Best Audio Spectrum Analyzer Application for Mac?

[RayDunzl]

Ray I can probably say you are much more savvy at using these software programs than I am.

That may be, doesn't mean you can't learn.

“If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library.” ? Frank Zappa

 

[RayDunzl]

I cannot speak for Ron since this is his post but I am looking for something simple to operate and get repeatable results.

In my experience, assuming the only changes are reasonable changes in the volume of the playback system, the positioning of the measurement microphone is the primary determinant of repeatable results.

 

[Bruce B]

I cannot speak for Ron since this is his post but I am looking for something simple to operate and get repeatable results. Some of these programs would require me to get an EE degree.

Amir wrote a tutorial on REW that's easy to follow for newbies.

 

[nc42acc]

I checked out REW, very nice feature set for being free. Am I correct this is free and the author just asks for donations?

 

[amirm]

Thanks Bruce.

Here are the posts: http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?17765-Room-Measurement-Tutorial-for-Dummies-Part-1

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?18086-Room-Measurement-Tutorial-for-Dummies-Part-2

Read those and if they seem within grasp, then it is almost free to try them out since you need the Mic no matter which way you want to go.

 

[amirm]

I checked out REW, very nice feature set for being free. Am I correct this is free and the author just asks for donations?

Correct. Used to require membership in HTShack forum but no longer.

 

[dallasjustice]

fuzzmeasure. It's beautiful and user friendly. You prolly won't need to ask anyone for help or read a long help file. It's that easy. You need a mic and ADC/mic pre. I wouldn't use a USB mic. You can get a decent calibrated mic from cross spectrum, as previously mentioned. TEAC makes some inexpensive ADCs which are very accurate.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I use a Behringer mic with AD USB interface by Focusrite - I then use REW.

 

[beaur]

fuzzmeasure. It's beautiful and user friendly. You prolly won't need to ask anyone for help or read a long help file. It's that easy. You need a mic and ADC/mic pre. I wouldn't use a USB mic. You can get a decent calibrated mic from cross spectrum, as previously mentioned. TEAC makes some inexpensive ADCs which are very accurate.

+1 on this. Haven't used it in some time but I can't imagine they have gone backwards. They also get bonus points for their website name.

http://supermegaultragroovy.com/products/fuzzmeasure/

 

[Ron Resnick]

Thank you to each of you for your suggestions!

 

[Purite Audio]

If you are in fact closer ( to me ) than Beverly Hills I can even pop over and measure the room for you?
Keith.

 

[Ron Resnick]

If you are in fact closer ( to me ) than Beverly Hills I can even pop over and measure the room for you?
Keith.

That is a very kind suggestion, Keith. Unfortunately, the listening room will not be put back together for several more months. And it is in Beverly Hills. (You are welcome to visit!)

 

[Purite Audio]

That is a very kind suggestion, Keith. Unfortunately, the listening room will not be put back together for several more months. And it is in Beverly Hills. (You are welcome to visit!)

Ron Hi, that is gracious of you, well if you need any help, it really is worth acoustically measuring your room, the results are always fascinating and revealing.
Keith.

 

[Nyal Mellor]

Good thing about REW is that lots of people use it. It's very powerful but may be a bit daunting at first due to all the settings and measurement types.

For sure a USB mic is the easiest way to get up and running.

Above that an audio interface, I'd recommend the Focusrite 2i2. Not many buttons or knobs, just the right number of IOs. Easy to hookup. That's what we use in one of our remote measurement kits. Some of the other interfaces like Tascam and Sound Devices have a lot going on and can be difficult to setup if you don't know what you are doing.

See here for a simple how to I did with Ethan of RealTraps incl. Fuzzmeasure and REW: http://realtraps.com/art_measuring.htm

 

[KeithR]

I use Audiotools - its a nice package and hardly expensive for iPad/iPhone considering what's included.

 

[Jim Smith]

Simplest & least expensive is Audiotools for iPhone 5 & 6. I was surprised at how close it was to my Gold Line RTA & mic.

 

[DonH50]

I'm late to this party, but FWIWFM I like my CSL-calibrated UMIK-1 (lower noise floor than the UMM-6 they also sell) and REW. CSL charges around $100 for an individually calibrated mic that includes different resolution and angles of incidence, well worth it to me. Performance is comparable to my Earthworks M30 mic running R+D or some other pro SW. IOW, you can spend $100, download some SW, and do most everything (and in some cases more) than my $1200 mic and $1k ~ $5k SW packages. I can't decide if I am all that happy about that, but in practice I find myself using REW much more simply because it is easier and more people are familiar with it than having to haul out a preamp and use SW nobody else understands.

That said, while the UMIK-1 is fine for most audio system response measurements, it is not what I would use for noise floor or very high SPL/high dynamic range measurements.

FWIFM - Don

 

[Dmytro Hrebeniuk]

You can try Decibel Meter for Mac.

https://apps.apple.com/ua/app/decibel-meter/id1361845683?mt=12