Mastering the Stimulus: Why Your Noise Choice Matters
The “Pink Noise” button is the most clicked feature in Smaart, but are you using the right kind of noise? Smaart v9 offers a sophisticated signal generator that goes far beyond a simple random hiss. Choosing the right stimulus can mean the difference between a “jittery” measurement and a rock-solid trace.
Random vs. Pseudorandom (PRN)
Random Pink Noise is like a natural waterfall—it never repeats. This is great for our ears, but it requires a lot of averaging in Smaart to get a flat line.
Pseudorandom Noise is a mathematical loop that matches the FFT size of your measurement. Because the loop is perfectly “period-matched,” you can get a 100% stable, flat-line measurement with zero averaging. Use PRN when you are in a quiet room and need absolute precision.
2The Pink Sweep
If you are using Impulse Response (IR) Mode, stop using noise and start using the Pink Sweep. A sweep (or “chirp”) puts all its energy into one frequency at a time, moving across the spectrum. This provides a much higher signal-to-noise ratio. In v9, the sweep is so fast that you can capture a full room IR in less than two seconds.
Fade-In: The “Ear-Saver”
A new feature in v9 is the Generator Fade-In. Instead of the noise “blasting” on and scaring the crew (or the audience), you can set a 1-2 second fade. It’s a small detail, but it’s the hallmark of a professional engineer who cares about the environment they’re working in.
Multi-Channel Playback
In the v9 generator, you can now route noise to multiple outputs with individual level controls. This is essential for Mains-to-Sub alignment—you can have the mains at one level and the subs at another, toggling them on and off from within the Smaart interface without touching the console faders.
The Strategy: Use PRN for system tuning in empty rooms, Pink Sweep for acoustic analysis, and Random Pink (with a long fade-in) for measurements when people are present.
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 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!
