News Article
EASE Version 4.4 Released
2014-02-28 13:40

Berlin, Germany, February 27, 2014 – Being actively developed since the 1980’s, AFMG’s EASE simulation platform has become the industry standard for the prediction of room and electro-acoustical parameters. With thousands of loudspeaker models listed in the extensive EASE database the software has made its way from a niche product to an indispensable tool employed by acousticians and system designers worldwide. – At ProLight+Sound fair, March 2014 in Frankfurt, AFMG will be releasing the next upgrade with a range of enhancements to the program.
Next to several new products that have expanded AFMG’s product range, the company has invested a large amount of time and resources into furthering the development of EASE. The new version 4.4 adds a range of important features and enhanced functionality. Some of the more important ones are expanded import/export compatibility with Trimble SketchUp, Autodesk AutoCAD and a long list of other, DXF-compatible CAD programs as well as the update of STI calculations which are now performed according to IEC 60268-16:2011.
AURA – High-End Simulations Faster!
Naturally, any meticulous calculations will always be time-consuming to a degree which is proportional to the accuracy achieved by the algorithm. Nonetheless, AFMG developers have done a fantastic job in refining and optimizing the AURA engine. Computations of large projects are performed approximately twice as fast in EASE 4.4 as they have been previously!
Another interesting premium feature now available in the AURA module is the output of locally calculated impulse responses in Ambisonics B-format. This format can then be used for auralizations in specialized listening rooms to produce a very natural, full surround sound field played back on multi-channel loudspeaker setups.
InfraRed – Plan Assistive Listening Systems the Professional Way!
“We are confident that simulating infrared performance in a venue with EASE InfraRed will guarantee the success of our AV systems designers and consultants,” says Tim Schaeffer, Vice President Strategic Development at Listen Technologies. Paul Ingebrigtsen, president and CEO of Williams Sound adds, “This is a great tool for consultants and system designers to ensure successful designs that will save their clients time and money."
EASE 4.4 – New Licensing Policy and Prices
EASE 4.4 supports Microsoft Windows up to version 8.1 and runs smoothly under Parallels Desktop or in Apple Boot Camp. As with all AFMG software, the minor version upgrade from 4.3 to 4.4 is free of charge for existing users and can be downloaded directly from the AFMG Download Portal.
A unique feature of all AFMG programs is the flexible “roaming” license. User Keys to a license can easily be transferred from one computer to another through the AFMG License Server. EASE 4.4 has received a significant overhaul to bring the underlying protocol layer into line with the demands of the modern internet. At the same time, the historic 2-PC license for one user has been adapted to the current, comparable 1 User Key per user system.
The prices for the different program versions and separately available modules will not change with the upgrade. EASE Standard is still available for 1760 EUR (approx. 2420 USD) while the entry-level EASE JR costs 640 EUR (approx. 880 USD).
EASE 3 – Product Discontinued in December 2014
AFMG has been providing support, User Key replacements and upgrade opportunities for EASE version 3 for far over a decade. Now, the company announces that with the end of the year 2014 all support activities will seize and upgrade options to version 4 will no longer be offered. – Users still working with old EASE 3 versions are requested to purchase upgrades to EASE 4.4 within the course of the year.
For more information please visit http://ease.afmg.eu.
For further inquiries, please contact AFMG directly: sales@afmg.eu.