Advertisement

Best decibel meter apps for iphone or ipad

1.SPLnFFT Noise Meter

Paid: $3.99 with in-app purchases

This professional app will allow you to accurately find out the sound level around you. It has different features that will help you understand both the loudness and the tone of the sound, as it also has a frequency meter.


  • by Phillip Sanchez

    I was browsing random apps for my ipad and found SPLnFFT Noise Meter. It's supposed to measure the sound around you and actually works pretty well whe More

  • Ashley Miller

    by Ashley Miller

    It's very detailed and I think this is the best feature of this app. There's the result for frequency analysis and it also acts as a dosimeter.

  • Jeff Sharon null

    by Jeff Sharon null

    Great app as well, met the criteria for NIOSH study on apps accuracy.

2.SPL Meter

Paid: $0.99 with in-app purchases

This app is a professional sound level meter, which will allow you to know what's the sound level around you: point your device to the sound source and using its built-in microphone you will know what's the sound level around you.



  • Kyle Sullivan

    by Kyle Sullivan

    I use this app all the time in my classroom to show my class where their noise level is and when it's time to be quiet.

3.NIOSH Sound Level Meter

Free download

NIOSH Sound Level Meter is a free app for measuring sounds using the built-in microphone which was developed by EA Lab in 2016. It is available in iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. 

  • Amber Delgado

    by Amber Delgado

    It's a remarkable app for me since I use this in my research as a noise assessment tool. I recommend this because it's really accurate.

  • Jeroen Broeders null

    by Jeroen Broeders null

    It works great, thanks!

  • Techni Emw null

    by Techni Emw null

    Thanks, Just now download this APP and it seems to be good. Techni ElectroMechanical Works LLC for HVAC installation in UAE and measurement of sound/n More

  • Jeff Sharon null

    by Jeff Sharon null

    Completely free, no ads, no in-app purchases and from a trusted source. Tested for accuracy at NIOSH labs, none of the other apps have been tested in  More

4.Decibel X

with in-app purchases

Need to find out how quiet is it in your home? Ever wondered what's the sound level in a concert? Then this app is perfect for you: you will get a real time scale level chart, including a frequency analysis. 

  •  Luz María Zárate

    by Luz María Zárate

    I'm a concert goer and I always wondered how loud it is. Decibel X gave me the results and I'm not surprised by it though. ;)

  • Jeff Sharon null

    by Jeff Sharon null

    App full of ads and free version is extremely limited, only measures in Z decibels (so actual measurement is usually 10 decibels higher than actual)

  • Dylan Morrison

    by Dylan Morrison

    Works insanely well for what I need it. Has great options and long lasting support.

5.logSPL

Paid: $1.99

This app is a sound level meter that will allow you to plug in a microphone to get better results, or you can use the one in your iPhone or iPad. It features a graphic to see the sound's level variation. 

  • Margarita Carrasco

    by Margarita Carrasco

    So I was looking for the best decibel meter apps for IOS so I could measure the sound coming off my speakers and I downloaded logSPL. It works great.

  • Jeff Sharon null

    by Jeff Sharon null

    Did not meet the accuracy criteria in the NIOSH study. They evaluated almost 200 decibel apps, this one as not one of them.

6.SoundMeter

Paid: $19.99 with in-app purchases

This app will turn your Apple device into a professional sound level meter, providing useful information about the sounds around you. You can even use an external microphone to get even more accurate results.



  • by Consuelo Espinoza

    I decided to take my young daughter to an outdoor concert this year, and wanted to make sure that we stayed far enough from the stage that I would not More

  • Jeff Sharon null

    by Jeff Sharon null

    This is the top app that was evaluated by NIOSH for accuracy, a bit expensive but really worth it.

7.dB Volume Meter

Paid: $0.99

dB Volume Meter is an app for measuring audio volumes developed by Amanda Gates in 2013. This SPL app requires an external microphone with the iPod Touch and it is also available in iPhone and iPad. 

  • Website:Not Available
  • Age rating:Not available
  • Category:Not available
  • Publisher:Amanda Gates

  • Size:Not available
  • Genre:Not available
  • Shirley Wang

    by Shirley Wang

    Pretty simple app. I just hope it is always updated.

  • Jeff Sharon null

    by Jeff Sharon null

    Did not meet the accuracy criteria in the NIOSH study. They evaluated almost 200 decibel apps, this one as not one of them.

8.SoundMaster RTA

Paid: $8.99

SoundMaster RTA is an app for sound level measurement. With this app, you can capture audio data from input buffers and get advanced calibration and equalization support. It includes additional capabilities, including background recording capability.

  • Website:Not Available
  • Age rating:4+

  • Category:Utilities

  • Publisher:Lazaros Vrysis

  • Size:Not available
  • Genre:Not available
  • Marios Chaniotis null

    by Marios Chaniotis null

    This app is only available for the iPhone and, as the developer says, is calibrated for each iPhone model. I installed it and I admit that the reading More

  • Larry Fountain null

    by Larry Fountain null

    Probably the most complete and reliable sound level metering app on the Store. The readings are pretty much close compared to a Class 2 SLM, in the ra More

  • Jeff Sharon null

    by Jeff Sharon null

    Did not meet the accuracy criteria in the NIOSH study. They evaluated almost 200 decibel apps, this one as not one of them.

WHAT’S THE MEANING?

A decibel is a unit of measurement that is being utilized to compare various different things such as sound or electricity. Consequently, the loudness or quietness of a sound is measured in decibels (dB) through a decibel scale. Another important concept to understand is the intensity of a sound. Intensity is defined as the amount of energy carried by a sound wave. Interestingly, notice that car engines produce extreme noise because the sound waves that are generated carry more energy.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that sound effects in films are called Foley? And the process of creating it is called the “Foley art”, named after the legendary developer of sound effects technique in filmmaking Jack Foley. Surely, film connoisseurs out there are familiar with the terms “Foley studio”, “Foley Sheets,” Foley reels,” and “Foley editor” because they all take part in the reproduction of everyday sound effects that are incorporated within the filmed videos during the post-production stage of filmmaking. 

Before the emergence of digital sound effects that are readily available, filmmakers back then utilized some techniques, some you might find ridiculous, that greatly helped to make movie scenes cinematic. For instance, did you know that lightsaber’s sound in the movie Star Wars was produced by the sound designer Ben Burtt using microphone feedback and buzzing motors? Moreover, the sound of laser blasts was made from hitting an antenna tower wire with a hammer. Over the years, the painstaking process of Foley was alleviated—thanks to digital sound makers.

Advertisement