Smaart v9 Suite is the flagship audio measurement and analysis software from Rational Acoustics, widely regarded as the industry standard for professional sound engineers and acousticians. First introduced in the 1990s, Smaart has continually evolved, with the v9 platform (latest update: v9.6 as of August 2025) representing a major overhaul featuring a unified 64-bit code base, streamlined interface, and enhanced multi-mode capabilities.
The Suite edition is the most comprehensive version, integrating three powerful measurement modes—Real-Time (RT), Impulse Response (IR), and SPL—into a single application with no functional limitations. Users can seamlessly switch between modes using radio buttons in the upper-right corner of the interface, while sharing a common configuration. This all-in-one design supports unlimited simultaneous measurements, multi-channel I/O, and advanced features for SPL monitoring.
Other editions include Smaart RT (focused on Real-Time mode), Smaart LE (simplified Real-Time), and Smaart SPL (dedicated level monitoring). The Suite is ideal for professionals needing full versatility, from live sound system alignment to room acoustics analysis and regulatory noise compliance.
Recent updates in v9.6 (released August 13, 2025) include docked SPL meter grids, SPL compensation for virtual measurement points, improved calibration dialogs, and reorganized menus for better workflow efficiency.
Exploring Real-Time Mode
Real-Time mode is the core of Smaart, providing single and dual channel FFT-based frequency-domain analysis for immediate system feedback. It’s the mode most engineers associate with “using Smaart,” perfect for aligning PA systems, EQing monitors, and troubleshooting sound systems.
Key displays include:
- Spectrum (RTA): Real-Time Analyzer with fractional-octave banding up to 1/48th octave, Spectrograph for frequency-over-time visualization.
- Transfer Function: Magnitude, Phase, Coherence, and Live IR traces, supporting unlimited simultaneous measurements with averaging.
- Phase and Magnitude: Essential for time-aligning drivers and subsystems.
Unlimited measurement engines allow comparing multiple positions or sources. Features like delay tracking, larger FFT sizes (up to 128K), and progressive averaging make it powerful for precise tuning.
Exploring Impulse Response Mode
Impulse Response mode shifts focus to the time domain, ideal for acoustical analysis of rooms, reverberation, and detailed system behavior. It excels where Real-Time mode’s frequency-domain view falls short, such as identifying reflections or calculating speech intelligibility.
Primary views include:
- Linear, Logarithmic, and ETC (Envelope Time Curve): For examining arrival times, reflections, and decay.
- Histogram and Spectrograph: Advanced visualization of energy distribution.
- Frequency Response: Derived from IR data.
Acousticians benefit from built-in calculations like RT60 (reverberation time), STI/STIPA (speech transmission index), CIS (clarity index), and more. Larger FFT sizes (up to 512K) enable high-resolution measurements.
IR mode is crucial for tuning concert halls, studios, or houses of worship, helping mitigate problematic reflections and optimise clarity.
Exploring SPL Mode
SPL (Sound Pressure Level) mode is a robust tool for monitoring, logging, and reporting noise levels, ensuring compliance with regulations in venues, festivals, or installations. It’s the industry’s leading software-based SPL solution, supporting Class 1/2 accuracy with compatible hardware like 10 EaZy.
Features include:
- Multi-channel metering with customizable “traffic light” indicators, alarms, and event notes.
- Leq calculations (A, C, unweighted, octave bands) over user-defined periods.
- Remote web-browser viewing, history plots, and automated report generation.
- New in v9.6: SPL compensation for virtual mic positions and docked meter grids.
Perfect for fixed installations or touring productions needing to track SPL limits.
Conclusion
Smaart v9 Suite brings together Real-Time, Impulse Response and SPL modes in a way that no other software quite matches. It’s powerful, surprisingly straightforward once you get going, and it keeps getting better with every update. Whether you’re lining up a festival PA, sorting out room acoustics in a concert hall, or keeping an eye on noise levels for compliance, the Suite gives you the tools you need in one place.
Smaart is excellent on its own, but most users find they get much more out of it after some structured training. That’s where our seminars come in. At TZ Audio – the official Smaart distributor for Scandinavia – we run practical seminars, both online and in-venue. We offer seminar-only or full “all you need packages” including software & hardware. It’s simply the fastest way to become comfortable and confident with the measuring a sound system.
If you’re in Norway, Sweden, Denmark or Iceland – or elsewhere – we offer is online seminars and traveling to Norway is a valid option too of course. We’re here if you have any questions about the software or upcoming seminars.
Thanks for reading!