Treble Launches Cloud-Based Virtual Acoustics Simulation Platform

Leveraging scientific breakthroughs in acoustics and simulation to provide hyper accurate virtual prototyping to the architectural and engineering industries, Treble Technologies has launched its flagship software platform, Treble. An industry first, Treble enables engineers and architects to create 3D models that account for the acoustics of their creations, allowing them to listen to how they will sound.
 
Based in Reykjavik, Iceland, Treble Technologies is a sound simulation startup which has been focusing on enabling designers, architects, engineers, and acoustics consultants to design and virtually prototype sound experiences with unprecedented reliability and ease. Treble uses a cloud-based sound simulation platform that integrates directly with industry standard 3D modeling tools such as SketchUp and allows users to perform seamless analysis and design of sound in an entirely software-based process. 

Treble also provides users with the ability to dive into immersive audio-visual virtual renderings of designs (on PCs or virtual reality), allowing stakeholders to not just see how their designs will look but simultaneously hear exactly how they will sound in real life. The platform leverages Treble’s wave-based simulation technology, which the company says offers "a level of accuracy and reliability that was previously unobtainable in the architectural and engineering fields."
  "Incorporating sound into the digital design process has long been a major pain point for designers, engineers, and architects. Whether buildings, cars, tech products or virtual experiences, hardly any are built without them first being designed as a digital 3D model. Up until now, guesswork, physical prototypes and measurements were commonly employed when it comes to designing sound and acoustics, which is time consuming and usually yields sub-optimal results," says Treble’s CEO and co-founder, Finnur Pind.

With Treble, users can perform seamless analysis and design of sound in an entirely software-based process and with embedded auralization of the created environment. Treble hopes its platform can lead to more sustainable and efficient business practices, allowing to detect design flaws sooner and optimize acoustical solutions before anything is built. 

The Treble platform has been in an open beta testing phase leading up to the launch, where architectural firms such as BIG Architects, Henning Larsen, engineering consultancies like COWI and material manufacturers like Saint-Gobain have been using the platform to improve their design processes. Treble has been used on projects such as the design of the new Uppsala Town Hall in Sweden and the Carl H. Lindner College of Business in Cincinnati to ensure appropriate acoustics and soundscapes.
 
"The launch of Treble represents a huge step in the evolution of sound design across different sectors. Sound has a major impact on people’s health, well-being, productivity and ability to communicate, and yet the world today is plagued with noise and low-quality sound experiences. For too long, engineers and designers have lacked the necessary tools to harness the power of sound and design great sound experiences. With Treble, users can now visualize how their designs will look, as well as listen to how the acoustics will manifest, and do so in an efficient manner. We are extremely excited to be launching such a revolutionary product and are proud to be providing the tools necessary to create a better sounding future," states Finnur Pind.

Treble is also exploring the use of machine learning (ML) to train various audio algorithms such as speech recognition and noise suppression to add further intelligence to its platform. Treble has been working with technology companies such as Jabra to generate significant volumes of high-quality sound data which proves invaluable when training AI to recognize potential problems with designs and improve performance.

Treble’s proprietary technology encompasses acoustic simulation and sound rendering with cloud-based geometry processing using acoustic wave propagation. Apart from the simulation and rendering of acoustics of the built environment, Treble is further developing interfaces for simulation of noise and vibration of automobiles, car cabin acoustics and audio system performance in cars, as well as virtual prototyping of audio products in different acoustical settings, including simulating personalized HRTFs.

Treble Technologies was founded in 2020 by acoustic engineers Finnur Pind and Jesper Pedersen, who have extensive experience and expertise in sound simulation. The roots of the company were established from academic research conducted at the DTU (Technical University of Denmark), in collaboration with EPFL and Virginia Tech, alongside the minds of other leading scientists in the fields of acoustics, high performance computing and computational mathematics. The resulting collaboration has led to a revolutionary approach to simulating sound with higher accuracy and efficiency than was previously possible.

Since Treble's foundation, the team has grown to more than 30 people. Treble was a winner startup at the Nordics Pitch Competition Grand Final at Slush 2022, and was named the Top Smart Building / Smart Construction Innovator of the Year at BIM World Munich 2021. In December 2022, the company closed a 5.5 million euro (around 5.7 million) seed round.
www.treble.tech