NTi Audio Room Acoustics Reporter User Manual
USER MANUAL
Room Acoustics Reporter
for XL2 Sound Level Meter
User Manual
V1.20
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ROOM ACOUSTICS REPORTER
USER MANUAL
Index
1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................4
2. Preparations ..............................................................................................................5
Software Installation ............................................................................................................... 5
Optional XL2 Sound Level Meter Requirements .................................................................... 5
XL2 with Firmware V4.50 or higher ......................................................................................... 5
XL2-TA with type approved Firmware V3.11 ........................................................................... 5
3. Measurement with XL2 ...........................................................................................6
Mapping File for XL2 ............................................................................................................... 6
Set XL2 Memory Structure for Multiple Rooms ..................................................................... 8
Perform Frequency Response Measurements ....................................................................... 9
Perform Reverberation Time Measurements .........................................................................10
4. My First Steps using Room Acoustics Reporter .................................................. 11
Data Import ............................................................................................................................11
Measurement Report .............................................................................................................14
5. Main Menu ..............................................................................................................16
Toolbar ....................................................................................................................................16
Menu ..................................................................................................................................... 21
6. Analysis and Reporting Views ...............................................................................23
Measurements View ............................................................................................................. 24
Calculations View .................................................................................................................. 26
Results View ......................................................................................................................... 28
7. Measurement Report .............................................................................................31
8. Tolerances ...............................................................................................................32
Add Tolerance Band ............................................................................................................... 32
Import Tolerance .................................................................................................................... 34
9. Simulation - Optimizing Room Acoustics ............................................................37
Theory ................................................................................................................................... 37
Add Material / Object ............................................................................................................ 41
Import Material / Object ........................................................................................................ 43
10. Standards ................................................................................................................46
IEC 61260 - Octave or Third-Octave Spectrum ...................................................................... 46
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GB 50371 - Code for sound reinforcement system design of auditorium ............................ 48
ANSI/ASA S12.2-2008 - Noice criteria curves NC ................................................................. 49
ANSI/ASA S12.2-2008 - Room noice criterion RNC .............................................................. 49
DIN 15996:2008 - Grenzkurven GK ....................................................................................... 51
ISO R 1996-1971 - Noise rating curves NR ........................................................................... 53
ISO 3382-1:2009 - Reverberation time in performance spaces ............................................ 55
ISO 3382-2:2008 - Reverberation time in ordinary rooms ..................................................... 56
ASR A3.7 - Working Place ..................................................................................................... 57
DIN 18041:2016 - Acoustic quality in rooms ......................................................................... 59
ÖNORM B 8115-3:2015 - Room Acoustics ............................................................................ 61
ASTM C423-17 - Sound Absorption by the Rverberation Room Method .............................. 63
ISO 354:2003 - Sound absorption in a reverberation room ................................................... 65
11. Specifications .........................................................................................................67
12. Revision-History .....................................................................................................69
13. End-User Licence Agreement ................................................................................70
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ROOM ACOUSTICS REPORTER
USER MANUAL
1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the permanent Room Acoustics Option or the annual Room Acoustics
Reporter 365 license for the XL2 Sound Level Meter. This enables the import of the measurement
data into the Room Acoustics Reporter PC-software. The Room Acoustics Reporter is a PC-based
software application that reports reverberation time and noise spectrum measurements.
Designed for room acoustic experts, this comprehensive tool uses data gathered by the XL2 Sound
Level Meter, and quickly returns graphical analysis of all measurement positions. Analyzing the measurement data and producing reports is straight-forward using the Room Acoustics Reporter software. Just drag & drop the XL2 measurement data into the software and print the report.
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2. Preparations
Room acoustics describes how sound behaves in an enclosed space. Typical parameters to describe
this behavior are the reverberation time and the frequency spectrum of the sound in the room.
First the measurements are performed manually with the XL2. Then all data is imported into the
Room Acoustics Reporter software.
Software Installation
Install the Room Acoustics Reporter software on your PC.•
Optional XL2 Sound Level Meter Requirements
Optional “Extended Acoustic Pack” for reverberation time measurements in 1/3 octave resolu-•
tion.
Optional “Spectral Limits“ for measurements of • Noise Curves or high-resolution frequency
response in 1/6 or 1/12 octave bands in the function 1/12 Oct.
Optional „Cinema Assistent“ for frequency response measurements in the function • Cinema
Meter.
XL2 with Firmware V4.50 or higher
Ensure the latest firmware V4.50 or higher is installed in your XL2 Sound Level Meter.•
Request the online activation of the optional annual license “Room Acoustics Reporter 365”. •
Alternatively you may install the Room Acoustics Option permanent in your XL2 Sound Level
Meter. This enables the data import into the Room Acoustics Reporter software.
XL2-TA with type approved Firmware V3.11
Request the online activation of the annual license Room Acoustics Reporter 365. This enables •
to import the measurement data into the software. Just ensure your PC is online during the data
import.
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3. Measurement with XL2
Mapping File for XL2
The measurement task onsite is made up by multiple individual measurements. The XL2 Sound
Level Meter may assign each of these measurements with a dedicated mapping, e.g. “T1” for the
readings taken before adding absorption material in a room and “T2” afterwards. This feature supports automated post-processing and reporting in the Room Acoustics Reporter software.
Load the text file “savenames.txt” with the user defined mapping, such as “T1, “T2”,..., into the •
root directory of the XL2. The text file “savenames.txt” may be generated by the Room Acoustics Reporter software:
Click on - Settings
Select the tab - Mapping
Click - Export
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Load the txt-file “savenames.txt” with the various mappings onto the root directory of the XL2. •
Next select “Autosave: Off” in the XL2 memory menu. This allows you to store each individual •
measurement with the desired mapping. The XL2 then uses the same mapping for subsequent
measurements by default.
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Set XL2 Memory Structure for Multiple Rooms
In applications with multiple rooms it is recommended to use a separate memory folder on the XL2
Sound Level Meter for each room. All measurements belonging to a single room are then stored
in the same folder on the XL2 memory card. Each room will be an individual project later on in the
Room Acoustics Reporter software.
Connect the XL2 to the computer and select “Mass Storage”•
Open the folder “Projects”•
Generate new subfolders for each room, e.g. Room 1, Room 2, ...•
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Perform Frequency Response Measurements
Select the SLMeter measurement function on the XL2.•
Select the RTA screen and 1/3 octave resolution measurements.•
Ensure the frequency weighting • Z is selected (= no weighting).
Start the measurement.•
Stop the measurement after 15 seconds.•
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Open the memory menu and select • Save Test.
The XL2 displays the • Save Test pop-up; select Room-Acoustic at the right end of the first line.
Select the applicable mapping•
Confirm your selection with the enter key and save the measurement. The XL2 saves the mea-•
surement data with a file name such as “L1_SLM_003_RTA_3rd_Report.txt”
Continue with the further measurements “L1..., etc.“ in the same manner.•
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Perform Reverberation Time Measurements
Select the RT60 measurement function on the XL2.•
Select 1/1 octave or 1/3 octave resolution (requires the optional Extended Acoustic Pack pre-•
installed in the XL2).
Perform the reverberation time measurement. •
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Open the memory menu and select • Save Test.
The XL2 displays the • Save Test pop-up; select Room-Acoustic at the right end of the first line.
Select the applicable mapping•
Confirm your selection with the enter key and save the measurement. The XL2 saves the mea-•
surement data with a file name such as “T1_RT60_001_Report.txt”
Continue with the further measurements in the same manner.•
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4. My First Steps using Room Acoustics Reporter
Data Import
The XL2 measurement data may be imported into the software by drag and drop. The minimum requirement for a successful data import is an XL2 with firmware V4.20 or higher. Instruments using
an older firmware will benefit from the online activation of the option. The Room Acoustics Reporter
software verifies the available annual subscription online during the data import.
Start the Room Acoustics Reporter software.•
Click on • File -> New
The • New panel opens with the default settings.
Confirm with • OK.
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The measurement view with the message “Drop measurement files or folder here” is dis-
played.
Kindly ensure, prior the data import, that the room folder contains all required measurement data •
(*.txt) and *.xl2 system files of each recorded measurement.
Drag and drop the complete room folder from the XL2 memory card into the field • Drop mea-
surement files or folder here.
Third-octave data may be imported into projects with octave band setting based on a linear aver-•
age calculation (based on the German VMPA-Beschlussbuch 2015)
Room Acoustics Reporter offers further possibilities to import measurement data:
Select all *.xl2 files in the room folder with all measurement data. Drag and drop the data into •
the Drop measurement files or folder here field.
Click on • File -> Import in the main window and select the File... or Folder... .
Select the data set and confirm the selection.•
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The measurement data is imported.
The software offers the assignments T1 and T2. Measurement data may be assigned to T1 or T2 for
comparison at a glance; e.g. before and after an acoustic treatment. By default all measurement
data are assigned to the mapping T1.
In case you recorded the measurement data with mapping information in the file name, then the
software assigns these data sets automatically; e.g. “T2_RT60_001.txt” is assigned to T2. Alternatively the mapping may be assigned manually:
Select the measurement with the mouse.•
Click on the right mouse button.•
Select • Assign To.
Assign the measurement.•
Verify the measurement data and delete any false readings from the • Measurements list on the
right.
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Measurement Report
Select • View -> Calculations in the menu.
Verify the individual averaged results - the shaded area presents the measurement data span,•
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Select the • View -> Results.
The averaged data is presented in a chart and a table.
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Below the result table is the average reverberation time of the frequency bands 400 Hz to 1250 •
Hz in third-octave resolution reported.
Complete the header data with information about client, object, description, room dimensions •
and room volumes.
Print the Room Acoustics report. •
Alternatively save the report as pdf file, e.g. using
https://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-lite.
Congratulations, your report is completed!
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5. Main Menu
Toolbar
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
New Project
1
A project contains the measurement data of one room. The reporting is in accordance with the
selected standard.
Select • Spectrum or Reverberation Time for general data analysis or go for one of the
dedicated standards.
Select the settings for the measurement data analysis and reporting.•
Confirm with • OK.
Open Project File
2
Select an existing project file *.xlra.
Save Project File
3
Save the actual data as room acoustics project file *.xlra.
Print Preview
4
The measurement report for printing is displayed.
Print
5
The measurement report is printed.
Import
6
Select the folder containing the original XL2 measurement data, *.txt and *.xl2 files, and confirm with “Select folder”. All measurement files within the selected folder are imported into
the software. Any recorded spectrum data with A- or C-weighting is automatically corrected
to Z-weighting (=no weighting).
Measurements View
7
The spectrum or reverberation time data is visualized in the selected frequency range. By default the measurement data are automatically assigned to either L1 or T1. For comparison one
or multiple data sets may be assigned with L2 or T2 manually.
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Calculations View
8
Displays the average of the measurement data. Individual data sets, e.g. outliers, may be removed from the average calculation.
Results View
9
Displays the following results based on the selected result type; e.g. for reverberation time:
Table from 50 Hz - 10 kHz•
Chart from 50 Hz - 10 kHz•
Average reverberation time of selected frequency range•
Settings
10
General Select settings for data analysis and reporting.•
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Settings
10
Mapping The measurement task onsite is made up ob by multiple individual measure-
ments. The XL2 with firmware V4.20 or higher simplifies the data handling of
these measurements by recording each data set with a dedicated before/after
acoustic room treatments.
Storing the measurement data with this mapping on the XL2 supports the automated data assigning during the data import into the Room Acoustics Reporter
software.
Click on • Export...; this generates the text file savenames.txt
Load the txt-file “savenames.txt” with the various mappings, like “L1”, “T1”... •
onto the SD card of the XL2.
Copy this file onto the root directory of the XL2 memory card•
Select the memory menu on the XL2 and set • Autosave: Off
Each measurement can be manually stored on the XL2 with one of the pre-
defined mappings.
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Settings
10
Charts Set the Y-axis scaling for all views.
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Settings
10
Report Load your company logo for the printed measurement reports•
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Align title to the left• offers more space for your company logo in the report
header.
Hide equipment• offers more space for the description in the report.
Set the • Name of the test institute, e.g. your company name
Load your • Signature for the printed measurement reports
The recommended maximum size for the imported picture is
Logo: 120 x 30 px•
Signature: 350 x 70 px•
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Menu
The software offers the following menu functionalities:
File New... A project contains the measurement data of one room. The reporting
is in accordance with the selected standard.
Select • RTA or Reverberation Time for general data analysis or go
for one of the dedicated standards.
Select the settings for the measurement data analysis and report-•
ing.
Confirm with • OK.
Open... Select an existing project file *.xlra.
Save Save the actual Room Acoustics data as project file *.xlra.
Save as... Save the project with selectable name and path.
Print Preview The measurement report for printing is displayed.
Print The measurement report is printed.
Import File... Select a single measurement data file *.xl2
Folder... Select a folder in order to import all measurement
data stored in this folder
Measurements from
Select an old project and the measurement data of
this project is imported
Project...
Preferences... General The Room Acoustics Reporter software is available
in English and German language. The default setting
uses the language of the operating system installed
on your computer. Changing the language will require
a restart of the software.
Tolerances Maintain your list of tolerances for good/bad decision
for all your reporting here.
Materials Maintain your list of materials with absorption data
for all your reverberation time reporting here.
Recent Select a recently-opened project.
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File Exit Close the software.
Edit Cut Cut the text from any text box.
Copy Copy the measurement data selected in the right-hand Measure-
ments, Calculations or Results box (e.g. for using it in Microsoft
Excel).
Paste Paste the copied text into any text box.
Delete Delete the data selected in the right-hand selection box in Measure-
ments.
Select All Select all data in the right-hand Measurements box (applicable in
Measurements View only).
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Deselect All Deselect all earlier selected data in the right-hand Measurements
box (applicable in Measurements View only).
Mid Frequency
Range...
Set the frequency range for the calculation of the average reverberation time in accordance with ISO 3382-1 (applicable at reverberation
time projects only)
View Measurements Select the Measurements View.
Calculations Select the Calculations View.
Results Select the Results View.
Settings Opens the Project Settings window.
Help Online Help Link to download the user manual in PDF form
Check for
Updates...
Checks online for available updates of the XL2 Room Acoustics Reporter software.
About Lists version and copyright details of the software.
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