dBing: a decibel sound meter for your phone
dBing uses your phone’s microphone to show how loud it is around you, live in dBA, with the lowest, average and highest reading for each session.
Out now on iPhone and Android. On Google Play it is listed as dBing: Sound and Noise Detector.
What it does
- A live gauge that shows the sound level in dBA, the A weighted scale that follows how the ear hears loudness.
- The minimum, average (LEQ) and maximum reading for every session.
- A live waveform, so you see how the level changes over time and not only the number right now.
- A weighting (dBA) or flat Z weighting (dBZ), with a fast 125 ms or slow 1 second response.
- A calibration offset, so you can line the readings up with a reference meter.
- Session history to look back at earlier measurements.
- Light, dark and system themes.
Who it is for
- Anyone checking the noise at work, at home, in a gym, a restaurant or at an event.
- People who want to know when a place is loud enough to look after their hearing.
- Musicians, sound engineers and anyone setting up speakers or AV gear.
- Students and teachers trying out acoustics in a physics class.
A note on accuracy
Phone microphones vary from model to model and they are not lab instruments. I built dBing for everyday awareness and for comparing one place with another. The calibration offset lets you line it up with a reference meter. If you need certified readings for work or for a regulator, use a professional sound level meter.
FAQ
What is dBing?
A decibel sound meter app. It uses your phone’s microphone to show the sound level around you live, in dBA or dBZ.
What is the difference between dBA and dBZ?
dBA is A weighted, which follows how the human ear hears loudness. dBZ is flat and treats every frequency the same. dBing has both.
What does LEQ mean?
LEQ is the equivalent continuous sound level, an average of the sound over a session. dBing shows it next to the minimum and maximum.
Does dBing record my audio?
No. It processes the microphone signal on your phone to work out the level. It does not record, store or send audio.
Is there an Android version?
Yes. It is on Google Play as dBing: Sound and Noise Detector, and on the App Store for iPhone as dBing: Decibel Sound Meter.