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Installation

System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems

  • Windows: Windows 10 or Windows 11
  • macOS: Available - contact the dBSea team for details
  • Linux: Available (Debian/Ubuntu) - contact the dBSea team for details

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

dBSea is both graphics and processor intensive. A machine with a fast multi-core processor and a dedicated graphics card will provide the best performance, particularly for large models or 3D calculations.

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

  1. Download the dBSea installer from dbsea.co.uk/download
  2. Run the installer (dBSea.msi)
  3. If a User Account Control dialog appears, click Yes to allow the installation
  4. Choose a destination folder or accept the default
  5. 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

dBSea v3 uses cloud-based licensing. See the Licensing page for details on:

  • Activating a new license
  • Trial licenses
  • Managing your license

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

OpenGL Issues

If dBSea fails to start with graphics-related errors:

  1. Verify your graphics card supports OpenGL 3.3 or later
  2. Update your graphics drivers to the latest version

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

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