Decibel Meter for iPhone?

[Jazzer]

Please does anybody know of a good iPhone app decibel metre to match my hiss level with?
I could also use it on live gigs to measure volume levels.
Failing an iPhone app, is there a recommendable portable hand held decibel metre?
Ta folks,
Jazzer

 

[Jan64]

For measuring volume levels I use LärmApp (for iPhone). It is in German but that doesn't matter, it states the dB value clearly.

 

[Philippe79]

I did my research and 'SoundMeter' and 'SPLnFFT' are the best two decibel apps for the iPhone. This was last year, maybe there are better one's now. I don't rely on mine 100% but it gives me a rough idea.

 

[Jazzer]

Thank you guys.
I don't have internet where I am at the moment, but will check out Sound Meter as soon as poss.
Any idea of the cost Philippe79.

 

[Jazzer]

Can I ask Philippe79, will it give sound matching readings down below 10 dB?
I suspect my level is between 5 & 10 dB.

 

[Philippe79]

Thank you guys.
I don't have internet where I am at the moment, but will check out Sound Meter as soon as poss.
Any idea of the cost Philippe79.

For iPhone apps these ain't cheap, but compared to a regular dB meter they are, but not as accurate. Think I paid £10 for 'SoundMeter' and 'SPLnFFT' was free at the time (but I think now it is currently £4 in the App Store). There are plenty of other free dB meter apps but I was willing to pay for the one's with the best write ups. Whether that was money well spent who knows. I use two apps just to check them against each other and they stay pretty consistent with each other. Bear in mind the iPhone microphone is quite limited and can only measure decibels down to 30 dB (quiet room at night) and up to 130 dB (shot gun firing). Good enough for normal situations!

 

[Jazzer]

Thanks for coming back.
What I would like to do is sound match the hiss in my head with my own oral hiss, and measure that.
(I imagine it to be between 5/10 decibels.)
Perhaps an iPhone app will not do that, and I need a free standing meter.
What do you think?

 

[Philippe79]

I see what you mean! I don't use a dB app for this. I use an app called 'whist' . It will play my tinnitus tone. All you have to do is match the pitch and volume to that of your tinnitus.

 

[Jazzer]

That's a great help, thank you.
I've downloaded it and will have a chance later today to set it up.
I have to admit, I'm a bit of a Bozo when it comes to 'tech' - but hopefully it's not too tricky.
Cheers
Jazzer

 

[Philippe79]

Philippe79
I did put Whist on my iPhone by the way, but each time I go to it I can not really match the tone and volume very well.

@Jazzer You are meant to do this with headphones on so you can match it to each ear individually. Maybe you have tried this.. Given that headphones are 'ill advised' on this forum, it may not be a good idea. I must admit, if I try and match mine, my T goes crazy as it tries to compete with the high pitch noise! At the end of the day it is only an iPhone app, probably not up to the job!

 

[Jazzer]

Yes I have great quality headphones which I used.
Each time I try to match it I seem to decide on different readings, whereas I'm pretty sure the volume is constant.
Perhaps my perception changes.

 

[Jazzer]

Philippe79
I have just rematches it and am fairly sure it's about right now.
Thanks for your help.

 

[GregCA]

Given that headphones are 'ill advised' on this forum, it may not be a good idea.

A few people in this forum are a bit dogmatic about headphone use. Go talk to professionals (ie doctors/audiologists/neurotologists/surgeons) if you are worried about it. I did, and felt much better about headphone use afterwards.

 

[ozgeA]

Hi everyone!

I would ask you guys any suggestions for a decibel meter?? I am using iPhone by the way.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Pero1234]

What about NIOSH SLM?

It measures peaks, you can record a session and it gives you the daily dose (%) that is safe.

Of course not 100% accurate... but it comes close I think.

 

[Zug]

Please does anybody know of a good iPhone app decibel metre to match my hiss level with?
I could also use it on live gigs to measure volume levels.
Failing an iPhone app, is there a recommendable portable hand held decibel metre?
Ta folks,
Jazzer

Hey @Jazzer , get Sound Meter. It's paid but the most reliable.

Best,
Zug