IRA – Impulse Response Analysis for Room transforms a standard REW room measurement into a practical acoustic diagnosis.
Room Analysis in 48/72h
IRA™ By analyzing the impulse response in the time domain, IRA helps reveal the reflections and unwanted acoustic behavior that reduce clarity, stereo imaging, depth, and mix translation. When room geometry is provided, IRA can also compare measured peaks with predicted geometric reflections, assign them to likely room surfaces, estimate reflection point positions, and highlight where treatment is most needed. The report can include Energy Time Curve analysis, room reflection views, peak diagnostics, scorecards, comb-filter impact, unassigned-peak diagnostics, treatment heatmaps, and critical zones for action.
IRA is built for people who already have room measurements but still do not have clear answers. By analyzing the impulse response measured in REW, IRA helps identify critical reflections, classify hidden issues, prioritize harmful surfaces, and, when room geometry is available, map likely reflection points and treatment zones inside the room. The result is a clearer path from measurement to action. IRA – Impulse Response Analysis for Room is an advanced acoustic analysis process designed to transform a standard room measurement made in REW into a much more practical and actionable diagnosis. Instead of stopping at generic graphs, IRA analyzes the measured impulse response in the time domain to detect the direct sound and the sequence of early reflections that most strongly affect clarity, stereo imaging, depth, intelligibility, and translation. It evaluates each detected peak within the selected early window, measuring its arrival time, relative level, extra path length, reflected path length, and a perceptual severity metric that helps rank the reflections that are most harmful to the listening experience. When room geometry is provided, IRA goes significantly further than a standard measurement workflow. The software builds a geometric room model using the room dimensions, speaker position, microphone position, and surface definitions, then predicts the expected arrival times of reflections from each room surface. Measured peaks are compared against those predictions and, when a match is found within tolerance, IRA assigns the reflection to a specific surface, calculates the likely reflection point coordinates in the room, shows the prediction error, and provides a confidence score for the match. This allows the user not only to see that a problematic reflection exists, but also to understand where it is likely coming from physically inside the room. A core strength of IRA is that it does not simply ignore reflections that do not fit a simple first-order wall model. Peaks that cannot be assigned are analyzed separately through an unassigned-peak diagnostic stage. In the sample workflow, these peaks can be classified as likely desk or console bounce, local objects near one speaker such as stands, screens, or racks, higher-order reflections, unknown events, or likely noise. IRA also lists the closest candidate surfaces and explains why they were rejected, such as excessive timing error or geometry mismatch. This makes IRA especially useful for revealing acoustic issues caused by furniture, equipment, or non-ideal real-world setups that standard mirror-point methods and many traditional room-analysis approaches often fail to explain clearly.
IRA™ - Impulse Response for Room Analysis
IRA is built to transform raw room measurements into actionable acoustic insight.
Instead of leaving you alone with graphs, it helps identify where the problems are located.
“Why IRA is different”
Most tools show symptoms. IRA helps connect symptoms to causes.
IRA is different because it can:
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detect and rank early reflections
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match peaks to room surfaces with predicted delay, error, and confidence
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flag peaks that do not fit simple first-order models
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identify likely desk, screen, rack, stand, or furniture-related issues (if position are available)
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show per-surface treatment priority
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visualize hotspots and critical zones
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support multi-measurement fusion for more advanced room decisions (up to 4 IR and 2 Mic position)
How It Works
How IRA Analyze your room
What IRA helps solve
IRA should be marketed as solving problems like:
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blurred stereo image
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poor center focus
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weak depth and spatial precision
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hidden early reflections
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comb-filter damage from short-delay reflections
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treatment placed in the wrong area
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acoustic issues caused by desk, furniture, screens, stands, or local objects
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confusion after measuring in REW without knowing what to do next
Enter your Room data and you will receive your room analysis in 48/72h
Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions – Acoustic Panel Placement & Home-Studio Treatment
What is an acoustic panel and how does it work?
An acoustic panel is a porous absorber—usually mineral-wool or open-cell foam—encased in breathable fabric. Sound energy enters the fibres, turns into heat, and stops bouncing around the room. When you add panels as part of a room-acoustic treatment plan, they cut RT60, tighten bass, and lift clarity without making your home-studio acoustics feel “dead.”
How many acoustic panels do I need for a small home-studio?
A typical 8 × 4 × 3 m mix room reaches a target RT60 ≈ 0.25 s with 10–16 broadband acoustic panels (50 mm, α≈0.80). The exact count depends room shape, material, dimension and on speaker location and listening position. WavePlace™ analyses your data and layout, then recommends the exact number and size based on your specific room and usually it suggest fewer panels than generic “cover-30 %-of-the-walls” rules pushed by panel vendors.
Where should acoustic panels be positioned?
For mixing rooms the priority order is stop the sound as soon as possible to avoid unpredictable behaviours inside the room.
WavePlace™ outputs a millimetre-accurate acoustic panel position map—follow it like LEGO® instructions and hit the sweet spot first time.
What is room acoustic treatment vs. soundproofing?
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Acoustic treatment tames reflections inside the room (panels, diffusers, bass traps).
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Soundproofing blocks noise leaving or entering the room (mass-loaded walls, decoupled studs).
WavePlace specialises in acoustic treatment; true sound-proofing needs structural work.
Can I treat my home-studio without drilling?
Yes. Try free-standing gobos, desk-mounted mini-traps, ceiling track hooks, or 3 M Command™ strips for panels under 3 kg. WavePlace flags which surfaces can take adhesive mounts vs. screws so you keep landlords happy.
Do thick rugs count as acoustic treatment?
A rug only absorbs frequencies above 500 Hz. It won’t cure low-mid flutter or bass boom. Pair a dense rug with wall and ceiling panels for full-band coverage.
Will diffusers replace acoustic panels?
No. Diffusers scatter mid/high frequencies but do not absorb bass. A balanced room uses absorbers for low-mid control plus diffusers to maintain liveliness. WavePlace suggests absorbers or diffuser where they are really needed for you specific room.
What’s the ideal RT60 for a home mixing room?
0.20 – 0.30 s (mid-band). Longer times smear transients; shorter can feel “dead”. WavePlace will suggest you 3 levels of treatment inside your room based on your specific acoustic treatment needs optimizing the number of panel necessary.
I’ve already placed panels—why does the bass still boom?
Likely standing waves or SBIR notches. WavePlace’s modal analysis pinpoints exact problem frequencies and recommends tuned traps for your specific room acoustic problems.
How does WavePlace™ differ from free room-tuning calculators?
Most calculators use generic Sabine maths; WavePlace combines several phisics calculation in a LAP Engine algorithm.
The result: fewer panels, precise panel position, and a printable cut-sheet—all delivered in 48 h.
Do I need acoustic panels if I mix on headphones?
Headphones bypass room coloration and you will not have the clear idea of all the track problems like stereo image, comb filtering for this reason all Mixing and Mastering studios works almost exclusively on studio monitors and not in headphone.
Moreover you still track, record, and re-amp in the room.
A treated space ensures better mic captures and accurate loudspeaker checks before release.
Will acoustic treatment increase my property’s value?
A non-permanent kit (panels on cleats) won’t affect valuation, but built-in bass traps and clouds often boost resale if marketed as a “media room” or “podcast studio.”
Can acoustic panels be stylish?
Absolutely — but you treat your room for acoustic problems not to have a nice room into take pictures. Choose custom prints, bevel trims, or wood slat fronts but place the acoustic panel in the right place. WavePlace will tell you where to position your acoustic panel treatment for your studio.
How much does professional room acoustic treatment cost?
DIY acoustic-panel treatment kits start around €300, while a turnkey pro-studio acoustic treatment can top €10 000. WavePlace™ cuts the waste: our algorithm trims up to 35 % of the panel surface you’d normally buy. On a €10 000 pro kit that’s a saving of more than €3 500 without sacrificing performance.
Budget smaller? Even if you can add only a handful of panels, WavePlace pinpoints the exact acoustic panel positions that deliver the biggest improvement in home-studio acoustics. Spend less, place smarter, hear more.