Reverb Time Analyzer
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"Reverb Time Analyzer" is an acoustic analysis tool for iPhone that allows you to measure the reverberation time of a room.
Would you like to control sound reverberation in your listening room? Knowing the reverberation time is key to creating a comfortable sound space. For example, you can obtain objective data on various acoustic disturbances, such as high room reverberation, poor intelligibility, excessive flutter echo, and howling.
The app can analyze the reverberation time using the interrupted noise method, in which a random test noise signal is generated from the iPhone's speaker and then turned off. Up to six consecutive measurements are possible, enabling reverberation time analysis and spectrogram analysis.
Please click on the link below to access "Reverb Time Analyzer" product page in AppStoreTM.
Reverberation is the echo that remains after a sound is generated in a room and stopped abruptly after reaching a steady state.
Reverberation time (RT) is an important element of room acoustics that indicates how well a room resonates. It is the time it takes to produce a sound of a certain intensity in a room, reach a steady state and then stop the sound source, until the average energy density of the sound in the room drops to one millionth of its initial level, i.e. the sound intensity level drops by 60 dB. RT60 is a commonly used abbreviation for reverberation time.
RT60 is obtained by analysing the time variation of the observed noise cut-off sound gain as it decays by 60 dB. In a real-environment, due to the influence of background noise, a very high sound pressure level is required to achieve a 60 dB dynamic range. In addition, the iPhone has a limited maximum output level and the dynamic range of the built-in microphone is also not sufficient. Therefore, realising a measurement at RT60 is quite difficult and this application uses RT30, which is the time of 30 dB attenuation. RT30 is multiplied by two and converted to RT60. Additionally, RT20 is used in cases where RT30 conditions cannot be met (such as when background noise levels are extremely high or when it is difficult to play sound sources at a 45dB higher level). However, please note that its measurement accuracy is lower than that of RT30.
Longer reverberation times provide more sound, but reduce the clarity of sound. Ideally, the reverberation time should be of a length that is comfortable while maintaining the audibility of the sound. The optimum reverberation time varies according to location and situation, but studies have generally been conducted to determine the optimum value of reverberation time for the size of the space. For example, in small spaces, reverberation should be shortened, while in larger spaces, longer reverberation is considered to be just right.
In order for this app to work properly, it is necessary to make the following initial settings related to the iOS system.
At the initial startup after installing the app, the iOS system asks for permission to access the built-in microphone. In this case, you need to enable access to "Microphone".
If you have not enabled this setting, this app can not work by privacy restrictions of the iOS system. Please enable the access permission on the iOS setting, "Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone".
When the first time you save an image data with Snapshot, the iOS system asks for permission to access the "Photos" library. In this case, you need to enable access to "Photos".
If you have not enabled this setting, this app can not work by privacy restrictions of the iOS system. Please enable the access permission on the iOS setting, "Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos".
Measurement analysis of reverberation time is performed in the following step. Before measuring reverberation time, Step-1 must always be carried out for each measurement environment.
Step-1: Pre-measurement checks and settings (LVL)
- RT30/RT20: Setting the Decay Level Mode
- MUTE: Measurement of background noise level
- NOISE: Adjustment of test signal output level
Step-2: Sound pressure level measurement (MSR)
Step-3: Display of analysis results
- Reverberation time analysis (RT)
- Octave-band spectrogram (OCT)
Tap "LVL" button to enter the measurement preparation sequence. This sequence is used to determine the output level of the test signal required for the reverberation time measurement. If it cannot be completed correctly, MSR mode cannot be entered.
Select either the RT30 or RT20 attenuation level mode. The default is RT30.
RT20 is used when RT30 operating conditions cannot be met, but its measurement accuracy is lower than RT30.
If changing the RT30/RT20 mode, please restart the measurement preparation sequence from the beginning.
・RT30: Attenuation range of -5dB to -35dB, when sound pressure levels 45dB or more above the background noise level can be obtained
・RT20: Attenuation range of -5dB to -25dB, used when RT30 is not met. For example, when the background noise level is very high or when it is difficult to play the sound source at a level 45dB higher.
MUTE mode measures the noise level of the target environment. Tap "MUTE" button to start the measurement.
The noise measurement results are displayed as time-varying graphs and time-averaged noise level values.
If the noise level is found to be sufficiently low (below 50 dB), a red line is displayed as a guide to adjusting the output level. The measurement stops automatically after approximately 20 seconds.
If the noise level is higher than 50 dB, you cannot proceed to the next step "NOISE". Wait until the noise level in the target environment has decreased sufficiently and try again.
NOISE mode sets the playback level of the test noise signal. The level is adjusted to ensure that the dynamic range of the test sound source is sufficient.
Tap "NOISE" button to output the test noise signal. Adjust the volume slider so that the sound pressure level of the measured sound in the time variation graph exceeds the red line.
If the sound pressure level is insufficient, use the iPhon audio volume to adjust it.
However, if the output level still does not exceed the red line, which is the guideline for the output level, retry the LVL sequence again from the beginning.
#1: If you adjust the iPhone audio volume when using this app, please make sure that the volume is appropriate before using other apps afterwards.
In MSR mode, the sound pressure level is measured using a test sound source. If LVL cannot be completed successfully, this mode cannot be entered.
Tap the start button, a test noise source is output and the sound pressure level measurement and the reverberation time analysis are performed. At the same time, the measured sound is recorded as PCM data. (Note that the start button is only enabled when Avg is selected.)
This measurement can be stopped midway using the stop button. It also stops automatically after 6 consecutive measurements. (approx. 60 s)
After the sound pressure level measurement is finished, the PCM data can be played back using the Play button displayed in the centre position. You can play back all PCM data with Avg or the PCM data of the individual measurement times (1st - 6th).
Note that Avg must be selected when re-measuring.
In RT mode, the reverberation time (RT30/RT20, RT60) for each measurement session, the average reverberation time (Avg) for all samples of valid measurement sessions and the decay curve can be displayed. The reverberation time is obtained from the decay curve by applying linear regression using the least-squares method.
If sudden noise is introduced during measurement, the reverberation time analysis becomes difficult and the following alert message appears. The measurement data of the relevant measurement session will be deemed invalid and will not be reflected in the calculation of the reverberation time average (Avg).
In OCT mode, the analysis results of the 1/3 or 1/48 octave band spectrogram of the measured sound at each measurement session can be displayed.
If the reverberation time is relatively long, the reverberation distribution situation can be observed for each frequency band.
Reverberation time measurements must be taken in the quietest possible environment with low background noise levels. For this reason, a delay start timer function is provided to enable unattended automatic measurements. Use it as a delay timer to allow time for the measurer to leave the room after placing the iPhone device in the target environment.
Tap "Snap" button to save the current measurement display to "Photos". Time information is also imported into the image.
Tap "Info" button to display the product information and function description. The function description can be scrolled vertically.
(Horizontal)
(Vertical)
(Lateral)
(Example using external devices)
# Connecting to external audio devices increases measurement flexibility, but please use them with careful attention to each device's settings. Due to the wide variety of device compatibility and configuration combinations, we are unable to provide individual support. We appreciate your understanding.
If using external equipment for measurement, this app generates extremely loud noise during use, so extreme caution is required during settings adjustment and measurement. Depending on ambient noise levels, noise exceeding 70dB may occur even in RT20 mode. Therefore, you should only use this app after taking sufficient safety precautions to prevent sound leakage, protect your hearing and avoid damaging external devices such as amplifiers, speakers and microphones. Please use this app at your own risk. TOON, LLC does not accept any responsibility for any direct or indirect damage that could result from its use.
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