This Paper describes a computer method for predicting the transient voltage response of compressional wave ultrasonic transducers. The analysis is split into three elements: a ‘wave propagation’ analysis of the one-dimensional Mason equivalent circuit (with ideal electrical drive and reception conditions); electrical network analysis of the actual drive and reception conditions; and a Rayleigh surface integral formulation of diffraction effects. The method differs from that of other authors using a similar approach in that it allows a more complete separation of the electrical from the acoustical aspects of the analysis. Example predictions are presented and shown to compare satisfactorily with experimental results. These represent realistic situations and indicate the effects of the individual elements of the analysis. Finally some important aspects of the use of series and parallel electrical matching networks are considered in further simulations.