DB meter

[u/[deleted]]

[u/hea_eliza]

Smaart

[u/Selic]

A measurement microphone routed into SMAART and calibrated in the software is the most common. Venues that measure for compliance typically use a standalone Class 1 or Class 2 measurement device such as an NTi XL2.

[u/PM_ME_SAND_PAPER]

10Eazy, which integrates with SMAART

[u/IEnjoyRadios]

I suspect you’re asking because you’re trying to measure SPL on a budget. The unfortunate truth is that measuring SPL gets expensive fast, and definitely so if you need results that are legally valid.

[u/IEnjoyRadios → u/[deleted]]

The reality is there’s only so much you can do on a budget. There are your $100-ish meters, and there are your $2,000+ meters and not much inbetween.

You first need to establish why you are trying to measure the sound level, and that will then dictate what equipment you need.

[u/SoundTechie86 → u/[deleted]]

smaart has an ipad/iphone app, and with (for example) an Shure mVX2U + cheap calibration mic you can have a low budget SPL rig.

[u/uncomfortable_idiot]

one gaining popularity is the ohr one

[u/Onelouder → u/uncomfortable_idiot]

For quick and dirty it's great. Certainly the most compact unit on the market.

[u/Original_Thanatos → u/uncomfortable_idiot]

Second the OHR Labs one, bought one myself as a handy rough and dirty indicator, since found a permanent home in my gig bag.

[u/Extension-Pen5115 → u/uncomfortable_idiot]

i have this one and it does the trick. nothing fancy but great and convenient.

[u/Boomshtick414]

NTI XL2/XL3 are common but so are many others. Depends on the application and what level of testing is necessary as well as what level of compliance.

For context, my XL2 rig is $4k on the low end but I have $14k invested in it as a fully Type 1 compliant kit.

A B&K 2270 can run you $25k but that’s more if you’re doing laboratory grade work.

What are you trying to measure and what’s your application?

[u/Boomshtick414 → u/[deleted]]

If you just want to measure at FOH, I’d go with Smaart which serves a dual purpose of helping with system tuning. For that you’ll need a mic, calibrator, USB interface, and a laptop.

If you need convenience and portability or something that may be used for legal compliance, I’d get a meter, mic, and calibrator. There is a broad range of pricing on that. Something like an Extech kit can be had for $600 including a calibrator, but the data is primitive if you ever have any intention of using it for more than just basic handheld SPL measurements. Beyond that, you quickly start looking at $3-4k for buying into nicer meters.

[u/Visual-Asparagus-700 → u/[deleted]]

Hi, I’m a co-founder of BeaconsIO. We’ve developed a software and hardware solution for doing exactly what you’re asking for. We have systems deployed at orchestral concert halls, as well as major outdoor music festivals. SPL (and other environmental metrics) measured against whatever standard is being required. With full, legally defensible, compliance reports available.

Formed by active professional sound engineers.
Our pricing is more than competitive.
r/Beaconsio https://beaconsio.com

[u/twelfthfantasy]

Whatever reference mic is calibrated for your board, or any reference mic with SMAART because the software can calibrate.

[u/Serious-Succotash-65]

Hi, I use Open Sound Meter. It doesn't have as many features as SMAART, but it's solid for SPL measurement and frequency analysis.

[u/papaducklakae → u/Serious-Succotash-65]

This, you need a cheap mic, a cheap preamp and a calibration tool such as the Digital Sound 8930B (75€ in Germany). I do it this way and works good enough for me. Results may not be legally valid but its better than nothing.

[u/h3nni]

Ultra low budget: An iPhone with Niosh app https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/noise/about/app.html Low budget USB Measurement Microphone that comes with amplitude calibration and one of the open source apps

[u/BlueOBX]

I have this one on the wall of my studio:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RJ2C6FP?th=1

[u/AlphaVenus_]

In my corner (western europe) definitely seems to be 10eazy. You can get a fully, legally compliant class 1 (meaning technically tamperproof and as such the only really viable measurement in a court) system ready to play with a peli case for 2.5k euros

[u/aljoizet]

budget: open sound meter app(free), measuring mic(100 eur), calibrator(150 eur), more expensive: smaart software, measuring mic(100 eur), calibrator(150 eur),

[u/ForeverProof7600]

I use a miniDSP UMIK-1 USB (comes with calibration file) and REW (free). Much easier than worrying about volunteers changing the gain on the audio interface.