I was out on a gig a couple of months ago and one of my favorite people in this business, Buford Jones, was on the same gig. Somehow as we were talking it came out that we both have the SoundMeter app from Faber Acoustical on our iPhones. We began comparing notes, agreed that we both liked it. He asked if mine was calibrated, and I said "sorta," explaining that I went to a show and just jacked around with the settings until it was reacting consistently within a couple of dB of the "real" meter sitting a few feet away on the console. I asked how he has calibrated his, and he told me he used MAPP and the anechoic chamber at Meyer Sound. So I'm guessing his is a bit more accurate.
I tell the story because, like the vast majority of gear out there, it comes down to using it the right way and for the right reason. But I see a lot of these mini-computers that happen to function as a phone on a lot of tours and installs. and I know that folks are using them for much more than just making calls and checking e-mail and their Facebook page. I asked the ProAudioSpace community what were the cool audio apps and they responded. Thanks to all of you who took the time. Not all of the comments were of a positive nature.
Ted Gregorek said, "Since you asked, I just did a gig with a local sound company in the Northwest. The guys from the company did a good job. But…I noticed what I fear is going to be a trend. I was having trouble with one of my ear transmitters, I asked if he could send me tone. ‘I have a tone generator in my phone but the cable isn't here.' ‘Can I borrow a flashlight?' I get handed the phone. He's using the RTA in the phone to do monitors. I don't own an i-anything. I have a Blackberry to make calls and answer email. Just because there's an app for it doesn't make it a piece of professional test equipment. I will admit, the level is cute. I wont leave home without my Que box and cable tester with tone generator again. Okay, I'm done."
But for every one of the responses from that side, we got a bunch more like this. Brad Berridge said, "My IPhone is best tool in my toolbox. If only it had a minature screwdriver attached."
So the lines are drawn. here is some of the stuff that lots of people mentioned…
AudioTools Suite by Studio Six Digital
More than half of the respondents piled praise on the tools from Studio Six. And you have admit that these guys look like the king of audio apps. Based in Boulder, Colo. and headed up by the founder of TerraSonde, Andrew Smith, Studio Six makes apps that a lot of us have been buying, stuff like an SPL meter. RTA, which is just what it sounds like, is a 1/3 octave audio analyzer and Generator, which is, natch, a tone generator. Now they are upping the game by introducing the iAudioInterface which lets you plug line-level signals in or use a mic way better than the one onboard the iPhone. And they have taken nine of their most popular apps and grouped them into a suite called AudioTools. And in a classic hack, the app running on the phone is the app that interfaces with the iAudioInterface, and you can run multiple apps at the same time from within that. In other words, they have worked around the iPhone's inability to run more than one app at a time.
Like all apps, you buy these direct from Apple's App Store, but Studio Six's Web site can also give you a bit more info on the products at www.studiosixdigital.com/products_2.html. Prices range from 99 cents to $8.99 for individual apps and $39.99 for the AudioTools suite.
Jaadu VNC
While not really an audio program, users like Doug Penington have said, of Jaadu VNC, "This app changed my life. With Digidesign Venue and the Ethernet interface plus a wireless router along with Jaadu VNC, I can mix from my iPod Touch (the less costly ones don't work with Venue). It's a little small, but sure beats carrying a laptop to the stage to set monitor levels or do basic changes."
You'll find this one listed under "Productivity" in the App Store and it'll set you back $29.99. What it does is basically allow you to see the screen and control another computer over a Wi-Fi or 3G connection, making it the ideal way to make adjustments from anywhere in the room without having to return to the console. Pretty sweet.
Several incinometers were mentioned and used for everything from leveling mics to checking angles on a line array. There are at least four of them in the App Store – you can afford to buy all of them and keep the one you like best.
SoundBroker
Lots of us use SoundBroker for buying and selling used gear. Did you know there is an iPhone app for the service? You'll still have to call to seal the deal, but you can browse, search and see what's on sale – right from your iPhone.
WaveCalc
Lets you easily calculate and convert between frequency, wave length, travel time and musical note value. Added bonus: It was programmed by PAS member Jokke Heikkila and will set you back a whole $1.99.
Dog Whistler
Okay, it sounds weird, but it is a great tool for newbies, or even guys who have been around a while and still suck at calling frequencies. Aaron Muchnik told us, "This is a cool app that is for the beginner sound guys who don't quite have the frequencies locked in yet. The app is called "Dog Whistler." It will whistle all sound frequencies from 80 Hz and below up 22 kHz." It may sound kind of cheesy, but it's free and I am downloading it right now.
ProAudioSpace, Mobile Device Optimized
Several people asked for a ProAudioSpace app-here's a typical comment: "How about getting a Crewspace and ProAudiospace app so one can stay up to date easier than having to sign in via Safari? Kinda like how Facebook and Myspace have free apps to use them right from the iPhone?"
At some point. But for now just log in via Safari to www.proaudiospace/m and you'll get a "mobile device optimized" version of ProAudioSpace. Now hit the "+" at the bottom of the screen and choose the option, "Add to Home Screen." Done. Go back to your home screen, and at the end you'll find an icon for PAS. Hit it and go straight there. (We live to serve…)
I do agree there should be an app like Facebook but for ProAudioSpace. Maybe in a few years, we will be doing array calculations on the iPhone! 🙂
