Room Scanner | SonaVyx

SonaVyx Room Scanner uses advanced computer vision and acoustic modeling to analyze a room from a single photograph or floor plan. Simply point your phone camera at the space or upload an architectural drawing, and the AI extracts room dimensions, identifies surface materials, estimates reverberation time, computes room modes, and flags potential acoustic problems. This instant analysis replaces hours of manual measurement and calculation, giving sound engineers, AV integrators, and acoustic consultants a rapid first-pass assessment of any venue.

How Room Acoustic Scanning Works

The Room Scanner pipeline begins with image analysis using a multi-modal AI model. The AI identifies architectural features such as walls, floors, ceilings, windows, and doors, then estimates their dimensions using perspective geometry and known reference objects in the photo. Surface materials are classified based on visual texture and color -- for example, distinguishing between carpet, hardwood, concrete, glass, drywall, and acoustic tile. Each material is mapped to standard absorption coefficients at octave band frequencies from 125 Hz to 4 kHz. These coefficients, combined with the room dimensions and Sabine or Eyring equations, produce an estimated RT60 reverberation time.

Room Mode Calculation

Once the AI determines room dimensions, the scanner computes axial, tangential, and oblique room modes using the standard rectangular room mode equation f = (c/2) * sqrt((nx/L)^2 + (ny/W)^2 + (nz/H)^2). The first 20 modes are displayed as a bar chart color-coded by type: axial modes (one dimension only) are the strongest and most problematic, tangential modes involve two dimensions and are typically 3 dB weaker, while oblique modes span all three dimensions and are 6 dB weaker. The Schroeder frequency -- the transition point between modal and statistical acoustic behavior -- is calculated and displayed as a key metric for understanding where room modes dominate.

Risk Assessment and Treatment Recommendations

The AI evaluates the room against established acoustic criteria and identifies risk factors. A perfectly cubic room, for example, is flagged as high risk because its modes are triply degenerate, creating severe peaks and nulls. Parallel reflective surfaces are flagged for flutter echo potential. Large glass areas are flagged for excessive high-frequency reflection. Low ceilings in large rooms are flagged for poor diffusion. Each risk factor is displayed as a color-coded card -- red for high risk, amber for medium, green for low -- with a description of the issue and its acoustic impact. The tool then generates treatment recommendations specific to the identified problems, suggesting types and placements of absorbers, diffusers, and bass traps.

Estimated vs Measured Comparison

The Room Scanner is designed to complement SonaVyx measurement tools, not replace them. The estimated RT60 provides a quick baseline, but actual acoustic behavior depends on factors that a photograph cannot fully capture -- furniture, HVAC noise, structural resonances, and installed equipment. The comparison panel lets you place the AI estimate side by side with an actual RT60 measurement taken using SonaVyx RT60 tool. This combination of rapid estimation and rigorous measurement is particularly valuable when surveying multiple venues: scan each room quickly to prioritize which ones need detailed measurement, then measure the problematic ones.

Integration with AcousPlan

For users who need detailed 3D acoustic simulation beyond what a photo analysis can provide, SonaVyx Room Scanner connects to AcousPlan -- our professional acoustic design platform. AcousPlan takes the room dimensions and material data from SonaVyx as a starting point, then lets you build a full 3D model with precise geometry, add acoustic treatment products from a manufacturer database, and run ray-tracing simulations to predict RT60, speech intelligibility (STI), clarity (C50/C80), and sound pressure level distribution across the room. The SonaVyx-to-AcousPlan workflow bridges the gap between quick field assessment and detailed design-phase modeling.

Use Cases

The Room Scanner serves multiple professional scenarios. Live sound engineers can scan a venue during advance visits to anticipate acoustic challenges before the PA arrives. AV integrators can scan conference rooms to specify the right amount of acoustic treatment during the proposal stage. Acoustic consultants can use the tool for rapid pre-surveys before bringing in expensive measurement equipment. House of worship sound teams can document their room's acoustic properties and share them with consultants remotely. Event planners can scan ballrooms and convention centers to understand the acoustic environment before booking. In education, the tool helps students visualize room modes and understand the relationship between room geometry and acoustic behavior.