So what is everyone using to calibrate their microphones in Smaart when setting up the SPL feature.
I'm currently using a B&K type 4231 calibrator that I found on eBay for $250! The reason I got it so cheap was that the auction was mislabled and didn't mention anything about B&K, which usually jacks the price up considerably! I guess I looked at the right time, and instantly recognized what it really was in the pictures!
Otherwise I've gotten other calibrators on eBay for cheap: Simpson 890, Quest CA-22, Larson Davis CA250 which work really well and are my backups, maybe one of these days I might sell one or two of these.
Here's a few things to look for:
1. If you need something super accurate and reliable, then look for a type 1 calibrator. If being off by a fraction of a dB is ok for your work (in most cases with live sound reinforcement), then a type 2 calibrator is perfectly acceptable and worth the savings.
2. Find one with both 94 and 114 dB SPL settings. If you're doing loud concerts, you'll appreciate the 114 calibration level. If you're doing a corporate gig, 94 should work well. A 1KHz tone is pretty much standard so that you are calibrated regardless of the weighting chosen (A or C weighting), though some also have a 250 Hz tone. For Smaart use the 1K tone.
3. The fit around the tip of the mic must be airtight when you're calibrating. So make sure you get an adapter that is properly sized for the mics you're using. Some manufacturers provide such an adapter with their mic. With some mics/calibrators, you may need to have an adapter custom made by someone who has a lathe in their shop. Harry Brill makes them as well.