Exporting System Geometry

Exporting System Geometry#

The loudspeakers and rigging geometry of the current project can be exported as a single 3D model file, for use in CAD packages, drafting tools and 3D content software.

Three formats are available:

  • OBJ (Wavefront OBJ) - widely supported by 3D and DCC software (Blender, Cinema 4D and many others, via import).

  • DXF (AutoCAD DXF) - for CAD and drafting workflows (AutoCAD, Vectorworks and others).

  • DAE (COLLADA) - an XML interchange format. The geometry is exported as clean merged polygons (with holes where applicable) rather than raw triangles, which keeps models tidy in tools like SketchUp. This is the preferred format for SketchUp.

What is Exported

Every visible source in the project is exported - exactly what is shown in the 3D View. Sources or groups that are hidden are excluded, so showing and hiding sources is how the export is scoped.

Only the loudspeaker cabinets and rigging hardware are included. Venue geometry (audience areas and scenery) and acoustic data (such as SPL mapping) are not included.

Everything is written in world coordinates at its placed position and orientation, Z-up, as one combined file. OBJ and DAE files are in metres; DXF files are in inches, with all geometry on a single layer named ‘SO_EXPORT’.

Exporting

Open the Quick Command Line (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P) and run Export OBJ, Export DXF or Export DAE, depending on the format required. A native OS window will open to choose a file location to save to; choose a location and click Export.

A confirmation notification will show the filename, the number of exported entities and the file size. If every source is hidden, or nothing has been placed, a warning that there is nothing to export is shown instead.

Note

To export only part of the system (for example just the main hangs), hide the other sources first, export, then unhide them.