d&b audiotechnik and L-Acoustics have partnered with environmental noise software specialist SoundPLAN to launch SDE (System Design Exchange), a unified standard designed to improve noise prediction accuracy for live events and festivals.
The standard addresses a longstanding interoperability gap in the industry: until now, predicting noise emissions from events using systems from different manufacturers has required each to rely on its own proprietary tools, leading to inconsistent results and difficulties in meeting environmental compliance requirements.
SDE defines a common method and file format for exporting data from system design software – including d&b’s ArrayCalc and L-Acoustics’ Soundvision – into environmental noise applications such as SoundPLAN. The format accounts for complex acoustic interactions including calibration and decoherence factors, and is designed to handle coherent source summation with phase considerations, enabling what the companies describe as accurate noise predictions at any distance.
System technicians can export designs as standardised SDE files for import into environmental noise software, allowing consultants and event organisers to run equivalent calculations across multi-stage events with mixed manufacturer systems.
Florian Hahn, product manager application software at d&b audiotechnik, said: “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.”
Yann Gaël Gicquel, director of product management, spatial systems at L-Acoustics, added: “Using SDE gives everyone at that table – promoters, consultants, local authorities – one shared, reliable source of truth for those conversations.”
SDE is available now. For L-Acoustics users, access is currently limited to consultants trained and certified by the company and through its Environmental System Design service. For d&b users, the standard is accessible directly within ArrayCalc. The companies say the format will be made available to other manufacturers and noise pollution software providers in the future.
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