Smaart Suite QuickStart Guide
This is a step-by-step guide to initial input, output, and measurement configuration using
the Real Time Mode, IR Mode, and SPL Modes of Smaart Suite. To follow along with this
guide, either launch Smaart for the first time, or head to the Config menu > Manage
Configurations > Restore Defaults.
For licensing help and registration instructions, please refer to the Smaart Licensing Help
Guide. The Smaart Licensing Help Guide is available at support.rationalacoustics.com under
the Smaart Suite Documentation category.
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Before you start, we recommend connecting a recording interface to your computer, with a
measurement microphone connected to a preamp with phantom power, as well as sending
an output of your interface to a speaker system. You will also need access to an SPL
calibrator. By the time you are through with this guide, you will be able to create single
channel spectrum (RTA & Spectrograph), dual channel transfer function, impulse response,
and SPL data.
Input Configuration
1. After launching Smaart for the first time or
restoring defaults, you will be prompted to
select your input sources. Select OK and
continue to the I-O Config dialog.
2. In the upper portion of the Input tab of I-O
config, select the device you will be using
for measurement. In this example:
CoreAudio: EVO8. In the lower portion of
this window, select the input(s) you wish
to use for measurement. We have selected
Mic|Line|Instrument 1 (measurement
microphone) and Loop-back 1 (L) which is
the Audient EVO 8’s internal loop feature.
This channel will be used for Smaart’s
signal generator as well as our reference
input for transfer function engines. It is
helpful to also give your inputs a Friendly
Name as that is what they will display as
in Smaart – in this case, Mic 1 and Gen Loop.
Note: Mic Correction Curves are and SPL Calibration are not required for Real Time
Mode’s spectrum and transfer function measurement.
3. Select the Calibrate button to open the Amplitude
Calibration dialog and verify that the Input Device and
Input Channel match what you wish to calibrate, so it is
highlighted in blue, then select “Calibrate.” With your
SPL calibrator on and fitted to your measurement
microphone, adjust the preamp to a conservative level
that will leave enough headroom so the input will not
clip during the show. For concert level measurement,
we recommend that your measurement rig be able to
accommodate at least 135-140 dB peaks.
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Note: Adding the approximate level of the input meter in the Amplitude Calibration
dialog as a positive value to the level setting of your SPL calibrator will provide an
estimation of the resultant max SPL capability. For ex: 48 dB FS + 94 dB SPL = 142.
4. Select the calibrate button. A new Calibration Progress
dialog will appear. Once the progress bar has filled to
100% enter the level your calibrator is producing in the
Set this value to field and Select Ok to close out of the
window. If you wish you calibrate another input, use the
dropdowns in the amplitude calibration window to
select another input and repeat this step.
Note: Once you have calibrated your input for SPL, any changes to that inputs
preamp will negate that calibration value. If your device is not integrated with
Smaart for gain tracking, then it is recommended that you finish the tasks that don’t
require SPL calibration before steps 3 & 4.
5. Navigate to the Output tab of I-O Config to
route the signal generator outputs. For
this example we are using the Audient EVO
8’s Main Output 1 (L) to physically patch
and send signal to our speaker system. We
are also routing signal to Loop-back 1 (L)
as our reference input.
If your interface does not support internal
loop-back, simply use a short patch cable
to physical wire one of the interface
outputs to one of the interface inputs.
Close the I-O Config dialog.
Real Time Mode Configuration
1. You will now be presented with Smaart’s Real Time Mode GUI, with spectrum
engines automatically created and placed in the control bar on the right most
portion of the interface.
Select the triangle Run buttons to activate the spectrum engines and begin plotting
data on the screen.
Turn on the signal generator by pressing the hot-key [G], or selecting the On button
in the signal generator control block in the bottom right of the GUI. Adjust the signal
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generator output/speaker level until you reach your desired loudness. In
combination with the interface preamps, we recommend targeting -12 dB FS on
Smaart’s signal meters – the point where green turns to yellow.
2. Next, configure Smaart for transfer function measurement. Navigate to transfer
function view using the hot-key [T] or selecting TF View in the command bar. You
will be presented with the default transfer function view – consisting of a 3-graph
plot area with Live IR, Phase, and Magnitude. Unlike spectrum engines, transfer
function engines are not automatically configured. Select on the + TF Engine button
in the TF control bar to configure a transfer function engine.
Enter a name for the engine, ensure that the correct device is selected, and assign
your measurement and reference channels. In this example, the measurement input
is the measurement microphone, and the reference input is the signal generator
loop-back. If you have multiple inputs for multiple transfer function engines, select
Create + to configure more transfer function engines. Otherwise, select Create &
Close to exit the New TF Configuration dialog.
3. Turn on the signal generator again to begin generating noise through your audio
system and select the triangular Run button inside the TF engine. Select the Track
button to apply reference delay to the measurement, compensating for system
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latency.
4. If you have multiple transfer function measurement engines, you can create a Live
TF Average by using the hot-key [Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + T] or navigating to the Config
Menu > New TF Avg… Follow the prompts in the dialog to name the engine and
select the TF engine contributors.
IR Mode Configuration
1. Select Impulse in the upper right corner of
the interface. You will now be presented
with Smaart’s Impulse Response mode GUI.
The transfer function engine(s) that you
configured in Real Time Mode will automatically appear in the IR Mode control bar.
If you have not configured a transfer function measurement for IR Mode, you may
do so by selecting the +TF Engine button.
Enter a name for your engine and ensure that the correct audio device is selected,
then assign the measurement and reference channels.
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Note: configured transfer function engines are required for both single channel and
dual channel IR measurement. When you enable the Record button and run the
measurement, the reference channel is simply ignored and a .wav file is recorded
directly from the measurement input.
2. Turn on the signal generator output noise through your audio system and select the
circular Track button inside the measurement engine to apply reference delay to the
measurement, compensating for system latency. Use the triangle Run button in the
measurement engine control area to calculate an impulse response measurement.
SPL Mode Configuration
1. Select SPL Mode using the radio buttons in
the upper right corner of the interface.
Your calibrated input(s) will automatically
display in the top area of the interface. Use
the drop-down shown here to change the
SPL value displayed.
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2. To create additional free-floating SPL meters, select Show Meter Grid Config in the
SPL control bar and use the hamburger menu in the upper right of the new SPL
meter Enter Meter Grid Config. From here you can add or subtract meters non-
destructively on-the-fly. Use the X and Y axis +/- buttons to add or remove meters.
Return to the hamburger menu and select Exit Meter Grid Config to return the
meters to their normal state.
3. To log SPL data, start by selecting the Hammer & Wrench
Log Config button in the SPL control bar and enter the
necessary details for your event, chose the calibrated inputs
you wish to log.
Note: this dialog has additional tabs to configure traffic
lights, SPL Alarms, as well as Custom Metrics beyond the
default 16 selections.
4. Select the Start Logging button in the control bar to begin
collecting SPL data. To view additional metrics, use the
second dropdown in the top right corner of either plot.
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