Installation
System Requirements
Section titled “System Requirements”Supported Operating Systems
Section titled “Supported Operating Systems”- Windows: Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server
- macOS: Available — contact the dBSea team for details
- Linux: Available (Debian/Ubuntu) — contact the dBSea team for details
Hardware Requirements
Section titled “Hardware Requirements”| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB+ |
| Storage | 300 MB | 500 MB + space for project files |
| Graphics | OpenGL 3.3 compatible | OpenGL 4.x compatible |
| CPU | 4 cores | 8+ cores |
CPU and RAM are the most important components for dBSea performance. All acoustic propagation calculations run on the CPU, and large models with many frequencies, depth points, or high-resolution grids consume significant RAM. More cores and more memory directly translate to faster solve times and the ability to handle larger scenarios.
GPU requirements are modest. The GPU is used only for rendering the 3D visualisation — it is not involved in any acoustic computations. Even a lightweight modern graphics card will handle dBSea’s display without difficulty. The key requirement is driver support for OpenGL 3.3 or later; if your drivers do not support this, dBSea will not launch. Updating to the latest graphics drivers from your card manufacturer will resolve most issues.
Disk Space for Projects
Section titled “Disk Space for Projects”Project files created with dBSea can be much larger than the application itself. Storing calculated sound levels consumes significant disk space. To manage file sizes, consider adjusting the number of source slices, range points, depth points, frequencies, and grid points as appropriate for your project.
Windows Installation
Section titled “Windows Installation”- Download the dBSea installer from dbsea.co.uk/download
- Run the installer (
dBSea.msi) - If a User Account Control dialog appears, click Yes to allow the installation
- Choose a destination folder or accept the default
- Click Finish when the installation completes
dBSea can be launched from the Windows Start menu.
There is no need to uninstall an existing version before installing a new one. The new version will overwrite the previous installation.
dBSea v3 and v2 can be installed side by side on the same machine. However we do recommend that all users upgrade to v3 to take advantage of the latest updates, new features and bug fixes.
License Activation
Section titled “License Activation”dBSea v3 uses cloud-based licensing. See the Licensing page for details on:
- Activating a new license
- Trial licenses
- Managing your license
Updates
Section titled “Updates”dBSea checks for updates automatically. When a new release is available, you will be prompted to download it. You can also check for updates manually via Help → Check for Updates.
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”OpenGL Issues
Section titled “OpenGL Issues”If dBSea fails to start with graphics-related errors:
- Verify your graphics card supports OpenGL 3.3 or later
- Update your graphics drivers to the latest version
Network/Firewall Issues
Section titled “Network/Firewall Issues”dBSea requires internet access for license validation. If you are behind a corporate firewall or proxy, ensure that connections to the license server are permitted. Contact your IT department if you experience connectivity issues.
Getting Help
Section titled “Getting Help”If you encounter problems not covered here:
- Check the FAQ for common issues
- View the application log via Tools → View dBSea Log
- Contact support at dbsea.co.uk with your log file attached