At Prolight + Sound, L-Acoustics announces the immediate availability of new versions of Soundvision, its market-leading 3D simulation software, and its amplified controller real-time control and monitoring software LA Network Manager. Soundvision 3.1.0 and LA Network Manager 2.7.0 feature advanced auto-solver tools to simplify, accelerate, and improve system optimisation from system design to operation.
Soundvision, introduced in 2004, was the pro audio industry’s first 3D modelling software capable of accurately predicting audio coverage and system performance in real time. Fifteen years of interaction with end users has led to numerous refinements of the program, available free of charge. The latest version, 3.1.0 represents a major upgrade with robust automated features to greatly assist and streamline the system design process: Autosplay and Autofilter.
Autosplay uses algorithms to calculate mechanical optimisation based on the proposed configuration and design objectives defined by the systems engineer, assisting an indispensable and formerly laborious process.
The Autosplay interface proposes a two-click path to inter-element angle optimisation via the Init and Optimise buttons. The Init function quickly sets angles to provide an instant view of coverage and output of the selected source, allowing the user to assess whether or not sound design objectives for each source can be met with the chosen configuration. The Optimise function executes a more refined numerical qualitative analysis with a deeper focus on improving sonic performance, including SPL coverage and wavefront integrity.
“Autosplay brings speed and accuracy to an otherwise highly iterative human process, saving time and improving practical outcomes,” explained Yann-Gaël Gicquel, Application Engineer, Acoustics, and Soundvision project leader. “Additionally, the high-performance algorithms of the Optimise function yield an unparalleled degree of finesse and detail. The result is a better sounding system, and ultimately, an enhanced audience experience.”
Once mechanical optimisation has been achieved with Autosplay, a second autosolver tool, Autofilter, assists with system tuning of the mid and high frequencies. Autofilter improves uniformity and flatness of the high-frequency response determining and applying linear-phased FIR filters to zoning groups within an array.
In addition to Autosplay and Autofilter, Soundvision has introduced the optional selection of amplified controllers for each source under the new Electronics Settings tab. This further accelerates workflow downstream within the LA Network Manager. Network Manager, L-Acoustics real-time control and monitoring software, now gives end users the ability to import Soundvision project data. Groups of enclosures or amplified controllers created within Soundvision 3.1.0 are directly loaded into an LA Network Manager 2.7.0 session as amplified controller groups. Furthermore, any zoning parameters subsequently edited in Soundvision can be easily synchronised from within LA Network Manager, preserving the editing flexibility and user-determined session parameters.
Along with these timesaving Soundvision data import and sync functionalities, Network Manager now offers Autoclimate, a new tool materialised by a sidebar button that allows for the simultaneous adjustment of all air compensation filters based on measured temperature and humidity conditions, accounting for specific shooting distance of each zoning group.
Although Autosplay, Autofilter, and Autoclimate place automated functionality at the fingertips of end users, the L-Acoustics suite of autosolvers leaves the user fully in control of system design and operation at all times.
This new assisted optimisation workflow has become an integral part of L-Acoustics popular Systems Fundamentals and Variable Curvature Line Source (VCLS) training seminars since January of this year. As part of their participation in these courses, more than 1,200 end users were granted privileged early access to Soundvision 3.1.0. and are already experiencing the benefits of accelerated system design.
Ben Phillips, System Designer for Phil Collins’ Not Dead Yet Tour was among the early access adopters of Soundvision 3.1.0. “The autosolvers provided in Soundvision not only greatly reduce the time spent on each design but also improve the final results from an already exceptional product,” related Phillips. “The efficiency and workflow have been further enhanced with the seamless integration into the L-Acoustics ecosystem. Soundvision’s precision, speed and accuracy continue to define 3D loudspeaker system design, simulation, and visualisation software.”