Open Sound Meter is a sound measurement application for tuning audio systems in real time. It provides analysis views for spectrum, sound pressure level, magnitude and phase response, impulse and step response, coherence, group delay, phase delay, spectrogram, impedance, Nyquist plot and crest factor. It also supports offline file analysis. Measurement projects can be saved and reopened, with settings kept for each measurement. Additional tools include a signal generator, wavelength calculator, equalization, modelling, and virtual summation, difference and averaging. The maker describes the desktop version as open source and invites contributions on GitHub. The Remote API shares active and stored measurements with other Open Sound Meter instances and third-party applications. Cloud services store measurement and settings data; the maker says audio recordings and raw audio are not sent to or stored in the Cloud. The Community desktop version is free for registered users on Windows, macOS and Linux. An iPad app is sold separately. Results depend on equipment, calibration, settings and measurement conditions.
Who it is for
It suits audio professionals and system tuners who need live or offline measurement analysis and tools for working with audio systems. Desktop users can choose the free Community version, while users needing an iPad app must obtain it separately.
What is good
- Free Community desktop version for registered users
- Supports real-time and offline file analysis
- Projects retain each measurement's settings
- Remote API shares measurements with other apps
What to know first
- iPad app is sold separately
- Desktop Pro and Pro + Cloud cover up to five devices
- Measurement results depend on calibration and conditions
Verdict
Open Sound Meter combines a broad set of measurement views with project saving and audio-system tools. Its results still depend on the measurement chain and conditions, and the software does not replace required calibration or certification.
Open Sound Meter plans and pricing
All plansCompared on audio analysis software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Real-time analysis
- Yes
- Offline file analysis
- Yes
- Analysis views
- spectrum, SPL, magnitude, phase, group delay, phase delay, coherence, impulse, step, spectrogram, impedance, Nyquist plot, crest factor
