CATT-Acoustic v9.

1 with TUCT v2
Introduction Manual

1. Introduction 1

2. Installation 1

3. Mini-tutorial 2
Creating a new project and model 3
Map direct 10
Map measures 11
Predict SxR 12
Window | Pixel Rendering 14
Window | Surface Rendering 15
Window | Vertical Slice Rendering 15
Window | Image Source Model 16
Window | Time Trace 17
Round-up 17

4. Software overview 18
Hardware requirements 18
Hall geometry and absorption 18
Coordinate system 19
Frequency range 20
Source directivity 21
Data output 21

5. A short background to CATT and CATT-Acoustic 21

Appendix 1: Demo and prediction license limitations 24

Appendix 2: Short GEO, LOC input file syntax reminder 25

Common directives in GEO and LOC-files 25
Geometry-files (.GEO) 26
Source-file (.LOC) 28
Receiver-file (.LOC) 29
CATT-Acoustic v9.1g - Introduction Manual

Copyright © CATT 2022

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 CATT-Acoustic v9.1g - Introduction Manual

1. Introduction
This introduction manual gives a brief introduction to using CATT-Acoustic v9.1 for 32-bit
Windows (XP or higher, but runs as well under 64-bit) for demo testers and new users. All
versions include a manual always covering the full version and purchased licenses also come
with printed manuals. For demo and prediction license limitations see Appendix 1 and notes
throughout the text.

The main program in CATT-Acoustic (CATT9.exe) mainly handles geometry modeling and
checking, libraries and other support functions and the standalone TUCT performs the actual
prediction and auralization. TUCT (TUCT2.exe) it is a separate program but is a major part of
CATT-Acoustic as a whole.

This document contains parts of the manual adapted for a standalone printed document. The
contents are installation instructions, a mini-tutorial, a software overview and a background to
CATT and CATT-Acoustic and a short syntax reminder.

Document conventions:

· CATT-A indicates the main program CATT9.exe.

· CATT-Acoustic indicates the CATT-Acoustic software as whole including TUCT.

· File-names, folder-names, text to be entered and text-file contents are set in COURIER as in
C:\CATT

· Menu selections are set in bold as in File | Preferences

· Dialog names are set in italics bold as in General settings.

· Dialog items are set in italics as in General settings/Input folder

· Dialog groups are set in italics within round brackets as in (Edit).

· Programs and program modules are written with a colon as in Modeling: or Explorer:

· Product, organization and company names are written in italics as in CATT-Acoustic

All products mentioned in this document are trademarks of their respective owners.

2. Installation
CATT-Acoustic is installed by running a self-extracting installer. No CATT files are installed in
the Windows folder and no system files are altered other than the Registry (for storing CATT-A
Preferences settings and associating file name extensions).

All CATT programs and other related read-only files are kept in a folder selected at installation,
typically in a Program files sub-folder.

All CATT data-libraries are kept in a separate folder that has to have read/write rights. This
folder will hereafter be called the “CATTDATA” folder and e.g. “CATTDATA”\ANECHOIC means
the ANECHOIC sub-folder. This folder is at initial installation suggested to be a User folder but it
can as well be e.g. c:\cattdata for more convenient access than in a deep User folder. For
more options see CATT-A manual 1.1 Installation.

If more than one logged-on user will be using the software, and want to share the library data, it
can be more practical to install in a folder common to all users such as
C:\ProgramData\CATT or simply in a folder c:\cattdata.

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The “CATTDATA” folder can be moved or copied to another location with read/write rights and
the new location be selected in CATT-A File | Preferences. It can also be placed on a network
drive assuming that the network path has been mapped to a drive letter (e.g. Z:). Each logged-
on user can have his own personal “CATTDATA” and settings as managed by CATT-A File |
Preferences.

In the “CATTDATA” folder are placed sub-folders with library files and sample models:

 ABSLIBS with surface properties library-files (*.DAT), which library to use is selected in
CATT-A File | Preferences. Demo note: only a limited library is supplied but can be added
to.

 SD with source directivity files (*.SD0, *.SD1, *.SD2, *.SDX, *.CF1, *.CF2, *.CTA,
*.CBA, *.CI1, *.CI2). Only a few example files are included except for array modeling
where a sub-folder CTA-examples contain all examples shown in CATT-A Manual
"Appendix B - CTA format", and also via File | New Directivity | Array Format (CTA). For
actual loudspeakers data turn to the user’s page (for licensed users see Help | About) and
www.clfgroup.org or manufacturers home pages. For demo limitations on directivity file use
see Appendix 1.

 SD2DATA with DLL Directivity Interface (DDI) modules and data for the older array-modeling
(SD2-files). Requires using TUCT1 (that is no longer developed but remains included in
installations).

 HRTFS with Head Related Transfer Function libraries. Demo and Prediction license note:
only a generic solid sphere HRTFs library is included.

 HEADPHONES with headphone equalization filters. Demo and Prediction license note: only
a generic headphone eq is included.

 ANECHOIC with anechoically recorded music and speech (and for full version some program
material filters). Demo and Prediction license note: only a single provided WAV-file can be
used.

 MODELS with sub-folders DEMO, EXAMPLE and TUTORIAL containing room models and
Modeling settings-files for the shoebox in this Introduction manual and for "2.3 Input-files /
Geometry-files / Example model" and "8. Tutorial" in the manual.

 Other files such as template files, special-purpose settings-files, and hidden-options text-files.
Demo note: not all hidden options are available.

After installation, the files and folders that should be present can be seen in the manual "1.1
Installation".

3. Mini-tutorial
Below are shown typical steps predicting the acoustics of a simple shoebox-shaped hall with one
source, two receivers and one audience plane to give you a feeling of what it is all about. This
example is a "mini-tutorial" and is kept as clean as possible avoiding most of the more advanced
features that are used in the Example hall in the CATT-A manual "2.3 Input-files / Geometry-files
/ Example model" and in the dedicated "8. Tutorial". In addition to direct use of the flexible
scripting language in the GEO-format, models can be created via an AutoCAD AutoLISP
interface (Demo note: not included) via DXF import (see File | External CATT Tool |
rd
DXF2GEO) or via 3 party SketchUp plug-ins (see www.catt.se/pred_mod.htm for available
plug-ins), see CATT-A manual "7. CAD interfaces". The procedure here uses only the GEO-
format since even with a CAD export basic knowledge of the GEO options is both highly
beneficial and essential.

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Start CATT-A. The Modeling module window opens up directly:

The PL9Viewer module is also open (PL9 is a 2D or 3D vector-graphics CATT file-format that
also may have animation frames). Demo note: the PL9Viewer shows an example 3D PL9-file.

CATT-A and TUCT are Multiple Document Interface (MDI) applications so that the menu-bar
items may change when a different module is activated. A list of available and open modules
can be found on the Window menu and in CATT-A all open modules are shown as toolbar
icons.

Creating a new project and model

Create a new project by activating the Modeling module and

selecting Utilities | Create a New Project. The appearing
dialog expects you to select a folder for the hall you are going to
work with (say C:\HALLS\THEATER1). The Browse folder
button in the dialog also allows you to create a new folder (if a
non-existing folder is specified it will be created).

When you click OK, all basic files are created, ready to be filled in.

MASTER.GEO template master geometry-file

REC.LOC receiver positions (a generic position inserted)
SRC.LOC source positions and data (three generic sources inserted)
GEO.MD9 modeling settings-file
PROJECT.TXT a text-file for optional notes about the project

Select (Edit)Geo-file and MASTER.GEO and CATT-Edit loads with the file. CATT-Edit is a
separate application but communicates with the main program so that files can only be edited in
one instance of the editor and if a GEO/LOC-file has been changed, but not saved, you will be
prompted for saving before the file is used. We will now enter a simple shoebox shape
structured as in Fig. 1, not much of theater.

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Fig. 1: Simple shoebox model for the mini-tutorial showing floor corner ids
1-4 and ceiling corner ids 11-14 (COINFO.PL9)

Enter the geometry data as shown below (the files can also be found in “CATTDATA”\
MODELS\SHOEBOX, simply open GEO.MD9). Data items in this geometry-file are first named
constants, named surface properties and various other declarations, and then in the CORNERS
section the corner ids and coordinates (x, y, z) and, finally, in the PLANES section plane
definitions. Comments are introduced by a semicolon ";" and blank lines are allowed. See
manual Section 2.3 for full details and in this Introduction manual’s Appendix 2 for a short syntax
description.

;MASTER.GEO
;constant declarations
LOCAL h = 8 ;hall height in m
LOCAL w = 10 ;hall width
GLOBAL d = 24 ;hall depth

;absorption and scattering coefficients 125Hz to 4kHz [%], optional RGB-color

ABS audience = <40 50 60 70 80 80> L <30 40 50 60 70 80> { 255 0 0 }
ABS wood = <15 13 10 9 8 7> L <30 30 30 30 30 30> { 255 255 0 }
;Notes:
;- if 8k and 16k values are known they can be given after
; a colon as in <15 13 10 9 8 7 : 7 8 > otherwise they
; are extrapolated from 2k and 4k values.
;- If it is desired do rather give coefficients in the range 0..1
; use ABS1 and AUDABS1.
;- RGB-color is optional, one will be auto generated if not given.
;- scattering coefficients are optional (but strongly recommended)
; if not given the default values in General settings will be used.
; The coefficients for wood are highly unrealistic and are set as
; 30% flat only to give results like a real room in this first model.
;- there is also an option to model 1D-diffusers using L1 instead
; of L and give the direction of the wells/battens in the plane
; definition. Since is use of L1 is slightly more involved turn
; the CATT-A manual and look up the ABS directive
;- AUDABS or AUDABS1 can be used instead of ABS to identify audience
; planes for mapping.

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CORNERS
;floor corners
1 -w/2 0 0
2 -w/2 d 0
3 w/2 d 0
4 w/2 0 0
;ceiling corners
11 -w/2 0 h ;or 11 x(1) y(1) h
12 -w/2 d h ;or 12 x(2) y(2) h
13 w/2 d h ;or 13 x(3) y(3) h
14 w/2 0 h ;or 14 x(4) y(4) h

PLANES
[1 floor / 4 3 2 1 / audience ]
[2 ceiling / 11 12 13 14 / wood ]
[3 stage wall / 1 11 14 4 / wood ]
[4 rear wall / 3 13 12 2 / wood ]
[5 left wall / 2 12 11 1 / wood ]
[6 right wall / 4 14 13 3 / wood ]

99999 planes can be used numbered from 1 to 99999 in any order and combination. In addition
to the basics shown above the GEO-format offers e.g. automatic mirroring of symmetrical
geometries, interactive constant input, mathematical expressions, accurate surface creation
tools, object rotation and copying, loops and many other tools, see manual Section 2.3.

The surface property data can either be entered directly in a geometry-file, as with the ABS (or
AUDABS, ABS1 or AUDABS1) directives above, or already be defined in the library managed by
the Surface properties module, see manual Section 3.

Save MASTER.GEO.

Select (Edit) Receiver-file and REC.LOC and enter the receiver data (one receiver per line, in
any order), receiver ids and the corresponding positions (x, y, z).

;REC.LOC
RECEIVERS
1 1 8 1.7
2 -3 d-4 1.7

Note that GLOBAL constants defined in a GEO-file, in this case d, can also be used in source-
and receiver-files. 100 receivers can be used numbered from 0 to 99, in any order and
combination. Which of the defined receivers to use is selected in General settings.

Save REC.LOC.

Select (Edit) Source-file and SRC.LOC and enter the source data, each source occupies a
number of lines using a SOURCE block. Source data items for a natural source are source id,
source position (x, y, z), source directivity, source aim point (x, y, z) or aim angles (horizontal
and vertical aiming angles H V). SPL values for the six octave-bands on axis at 1 m from the
acoustic center. Optionally source rotation angle (around source axis), 8k and 16k 1 m SPL
values can be given, see manual. This simple example uses the pre-defined natural omni-
directional source omni and if an electro-acoustic source, such as a loudspeaker or array, is
used the source syntax is more complex optionally specifying delay and gain, see manual
Section 2.3 (CATT-Edit has a Template menu to insert common SOURCE constructs).

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;SRC.LOC
LOCAL src_z = 1.7

SOURCE A0
DIRECTIVITY = "omni" ;predefined ideal natural omni source
POS = 1.0 1.7 src_z ;position x y z in meter
AIMANGLES = 0 0 ;aiming angles (do no matter with an omni)
Lp1m_a = <90 90 90 90 90 90> ;SPL @ 1m on the axis of the source (pink)
END

260 sources can be used numbered A0, A1, A2, … , B0, B1, … Z8, Z9 in any order and
combination. Which of the defined sources to use is selected in General settings. Source
directivities are handled in the Directivity module, see manual Section 4.

Save SRC.LOC.

The Create a New Project utility also created a basic Modeling settings-file GEO.MD9 auto-
matically loaded when the project was created. Select General settings and browse through the
various items.

Use a meaningful Instead of using actual folder

project name here. names, “.” can be used as a
The CAG-file shortcut for the folder where
name for TUCT as the settings-file (.MD9) is
well as its result- located, typically the project
files will be based Input folder. The folder entries
on this name. can then simply be e.g.:

Input folder : .
Output folder : .\OUT

This is especially useful if a

project is moved to another
location.

In the GEO-file specific scattering coefficients were given but for surfaces with no given
coefficients the Surface default will be used. Scattering coefficients are very important and can
affect the results very significantly, see CATT-A manual "2.7 Basic theory / Scattering
coefficients".

Click OK and select Geometry view/check and browse through the various items. Click OK and
check the created geometry by clicking Save and Run on the main dialog that will create basic
geometry PL9-files and a PL9-file list.

The current settings-file is also saved so the next time you run it will contain the same settings. If
an input-file has been edited and changed without having been saved afterwards, the editor
containing the file is moved to the front and a prompt is displayed asking if the file should be
saved before continuing (unless you have made a change by mistake, the answer should be
Yes).

The Modeling module reads/parses the created geometry-file, source- and receiver-files in the
project folder (i.e. the Input folder in the General settings dialog) and creates files in the Output
folder. Typically, each test case for a project should be directed to a new Output folder created
as a sub-folder to the Input folder. One created file, named PL9_GEO.TXT, contains all created
geometry plot-file names and the PL9Viewer module uses it to automatically show PL9-files
created.

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Such PL9-file lists can be reloaded and also be customized with the PL9Viewer module or a text
editor to show an assembly of results for presentations also with attached optionally auto-playing
WAV-files.

The VIEW4.PL9 file is shown in Fig. 2. Next/Previous file can be selected from the List menu or
by pressing the PgDn/PgUp keys. The graphics can be printed out, copy/pasted into other
applications and exported in various formats. For 3D plot-files, the mouse can be left mouse
button (LMB) click-dragged directly in the window to rotate the model and the right mouse button
(RMB) can be use to change viewing distance. The PL9Viewer module is described in the
manual Section 5 and also exists in a standalone version, see File | External CATT Tool and
PL9Viewer File | Load File In External Viewer.

Fig. 2: Sample 2D plot-file VIEW4.PL9

Pay special attention to the PLINFO.PL9 file shown in Fig. 3 where each plane and plane sub-
division is a sub-frame, it also indicates in which GEO-file the plane is defined in and on which
line.

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Fig. 3: PLINFO.PL9 3D plot-file for model checking, each plane and sub-
division is an animation frame

Next/Previous frame can be selected in several ways: by the mouse scroll-wheel, left and right
arrow keys (if is active), or left/right arrow buttons upper right . By holding down left
ALT any frame can be selected by an LMB click, and via the button any frame can be
selected from a list of all frames.

All planes can be stepped through and must show the reflecting side colored and the non-
reflecting side black. If they do not, the plane normal has to be reversed. This can either be done
by reversing the sequence of corner ids or by simply changing / to \ (or \ to /) in the plane
definitions concerned. Plane corners have to be entered either as seen clockwise from the
backside or from the front side of a surface but the entering order has to be consistent. The
default is clockwise from the backside (i.e. from the non-reflecting side of a surface typically as
seen the from outside of the room). If the reverse order is preferred the directive FROMFRONT
must be inserted at the top of the GEO-file (before CORNERS).

The file COLORED.PL9 is a colored 3D representation and makes it simple to spot e.g. holes or
reversed surfaces in the model and complements the PLINFO.PL9 file for checking the model.

In addition to the PL9-files a file called SHADED.OGL was created in the output folder. This file is
used by the OpenGL-based stand-alone CATT 3D-viewer and has many viewing options,
lighting, camera viewpoints etc. The OGL-file is normally loaded automatically in the viewer, the
viewer is documented by its own help-file.

If the geometry needs to be adjusted edit the geometry-file MASTER.GEO again by (Edit) Geo-file
and repeat Save and Run.

For a bit of experimenting change the line

LOCAL h = 8 ;hall height in m

in MASTER.GEO to

GETLOCAL h = 8 ;hall height in m

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and you will be able to enter the height at a screen prompt while the file is being read after Save
and Run has been clicked (GETLOCAL and GETGLOBAL have further options for checking/
limiting the given value, see manual).

Models must be simplified for use with prediction based on geometrical acoustics (GA), where
details are replaced by frequency dependent scattering, see manual "1.4 Software overview /
Frequency range" that also links to this whitepaper:

http://www.catt.se/What_is_Geometrical_Acoustics.pdf

However, even when simplified for GA prediction it is crucial for a model be correct in itself:

 no warped planes
 no gaps between planes (will give ray leaks)
 no planes modeled twice or more (unless double-sided with opposite normals such as free-
hanging reflectors)
 no reversed planes (i.e. where the reflecting side is facing the wrong direction).

In addition to using the 3D-model views a debug check should be made, it can be selected in the
Geometry view/check dialog and creates a text-file that lists all errors found. One sign of an
incorrect model (intended to be closed) is that Interactive RT estimation will fail. It must be
emphasized that a model may look correct to the eye but still have errors that may or will create
prediction errors, also for models created via a SketchUp plug-in or CAD-program.

Let us assume that the geometry now is OK. It is then time for some predictions of the
acoustics. CATT-A itself offers only one prediction tool, Interactive RT estimation, since it is
often applied in an early stage of a project, it gives classical Sabine and Eyring estimates and
material statistics and optionally can perform a fast global T-30 estimation using ray-tracing
(meaningful only for diffuse rooms). For further full prediction and auralization TUCT is used and
will be exemplified with the shoebox model.

First select in CATT-A (TUCT prediction/auralization) Aud. area

mapping… and select the plane id of the audience plane, here 1
(enter 1 in only the first or in both edit boxes and press the Add
button), or as an alternative define AUDABS (or AUDABS1) in the
GEO-file for properties used on audience planes and no plane ids
need to be selected here. Leave the Map step and Map height as
they are for this test and Click OK.

Click (TUCT prediction/auralization) Save CAG and Run and a file will be created in the output
folder with the name taken from the General settings Project name and with an extension .CAG
(CATT-Acoustic Geometry) and TUCT will start (each time a new file is created using the same
project name it will increment a number added to the name). TUCT has its own manual with a
more thorough introduction so only the basics will be covered here.

TUCT offers three main prediction

methods as selected via the
Main:Actions dialog:

Predict SxR: full detailed echograms and impulse responses, using basic to advanced prediction
algorithms that all can directly be used for auralization and estimation of a range of measures.

Map direct sound: color mapping of direct sound and source delays over the selected audience
planes.

Map measures: color mapping of measures and more over the selected audience planes – Map
meaures uses a slightly modified version of algorithm 1 in Predict SxR.

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TUCT also offer several tools that can be used independently of the Main: methods as selected
via the Window menu:

Pixel Rendering
Surface Rendering
Vertical Slice Rendering
Image Source Model
Time Trace

Let us do a quick test of the available tools.

Map direct

Click Map direct (on the Main:Actions window) and click Run (not
many options necessary for just direct sound and one source) and
the direct sound over the audience area will be shown in the
Main:Show 3D window, see Fig. 4.

Fig. 4: Sample direct sound mapping. Note that some display options such
as Faces, Coord. sys., Rec point, Rec id and Rec head dir. have here been
deselected for a clearer view of the map.

Use the (Audience mapping) Max and Range +/- to select a suitable scale or the ? button to
auto-scale, but for a single omni source it is not a very exciting display. To see individual map
point values hold the SHIFT key while moving the mouse over the map surface. This function
should not use a very small map step since it has to be compatible with Map measures that
typically has a 0.5 to 1 m map step, the Window menu offers more detailed direct sound Pixel
and Surface Rendering.

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Map measures

Click Map measures (on the Main:Actions window) and check

Suggest for both No of rays/cones and (Echogram) Length as an
initial suggestion, and then click Run and after some processing
time room acoustics and sound system measures over the
audience area will be shown in the Main:Show 3D window, see
Fig. 5 for an example with C-80 (Clarity).

Demo note: the actual number of rays used is limited.

Fig. 5: Sample mapping of C-80.

Use the (Audience mapping) Max and Range +/- to select a suitable scale or the ? button to
auto-scale. Use (Audience mapping) Type to select one of the many measures. To see indi-
vidual map point values hold the SHIFT key while moving the mouse over the map surface.
Some measures like STI and Echograms pop up a dialog with additional options.

Demo note: in an artificial room like this with non-mixing geometry and non-uniform absorption
distribution many more rays than the demo allows for are required to give a low random variation
from map point to map point.

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Predict SxR

Click Predict SxR (on the Main:Actions window) and check

Suggest for both No of rays and (Echogram) Length as an initial
suggestion, and then click Run and after some processing time
echogram and impulse response results are available in the
Main:Show 2D window for analysis and direct convolution/
playing. Figs. 6 to 9 show a few examples of the results
created. Note the two curves shown for most cases that are
from using pressure addition giving an impulse response (blue)
and energy addition giving an energy echogram (red) and the
differences at low frequencies indicates the uncertainty with
geometrical acoustics prediction, for more details see TUCT
manual Section "2. Main prediction algorithms".

Demo note: the actual number of rays used is limited.

Fig. 6: One of many room acoustic Measures, here C-80 (source A0 and
receiver 01, indicated lower right in the graph window as A0x01)

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Fig. 7: One of many Echogram-based displays, here the Schröder curve

with EDT and T-30 line regressions shown.

Fig. 8: One of many Impulse response (IR) based displays, here a binaural
IR. For more IR details see Window | Main: Impulse Response Detail.

Fig. 9: A very special Impulse response based display using a rotating

TM
microphone including the patented Sector mic as shown here. Note the
direction of the microphone as a sector outline in the Main:Show 3D
window identifying a side-wall reflection at around 9 ms.

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Auralization

As soon as a Predict SxR calculation is finished direct IR playing and convolution is available via
Play/Convolve. In File | Preferences a number of Alias for anechoic WAV-files or filters can be
selected and can be selected for convolution, also samplerate, HRTFs and headphone eq can
be selected. The controls below Play/Convolve allows for WAV creation (not in limited versions)
and relative calibration. Holding down Ctrl when clicking Play/Convolve will play the anechoic
WAV for reference.

Demo and Prediction license notes:

· only one supplied anechoic WAV can be used

· only binaural IRs can be used, based on simplified HRTFs, and a generic Headphone eq

Demo license notes:

· in the demo the IR is somewhat truncated before convolving (the demo allows too few rays to
give good auralization of the late part) but even so the demo auralization should not be taken
seriously, it is included only to see how it is done. For more information see Appendix 1.

For all rendering functions below the Max and Range +/- to select a suitable scale or the ?
button to auto-scale. To see individual map spectra hold the SHIFT key while moving the mouse
over the mapped surfaces.

Window | Pixel Rendering

Displays direct or reflected SPL color maps on all visible model surfaces and/or visible audience
surfaces of either incident or directly reflected sound.

Fig. 10: Pixel rendering of the incident direct sound (all visible pixels, if the
3D view is changed the rendering has to be recalculated, double-click the
window to unlock)

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Window | Surface Rendering

Similar to pixel rendering but renders all surfaces at a selected absolute resolution allowing
rotation of the model without a recalculation.

Fig. 11: Surface rendering of direct sound, model can be freely rotated.

Window | Vertical Slice Rendering

Similar to surface rendering but renders a selected vertical slice in the room, typical use for
vertical array coverage. The button will allow selection of the slice along a specified source
aim, directly if only one source.

Fig. 12: Vertical slice rendering.

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Window | Image Source Model

Detailed early specular reflections for qualitative reflection studies.

Fig. 13: Image Source Model results, many display options and mouse
selection of reflections.

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Window | Time Trace

A wavefront-like ray display that can be stepped through in time or ray by ray, Mode (View). Via
Mode (Calculation) a subset of model planes can be used e.g. for reflector coverage studies.

Fig. 14: Time trace, display options such as coloring after order, time
arrival, source or sound level.

Round-up

These were the basic steps running CATT-Acoustic v9.1 in its most generic form. The CATT-A
manual "2.3 Input-files / Geometry-files / Example model" and "8. Tutorial" give more realistic
model examples.

For the first project it might not seem worth while to use the advanced possibilities of creating a
structured geometry and use named constants and expressions to define corner/node
coordinates etc. This is certainly true if one gets everything correct the first time and if the hall
design never has to be changed or fine-tuned. Most projects, however, require a lot of fine-
tuning of the design. Often some of these changes can be anticipated and be allowed for by
using named constants (e.g. reflector heights or angles). The extra time spent planning in the
first part of the project will almost certainly pay off in the later part. If only numbers are used it is
very easy to paint oneself into a corner and it is also very difficult to understand the model
construction a few weeks after it was created or if it was created by someone else.

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4. Software overview
CATT-Acoustic is a room acoustic prediction and auralization software that includes many
prediction methods and tools. Each method has its special benefits and drawbacks and can be
selected depending on case. Many times it is beneficial to view the results of different types of
predictions side by side.

Hardware requirements

CATT-Acoustic requires an IBM PC compatible equipped with a Pentium processor or higher

and Windows XP or higher (all programs are 32-bit but run well under 64-bit Windows).

Hall geometry and absorption

The hall geometry can have any reasonable shape as long as it can be approximated by a
maximum of 99999 planes (plane surfaces). This limit is arbitrary and can be increased in the
future, if required, but generally for geometrical acoustics methods better results are not created
by a very detailed model, rather the opposite a too detailed model becomes a high frequency
model.

As the geometry input can be made by using a text editor, the input-file format has been made
very forgiving allowing for blank lines and comments and no need to place the data in fixed
columns.

Powerful facilities such as symbolic constants, expressions (even with calls to math
functions), IF-statements, tracing statements, interactive input, and hierarchic files for the
geometry are incorporated. Rather then just read by the main program the geometry-files are
interpreted.

Overview of the geometry description:

· number of corners/nodes in the model (in practice) only limited by available memory

· hierarchic geometry-file organization enabling structuring of the geometry (using the

INCLUDE directive):

main hall
balconies
reflectors
extra reflectors
audience

· geometry-files can be scaled e.g. to compensate for erroneous drawings or to convert from
imperial to metric units (the SCALE directive)

· a geometry-file can be defined as an object and then be translated and/or rotated

(typically for reflectors) and also be made to duplicate its contents with a new set of
translation/rotation values (the OBJECT, ROTATE, TRANSLATE and COPY directives)

· mirroring of symmetrical (or nearly symmetrical) halls (the MIRROR directive)

· symbolic constants and expressions with calls to math functions can be used to specify
coordinates, translations, rotations and several other values (the GLOBAL, GETGLOBAL,
LOCAL and GETLOCAL directives + sin(), cos(), tan(), arctan(), sqrt(), exp(),
log(), … functions).

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· functions are provided for creating model corners that are automatically locked to planes
(lock() function), and for creating corners as intersections between lines and planes
(cut() function), and a loop() function.

· tools are provided for maintaining a structured model, such as declaring e.g. the x-value of
a corner to be the same as the x-value of another corner(x(), y(), and z() functions), or
the use of local corner and plane numbers in each file.

· planes can be sub-divided in any number of sub-planes each with different

absorbing/diffusing properties. By dividing a plane consisting of several different
absorbing/diffusing parts into sub-divisions instead of making one plane definition for each
part, the calculation time will decrease and the model will be easier to interpret and have a
lower risk for ray leaks.

· planes and plane sub-divisions can be concave (i.e. have re-entrant angles such as in star-
shaped planes) or convex with number of corners and number of sub-divisions (in
practice) only limited by available memory.

· plane corners can either be entered ordered clockwise as seen from the back side or from
the front side of reflecting planes (user choice but must be consistent in each GEO-file;
FROMFRONT and FROMBACK directives).

· libraries of named absorbing/diffusing surface properties. Number of entries only limited

by available memory.

· absorbing/diffusing properties can be specified in several ways:

· as a named library entry (very common materials as entered in the Surface properties
module)

· as a named entry in a geometry-file (common materials in a certain hall, the ABS

directive) and optionally for audience planes the AUDABS directive

· directly in % in a plane or sub-division definition (not so common materials that perhaps

need no names)

· a plane or a plane sub-division can be assigned an automatic frequency dependent

edge scattering to emulate the diffusing effects of diffraction. Actual early reflection
diffraction is an option in TUCT.

· a frequency dependent semi transparency can be specified.

· a frequency dependent default scattering coefficient can be specified (for surface

properties with no scattering coefficients defined).

· scattering can be modeled as 2D or 1D (1D to be used for surfaces with wells or

battens).

· marker elements or loaded marker-files for non-acoustical visual elements (am optional
MARKERS section after the PLANES section,.

· model version tracking by defining a GLOBAL string constant CAGGASE that will be added to
the CAG-file name, for details see manual.

Coordinate system

In principle any right-handed coordinate system could have been used, but to use mirroring of
symmetrical parts and for view angles for perspective plots, aiming angles for a source,
reflection incidence angles and head-direction Stage to be understood, the system has to be as
follows, see Fig. 14.
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stage

side view y

x top view

Fig. 14: Hall coordinate system

Imagine standing on the stage of the hall looking towards the audience:

· The x-axis should run from left to right

· The y-axis should run towards the audience

· The z-axis should run upwards.

The origin can be placed anywhere but it is recommended to place it along a hall symmetry line
(to utilize the mirror function), at the stage wall, the stage front, or at the proscenium. If the hall
has no typical stage, model the longest hall dimension as y since many plots are optimized for a
longer y dimension.

SI units are used but since the input data-files can use scale-factors for the coordinates of the
hall model (SCALE directive), it is possible to enter everything in any decimal unit. CATT-A and
TUCT (v2) have File | Preferences options to display geometry-related numbers in either feet or
meter. With the AutoCAD interface (not included in the demo but can be requested) or
DXF2GEO (File | External CATT Tool) also imperial units can be used. Decimal numbers
transferred to the CATT GEO-file format will be the same as inside AutoCAD since scale-factors
are used to convert to meter when the files are read.

Frequency range

All calculations are made for eight octave-bands: 125 Hz to 16k Hz.

Where it is relevant calculation is also made for the power sum of these eight octave-bands,
linear and A-weighted.

If no data is available for 8k and 16k Hz extrapolation is made based on the values at 2k and 4k
Hz.

Note: CATT-Acoustic is based on geometrical acoustics (GA) and in most halls the lowest two
octaves will not be well predicted. For small rooms such as control rooms and studios typically
only the upper octaves 1, 2, and 4 kHz will be well predicted (8k and 16 kHz may suffer from
lack of proper input data) but qualitative analysis is useful also for the lower octaves. The
Interactive RT estimate dialog gives a rough estimate of a reasonable frequency range for a
given room. For further discussions about limitations of GA turn to the CATT-A manual Section
"1.4 Software overview / Frequency range" that that also links to this whitepaper:
http://www.catt.se/What_is_Geometrical_Acoustics.pdf

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Source directivity

Source directivity is handled by the Directivity module and patterns are modeled either by
entering or importing horizontal and vertical polar values for every 15°, by importing measured
data in a 10° full space format, the Common Loudspeaker Format CLF (www.clfgroup.org)
(CF1- and CF2-files) or via the CATT-Acoustic Text Array (CTA) format for array modeling.

Demo note: CLF-format files can be viewed in the CATT-A Directivity module and used for CTA
array modeling but not used for prediction in TUCT.

Data output

Data output can be requested for any combination of up to 260 sources (A0 to Z9) and up to
100 receivers (00 to 99) and any combination of octave-bands plus the power sum of the
octaves where relevant.

5. A short background to CATT and CATT-Acoustic

A short presentation of me - Bengt-Inge Dalenbäck, the software developer - and the company
CATT.

I acquired an M.Sc. in electrical engineering 1980 with a thesis in semiconductor technology,

working on a gas sensitive Field Effect Transistor (FET).

I have been involved in acoustics since 1981, the years up to 1989-90 mostly as a part-time
teacher at Applied Acoustics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.

1986 I started an independent company CATT (Computer Aided Theatre Technique) originally
developing theater lighting and decor design CAD software and was until 1996 half-time
occupied at the department and half-time at the company. Since 1988 CATT has concentrated
on software for room acoustics.

1990, I joined the Chalmers Room Acoustics Group for half-time Ph.D. studies. See the CATT
www page for a list of publications.

1995, December, I received a Ph.D. on room acoustic prediction and auralization at Chalmers.

A list of main programming projects within CATT:

· 1987, CATT-Lighting: 3D CAD-program for theater lighting design (built on ray-tracing).

· 1987, CATT-Decor: 3D CAD-program for decor design on theater stages aimed to support
CATT-Lighting. With an object library and with hidden line removal.

· 1988, CATT-Acoustic: Room acoustic simulation using the image source model.

The first three projects were implemented on a Commodore Amiga.

· 1989, CATT-Acoustic MS-DOS. The lighting and decor design programs are dropped and the
work concentrates on room acoustics and PC-software.

· 1990, Binaural post-processing of the results from CATT-Acoustic creating binaural impulse
responses to use for audible simulations (so-called auralization). For convolution a Lake
FDP-1 convolution processor was required.

· 1990-1994, Various enhancements and upgrades of CATT-Acoustic.

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· 1994, Software convolution enabling auralization using only a PC sound-card. Specialized

hardware is now optional.

· 1996, June, release of CATT-Acoustic v6 for Windows 3.1.

· 1996, July, goes from a 50% to a 10% position at Chalmers concentrating on CATT.

· 1996, August, release of CATT-VRoom designed for full frequency-range studio and virtual
reality reverb together with a Lake DSP Huron or CP4 convolution processor.

· 1997, March, release of CATT-Acoustic v6.1 for Windows 3.1.

· 1998, February, release of v7.0 for 32-bit Windows introducing Randomized Tail-corrected
Cone-tracing (RTC).

· 1998, October, v7.1 introducing the DLL Directivity Interface (DDI) and array modelling also
including the crucial nearfield.

· 1999, October, v7.2 introducing RTC-II and the OpenGL-based CATT 3D-Viewer.

· 2000, The FIReverb Suite, for natural music FIR reverb and multi-channel convolution
(CATT-VRoom is enhanced, renamed to PureVerb and supplemented by the MultiVolver).
nd
· 2001, The FIReverb Suite 2 Ed., 24- and 32-bit processing, Ambisonic decoder.

· 2002, February, CATT-Acoustic v8.0 with 8k and 16k Hz processing, material colors, visual
markers, walkthrough convolution, 5-channel post-processing.
TM
· 2005, CATT-Walker for real time walkthrough auralization.

· 2000-2008, continuous enhancements of v8 and extensive work on the CLF project

(www.clfgroup.org)

 2010, March, release of TUCT that will replace all prediction and auralization in CATT-
Acoustic except Interactive RT estimation. Initially TUCT runs in parallel with v8 to ease the
transition to the coming v9.


TM
2010, October, release of ReflPhinder a B-format impulse response analysis tool


TM
2010, October, release of MultiVolver WCP a general offline NxM convolver to complement
TM
MultiVolver VST and the Classic MultiVolver. TUCT exports settings for MultiVolver
TM TM
WCP /VST

 2011, February, release of PL9-viewer for the new PL9 vector graphics format to be used
with CATT-Acoustic v9 and that can be exported by TUCT

 2011, July, release of CATT-Acoustic v9 removing all old prediction methods and other no
longer necessary items.

 2011, Dec, release of CATT-Acoustic v9.0b and TUCT v1.0h with 1D-diffusers, 5-ch impulse
responses, sequence processing, DLf and DL2 open plan office measures, T-30 statistics,
“batch” map export, and more.

 2012, Nov, release of CATT-Acoustic v9.0c and TUCT v1.1a with comprehensive early
diffraction, explicit selection of number of threads to use in processing, and more.

 2016, January, release of CATT-Acoustic v9.1 with TUCT v2 introducing a new and much
improved source and array handling via the CATT-Acoustic Text Array (CTA) format no
longer requiring DLLs for array modeling, many new features such as Impulse and
Frequency response display, Slice rendering and 1/3-octave polars and balloons for arrays.
TUCT v2, in addition to utilizing the new source and array formats, adds Vertical slice

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rendering, a flexible graphic display of calculated measures, direct sound spectrum mapping,
mapping of SPL in time intervals, display of the full mapping echograms, more implemented
measures, and more functions utilize multiple CPU cores.

 2017-2019 v9.1b-e: a ceiling loudspeaker array creation tool for voice evacuation systems,
G-80 added, updated ReflPhinder™, the new GratisVolver Pro™, an option to use either feet
or meter for room geometry-related displays, a ceiling loudspeaker array tool, flexible graphs
for display of measures, TUCT2 Algorithm 1 has an average/loop option for the echogram
(E), CATT-Walker™ v2 based on the 3D-viewer (audio processing rewritten from scratch and
many new options added), a full implementation for Predict SxR of ISO 3382-3 for open plan
offices to complement the more flexible option with Map measures, a non-official full
implementation of angle-dependent absorption, and a new Sector directivity type for TUCT2.

 2020 v9.1f: development of and support for the new Common Instrument Format (CIF), CI1
and CI2 files www.clfgroup.org

 2021 v9.1f::2: a source-file shortcut for the STI Ed 5 speech spectrum.

 2022 v9.1g: minor additions and maintenance

CATT can be reached at:

CATT
Mariagatan 16A
SE-41471 Gothenburg
SWEDEN
Phone: +46 31 145154
e-mail: info@catt.se
www: http://www.catt.se

For an up to date list of CATT-Acoustic distributors, see

http://www.catt.se/distributors.htm or contact CATT directly.

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Appendix 1: Demo and prediction license limitations

General demo limitations:

 AutoCAD interface files are not included, but the documentation can be seen in manual
Section 7 and the files can be provided after request (the DXF2GEO DXF converter is
included, see CATT-A File | External CATT Tool)

General demo limitations in TUCT are mainly:

 the number of rays is limited to max 5000 in Predict SxR and Map measures. This means
that it is never meaningful to compare measurements to predictions made by the demo
version or to use it for writing any kind of report, thesis or paper.

 the Image Source Model max 3 orders.

 Time Trace max 3 orders and 5000 rays.


st
diffraction only 1 order (d)

 playing/convolving only of single source, binaural IRs with sphere HRTFs, a generic
headphone eq, and a fixed anechoic WAV-file

 playing/convolving is limited to use IRs around 25% of the predicted reverberation time, for a
realistic late reverb more rays than allowed in the demo version have to be used

 the CTA format for array modeling can be fully utilized in the CATT-A Directivity module but
for TUCT prediction max two elements can be used.

 the no longer developed DLL Directivity Interface the CATT_Generic module is included but
has limited functionality. It make no sense for demo testers to use the older format that
requires the no longer developed TUCT1.

 certified loudspeaker data (such as the CLF format or protected SD0 or SD1) can not be
used (CLF can be viewed and used for CTA array modeling in the CATT-A Directivity module
but not used in TUCT prediction)

 certified instrument and natural source data (such as the CIF format or protected SD0 or
SD1) can be viewed but not be used in TUCT prediction

 no impulse response, Walker or HeadScape export.

General prediction license limitations in TUCT are mainly:

 playing/convolving only of single source, binaural IRs with sphere HRTFs, a generic
headphone eq, and a fixed anechoic WAV-file

 no impulse response, Walker or HeadScape export.

Nevertheless, the demo enables a thorough evaluation of CATT-Acoustic including TUCT and
any models and data created can be used with the licensed versions.

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Appendix 2: Short GEO, LOC input file syntax reminder

Common directives in GEO and LOC-files

The directives below can be used on any line in file.

IF expr1 condition expr2 THEN (condition: <, <=, =, >= , > ,#)
statements
ELSE (optional)
statements
ENDIF

IF expr THEN (IFs cannot be nested)

statements
ELSE (optional)
statements
ENDIF

SAY message displays message on the screen and waits for OK to be pressed.

SAY constant displays the constant value and waits for OK to be pressed.

RETURN forces end-of-file (can be used for debugging purposes).

BREAK message forces abort of the processing with message shown on screen.

Comments are introduced by a semicolon (;) blank lines are allowed.

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Geometry-files (.GEO)

Directives section:

INCLUDE filename (multiple, includes after file is read)

SCALE sc_x sc_y sc_z
OBJECT
TRANSLATE t_x t_y t_z (SHIFT alternative form)
ROTATE r_x r_y r_z
ORIGIN o_x o_y o_z (seldom used)
OFFSETPL number
OFFSETCO number
FROMFRONT|FROMBACK (FROMBACK default)
MIRROR co+ pl+ [EXCLUDE pl_id ...]
COPY co+ pl+ o_x o_y o_z t_x t_y t_z r_x r_y r_z (multiple)
GLOBAL name = expr | string (multiple)
LOCAL name = expr | string (multiple)
GETGLOBAL name = expr | string [options] (multiple)
GETLOCAL name = expr | string [options] (multiple)
ABS absname = <125 ... 4k : 8k 16k >
ABS absname = <125 ... 4k : 8k 16k > L <s125 ... s4k : S8k s16k>
ABS absname = <125 ... 4k : 8k 16k > L < estimate(size) >
ABS absname1 = absname2
ABS absname1 = absname2 L <s125 ... s4k : s8k s16k>
ABS absname1 = absname2 L1 <s125 ... s4k : s8k s16k>
AUDABS (optional, instead of ABS to use for audience mapping planes)

(all ABS variants multiple, values in % (unless ABS1 or AUDABS1 is used instead for values 0..1),
values in italics are optional)

For details and some further less often used directives and how to apply semi-transparency and
use 1D-diffusers (L1) in ABS, see CATT-A manual: "2.3 Modeling input-files / Geometry files /
Directives section" ABS/ABS1 directive.

For scattering data for use when TUCT diffraction is used see CATT-A manual "2.3 Input-files /
Geometry-files / Modeling notes".

For further directive details see manual.

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CORNERS section (one corner per line):

CORNERS
c_id c_x c_y c_z can also use loop(), cut(), lock(), x(), y() and z()
functions and expressions)
... (more corners)

PLANES section (definitions can span over several lines):

PLANES
[ pl_id pl_name / c ... / abs ] (c ... a range of corner ids)

or a sub-divided plane
[ pl_id pl_name / c ... /
( sub_name1 / c ... / abs_1 )
( sub_name2 / c ... / abs_2 )
... (more sub-divisions)
]

... (more planes, can also use loops, see manual)

MARKERS section:

MARKERS (optional section for non-acoustical visual elements,

see manual)
... (markers of type POLY, LINE, DASH, RULE, CIRC, DISC, TEXT and LOAD)

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Source-file (.LOC)

SCALE sc_x sc_y sc_z

LOCAL name = expr | string (multiple)
GETLOCAL name = expr | string [options] (multiple)

(basic options for natural source, for electro-acoustic source see manual Section "2.4 Input-files
/ Source-file")

SOURCE id

DIRECTIVITY = "dir" dir is a directivity file (SD0,SD1) or a CBA-

file for an incoherent type array. The
directivity files are located in the
“CATTDATA”\SD folder or in a sub-folder to
SD ("dir" is then given as e.g.
"humans\singer.SD0") or "OMNI" for a
predefined ideal omni-directional natural
source.

POS = x y z position

AIMPOS = x y z aim position

(or)
AIMANGLES = h v horiz. and vertical aiming angles []

[ROTATION = r] optional rotation around its axis

Lp1m_a = < Lp125 .. Lp4k [ : Lp8k Lp16k ] >

SPL @ 1 m on axis in 1/1-octaves, many

shortcuts available starting with Lp_ see
manual. The 8k and 16k values are optional,
if not included they are extrapolated from 2k
and 4k

[COHERENT] default: incoherent

[MAPRAYFACTOR = f] see manual

END end of the SOURCE data block

... (more SOURCE data blocks, for electro-acoustic sources and many options see manual).

The CATT-Edit Template menu has several useful SOURCE block templates.

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Receiver-file (.LOC)

SCALE sc_x sc_y sc_z

GLOBAL name = expr (multiple)
LOCAL name = expr (multiple)
GETGLOBAL name = expr|string [options] (multiple)
GETLOCAL name = expr|string [options] (multiple)

RECEIVERS
r_id r_x r_y r_z [h_x h_y h_z] (h_… optional individual head direction point)
... (more receivers)

Receivers can also be created by loop functions: recline(), recloop(), recloop2() and
recwalk(), and also specify receiver-specific background noise levels, see manual.

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