The Sound Scanner:
Efficiency and Precision

Optimize your NVH analyses with advanced acoustic technology. Our cameras provide precise localization of noise sources, reducing development times and sustainably improving product quality.

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Leading NVH Engineers use the Sound Scanner.

 

Practical and Revolutionary:
the Sound Scanner in Action

Explore the transformative power of the Sound Scanner, redefining industry standards in sound source localization. Whether in acoustically optimizing vehicle interiors or troubleshooting complex components, our system enables quick and precise diagnosis.

The following image gallery presents selected use cases: from leakage detection to the analysis of propulsion systems. Discover how each measurement leads to a solution, thereby increasing efficiency and quality in your workflow.

Engine Run-Up on Roller Dyno

Roller dynamometers allow to set operating and load conditions in a controlled manner. The acoustic image is generated for a relevant time interval during the run-up phase (rotational speed of 4500rpm) and the frequency range of interest (800Hz – 2500Hz) to locate the responsible components for resonance peaks. High spatial resolution combined with a wide dynamic range enables the targeted analysis of contributions from components, in this case, the gearbox cover on the right and the rear wheel sprocket on the left.

Car Cabin Leaks

As part of quality control for production vehicles or the preparation of prototypes for acoustic verifications, the air/water tightness of the car cabin is a crucial criterion. Using an ultrasonic speaker inside the vehicle cabin, the Sound Scanner locates and quantifies unexpected deviations from a nominal or expected leak distribution. Time-consuming water ingress tests or smoke tests are now a thing of the past.

Unusual Sound from the Engine Compartment

An engine produces a variety of different noises during normal operation, such as noise from the fan, intake, combustion, auxiliary components at various RPMs, etc. In the event of a malfunction, identifying an unusual noise and attributing it to a specific component can be challenging due to the compact design and limited accessibility. Instead of time-consuming guess work through component replacements, an acoustic image clearly pinpoints the source of unusual sounds, such as a squeaky pulley in this case. Additionally, the unusual noise can be filtered and played back to align the subjective auditory impression with the acoustic image.

Noise Reduction in a Drivetrain

When a roller dynamometer is not available for a quick analysis of noise issues in a drivetrain, the Sound Scanner can locate the key sound sources of electrified drivetrain components even in an acoustically suboptimal environment with high quality. In this case, with a dynamic range of 8 dB, the electric motor on the right is identified as the main cause of resonance at 800 Hz. Other contributing components such as the driveshaft and the rear axle differential can be disregarded for further optimization.

Get the Acoustic Image
within seconds

Through cloud computing and artificial intelligence, acoustic images are made available on a mobile device for immediate analysis. In real-time, precise, and across the full frequency and time range.

Scan the Sound Field

Put the sensor in motion and scan the sound field. The mobile device controls the measurement process and sends the data to the cloud.

Get the Image

In the cloud, the acoustic image is calculated by our patented algorithm. Alternatively, it can be processed on a high-performance laptop on-site.

Analyse the Results

The acoustic image is sent back to the mobile device for analysis. Detailed analysis is conducted on a laptop using special software features.

Schallanalyse bei Automotive
NVH Team Leader, KTM AG

"We develop our motorcycles using the latest development tools in simulation and testing. Acoustic images are a valuable asset for our engineers, helping to align simulation models with actual measurement data of the local acoustic emission of components."

Martin Mayrobnig NVH Team Leader, KTM AG
Operations Manager, Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH

"Our fleet of state-of-the-art low-floor tram cars is meticulously maintained by our technicians to ensure the mobility of our customers in the region and to keep noise emissions for the population to a minimum. Acoustic images allow us to quickly identify variations within the fleet and take targeted actions."

Josef Berger Operations Manager, Stern & Hafferl Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH

Powerful Features
for Your Post-Processing

Our desktop app offers powerful functionalities for detailed evaluation of data captured with the acoustic camera on-site. With a variety of specific and high-performance features, it enables comprehensive analysis and provides you the opportunity to examine the results in detail.

Screenshot from the Feature "Map and Probe" of the Seven Bel's Desktop App

Map and Probe

The Map and Probe feature allows users to select specific areas in the acoustic image and directly compare them in terms of their frequency content and sound power levels.

Thus, the time-consuming analysis of frequency ranges, in which certain excitation sources operate, becomes a thing of the past, enabling you to achieve a quicker quantitative assessment of the contributions of components and areas.

Screenshot of Seven Bel's Software Feature: Hi-Speed Capture

Hi-Speed Capture

Locate transient, repeatable sound events with extremely high temporal resolution. The Sound Scanner records these events at various rotation angles.

Select the time interval of interest in the audio signal, and analyze the sound event with a temporal resolution of less than one millisecond regarding sound source location and propagation.

 

Seven Bel's Feature: Sound Scanner Measurement in Live Mode

Live Mode

Conduct real-time sound source localization. Select the relevant frequency range and use advanced acoustic image controls to quickly and efficiently confirm the location of a sound source from different viewing angles.

A private cloud configuration is required.

Choose the Software Package
That Best Suits You

The Basic license provides a solid foundation for mobile analysis directly through our app.
For more advanced requirements, we recommend our Advanced or Pro licenses, which enable advanced features and maximum productivity.

Basic

490€

per year

Android Mobile App

  • Live Audio Stream
  • Adjustable Time & Frequency Resolution
  • Time Averaging
  • Selective Listening
  • Archiving & Shareable PDF Report

Pro

990€

per year

Everything in BASIC, plus

  • Windows Desktop App
  • Map and Probe
  • Raw Data Export
  • Enhanced Acoustic Image Controls
  • Smart Presets and Reports

Advanced

1.490€

per year

Everything in PRO, plus

  • Hi-Speed Capture
  • 3D EchoTrack
  • Psychoacoustic Metrics
  • Partial Discharge Analysis
  • Gas Leak Inspector
  • Live Mode

FAQs

What does a Sound Scanner Kit contain?

A Sound Scanner Kit comes with the following components:

  • 1 sensor of your choice
  • 1 mobile device (tablet or smartphone)
  • 1 calibration speaker
  • 1 tripod
  • 1 laser distance meter
  • 1 carrying case
What distinguishes Public and Private Cloud infrastructures for computing acoustic images?

Public cloud users send their data to the cloud, relying on an internet-capable data connection. In contrast, private cloud users transfer data to a local high-performance laptop using a local WiFi connection.

The computation time for acoustic images is generally comparable between these configurations. The private cloud package is ideal for users without an internet-capable data connection at the measurement location who prefer to analyze results on-site.

Can I use my own mobile devices?

The camera characteristics of the provided mobile device are measured and compensated. While the mobile app can technically be installed on other Android devices (Android operating system version 10.0 or higher), conducting measurements with such devices is not recommended.

This is because the localization accuracy cannot be guaranteed due to missing information on the camera module. However, any compatible mobile device can be used for importing and analyzing measurement data recorded with the provided mobile device.

Can I use my own laptop?

The Private Cloud configuration includes a dedicated, pre-configured high-performance laptop for efficient computation of acoustic images with minimal response time.

Please note that we do not support the installation of the compute service on other equipment.

What additional costs arise besides the annual software license?

For Public Cloud users, an internet-capable data connection is required, and additional costs for metered data connections (e.g., mobile data) should be considered.

What is the average recording time for a measurement?

In many situations, successful localization of acoustic sources can be achieved with a recording time of only 5-10 seconds per measurement.