Sound Meter 1.7.18

Whenever my neighbors decide that the after-dark hours are too dull not to get drunk and make a racket, I usually resort to various non-threatening methods of persuasion, such as Facebook messages, or playing some heavy metal in return. But sometimes you DO want to call the police, and the only thing you need is a strong argument. Here is where Sound Meter comes into play.

Whether or not your legislation stipulates a maximum admitted sound level during quiet hours, it doesn't hurt to get an accurate reading. Of course, this is only one of the reasons you might want to measure the sound volume. Sound Meter can be used to fine-tune audio equipment or to test the compliance with machinery standards.

Sound Meter displays the current level on an analog dial. The dial also shows the maximum and minimum recorded levels, as well as the mean level. The bottom graph can be set to display up to four hours of data. Be careful though; the records are deleted every time you change the settings.

You can calibrate the app manually. Of course, you would need a second calibrated device to achieve this, but it's a nice option to have.

There are some other little features, such as an upside-down mode to get a right side up view while pointing with the phone mike, a night mode, and pause and reset buttons.

Features

• Calculates mean decibels in real time
• Can pause recording
• Record up to four hours of graph data
• Possibility for manual calibration
• Take screenshots

Final Thoughts

The only weak part of this app is that you cannot export your data. The only means of keeping records is by taking screenshots. This problem no longer exists in the pro version. As it stands though, Sound Meter is great at parties.