EASE Focus 2 is a three-dimensional, acoustic simulation software for the configuration and modeling of line array systems and of adjustable loudspeakers, such as digitally steered columns. EASE Focus v2 is free for the end user but loudspeaker companies need to license their brand in order to add loudspeakers to the database.

The current price list is located here: Price List Sep/2010.

Video Tutorial

For everybody new to EASE Focus 2, we have a nice, 30-minute video tutorial online now. Come to grips with EASE Focus in no time. Get to know all the important parts and possibilities quickly and get to work right away!

You can download the high-quality video here (500 MB). Save it to your local drive for best performance.
Use QuickTime Player or any multi-codec player like VLC for playback.

Features

Compared to EASE Focus 1, EASE Focus 2 takes a large step forward towards more realistic modeling of complex sound systems by including the following major features:

• 3D modeling of direct sound, displayed in horizontal and vertical cutting planes.
• Full support for EASE GLL files and data exchange with EASE and other AFMG software packages.
• Capability to use multiple line array systems in a single project.
• Virtual equalizer for tuning a line array in the simulation.
• Support for digitally steered columns and other configurable loudspeakers; this requires an additional proprietary DLL that can provide e.g. beam steering filters.
• Full frequency range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
• High accuracy due to high internal data resolution and GLL data format. See AFMG white papers and AES articles for details.
• Support for multiple languages: German, English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese

GLL Loudspeaker Data

In EASE Focus 2, each line array or column loudspeaker is described by a so-called system definition which contains the mechanical, electronic and acoustic properties of the loudspeaker system. This system definition is stored in an EASE GLL file which can be compiled with the EASE SpeakerLab software.

GLL data files are created and supplied by loudspeaker manufacturers. Any GLL file can be loaded into the EASE acoustic modeling software. However, in order to create a GLL that can be used in EASE Focus 2 a loudspeaker company needs to be licensed by AFMG.

Benefits

Great efforts have been made to keep EASE Focus v2 intuitive and easy-to-use while introducing three-dimensional coordinates and many new features. It can be considered a tool for both the end user, who needs to set up the sound system for a show, as well as for the R&D engineer, who is interested in the acoustic qualities of the array design. EASE Focus v2 is the optimal tool for easy and quick prediction of the sound system performance in a given venue.

Compared to conventional aiming software the applicability of EASE Focus v2 is much larger. It is not fixed to a single loudspeaker product. System definition files for different types of line arrays can be created and added to the software database at any time and without changing a single line of code.

As an outlook, future versions of EASE Focus v2 are planned to provide simulation capabilities for subwoofer arrays and to take into account wind effects. Also, a separate version for Apple Macintosh computers is being discussed, as well.

Software Overview

• EASE Focus is a software that allows the modelling of acoustic sources, in particular line arrays, in two dimensions. It only considers the direct field, created by the complex addition of the sound contributions of the individual loudspeakers or array components.
• The design of EASE Focus is targeted at the end user, but also at the R&D engineer. It allows the easy and quick prediction of the array performance in a given venue.
• The applicability of EASE Focus is quite extended compared to conventional 2D aiming software tools. Outstanding is that it is not fixed to a single product. A configuration file allows defining the array properties in a simple ASCII format. Thus, additional arrays can be introduced at any time by additional configuration files, already existing arrays can be updated, without to change a single line of code in the software. This makes EASE Focus a generic software.
• The scientific base of EASE Focus stems from EASE, the professional electro- and room acoustic simulation software developed by AFMG Technologies GmbH.

The current price list is located here: Price List Sep/2010.

EASE Focus v1 Aiming Software

• The EASE Focus v1 Aiming Software is a two-dimensional, acoustic simulation software that serves for the configuration and modeling of Line Arrays close to reality. Comparable to a Reader-software it is based on the EASE Focus v1 system definition files (.EFO) required for its use. These files can be created by means of the EASE Focus v1 Compiler Software and contain the data that defines the Line Array with regard to its possible configurations as well as to its geometrical and acoustical properties.
• The EASE Focus v1 Aiming Software is publicly available and it is free. It cannot be licensed directly, rather loading a selected EASE Focus system definition file constitutes the relation to a manufacturer. The maintenance and the extension of the EASE Focus v1 Aiming Software is carried out by AFMG.

EASE Focus v1 Compiler Software

• By means of the EASE Focus v1 Compiler Software, a documented text format, that describes the geometrical and acoustical properties of a Line Array, can be translated into a binary, compiled format (.EFO). These binary configuration files represent the basis for the EASE Focus v1 Aiming Software.
• The EASE Focus v1 Compiler Software will be provided by AFMG after the purchase of a manufacturer-specific licence. The maintenance and extension of the EASE Focus v1 Compiler Software is carried out by AFMG.

What does EASE Focus v1 have in common with EASE?

• EASE Focus v1 is powered by the same acoustic engine as EASE. It can actually be considered as a strongly reduced version of EASE, but it only calculates the direct sound field for 2 dimensions and for a single array.
• The data resolution of EASE Focus v1 is 1/3rd Octave, 5°, complex, at maximum. Like EASE, EASE Focus uses the ISO standard for air absorption after ISO 9613-1, the propagation loss over distance, a dB attenuation per cabinet, the angle dependency of the acoustic data, complex summing of the acoustic sources and much more.
• The ASCII file format allows to specify a practically unlimited amount of sources per box, that means a cabinet can be modelled either conservatively, as a single point source, it can be modelled as a composition of drivers, or it can be modelled by means of many point sources distributed along an imaginary wave front.

EASE Focus Flyer (14th Feb 2005)

EASEFocus_flyer_en_a4.pdf - English flyer (A4) for the EASE Focus Aiming Software
EASEFocus_flyer_en_b4.pdf - English flyer (B4) for the EASE Focus Aiming Software

Size: 1MB
Notes: This document gives a short overview over the software.

EASE Focus Review (10th Aug 2006)

sac_ease_focus.pdf - Review of EASE Focus

Size: 2MB
Notes: This document gives a hands-on overview over EASE Focus including examples. The review was written by Charlie Hughes, Excelsior-Audio, and published by Pat Brown, SynAudCon.