Anyone know some decent free SPL meter software & "white noise"?

Spasticteapot · 15th October 2006, 10:58 PM

First, I'm a student. Please don't tell me to "go buy a SPL meter". I'm new to DIY speakers, and a good SPL meter would mean that I could'nt build any speakers 'till I get some more money.

Anyway, does anyone know of some decent software that will allow me to measure the output of a speaker? I have some Teslas I'd like to try, but they have nearly no bass, and I need to figure out what they need in the way of crossovers. I have a laptop, a cheapie microphone, and a headphone->RCA adapter, and that's about it.

Finally, a link to some downloadable "white noise" for testing a speaker would be dandy.

bwaslo · 15th October 2006, 11:14 PM

Try using Praxis in "free/demo" mode, it will let you run it as a Real Time Analyzer and provides pink noise output (which is what you want with an RTA type analyzer, not white noise) from the soundcard.

http://libinst.com/praxis_downloads.htm

zlast · 15th October 2006, 11:27 PM

http://www.speakerworkshop.com/FAQ.htm

SPL meter

http://www.trueaudio.com/

Spasticteapot · 15th October 2006, 11:39 PM

Thanks!

Can anyone reccomend a cheap microphone for this?

nunayafb · 16th October 2006, 12:37 AM

You either need to spend money on the spl meter or buy a calibrated microphone($$$$). If you dont do one or the other you will not accurately measure spl levels. Unless you know the error and adjust for it.
The radio shack spl meter is like 20 bucks($29?) and the mods to make it very accurate are cheap and easy.
If you build a mic/preamp and mod an RS spl meter you can stay around 60-80 dollars, good mics will start at $50 and I dont remember if that is the calibrated units price or just the uncalibrated.

fcel · 16th October 2006, 01:28 AM

This is the corrected/modified Radio Shack SPL meter from ATI. Still $29.95. Accurate and real cheap.
http://store.acousticsounds.com/brow...tion=equipment

joe carrow · 16th October 2006, 06:33 AM

I was just thinking about investing in an SPL meter too. Do you know how different this modified meter is from the normal one?

Also, the page says it's back-ordered. I've never been to that website before- do you know if they're likely to get it back in stock?

Thanks in advance.

pinkmouse · 16th October 2006, 09:00 AM

I've got a SPL meter built into my Nokia cellphone! Never used it for testing speakers mind you.

fcel · 16th October 2006, 12:55 PM

Joe,

From what I have read, ATI SPL meter is the same one as the Radio Shack model except that ATI have fixed/modified it so that it's also accurate at the lower frequencies. Now, finally, people can "set-up" their subwoofer placement correctly!

It is because of the modification that I have ordered one (already owned a RS SPL meter for years) and I was told that it's backordered 3 weeks, that was about 2 weeks ago.

I did not try to order it directly from ATI, for some reason it cost more if purchase from ATI. http://www.atiaudio.com/?fa=product&id=170

joe carrow · 16th October 2006, 03:48 PM

fcel,

Thanks- I think I'll just get one of the $50 digital ones that don't have extended bandwidth. I already have a Behringer ECM8000 room measurement mic, so if I'll use that if I need to fine tune low frequencies. I think I'm really just looking for something to say "My office is XX decibels. It's time to put up some curtains!"

15th October 2006, 10:58 PM	#1
Spasticteapot diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wisconsin....what did you expect?	Anyone know some decent free SPL meter software & "white noise"? First, I'm a student. Please don't tell me to "go buy a SPL meter". I'm new to DIY speakers, and a good SPL meter would mean that I could'nt build any speakers 'till I get some more money. Anyway, does anyone know of some decent software that will allow me to measure the output of a speaker? I have some Teslas I'd like to try, but they have nearly no bass, and I need to figure out what they need in the way of crossovers. I have a laptop, a cheapie microphone, and a headphone->RCA adapter, and that's about it. Finally, a link to some downloadable "white noise" for testing a speaker would be dandy.

15th October 2006, 11:27 PM	#3
zlast diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: none	speakerworkshop http://www.speakerworkshop.com/FAQ.htm SPL meter http://www.trueaudio.com/ __________________ none

16th October 2006, 09:00 AM	#8
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	I've got a SPL meter built into my Nokia cellphone! Never used it for testing speakers mind you. __________________ Al The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water; but to walk on the earth. Chinese Proverb

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15th October 2006, 11:14 PM	#2
bwaslo diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	Try using Praxis in "free/demo" mode, it will let you run it as a Real Time Analyzer and provides pink noise output (which is what you want with an RTA type analyzer, not white noise) from the soundcard. http://libinst.com/praxis_downloads.htm

15th October 2006, 11:39 PM	#4
Spasticteapot diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wisconsin....what did you expect?	Thanks! Can anyone reccomend a cheap microphone for this?

16th October 2006, 12:37 AM	#5
nunayafb diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	You either need to spend money on the spl meter or buy a calibrated microphone($$$$). If you dont do one or the other you will not accurately measure spl levels. Unless you know the error and adjust for it. The radio shack spl meter is like 20 bucks($29?) and the mods to make it very accurate are cheap and easy. If you build a mic/preamp and mod an RS spl meter you can stay around 60-80 dollars, good mics will start at $50 and I dont remember if that is the calibrated units price or just the uncalibrated.

16th October 2006, 01:28 AM	#6
fcel diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: LA County	This is the corrected/modified Radio Shack SPL meter from ATI. Still $29.95. Accurate and real cheap. http://store.acousticsounds.com/brow...tion=equipment

16th October 2006, 06:33 AM	#7
joe carrow diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Francisco	I was just thinking about investing in an SPL meter too. Do you know how different this modified meter is from the normal one? Also, the page says it's back-ordered. I've never been to that website before- do you know if they're likely to get it back in stock? Thanks in advance.

16th October 2006, 12:55 PM	#9
fcel diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: LA County	Joe, From what I have read, ATI SPL meter is the same one as the Radio Shack model except that ATI have fixed/modified it so that it's also accurate at the lower frequencies. Now, finally, people can "set-up" their subwoofer placement correctly! It is because of the modification that I have ordered one (already owned a RS SPL meter for years) and I was told that it's backordered 3 weeks, that was about 2 weeks ago. I did not try to order it directly from ATI, for some reason it cost more if purchase from ATI. http://www.atiaudio.com/?fa=product&id=170

16th October 2006, 03:48 PM	#10
joe carrow diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Francisco	fcel, Thanks- I think I'll just get one of the $50 digital ones that don't have extended bandwidth. I already have a Behringer ECM8000 room measurement mic, so if I'll use that if I need to fine tune low frequencies. I think I'm really just looking for something to say "My office is XX decibels. It's time to put up some curtains!"

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