Over the years, Rational Acoustics’ Smaart acoustic test and measurement software has become one of the premier tools for acoustical troubleshooting, and now with a new enhanced version and an optional hardware I/O interface, the system keeps getting better.
From the Top
As a longtime Smaart user, I was excited to test out version 7.4, the latest release. This dual-platform (Windows/Mac), 32 or 64-bit application has come out swinging to answer the needs of its users. The new architecture in v7.4 really supports the development of utilizing the full processing power of the program. But do not let its simpler-looking user interface throw you off. The “quantum leaps” that Rational Acoustics claim to have taken to enhance the stability, accuracy and abilities of this measurement powerhouse are highly impressive.
Some of the many additions and improvements include the ability to configure as many single-channel engines as needed, ability to increase the RTA viewing band to 1/48th octave, a new Multi-Time Window FFT providing 1/48th octave resolution from 60 Hz and up, and the fantastic additional of Groups for transfer function measurements for simpler management of multi-channel alignment. The list keeps going.
Right from the start, I was happy with how it looked. The interface was rebuilt from the inside out and assists greatly in a smoother workflow. The dashboard of v7.4 puts all of the tools that you would want to use in a live situation right in front of you, which really speeds operations. One of the more notable (and noticeable changes) in the latest version is the update of Smaart’s Impulse Response [IR] mode. The integration of nearly all of Smaart Acoustic Tools capabilities has added the ability to now capture your current IR measurement and compare it to others, which is very helpful. Also appreciated is the completion of Frequency Domain (introduced in Smaart v6), the display of your IR in spectrograph readout and the zoomed view of your time domain to view the IR as Log, Lin or ETC curve.
Dual Spectrographs, additional user-defined parameters and the multi-device transfer function measurement enhancements really only touch the start of the list of new upgrades. With enhanced versions for all of Smaart’s acoustical response tools and capabilities — which include: RT60, EDT, Clarity [10, 35, 50, 80], %ALcons, STI and CIS along with a few others — Smaart is now a contending software resource for compliance with a lot of the new Mass Notification standards that will most likely be released through InfoComm in the upcoming year. Those standards will affect the live side of the industry just as much as it will fixed install.
Smaart’s ability to use multi-channel interfaces means you no longer have to conduct separate spectrum measurements per channel and then a transfer function to average/compare both channels. Now, v7.4 can receive signals from multiple channels as well as multiple multi-channel devices.
Thanks to Rational Acoustics for listening to and incorporating many of the comments/requests from users and rebuilding Smaart to a very friendly and customizable updated program.
The New I/O
I checked out the updates in v7.4 using Rational Acoustics’ new Smaart I-O, a 2-in/2-out USB audio interface. The compact 1.75 by 7.25 by 4.25-inch (HxWxD) I-O box has a rugged metal shell with clear labeling of all I-O connections and system/signal indicators. Four small rubber feet ensure a solid grip on the surface where you place it.
This interface is built specifically for use with Smaart v7 and above. It has two Neutrik XLR-1/4-inch Combo jack inputs, two active balanced XLR outputs and a Sync I-O through Ethernet for sample rate clocks of multiple Smaart I-O’s for device aggregation when doing dual-channel measurements. It connects to your computer via USB 2.0 and is bus-powered, although a 5 VDC jack is provided in case your computer is unable to supply sufficient power through the USB port. An available control app for the I-O provides user control of preamp gains (0 dB to 50 dB) and switchable 48V phantom power for each channel.
The app offers full control of the I-O within the Smaart control panel of v7, and users can rename the I-O to more easily separate and identify which I/O is which when using multiple units. The I-O’s front panel has LED indicators for Phantom, Signal and Clip that will follow the control program when you engage the phantom or hit signal peaks within Smaart v7. Operation is straightforward: simply select the I-O under Audio Device Options and select “CoreAudio: Smaart I-O” with a 96k sample rate and 24 bits per sample for both input and output devices.
I used the Smaart v7.4 and I-O system on three installation commissions and brought a backup interface. However, I did all three with the Smaart I-O, as it was just so simple to work with due to the program integration. I also set up my measurement rig in the warehouse and ran pink noise for three hours straight while running a two-channel FFT and skipping around all of the new enhancements and features, in an attempt to make it freeze. Yet there were no in-use glitches or signal anomalies due to preamp or circuitry stability. Having a proprietary I-O for a system measurement software is wonderful and takes off that extra edge of worry when you are about to finally begin shooting out a system after a full day of checking connections, signal flow and system operations. I did wish I had another I-O to try linking them and conducting my multi-channel FFT for my line array projects — maybe next time.
I have used a fair share of diverse interfaces with different system measurement software programs and this I-O was the easiest to date I have ever set up. I have no problem throwing one of these in my on-the-go bag for an out of state trip for a quick system repair. I have full confidence that this box will do what it needs to do.
