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SoundMeter X 4+
The Best Sound Level Meter App
Faber Acoustical, LLC
-
- Free
- Offers In-App Purchases
Screenshots
Description
SoundMeter X turns your iPhone or iPad into a handheld data-logging sound level meter (SLM), data-logging noise dosimeter, stereo signal generator, multi-channel data recorder, and real-time whole or 1/3 octave band spectrum analyzer (subscription required for most features--try it out with a 14-day free trial).
Input signals can be acquired from the current (manually selectable) audio input path. Sensitivity calibration can also be performed for any audio input device and/or input channel. Direct hardware support (automatic sensitivity calibration, based on factory-defined values) for The Modal Shop’s 2-channel 485B39 USB-ICP interface and miniDSP’s UMIK-1, UMIK-2, and E.A.R.S. microphones.
In addition to real-time sound level measurements, SoundMeter can stream raw sound data to audio files, and store acquired sound level data, including date, time, and location, in CSV or TXT (tab-delimited) files, MAT-files, or high-resolution PDF images for later retrieval from your device.
SoundMeter may be downloaded for free from the App Store. Additional tools and features are offered via auto-renewable subscriptions.
The SoundMeter Pro subscription includes:
- User-defined custom metadata in saved audio and data files
- Level MeterLp, Leq, Lx sound levels
-- Standard Flat, A, C frequency weighting
-- Standard Fast, Slow, Impulse time weighting
-- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks.
-- Event notifications
- Max Levels Meter
-- Traffic-light-style meters make it easy to monitor 2 separate sound level thresholds in 2 independent user-defined frequency bands.
-- Define lower (warning) and higher (limit) sound level thresholds for overall (full audio band) levels as well as for individual octave frequency bands.
-- Store user-defined thresholds in files for later recall.
- Noise Dosimeter
-- 8-hour Noise Dose, Projected Dose, TWA calculations
-- Criterion Levels: 80, 85, 90 dB
-- Exchange Rates: 3, 4, 5 dB
-- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks.
- Real-time Octave Spectrum Analyzer (RTA)
-- Lp, Leq, Lx sound levels
-- Supports whole or 1/3-octave frequency bands
-- Standard Flat, A, C frequency weighting
-- Standard Fast, Slow, Impulse time weighting
-- NC, RNC, and NR references curves, NC, SIL, and NR values
-- Data logging. Data can be logged as often as every 0.1 seconds for up to 8 hours, every second for up to 72 hours, or every 10 seconds for up to two weeks.
- Multi-channel Data Recorder
-- Supports up to 8 channels
-- Live monitoring of recorded data
-- Metadata (including calibrated sensitivity) embedded in audio file (AIF, CAF, WAV), optionally saved in separate data file
- Stereo Signal Generator
-- Left and right outputs assigned to arbitrary hardware output channels
-- Random and pseudorandom (periodic) noise sequences with white or pink spectrum
-- Linear and logarithmic frequency sweeps
-- Dual periodic waveforms with arbitrary frequency and phase difference
The Pro Tool Set subscription can be shared between SoundMeter X and SignalScope X. It unlocks all tools and features of the SoundMeter Pro subscription in SoundMeter X and all tools and features of the Pro Tool Set subscription in SignalScope X (iCloud login required).
Learn more about SoundMeter X at FaberAcoustical.com.
Subscription Terms:
- https://www.faberacoustical.com/apps/subscriptions/terms.html
Privacy Policy:
- https://www.faberacoustical.com/about/privacy.html
Terms and Conditions for FaberAcoustical.com:
https://www.faberacoustical.com/about/terms.html
What’s New
Version 12.5
- SoundMeter's companion app for Apple Watch has been completely re-written for better performance and improved support for newer versions of watchOS. (Note that the watch app remains a remote for the iPhone app--it does not perform any kind of sound measurements using the watch's built-in microphone.)
- The watch app now includes a remote for the Max Levels tool.
- In the watch app, the Meter tool now displays max and peak sound levels.
- Improved handling of data and audio files. On newer versions of iOS, external files (e.g. on iCloud Drive) can be opened in-place instead of being copied into the app sandbox before opening.
- Significant improvements have been made 'under the hood' to ensure that the app runs well on the newest operating systems.
- Other minor cosmetic and stability improvements.
Ratings and Reviews
Fantastic, but too pricey.
This app is excellent! It does everything it says, and it does those things well. It would easily be 5 stars… but for the fact that the majority of the app’s features are locked behind an outrageously expensive paywall.
$100 is the price to enjoy full utility from this otherwise superb audio metering app. Should you decide that a fully featured, professional app like this is necessary for your work/passion and worth the price you better be right because you’re going to owe another $100+ in 12 months. That’s right, for all that $ you don’t actually own anything.
Even worse, I suspect (but don’t truly know) that, should your subscription lapse, you‘ll be locked out of saved data that you’d already paid over $100 to create.
Despite all of my complaints, I admit that I’ve been subscribed to the ~$20/yearly basic+ version of this app for longer than I’d care to admit.
That I don’t plan to cancel should say it all. 😕
- less than wealthy former audio pro, current hobbyist.
Developer Response ,
Hello H0LLYW00D99,
Thank you for taking your time to share your thoughts regarding SoundMeter X. We're pleased to know that you appreciate the quality of the app.
If your concern is with ownership, you may be happy to know that we do offer perpetual license versions of SoundMeter as an alternative to the subscription-based SoundMeter X. If you need to always keep the app up to date with the newest features and tools, SoundMeter X may still be your best option.
With respect to your saved data, you will continue to have access to those files in SoundMeter X, even without a current subscription (remember to first transfer them to another device or to the cloud if you choose to delete the app from your device).
If you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us directly.
Accurate sound meter
So I saw a lot of complaints regarding the cost of licensing and others based on folks who feel that they were cheated out of licensing. While I cannot comment on those specifics, remember that Microsoft does the exact same thing with Office 365. The developers have to pay the bills as well.
As for the free version of this app, it does what it says, and does it well. I tested it against an actual sound meter and had readings within 1 dB of each other across a wide spectrum of intensities and frequencies. For most people, I’m sure this accuracy will suffice. The user interface is fairly intuitive and easy to use. It fits the bill for my, especially since the basic version is free.
Best SLM app out there
I tested the app with 4 different phones of 4 different generations, and every one was 0.5 dBA from my type 1 meter when measuring white noise. I’m floored. I have been recommending this app to everyone. For 99% of people, the free portion of this app is all you’ll ever need.
App Privacy
The developer, Faber Acoustical, LLC, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.
Data Not Linked to You
The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
- Identifiers
- Usage Data
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Faber Acoustical, LLC
- Size
- 11.5 MB
- Category
- Utilities
- Compatibility
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- iPhone
- Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
- iPad
- Requires iPadOS 14.0 or later.
- iPod touch
- Requires iOS 14.0 or later.
- Apple Watch
- Requires watchOS 7.0 or later.
- Languages
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English
- Age Rating
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2024 Faber Acoustical, LLC
- Price
- Free
- In-App Purchases
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- SoundMeter Pro, 1 Month $4.99
- Pro Tool Set, 1 Month $29.99
- SoundMeter Pro, 1 Year $49.99
- Pro Tool Set, 1 Year $299.99
Supports
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Family Sharing
Some in‑app purchases, including subscriptions, may be shareable with your family group when Family Sharing is enabled.