Frequency Master Lite

Industrial Noise & Vibration Centre - INVC

About this app

Frequency Master Lite, from INVC (Industrial Noise & Vibration Centre), helps you capture and understand a noise problem – the hum from a neighbour's unit, the whine of a fan, the drone of distant machinery.

Press Start and the app records the sound and a video together for 20 seconds (or as long as you choose), showing the frequency spectrum building up as it records. It then shows you:

• A time plot of the noise level over the recording, in dB(A), dB(C) and/or dB(Z)
• A frequency plot showing the frequency content of the sound, with narrow band, octave and 1/3-octave views
• Tones marked automatically with their frequency, so you can see exactly what pitch a hum or whine is
• A cursor to read off the frequency and level at any point

Select part of the recording to analyse just that section, and zoom in on either plot.

SHARE OR SAVE A REPORT
Add your details, where the recording was made, a description of the noise and up to five photos, then send everything – plot images, data files, photos and the video – by email or messaging, or save it to your phone.

PRIVATE BY DESIGN
No account, no adverts, no tracking and no internet connection. Everything stays on your phone unless you choose to share it.

ABOUT THE LEVELS
Phone microphones are not measurement microphones. When the app first opens it adjusts itself to your phone's microphone, which gives a sensible starting point, but levels remain approximate, even after calibrating against a sound of known level (Menu › Calibrate). Tone frequencies are reliable without calibration, and how far a tone stands out from the background is a good indication of how prominent the tone is. The app is not a calibrated or certified sound level meter, and its results are not suitable for legal, regulatory or compliance purposes, but can be used as a tool to assist in identifying noise problems. See Help › Accuracy & limitations in the app.

PERMISSIONS
• Microphone – to measure and record sound (required)
• Camera – to record video with the measurement and show a live picture on the opening screen (optional)
• Location – only if you tap "Use my GPS location" in the report form (optional)

What’s new

Updated Android libraries and minor fixes