Our company sells the CARA software, so I likely have a biased opinion. However, we do this because we feel it represents the best value and the most flexibility of any software simulation package of it's kind. The other package, which we do not sell, that is also very good is the RPG package. It is limited to rectangular rooms, which in mind is a pretty severe limitation. However, on the plus side, the calculations are much faster and it's a bit easier to use.
As to the CARA which I am very familiar with. It is incredibly flexible. We have a database of literally hundreds of materials and speakers. You can do virtually anything with it from slopped ceilings to non parallel walls, diffusors, really everything.
As to computer power. The CARA is a major number cruncher and when you make a complex room with a lot of detail it can take a long time to run, even days on a pretty fast computer. However, the trick is to start with basic designs, which can take maybe 10 minutes to do full calculations and then expand on them to perfect the room.
As I said we sell this software and it can be purchased on our website at http://www.rivesaudio.com.
As to the CARA which I am very familiar with. It is incredibly flexible. We have a database of literally hundreds of materials and speakers. You can do virtually anything with it from slopped ceilings to non parallel walls, diffusors, really everything.
As to computer power. The CARA is a major number cruncher and when you make a complex room with a lot of detail it can take a long time to run, even days on a pretty fast computer. However, the trick is to start with basic designs, which can take maybe 10 minutes to do full calculations and then expand on them to perfect the room.
As I said we sell this software and it can be purchased on our website at http://www.rivesaudio.com.