Seamless integration
We recently changed from other building acoustics software and our own tools to SONarchitect. To put it in a nutshell, it is now not only possible to predict complex buildings' acoustics, but it is much more fun to simulate building acoustics than ever before. No more quirky graphical user interfaces, but a well designed software that delivers good results.
Looking at the workflow for acoustical prediction from outdoor noise over to building acoustics ending with room acoustics, SONarchitect is the missing piece in the puzzle. This entire workflow chain outputs not only the weighted sound reduction index but frequency dependent results: using CadnaA for outdoor noise, Insul for inhomogeneous constructions, SONarchitect for building acoustics and Odeon for room acoustics.
So far, we have never had the need to read the manual. First of all, it is easy and intuitive to use as the separation in working modes was a clever decision and is implemented very well. There is no wizard-like GUI; I can navigate as I want, back and forth. All menus and dialogues are clear and only needed elements are included. And if there is once a need to understand certain functionality, the tutorial videos are great and explain everything that is needed in detail.
We often have to discuss the results with our clients, in particular the meaning of decibels. Without doubt, if you're not a professional working daily in the field of acoustics, it is definitely a difficult task to imagine different values and results given in decibels. But with the graphical output and the navigation through all paths combined with the 3D auralisation we now can show and play our clients what the results mean in a very effective way.
Marco Kuster