AFMG Software Alternative — Acoustic Compliance Without the Learning Curve

AFMG (Ahnert Feistel Media Group) has shipped over 28,000 software licences across its product suite since its founding in Berlin — making it the largest dedicated acoustic software company in the world by installed base. Its products span the full acoustic workflow: simulation (EASE), measurement (EASERA), system tuning (SysTune), and research (AFMG SoundFlow). Each tool is excellent at its specific task. And each tool requires weeks of training to use productively.

For professional acoustic consultants and audio engineers who work in acoustics full-time, AFMG's ecosystem is the industry standard. For architects, building services engineers, and interior designers who encounter acoustic compliance requirements periodically, the combined cost and learning investment across multiple AFMG products exceeds what the acoustic scope of their work demands.

This article compares AFMG's product suite with AcousPlan, examining where each serves its target user and where the overlap creates a genuine choice.

The AFMG Product Suite

AFMG's product line is modular. Each tool addresses a distinct phase of the acoustic workflow:

EASE 5 — Simulation

EASE (Enhanced Acoustic Simulator for Engineers) predicts how sound behaves in a modelled room. Its defining feature is loudspeaker simulation: users place speaker models from AFMG's GLL database (30,000+ entries) within a 3D room geometry and predict coverage, STI, and frequency response at listener positions. The AURA ray tracing module adds room acoustic simulation (RT60, EDT, C80).

Price: $3,500-5,000/year. Learning curve: 40-80 hours.

EASERA — Measurement

EASERA (Electronic and Acoustic System Evaluation and Response Analysis) is a measurement and analysis platform. It captures room impulse responses using calibrated microphones and loudspeaker sources, then calculates ISO 3382-1:2009 parameters: RT60, EDT, C80, C50, D50, STI, and more. EASERA is the tool that turns physical measurements into standardised acoustic data.

Price: $2,000-3,500/year. Learning curve: 20-40 hours.

SysTune — System Tuning

SysTune is a real-time dual-channel FFT analyser for tuning installed sound systems. It measures transfer functions between input and output signals, shows magnitude and phase responses, and calculates coherence — essential data for equalising loudspeaker systems to room conditions.

Price: $1,000-2,000/year. Learning curve: 10-20 hours.

AFMG SoundFlow — Transmission Loss

SoundFlow calculates sound transmission loss through multi-layer wall and floor constructions using the transfer matrix method. It predicts STC (Sound Transmission Class) and Rw (weighted sound reduction index) for assemblies of plasterboard, insulation, air gaps, and structural layers.

Price: $800-1,500/year. Learning curve: 10-15 hours.

Total AFMG Suite Cost

A full-service acoustic consultancy maintaining all four products pays $7,300-12,000 annually before hardware costs (measurement microphones, audio interfaces, calibration equipment). Individual tools are purchased separately based on the firm's scope of work.

AFMG's Target User

AFMG's products serve professional acoustic specialists — people whose primary discipline is acoustics:

• AV consultants designing sound reinforcement systems for worship spaces, conference centres, and performance venues
• Acoustic measurement engineers conducting ISO 3382-1 surveys for commissioning, compliance verification, and research
• Sound system technicians tuning installed PA and speech reinforcement systems
• Building acoustics consultants specifying wall assemblies for sound insulation compliance

Where Architects Encounter Acoustic Compliance

Architects do not design sound systems, conduct acoustic measurements, or tune PA installations. But they increasingly face acoustic compliance requirements:

• WELL v2 Feature 74 (Sound): RT60, background noise, and sound masking criteria for office certification
• BB93:2015: RT60 and background noise limits for UK school buildings
• DIN 4109:2018: Sound insulation requirements for German residential and commercial buildings
• NCC 2022 / AS 2107: Acoustic performance criteria for Australian buildings
• ANSI S12.60:2010: Maximum RT60 and background noise for US classrooms
• IBC 2021 §1207: Minimum STC ratings for party walls and floors in US buildings

1. Calculate RT60 from room dimensions and surface finishes
2. Compare against the standard's limit for the room type
3. Select treatment materials if the room fails
4. Document compliance in a report

Feature Comparison: AFMG Suite vs AcousPlan

Worked Example: 60 m² Open-Plan Office Zone

Room: 8 m × 7.5 m × 3 m (V = 180 m³), representing one zone within a larger open-plan office. Surfaces: suspended metal pan ceiling (perforated, with 50 mm mineral wool backing), one fully glazed facade wall (7.5 m × 3 m), three internal partition walls (painted plasterboard), raised access floor with carpet tiles. Target: WELL v2 Feature 74 L07 Sound Mapping (RT60 ≤ 0.60 s for zones under 500 m³).

Absorption Calculation at 500 Hz

Per ISO 3382-2:2008 §A.1 (Sabine equation):

RT60 = 0.161 × 180 / 67.91 = 0.43 s — WELL v2 Feature 74 PASS (target: 0.60 s)

What Each Tool Provides

EASE 5: To reach this result in EASE, the consultant would create a 3D room model, assign materials, place source and receiver, run the AURA simulation, and extract the RT60 value. If the project also requires checking background noise against WELL criteria, EASERA would be needed for measurement or reference data. Total time: 30-45 minutes. Total software cost: $3,500-5,000/year.

AcousPlan: Enter dimensions, select materials from dropdowns, select WELL v2 Feature 74 as the compliance standard. Result appears in under 90 seconds with automated pass/fail, the specific clause reference, and an option to generate a branded compliance report. If the room had failed, the auto-solve engine would recommend treatment options from the 5,678-material database with cost and carbon estimates. Total software cost: $0 (free tier).

The Difference That Matters

Both tools produce RT60 = 0.43 s (within ±5%). The compliance outcome is identical. The difference is workflow:

• EASE: powerful simulation engine surrounded by loudspeaker-focused workflow that the architect does not need
• AcousPlan: compliance-focused workflow with automated checking, material recommendation, and report generation

AFMG SoundFlow vs AcousPlan Sound Insulation

For sound insulation specifically, AFMG SoundFlow deserves detailed comparison. SoundFlow uses the transfer matrix method to calculate transmission loss through multi-layer constructions. This physics-based approach predicts performance from material properties (density, Young's modulus, loss factor, flow resistivity) rather than relying on pre-measured assembly ratings.

SoundFlow Advantages

• Any assembly: Users can model custom constructions with any combination of layers. Not limited to pre-defined assemblies.
• Frequency-dependent TL: Full transmission loss curve from 50 Hz to 5 kHz, not just single-number STC/Rw.
• Parametric optimisation: Change layer thickness, air gap width, or insulation density and see the effect on TL immediately.
• Research applications: The transfer matrix method is the reference method in EN 12354-1 for sound insulation prediction.

AcousPlan Sound Insulation Approach

AcousPlan provides 52 pre-defined wall and floor assemblies with measured or calculated STC and Rw ratings. Users select an assembly and see the single-number rating and frequency-dependent transmission loss.

• Pre-defined assemblies: Covers common construction types (single stud, double stud, masonry, CLT, concrete)
• Quick selection: No material property input required — select the assembly description
• Compliance checking: Automated comparison against IBC §1207 (STC 50 minimum), BB93, DIN 4109
• Integrated workflow: Sound insulation results appear alongside room acoustic results in the same project

Which Approach Wins

For custom or unusual constructions — a triple-leaf partition with resilient channels and two different insulation layers — SoundFlow's transfer matrix method produces predictions that pre-defined assemblies cannot cover. For standard construction types — the assemblies that represent 90%+ of commercial and residential projects — pre-defined ratings are faster and equally accurate, because the pre-defined data comes from the same physical measurements or calculations.

The choice depends on the project: innovative construction requires SoundFlow's flexibility; standard construction is served efficiently by pre-defined assemblies.

The Learning Curve Divide

The fundamental difference between AFMG and AcousPlan is not a feature list — it is the assumed user:

AFMG Assumes an Acoustic Specialist

AFMG's documentation, terminology, and workflow assume the user understands:

• Room acoustic theory (diffuse field, mean free path, absorption cross-section)
• Electroacoustic concepts (directivity, sensitivity, coverage angle)
• Measurement methodology (impulse response, transfer function, coherence)
• Signal processing (FFT, time windowing, frequency weighting)
• ISO standards (3382-1, 3382-2, 3382-3, 60268-16, 354, 717-1)

AcousPlan Assumes a Design Professional

AcousPlan's interface assumes the user understands:

• Room types and their acoustic requirements (meeting room, classroom, open plan office)
• Surface materials (plasterboard, concrete, glazing, carpet)
• Building codes (BB93, DIN 4109, WELL v2) — at the level of "this standard applies to this project"
• Report requirements (compliance documentation for planning submissions)

When to Choose AFMG

AFMG's product suite is the right investment when:

• Acoustics is your primary discipline: You are an acoustic consultant, AV designer, or measurement engineer whose business centres on acoustic services
• Loudspeaker simulation is required: Your projects involve sound reinforcement, PA design, or voice alarm systems
• On-site measurement is in scope: You conduct ISO 3382-1 acoustic surveys and need EASERA's full measurement capability
• Custom constructions require analysis: Non-standard wall assemblies need SoundFlow's transfer matrix method
• System tuning is part of your service: You commission and tune installed sound systems using SysTune
• The training investment is justified: Your team uses AFMG tools daily, and the expertise compounds over time

AFMG's Ideal Client

A 5-person acoustic consultancy offering room acoustic design, sound system specification, acoustic measurement, and system commissioning. This firm uses EASE for design, EASERA for measurement, SysTune for commissioning, and SoundFlow for sound insulation. The $7,000-12,000/year software spend is recovered through project fees. The team's AFMG expertise is a competitive advantage.

When to Choose AcousPlan

AcousPlan is the right choice when:

• Architecture is your primary discipline: Acoustic compliance is part of your project scope but not your core service
• Speed matters more than simulation depth: Sub-second RT60 calculation with automated compliance is more valuable than ray-traced spatial parameter maps
• Material specification is integrated: You need to specify manufacturer products with cost and carbon data, not just absorption coefficients
• Multiple standards apply: Your projects span BB93, DIN 4109, NCC, NRA, IBC, WELL v2, and ANSI S12.60 — and you need automated checking for all of them
• Cost is a factor: The free tier covers most compliance needs; Pro at $29/month is 90-95% cheaper than AFMG's entry-level tools
• No training budget is available: Your team needs to produce acoustic compliance results without attending a training course

AcousPlan's Ideal Client

A 20-person architectural practice handling commercial office fit-outs, educational buildings, and healthcare facilities. The practice encounters WELL v2 Feature 74 requirements on 60% of projects and BB93 requirements on UK school commissions. No team member is an acoustic specialist. The firm needs a tool that any architect can use to check compliance, select materials, and generate reports without consulting an external acoustic specialist for routine assessments. Complex projects — concert halls, industrial noise — are referred to specialist consultants who use AFMG tools.

The Complementary Model

AFMG and AcousPlan are not mutually exclusive. A growing number of practices use both:

1. Architect uses AcousPlan: Preliminary compliance checks during schematic design. Material selection with cost data. WELL v2 compliance reports. Sound insulation specification. These tasks happen frequently and do not require acoustic specialist involvement.

1. Acoustic consultant uses AFMG: Detailed simulation for complex spaces (EASE). On-site measurement for compliance verification (EASERA). Sound system design and commissioning (EASE + SysTune). Custom wall assembly analysis (SoundFlow). These tasks happen on selected projects where specialist expertise is required.

1. Data flows between tools: The architect's AcousPlan compliance reports inform the consultant's EASE models. The consultant's EASERA measurement data validates the architect's predictions. Each professional works in the tool designed for their contribution.

Related Reading

• EASE vs AcousPlan: Full Feature Comparison — detailed EASE 5 comparison for room acoustics
• EASE 5 Alternative for Architects — comparison focused on the architect workflow
• Best Acoustic Design Software 2026 — comprehensive market overview