Comparison

SmarterNoise Pro vs SignalScope Basic 2020

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SmarterNoise Pro

This advanced sound level meter app offers detailed audio analysis with features like frequency spectrum display and data export. It allows for precise sound measurements in both video and audio recording modes, with options for A-, C-, or no weighting.

Highlights
  • Sound level measurement in video/audio modes
  • Frequency spectrum display
  • Export measurement data (CSV)
  • Sound level activated audio recording
  • Calibration tool
  • Full HD video recording (paid)
Features
Read full description

SmarterNoise Pro is the most advanced edition of the SmarterNoise recording sound level meters. SmarterNoise Pro edition is developed especially with more advanced measurements in mind, and includes many requested features such as a frequency spectrum display, export of measurement data, A-, C- or no weighting for sound level measurement, and full screen audio mode. SmarterNoise Pro edition does not contain any advertising, and performs accurately and fast. Features: • Sound level measurement in video mode • Sound level measurement in audio mode • Sound meter snapshot camera • Record video and audio files (paid function) • Recording timer • Sound level activated audio recording • Frequency spectrum display (paid function) • Peak frequency detection • A-, C- or no frequency weighting • Export of measurement data in CSV format • Full HD (paid function), HD and VGA video resolution • Three video quality settings • Archive for saved files • Sharing of saved files • Calibration • Save location of measurement (optional) • Time and date • Continuous Leq, LAeq, LCeq value • 10 second sound level average (Leq, LAeq, LCeq) • 60 second sound level average (Leq, LAeq, LCeq) • Maximum and minimum decibel level About decibels and sound level measurement The unit for measuring sound is called a decibel. Because the decibel scale is logarithmic, a sound with an intensity that is twice that of a reference sound corresponds to an increase of about 3 decibels. The reference point of 0 decibel is set at the intensity of the least perceptible sound, the threshold of hearing. On such a scale a 10-decibel sound is 10 times the intensity of the reference sound. Highlighting this is important as already a few decibels higher or lower makes a noticeable difference in how noise is perceived. The preferred method to describe sound levels that vary over time, resulting in a single decibel value measuring the total sound energy over the period, is called Leq. It is however common practice to measure sound levels using A-weighting, which attenuates lower and higher frequencies that the average person cannot hear. In this case the value is called LAeq. A- and C-weighting The A-weighting is a standard, commonly used filter that attempts to alter the measured sound pressure levels to more closely match the perception of the human ear. A-weighting makes the sound level meter less sensitive to very high (over 8000 Hz) and low frequencies (below 1000 Hz). C-weighting also attenuates low and high frequencies, but the attenuation of low frequencies is much less severe compared to A-weighting. Calibrate: Calibrate the application using the calibration tool found in the settings menu. Phones and their components vary in quality and setup so you need to calibrate the app in order for the results to be relatively comparable. One suggestion is that you close the window and door to your bedroom or bathroom, turn off appliances, and once its very quiet calibrate the app so the reading is about 30 decibel.

About

SignalScope Basic 2020

This app provides essential tools for engineers, students, and hobbyists to analyze acoustics, audio, and electronics. It offers features like oscilloscopes, FFT analyzers, and spectrograms for detailed signal measurement and calibration.

Highlights
  • Signal analysis from audio input
  • Engineering unit assignment and calibration
  • Support for digital accelerometers and microphones
  • Frequency response correction
  • Adjustable audio sample rates
  • Data saving to CSV, TXT, and MAT files
  • Oscilloscope, FFT, Spectrogram, and XY Plotter tools
Read full description

NOTE: This app is no longer recommended for purchase. SignalScope X version 13+ offers perpetual license options as well as subscriptions. SignalScope Basic 2020 offers a basic tool set to meet your measurement and analysis needs as an engineer, consultant, educator, student, researcher, or savvy hobbyist in areas such as acoustics (sound and vibration), audio, electronics, and electroacoustics. Features: - Analyze signals coming from the Mac or iOS device’s current audio input device. - Assign engineering units to your input signals and calibrate external transducers for accurate measurements. - Assign input channel units and sensitivities for individual USB Audio devices. - Direct support for Digiducer digital accelerometers and 485B39 USB ICP signal conditioner from The Modal Shop. - Direct support for miniDSP UMIK-1 measurement microphone and EARS headphone/IEM measurement system. - Nominal acoustic sensitivities included for iPhone and iPad built-in microphones, voltage sensitivities for headset input (including the Lightning-to-headset adapter included with recent iPhone models) - Manually switch between available audio input sources. - Load microphone frequency response data (FRD) and apply frequency response correction (FRC) to FFT-based measurements. - Manually adjust audio sample rates, even up to 192 kHz, depending on input hardware. - Save acquired measurement data to CSV, tab-delimited ASCII text, or MAT files. - Save high-resolution analyzer display images to PDF files. - Retrieve your data files from your device via Files (iCloud Drive), iTunes File Sharing, or through a web browser on another device. Files may also be opened in other compatible apps (e.g. Mail, Notes, Numbers, Dropbox, etc). Basic Tools: - Oscilloscope - Basic oscilloscope and triggering functions. - FFT Analyzer - Spectrum analyzer with user-settable frequency limits and basic triggering - 2D Real-time Spectrogram Analyzer - XY Plotter - Create Lissajous curves on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Learn more about SignalScope Basic 2020 at FaberAcoustical.com. SignalScope Basic 2020 will receive major upgrades, consistent with those available in the SignalScope X Basic Tool Set subscription, through calendar year 2021, after which it will receive maintenance updates for a limited time. It can be used indefinitely thereafter on a compatible version of iOS.

Screenshots

SmarterNoise Pro4 screens
SignalScope Basic 20204 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SignalScope Basic 2020 at 100% against SmarterNoise Pro's 29%. SignalScope Basic 2020 also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). SmarterNoise Pro's advantage is price (Free vs $59.99) and ratings volume (31 vs 1). On update cadence, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SmarterNoise Pro is free to download; SignalScope Basic 2020 costs $59.99 up front. SmarterNoise Pro sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. SignalScope Basic 2020 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SignalScope Basic 2020 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SmarterNoise Pro has 31 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of SmarterNoise Pro's written reviews are positive against 100% of SignalScope Basic 2020's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmarterNoise Pro ships an update monthly, SignalScope Basic 2020 every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and August 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SmarterNoise Pro versus SignalScope Basic 2020: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmarterNoise ProSignalScope Basic 2020
PriceFree — better$59.99
Rating4.4 (31 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews28.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings31 — better1
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.2
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB9 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperJohan RogardFaber Acoustical, LLC

Customer experience

SmarterNoise Pro

All ratings31 ratings
Positive80.6%
Neutral12.9%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral28.6%
Negative42.9%

SignalScope Basic 2020

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

SmarterNoise Pro

One-time4
  • Camera upgrade$0.99
  • Frequency spectrum indicator$1.99
  • Video and audio recording$1.99
Show 1 more
  • Spectrogram display$1.99
None

SignalScope Basic 2020

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SmarterNoise Pro free?
SmarterNoise Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SignalScope Basic 2020 free?
SignalScope Basic 2020 costs $59.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SmarterNoise Pro or SignalScope Basic 2020?
SignalScope Basic 2020 is rated higher. SmarterNoise Pro averages 4.4 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while SignalScope Basic 2020 averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SmarterNoise Pro or SignalScope Basic 2020 have ads?
Neither SmarterNoise Pro nor SignalScope Basic 2020 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmarterNoise Pro or SignalScope Basic 2020?
SmarterNoise Pro ships an update monthly, and SignalScope Basic 2020 every 6 weeks. Most recently, SmarterNoise Pro was updated on September 7, 2026 and SignalScope Basic 2020 on August 27, 2026.

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