The very first version of DDA was designed as a tool to allow AXYS Intellivox and Target users the ability to shape the vertical dispersion of their Intellivox DDS and Target DDS arrays. In addition to this it was also a modelling tool for Intellivox DDC arrays. Over the years DDA has continued to develop and now offers a very comprehensive range of features.
Providing system designers with the ability to "steer" or "shape" the beam from their array is still at the heart of DDA but the software now offers the ability to model: Direct Sound, Total SPL, Direct to Reverberant Ratio, Speech Transmission Index (STI), Delay Spread and receiver responses. All of which are calculated using a statistical method. In addition to this DDA also includes some functions such as the delay optimiser, which calculates the optimum delay for each source (loudspeaker position) in order to align your system for the best possible intelligibility and/or clarity.
Version 3 sees "many significant leaps forward". Probably the most significant new addition to the software is the introduction of 'Materials'. Rather than users having to enter the reverberation time for their room manually in octave bands the RT can now be calculated from the defined materials within the model. Users can choose to define which material is associated to each of the planes within the model. These materials can either be created by the user and stored in their DDA material library or the user could choose to use one of the existing defaults within DDA.
In addition to this DDA V3 also supports the more conventional AXYS ScopeG2 and SourceG2 products; meaning that systems which may have a combination of steerable arrays and conventional loudspeakers can now be modelled within the one environment.
The visual output of DDA has also been enhanced. The introduction of more realistic loudspeaker rendering combined with the ability to colour planes depending upon their material means that stunning visuals can be created for design proposals. The added ability to adjust the lighting also helps to enhance these visuals further.
DDA V3 shall be available to new and existing users from 1 February 12010 via the Duran Audio website.
(Jim Evans)
