Measurement software
ARTA (mit STEPS und LIMP)
by Ivo Mateljan
Measurement package of three programs – impulse response and spectrum (ARTA), distortion via sine sweep (STEPS) and impedance with Thiele-Small parameters (LIMP).
Key data
Link to section “Key data”- Cost
- Free
- Licence
- Freeware
- Operating systems
- Windows
- Version
- 1.9.8 (8 December 2024)
- Development
- Development discontinued
- Last checked
- 27 September 2026
Freeware since December 2024. Sales of licence keys ended on 30 March 2024, and the company ARTALABS was closed in April 2024.
What the developer lists
Link to section “What the developer lists”Bullet points taken verbatim from the developer's website.
- ARTA.EXE - program for the impulse response measurement, real-time spectrum analysis and frequency response measurements
- STEPS.EXE - program for frequency response measurements with stepped-sine excitation
- LIMP.EXE - program for the loudspeaker impedance measurement and loudspeaker parameters estimation
- With calibrated microphone, ARTA can be used as a virtual IEC class 1 SPL meter
- Speech intelligibility measures: MTF, STI, STIPA, %AL
Requirements
Link to section “Requirements”Windows. According to the developer, ARTA uses standard and professional PC sound cards for recording and signal generation.
ARTA is a classic of loudspeaker development. The package consists of three programs: ARTA for impulse response, spectrum and frequency response, STEPS for distortion measurements with a sine sweep, and LIMP for impedance measurements including an estimate of the Thiele-Small parameters.
Why it is listed here
Link to section “Why it is listed here”LIMP is particularly useful for DIY building: from an impedance measurement, you can determine the Thiele-Small parameters of a driver and check the tuning frequency of a finished bass reflex enclosure. This lets you verify manufacturer specifications on your own unit instead of having to trust them.
What the status means
Link to section “What the status means”The developer stopped selling licences in March 2024, closed the company in April 2024 and released the software as freeware in December 2024. So there will be no new versions. The last version remains usable, but if you start today, you should know: there will be no more adaptations for new operating system versions.
Related
Link to section “Related”- Thiele-Small Parameters: The Characteristic Values of a Driver The Thiele-Small parameters describe a loudspeaker driver with just a few numbers. They allow you to simulate how it works in an enclosure. Many values are linked by formulas – which makes datasheets verifiable.
- Reading a Datasheet: What the Numbers Really Say A datasheet is only as good as its conditions. Sensitivity without a reference, power handling without a test method or Xmax without a definition can hardly be compared. This article uses real datasheets to show what to look out for.
Sources
Link to section “Sources”-
Tier A · primary source
ARTA Software – Home (Programme ARTA, STEPS, LIMP)
Ivo Mateljan · · 16 December 2024 · accessed on 27 September 2026
States explicitly: licence sales discontinued on 30 March 2024, company ARTALABS closed in April 2024, ARTA 1.9.8 freeware since December 2024.