There are a lot of different A/V toolkit applications developed for the Android market that address just about every A/V needs. From lighting to audio, you can guess they have an app for that. However, there are also a lot of apps that are fine-tuned for a specific purpose. Whether you are measuring a throw distance for a specific brand of projectors or trying to measure the decibel output of a newly staged speaker system, purpose-specific apps are out there and most of them are accurate.
The following slideshow contains pro-Android audio apps for SPL reference and audio spectrum analysis. These apps cover a range of audio measurements; some measure RTA and others FFT, they also range in data presentation — some display 2-D graphs, both logarithmic and linear, as well as 3D graphing
The SPL reference apps monitor sound pressure levels in your space. This utility can sample SPL for individual readings, other apps mirror changes in SPL and graph your events over time measured
It is important to note that all audio reference apps use your device’s stock microphone. These microphones are primarily designed to capture, condense and sample audio content so that it sounds optimal when heard on another device’s stock speakers. This is important to note because before the audio is able to be processed by the app, it needs to pass through the mic first, compromising the reading and the results presented by the app. To avoid the mic’s internal condenser, I recommend buying a USB-ready microphone. These mobile attachments make it possible to capture a much more accurate reading.
For A/V directors running Android-powered devices, these basic utilities are a great way to start building your mobile toolkit.
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