Get Started
This list of videos goes through all the steps required to get acoustical results from scratch, following the appropriate setup order. Then, you can watch our other video tutorials for alternative ways to make calculations and other more specialised functions.
We also have a quicker 20-minute video showing the full workflow on a single model, going through the steps in simpler detail.
This sequence of videos is also available as a YouTube playlist.
To learn how to enable YouTube subtitles in English, Spanish, and other languages, click here.
For a more simplified written guide to producing results from scratch, you can refer to our Quick Start Guides.
Importing geometries (DXF, DWG, IFC BIM, etc.)
3D room geometries are not made within ODEON, but rather, the user typically imports models created in an external CAD software.
However, 3D models for acoustic simulations in ODEON need to be made with different considerations than 3D models for architectural visualisation.
This video explains the most important guidelines to follow when creating your own rooms to import into ODEON, as well as how to actually import them.
0:00 Intro
1:42 Recommended room types
3:04 Highly detailed models
4:10 Simplified surfaces
5:14 Curved and warped surfaces
5:32 Windows, layers and tags
6:02 Splitting complex models
6:18 Watertight rooms
6:58 Importing a geometry
7:39 Import options
8:49 Simplification of IFC BIM files
9:11 Outro
3D View and 3D Render
The 3DView is the go-to window for examining the geometry in ODEON. But it contains more than the obvious options, as is shown in this video.
0:00 Intro
0:17 Rotate, drag, zoom
1:22 Context-sensitive menu
2:00 Perspective, rulers, units
2:46 Measuring distance between points
3:41 Default views
4:56 Model previews
5:21 Opening the 3D View
5:45 Exporting pictures
6:15 3D Render
6:42 Navigating the 3D Render
7:26 Default views in the 3D Render
7:48 Outer view
8:42 Cross-section view
9:25 Outro
Point, line, & multi-surface sources
Just like a real measurement, to simulate an impulse response it is necessary to have at least 1 source and 1 receiver at specific positions.
Point sources can be assigned a directivity balloon and sound power by octave bands. Sources and receivers can be tabulated into an array.
Line sources and multi-surface sources are available in editions Industrial and Combined. Line sources are useful to model long sources like pipes with running water and conveyor belts, while multi-surfaces are useful to model large industrial machinery.
0:00 Intro
0:32 Source/Receiver list
1:14 Create point source
1:37 Positioning a point source
3:12 Align relative to surface
4:20 Align relative to source or receiver
5:18 Directivity patterns
5:45 View directivity balloon
6:36 Sound power and loudspeaker cabinets
7:01 Importing directivity files
8:07 Defining orientation
9:03 Aiming source toward receiver
9:27 3D Render view from source
9:51 Gains, EQ and EQ list
12:08 Create receiver
12:37 Tabulation tool
14:38 Edit, delete, and copy sources
15:56 Line sources
17:02 Multi-surface sources
19:40 Export & import source/receiver lists
20:36 Outro
Setting absorption and scattering
In order to calculate reflections, acoustic properties such as absorption and scattering must have been assigned to surfaces.
Absorption coefficients, or “materials”, can be easily assigned to groups of surfaces, making the process easy even for complicated models. ODEON comes with a library of materials ready for use, which can also be customized. The video also shows how to use scattering and transparency coefficients.
0:00 Intro
0:29 Surface list and layer mode
1:02 Layers in the surface list
1:29 Set Layers
2:10 Material library
3:07 Material colors
4:57 Changing material colors
5:56 Material number ranges
6:11 Assigning materials to surfaces
7:01 Finding surface numbers
7:37 Replace material and assign to layer
8:20 Assigning in layer mode
9:29 Modifying absorption of surfaces
10:23 Creating new materials
10:51 Importing materials from spreadsheet
12:55 Global and local room libraries
13:56 Quick Estimate
15:18 Material list archive
16:54 Scattering coefficient
18:06 Finding the user manual
18:35 Entering scattering coefficients
20:07 Scattering due to diffraction
21:01 Transparency coefficient
22:47 Transparent and 100% absorbent materials
23:29 Exterior vs. Interior surfaces
24:06 Edge diffraction & Fractional wall type
25:47 Outro
Multi & Single point responses
Finally, time to run a simulation and calculate some results!
The multi-point response is the impulse response calculation from your active sources to all your receivers. You’ll get all the numerical values you need to comply for ISO 3382-3, as well as bar graphs and statistics. You can even overlay measured and simulated data for comparison.
The single-point response is available in editions Auditorium and Combined, and focuses on a single receiver to obtain more detailed data, such as the decay curve, reflectogram, and binaural impulse response.
0:00 Intro
1:31 Calculation parameters
2:33 Job List
4:07 Calculating a multi-point response
5:23 Selecting active receivers
6:38 Viewing energy parameters
9:29 Exporting data and figures
11:54 Parameter vs. distance
12:44 Receiver statistics
13:15 Spatial decay curves and STI vs. distance
13:53 Noise control tab
14:18 Simulated vs. measured and targets
18:25 Calculating a single point response
20:24 Decay curves and intensity hedgehog
24:54 Reflectogram
28:07 Binaural room impulse response
28:46 Frequency response curve
31:05 Outro
Calculation parameters
After a calculation, it is important to take a look at some of the preliminary results to gauge whether your calculation parameters were appropriate. Then, you can adjust the calculation parameters and re-run the calculations so that your results are more reliable.
The most important calculation parameters are the impulse response length and the number of late rays. Other miscellaneous parameters are also described, such as background noise for STI and air conditions for air absorption.
0:00 Intro
0:51 What is the impulse response length
1:38 Setting the impulse response length
3:05 Early vs. late reflections
3:53 Number of late rays
5:25 Checking reliability of results
6:08 Xi parameters
6:41 Curvature parameter
7:21 Bent decay curves
8:23 Ray loss
9:07 Outdoor calculations
10:12 Background noise for STI
11:25 Air conditions and model check
12:08 Outro
