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 Saved views
5:25 Model previews
5:45 Opening the 3D View
6:10 Exporting pictures
6:39 3D Render
7:07 Navigating the 3D Render
7:50 View and set layer colors
9:01 Saved views in the 3D Render
9:23 Outer view
10:30 Cross-section view
11:13 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 Layer list and surface list
1:32 3D Render in the Material List
2:49 Set layers
3:34 Material library
5:01 Material colors
6:37 Colors for partial color blindness
7:36 Material information window
8:53 Assigning materials
10:18 Finding surface numbers
10:55 Alternative ways to assign materials
11:57 Manually editing absorption coefficients
13:07 Adding new materials
13:37 Importing material spreadsheets
15:45 Global vs. local material library
17:04 Quick estimate
18:25 Material list archive
19:59 How scattering works in ODEON
21:54 Entering scattering
22:58 Default scattering
23:29 Manually defining the scattering curve
24:18 Scattering due to diffraction
25:20 Transparency coefficient
27:58 Normal and exterior wall types
28:46 Fractional wall type
29:55 Surface clustering
30:30 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
4:08 Calculating a multi-point response
5:24 Selecting active receivers
6:39 Viewing energy parameters
7:52 Considerations regarding parameters
10:46 Exporting data and figures
13:17 Parameter vs. distance
14:07 Receiver statistics
14:37 Spatial decay curves and STI vs. distance
15:10 Noise control tab
15:47 Simulated vs. measured and targets
19:40 Generate jobs for each source
20:29 Calculating a single point response
22:33 Decay curves and intensity hedgehog
27:33 Reflectogram
30:44 Binaural room impulse response
31:18 Frequency response curve
33:54 Generate jobs for each receiver
34:15 Outro
Calculation parameters & reliability of results
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
