Anyone use a Decible Meter app on their Android phone

[bluebird28]

I have tried 4 different decibel meter apps but I am still not satisfied, has anyone else used any of these apps? I have tried the following:
1. Sound Meter lite
2. Noise Meter
3. Decibel Meter
4. Sound Meter db

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

i use SPLMeter. It's modeled on a very well-known analog hardware SPL meter that was sold by Radio Shack and a couple other companies.

 

[lelandcrooks]

My android taps out at about 104-105 db. You need an outboard mic to get accuracy above that. YMMV with your phone. Parts express has a pretty darn good one for less than $20.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Recording video on my Samsung android it taps out at best guess 85dB, hopeless for measuring.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

How are these things calibrated? It is something I'd like to test.

 

[moles]

Recording video on my Samsung android it taps out at best guess 85dB, hopeless for measuring.

Same here with my Galaxy SIIx - around 86 db IIRC. I haven't tried an outboard mic, but wonder what that would do to the calibration, since the app i use is supposedly calibrated to the model of phone it's installed on.

 

[Downunderwonder]

How are these things calibrated? It is something I'd like to test.

They aren't calibrated. Calibration means to compare measurements made with a known good standard and adjust the device to read good or make a shift schedule to the readings.

These apps rely on device manufacturing to tight tolerances. The app maker callibrates the app with SPL meter and representative phones, we assume they are reliable with our phone.

Now if you test your phone with an SPL meter, that's an actual calibration.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

They aren't calibrated. Calibration means to compare measurements made with a known good standard and adjust the device to read good or make a shift schedule to the readings.

That's what I meant, in that the makers of the app would have to have done the calibration with known sources on your behalf and then assume your phone was as accurate. There are such a huge number of mobile phones out it must be a huge job.

 

[Bob-I]

I've tried them, totally a waste of time. Even at low volume it's terribly inaccurate, one time showing almost 100 DB when our sound man's meter showed 80.

I do use spectrum analyzer and a pink noise generator which work fairly well.

 

[jjk2007]

We had a venue owner who monitored our PA volume off of his iPhone app, all while standing about 6' in front of one of our mains!! By the time that one was over I think we had the mains shut off and just used amps and monitors for sound. Lol. First and last time playing there.

 

[okcrum]

I use Audiotool. It works decently once calibrated. Its main function is RTA.

 

[seamonkey]

I read somewhere that OSHA was endorsing smart phone apps as DB meters.

 

[walterw]

i've used the studio six dB meter app on my iphone 4S, and it's sort of usable once i added a tascam im-2 outboard mic and had the chance to try and calibrate it with an actual hardware dB meter and pink noise samples through my home stereo;

it still seems like the mic doesn't have quite the same dynamic range as a real dB meter mic, so when i adjust the iphone to be "right" at 100dB it's a little off at 80dB and vice versa.

the RTA-type apps are more useful, at least they show the correct frequencies that are peaking, good for chasing feedback.

 

[KeithAlanK]

Unless the app can be set for the exact sensitivity of your particular phone's mic, it's worthless.
Pure guesswork. This is louder than that is about all you can measure.

On the other hand, the RTA apps aren't a total fail.
Feedback will show up at the correct frequency so you can EQ it out.
Way too much 800hz on the lead vocal for example will show up.
Not as good as the real thing, but way better than nothing.
In fact, I run FrequenSee on my old phone, mounted on the front of my rack. Looks cool and comes in handy sometimes.

For dbs, I use an old Radio Shack digital meter that I've had forever.
You can monkey with A/C weight and use slow/fast settings to show the cops and venue owners a reading that's closer to their limits than reality.
Or cut a round piece of electrical tape to put over the mic...

Not that I'm trying to get away with murder, volume-wise. It's just that many clubs and cities have limits that don't have anything in common with real world rock music.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Here the noise statute levels are completely blown away by the general hubub of the city. The only compliant solution would be to arrest everyone in the steets, block off traffic, pull the power to the CBD and go home. No point in metering!