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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => Audio Measurement and Testing => Topic started by: Jason Kretsch on November 15, 2012, 08:36:50 PM

Title: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Jason Kretsch on November 15, 2012, 08:36:50 PM
Just wondering what everybody uses for a quick RTA on the iPhone. Id be willing to pay up to $5 just for a quick easy RTA. I am using ianalyzerlite right now but cant use it sideways so its really hard to see.
Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: g'bye, Dick Rees on November 15, 2012, 08:56:34 PM
Just wondering what everybody uses for a quick RTA on the iPhone. Id be willing to pay up to $5 just for a quick easy RTA. I am using ianalyzerlite right now but cant use it sideways so its really hard to see.

Have you tried laying down?
Title: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Randy Culpepper on November 15, 2012, 09:11:10 PM
Audio tools is what I use.
Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Jason Kretsch on November 15, 2012, 09:28:53 PM
I mean if you turn the phone sideways it doesnt go to a widescreen format its only works on the screen one way........

Anybody tried using Octave ? Seems to have good reviews but only about 20 of them.
Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: George Dougherty on November 16, 2012, 12:10:56 AM
Audio tools is what I use.
+1.  If you intend to use your phone as an audio analysis device, audiotools is well worth the price of admission.  One caveat, you do have to spend quite a bit more than the starting $20 in order to get all the fun toys.  I don't have some of the more expensive acoustic measuring tools and I've still got about $100 in mine.  Still, $50 for a mini SMAART app with the FFT and waterfall plot has been well worth it for me.
Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Ivan Beaver on November 16, 2012, 07:53:23 AM
Just wondering what everybody uses for a quick RTA on the iPhone. Id be willing to pay up to $5 just for a quick easy RTA. I am using ianalyzerlite right now but cant use it sideways so its really hard to see.
It depends on what you are trying to "accomplish" with your RTA.  Is accuracy important to you in what you are doing (we have no idea what youwant ot use it for)?

Remember that the response of the MIC in the phone can greatly affect what the meter reads.  The use of an external mic is HIGHLY preferred-but nowhere near you price point.
Title: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Patrick Moore on November 16, 2012, 09:02:22 AM

Anybody tried using Octave ? Seems to have good reviews but only about 20 of them.

I am one of those good reviews :). Octave works really well for my uses.  I've been in touch with the developer and he is adding new features all the time, which is why I was willing to pay $4 for an app that will be updated every now and then. 
Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Kyle Leonard on November 16, 2012, 11:03:25 AM
I use RTALite.
Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Tim Padrick on November 18, 2012, 04:47:08 AM
I can't see anything with less than 1/12 octave resolution being of any use.  I use FFT.
Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Gary Creely on November 18, 2012, 08:07:08 AM
I can't see anything with less than 1/12 octave resolution being of any use.  I use FFT.

How accurate is an IOS devices internal mic?

What external mic arrangements do you guys recommend?
Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Ivan Beaver on November 18, 2012, 12:05:21 PM
How accurate is an IOS devices internal mic?

What external mic arrangements do you guys recommend?
I have the studio six mic.  I have not played around it a lot as far as measuring accuracy-but it comes from a company that has a history of good products, so I would expect it to be pretty good.  I have the velcro hooks on it and velcro loops on the back of the Iphone-so it stays in place pretty well.
Title: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Samuel Rees on November 18, 2012, 12:59:34 PM
I am one of those good reviews of Octave as well. I use it sometimes for feedback frequency identification between the 1/3 oct bands. Works great, and the new features definitely come through periodically.
Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Steve Milner on November 18, 2012, 02:31:47 PM
I am one of those good reviews of Octave as well. I use it sometimes for feedback frequency identification between the 1/3 oct bands. Works great, and the new features definitely come through periodically.

 I'm another +1 for Octave. I have it on my phone for simple frequency ID too, which is handy for a visual reference when working quickly with things like a Lectern mic etc. After I get the show rolling, I typically have it open on my iPad somewhere near the console, again for a quick visual reference.

 The handy thing about Octave is that once you open it, if you tap the screen on the main display, it will bring up a bar across the top that gives you a numeric read out of the dominant frequency. I've tried almost all of the other reasonably priced apps for RTA uses, including another one that cost like $50 at the time... Octave is the only one that earned a permanent spot on my devices.

 Steve

Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Riley Casey on November 18, 2012, 05:02:17 PM
From the site of one vendor of several audio apps.  For quick and dirty feedback finding its not terribly significant how flat the mic is.  What is of import of course is the fast roll off at 200 hz.  It is a phone after all and the voice band is all that is of interest.

http://blog.faberacoustical.com/2010/ios/iphone/iphone-4-audio-and-frequency-response-limitations/


How accurate is an IOS devices internal mic?

What external mic arrangements do you guys recommend?
Title: Re: Best iPhone RTA app for quick use ?
Post by: Dan Richardson on November 21, 2012, 05:57:05 PM
Just wondering what everybody uses for a quick RTA on the iPhone. Id be willing to pay up to $5 just for a quick easy RTA. I am using ianalyzerlite right now but cant use it sideways so its really hard to see.

Audio Kit is quite good. I think it's typically $7, but it goes on sale sometimes.