d&b audiotechnik and L-Acoustics have teamed up with SoundPLAN to launch a new standard for noise prediction, the system design exchange (SDE).
The SDE standard aims to provide a neutral standard noise prediction across multiple sound systems.
This new standard aims to address the issue of noise emissions as each system relies on its own proprietary tools, with a lack of interoperability often resulting in inconsistent noise predictions that make it difficult to meet environmental requirements.
The new noise prediction standard aims to ensure reliable, consistent, and comparable predictions in environmental noise software, defining how to export data from system design software such as d&b’s ArrayCalc or L-Acoustics’ Soundvision, detailing the methodology for calculating complex acoustic interactions.
This includes calibration and decoherence factors, ensuring accuracy at any distance.
Technicians can export their designs as standardises SDE files, which can then be imported into environmental noise software such as SoundPLAN. This workflow could allow consultants and event organisers to perform equivalent calculations to accurately predict noise emissions for festivals with multiple stages and systems from different manufacturers.
In future, the SE format will be made available to other manufacturers and other noise pollution software.
Florian Hahn, product manager application software, d&b audiotechnik, commented: "The SDE standard is a huge step forward in addressing the noise management challenges of large-scale events.
"With SDE, we're making effective and comparable noise management accessible, ensuring that audiences can enjoy their favourite artists while respecting nearby communities, public facilities and natural habitats.”