I read that there is a problem with sound level meters, sometimes you have to recalibrate. a possible alternative is to buy a sound level meter combined with a pistonphone but I think the price rises a lot.
so i ask you this, is there a cheap sound level meter that doesn't need to be recalibrated?.
so i ask you this, is there a cheap sound level meter that doesn't need to be recalibrated?.
If there were, expensive sound level meters that require calibration would no longer exist, no?
Also for reference: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...-ideas-with-no-reference.385568/#post-7005711
Also for reference: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...-ideas-with-no-reference.385568/#post-7005711
Try the smart phone apps, at least they are cheap. Several years ago I compared an Android app to a calibrated meter and it was very close. You could also enter an "offset value" to get even closer. Now I have one called Sound Meter on the iPhone but haven't had a chance to compare it to a calibrated meter.
Well how are you going to use the SPL meter?
To meet a city sound level rule?
To document a system install?
To meet a city sound level rule?
To document a system install?
It's not just SPL meters, calibration is needed with any measuring device if you want accurate enough measurements. There were inexpensive SPL "sound level" meters sold by Radio Shack a few decades ago, they worked ok. If you're doing something involving government or legal work, you surely need a measuring device that's traceable and calibrated to a known standard, and yes, that gets expensive.
Any of iOS phone could be used. See here:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/app.html
Martin
P.S.: More about smartphones mics/apps: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2014/04/09/sound-apps/
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/app.html
Martin
P.S.: More about smartphones mics/apps: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2014/04/09/sound-apps/
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The trouble with that is the OS. It can be difficult to find the old apps that will work with iOS 9. They exist, but the App Store won’t let you see them.
I have two iPhone 4 that I would love to use for all sorts of things, but since they were cleaned off installing apps again is not easy.
If there are old apps outside the store, I don’t know how to find them. The iPhone 4 will go to iOS 9. Usually if you have already downloaded the app, AppStore will let you find older versions. But I’m not having much luck. I did have an SPL app and even a calibrated measurement mic on the iPhone 4, but now I’m having trouble re-installing it.
I’ll try again and update here. Maybe contacting the developer could help.
I’ll try again and update here. Maybe contacting the developer could help.
Unless there is a legal need for calibration, those old Radio Shack units work just fine as SPL meters. I checked mine on a pro calibrator and it read the same as the B&K meter.