---
title: "Computer simulations in room acoustics: Concepts and uncertainties"
authors: ["Michael Vorländer"]
year: 2013
venue: "The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America"
arxiv: null
doi: "10.1121/1.4788978"
source: "https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4788978"
topics: [interactive-acoustics, room-acoustics]
seed_rank: 1745
seed_batch: "audio-harvest-2026-09-09"
reviewed: "2026-09-09"
pool: "graphics"
relevance_score: 8
lineage: geometric-acoustics
cites:
  - title: "A round robin on room acoustical simulation and auralization"
    url: "https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5096178"
    year: 2019
    arxiv: null
    doi: "10.1121/1.5096178"
  - title: "Overview of geometrical room acoustic modeling techniques"
    url: "https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4926438"
    year: 2015
    arxiv: null
    doi: "10.1121/1.4926438"
  - title: "Simulation of the transient and steady-state sound propagation in rooms using a new combined ray-tracing/image-source algorithm"
    url: "https://doi.org/10.1121/1.398336"
    year: 1989
    arxiv: null
    doi: "10.1121/1.398336"
see:
  - "1717-a-round-robin-on-room-acoustical-simulation-and-auralization"
  - "1694-overview-of-geometrical-room-acoustic-modeling-techniques"
  - "1676-simulation-of-the-transient-and-steady-state-sound-propagation-in-rooms"
---

# Computer simulations in room acoustics: Concepts and uncertainties

## One-sentence takeaway

Vorländer 2013 JASA: concepts and *uncertainties* in room-acoustic computer simulation — what the numbers don't mean.

## Why it matters here

The humility card. Input absorption, scattering (1751), and discretization dominate error. Anoptic should treat T30 from a tracer as ± a lot unless BRAS-validated. Harvest interactive-acoustics / room-acoustics, 155 cites.

## Key ideas

- **Uncertainty budget.** Geometry, materials, method class (GA vs wave).
- **JASA 2013.** Concepts, not a new solver.
- **Pairs with 2019 round robin.**
- **Simulation vs auralization** errors are different.

## Caveats

Survey/position. 2013. Doesn't implement a method. Not a remint of 1989 hybrid.

## Links

- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4788978