASE Pro.
  • For specific application scenarios, some users may not yet find all the tools they need in their workflows, especially when they are in-depth users of EASE 4.4. In these cases, it is recommended to consider EASE 4.4 instead of EASE 5. For a detailed overview please have a look at the Feature Comparison EASE 5 vs. EASE 4.
EASE Standard

This version of EASE provides an intermediate level of calculations for rooms with more complex geometries and uneven distribution of absorption. In these cases, there often are local differences in reverberation or audible echoes.

EASE Standard is able to calculate the impulse response at specific locations in the room by using ray tracing algorithms. Geometrical ray tracing calculations can be performed based on stochastic methods with image model precision. A more accurate picture not only of the performance of a loudspeakers’ system but also of the general behavior of the sound in a room can be obtained.

EASE Standard is helpful when advanced acoustical evaluations are the focus in order to analyze and solve acoustical problems, like:

  • When the assumptions of Eyring and Sabine formulas for the calculation of the reverberation time are not met, and thus ray tracing algorithms are recommended.
  • For local analysis of reflections in the room in a manner similar to positioning a measurement microphone on site in order to look at arrival time, level, or frequency response. This enables you to become aware of obstacles or issues that could remain hidden without enhanced investigation.
  • For evaluating the spatial characteristics of reflections in detail with respect to their direction of incidence and the sequence of surfaces hit, for any location in the room.
  • For designing sound systems in acoustically challenging venues, where not only the reverberant field plays a role, but also strong discrete reflections or focusing effects.
  • For determining local decay times, i.e., when the reverberation time cannot be assumed the same for all places in the room.

In order to keep calculation times within acceptable ranges, ray tracing algorithms are often employed to calculate only the early part of the room’s impulse response. The so-called “statistical tail” is then computed and used for the later part. This approach is generally sufficient for rooms where you would not expect reflections with considerable energy in the later part of the impulse response.

Typical use cases / room examples are:
All types of projects that can be dealt with in EASE JR as well as rooms with potentially non-uniform diffuse sound fields or increased echo probability, such as stadiums, theaters, auditoriums, classrooms, office spaces, cathedrals (for reflection analyses only), train stations, industrial halls, but also specific churches, and public spaces.

  • For more advanced investigations and types of projects as well as precise auralization results, it is recommended to consider EASE Pro.
  • For specific application scenarios, some users may not yet find all the tools they need in their workflows, especially when they are in-depth users of EASE 4.4. In these cases, it is recommended to consider EASE 4.4 instead of EASE 5. For a detailed overview please have a look at the Feature Comparison EASE 5 vs. EASE 4.
EASE Pro

EASE Pro offers the highest quality of calculations, and is the most flexible and most accurate simulation solution. Through the use of the advanced AURA raytracing module which is based on a 64-bit engine and supports multi-threading, this version considerably reduces the calculation times needed for computing full room impulse responses. It is also able to compute responses with much higher density.

With EASE Pro, the effect of sound scattering by structured surfaces and surface materials can be considered. This version of the software offers a number of settings that allow making realistic assumptions for scattering coefficients as the basis of subsequent calculations.

Due to the computation of full-length and high-density impulse responses and the consideration of scattering effects, the binaural data generated with EASE Pro enable auralizations that provide a more realistic acoustic impression.

EASE Pro is the recommended solution:

  • To obtain very detailed information on the acoustical behavior of a room even if it has an unusual, comparatively complex 3D shape, a large volume, non-homogeneous distribution of materials, or if a long reverberation time is expected.
  • When you are interested in computing acoustic parameters according to the ISO 3382 standard, such as T20, G, C50, or LF and LFC.
  • If you need to assess speech intelligibility (STI) in acoustically challenging spaces, especially also when using line arrays.
  • To get a fast overview which parts of the room or which locations may be subject to detrimental echoes that affect the sound transmission quality.
  • For more realistic simulation of reflections by accounting for the scattering nature of average surfaces.

Typical use cases / room examples are:
All types of projects that can be dealt with in EASE Standard as well as stadiums, train stations, airports, cathedrals, concert halls, tunnels, and more.

  • For specific application scenarios, some users may not yet find all the tools they need in their workflows, especially when they are in-depth users of EASE 4.4. In these cases, it is recommended to consider EASE 4.4 instead of EASE 5. For a detailed overview please have a look at the Feature Comparison EASE 5 vs. EASE 4.

 

 

Applies to:
EASE 5