Electroacoustics simulation — in Berlin and beyond
Whether a PA system in a hall or an emergency announcement — an electroacoustic system is only as good as its intelligibility at the listener's ear. A simulation designs PA and voice alarm systems during the planning phase for uniform level and good speech intelligibility.
Overview
Hanging loudspeakers in a room is straightforward. Ensuring that a uniform sound pressure level reaches every position and that speech remains intelligible throughout is the actual challenge. Electroacoustic simulation maps room, materials, and loudspeakers in a model and predicts how the system will perform. This is particularly important where intelligibility matters — for voice alarm systems through which emergency announcements are made. This page is addressed to planners, clients, and operators who wish to design a PA system reliably and with verifiable results.
What is simulated
The model predicts the distribution of the sound pressure level across the audience areas and the expected speech intelligibility. On this basis, loudspeakers are selected, positioned, and aimed so that the system covers the room evenly and without gaps.
Different loudspeaker configurations and arrangements can be compared before equipment is procured and installed. In this way, the system is neither over- nor under-dimensioned.
Tools and auralisation
3D simulations in AFMG EASE AURA 4 and Treble are used, mapping both the room acoustic behaviour and the loudspeakers together. This realistically captures the interaction between room and technology.
Through auralisation, the result can be made audible, so that a PA system can be assessed before installation — not only through performance figures, but for the ear.
PA and voice alarm systems
The simulation is relevant for PA systems in auditoria, churches, sports halls, and assembly venues — and particularly for voice alarm systems. For the latter, sufficient speech intelligibility must be demonstrated, measured via the Speech Transmission Index (STI) per IEC 60268-16. The simulation predicts this value already in the planning phase and makes the design traceable.
Frequently asked questions
What does an electroacoustic simulation achieve?
It shows already during the planning phase how a PA system will perform in the space. Sound pressure level distribution and speech intelligibility can be predicted, loudspeakers selected and positioned with precision, and variants compared. In this way the system is designed correctly before it is installed.
What is the STI?
The Speech Transmission Index (STI) is a measure of speech intelligibility per IEC 60268-16, ranging from 0 to 1. Voice alarm systems in particular must achieve a sufficient STI so that announcements are intelligible in an emergency. The simulation allows the STI to be predicted before construction.
For which systems is this relevant?
Primarily for PA systems in auditoria, churches, sports halls, and assembly venues, and particularly for voice alarm systems through which emergency announcements are made. For both, uniform sound pressure level distribution and speech intelligibility determine the quality — and both can be simulated.
Discuss your project
Are you planning a PA system or a voice alarm system and would like to verify level and intelligibility in advance? Describe the space and its use briefly — together we will clarify how a simulation can support your project.
Get in touch