[SML] Decibel Meter App

[Riley Casey]

I’ve used several SPL apps on iPhones over the years including the Studio Six version and they have all shown a very close tracking to my handheld Triplett SPL meter. I gather that Apple documents their hardware better than the plethora of Android phone makers do so it wouldn’t be surprising if the accuracy couldn’t be counted on with non-iPhones.


> Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2023 07:32:41 -0500
> From: mouse at fieldmousepro.com <mailto:mouse at fieldmousepro.com>
> To: Stagecraft Mailing List <stagecraft at theatrical.net <mailto:stagecraft at theatrical.net>>
> Subject: Re: [SML] Decibel Meter App
> Message-ID: <9a1782235e3d7f6665ae31e14b11421a at fieldmousepro.com <mailto:9a1782235e3d7f6665ae31e14b11421a at fieldmousepro.com>>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
> 
> Out of curiosity, what's your use case? The reason I ask is that cell 
> phone dB meters are mostly a novelty. There are a few circumstances 
> where a phone app is useful, but they're kinda specific. If you need a 
> measurement that's halfway accurate, get a handheld SPL meter. The cheap 
> ones are actually pretty decent.
> 
> The place where cell phone SPL meters usually break down is that they're 
> dependant on the phone's hardware & operating system to give the app 
> it's data. The microphones in a cell phone are incredibly tiny, 
> optimized for voice frequencies, and typically start to distort at high 
> volumes. Also, the phone might or might not have some signal processing 
> on the audio (like compression or nose reduction) before it hands it off 
> to other apps. It's really a crap shoot if you'll get good results, and 
> each phone is different.
> 
> In full disclosure, the other reason I dislike cell phone meters is that 
> they're usually foisted on me by angry people who feel that the sound is 
> too loud, and they're using the numbers on their app as a bludgeon.
> 
> Stephen (the other one).
> 
> 
> Stephen E Rees wrote:
>> Does anyone know of a phone app available that is reasonably accurate
>> and affordable?


E. R. Casey

Entertainment Sound Production
Silver Spring MD 20910

www.ESPsound.com
301-608-2180 office phone





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