Part 3 of iPhone, an Audio Engineer’s BFF.
The Number One tool I see ANY audio engineer use (outside of their ears) is a dB Meter.
dB Meters are constantly used, and constantly lost (I’ve “donated” quite a few dB meters to clubs when on tour). So why not have one in your pocket, on your phone? Hrm.
Sound Meter by Faber Acoustical
Sound Meter is just as claimed, a Sound Meter (also see: dB Meter, SPL Meter)…
Where Sound Meter shines it’s easy access to options. All of your normally used options are located on the main page.
Also, Twitter Integration? Oh yes. Twitter Integration. Report what the SPL is where you are, in real time.
- 3 Weighting Curves Available
- Flat
- A
- C
- 2 Level Algorithm Types
- Lp
- Leq
- 3 Different Response Times
- Fast
- Slow
- Impulse
- 2 Input Options
- Built In Mic
- Line In (AKA Headset Mic, External Mic)
Sound Meter also offers full Calibration of the microphone (though more complicated than Pocket RTA) as well as the ability to take screen shots, and a display that not only includes the current SPL, but also the Ma, Peak SPLs, and elapsed time.
SPL – By Studio Six DigitalSPL is a dB Meter with all it’s controls direct at your finger tips, and SPL still offers enough versatility to be one’s full time dB Meter.
- Digital dB Display
- Weighting
- Unweighted
- A Weighting
- C Weighting
- Weighting by Octave (32 Hz – 16 kHz)
- Responses
- Fast
- Slow
- Impulse
- Peak
- LEQ
- Displays Max dB
- You can store snap shots and compare to the current SPL
- Mic Calibration and Internal/External Mic Select
- Keep Device Awake Switchable
As well as all of these options, SPL as three different skins incase you want to mix it up a little bit… All said, SPL is a great little tool with nearly all of its options at your finger tips.
SPL Meter – By Studio Six Digital
SPL Meter is by far the most intuitive of the dB meters I’ve seen… Why? You may recognize it.
SPL Meter is modeled (looks and functionality) after the oh so famous Radio Shack dB Meter.
- A or C Weighting
- Slow or Fast Response
- SPL is displayed in “Bands”
- You Choose the Band of 16 dB
- 40-120 dB, Band Showing -13 to +3 of the frequency band
- Calibrate the Microphone
- Switch Between Internal and External Mic
I’m not sure I’d recommend this dB meter on functionality, but for old time’s sake it’s a winner. Plus, it’s only 99 cents.
Pocket RTA – By Clickgamer.com
Titles may be deceiving, but Pocket RTA also includes a dB Meter (referred to as SPL in the app).
Pocket RTA also includes different types of RTAs, a Spectrogram, as well as Oscilloscope (as reported here)
But on to the dB Meter…
- dB Meter with available weightings… (options under “FFT”)
- A Weighting
- C Weighting
- U Weighting
- Noise Weighting
- Variable Gain (under Options)
- +/- 1 or 10
- Calibrate next to a calibrated dB Meter (My adjustments were +20)
- dB Meter Calibration separate from RTA Calibrations
- 11 Band RTA Displayed with dB Meter
- Additional Display
- Peak Frequency (Exact Hz)
- What that Frequency = as a Musical Note
- Input Meter, along with Digital Input Level
Combined with the RTA functionality of Pocket RTA, Pocket RTA is the swiss army knife of Audio Related iPhone Apps.
Pocket RTA – $29.99 
Other Reviews Coming Soon….
SPL Graph (SPL Over Time) by Studio Six Digital – $9.99
Based in Upstate New York, Mike Schoonmaker is a Touring Audio Engineer and/or Tour Manager. 
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