Comparison

SPL Meter vs Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer

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

Head to head
About

SPL Meter

This application functions as a professional-grade sound level meter, measuring decibels (dB) with advanced DSP algorithms. It offers adjustable filters, decay rates, and ranges, and can be calibrated for accuracy. It supports both internal and external microphones for versatile sound measurement.

Highlights
  • A and C weighting filters
  • ANSI Fast or Slow decay
  • 40dB to 120dB ranges
  • Adjustable calibration
  • Internal/External mic support
  • Universal app
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

SPL Meter is a professional-grade sound level meter, also known as a decibel or dB meter, for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Modeled after a traditional analog SPL meter, we have faithfully reproduced all the characteristics and qualities found in those meters, including the ballistics, ranges, filters, and decay rates. Under the hood we have advanced DSP-based algorithms that meet or exceed ANSI / IEC Type 1 standards. And starting with iOS 6, we can disable the mic filters and limiters, to get the real world performance of a hand-held SPL meter. And now, upgrade SPL Meter with iTestMic, our pro-grade test & measurement mic, made specifically for iOS devices. Using iTestMic with SPL Meter, you get a calibrated, accurate SPL Meter, that meets industry standards for Type 2 performance. See our website for more information. But don't compare us to a Radio Shack meter, ours is much more accurate! We have also included a digital LCD display, as shown in the image, to make this the best SPL meter available for iPhone or iPad. And this is something that the old analog meters never had! The screen will flip when you flip the phone over, so that you can point the iPhone mic directly at the sound source. (iPhone X does not support upside down mode) SPL Meter is a universal app -- buy once, and use on all of your iOS devices. SPL Meter is built by the same team that created the other great professional audio and acoustics apps on the store, Studio Six Digital. Built on the engine of our more expensive "SPL" app, SPL Meter's filters and decay rates meet or exceed ANSI type 1. This app is not a toy or a game. SPL Meter is the one audio app that everyone who works in audio must have on their phone! Not only have we made the best one, but we've priced it so you can't afford not to get it. *** FEATURES: FILTERS -- A and C weighting filters are provided. DECAY -- Choose ANSI Fast or Slow. RANGES -- 40dB to 120dB in 9 ranges. CALIBRATION -- Comes pre-calibrated for the typical iPhone or iPad built-in and headset mic, but you can adjust the calibration if you have a professional, calibrated meter to compare it to. Accesses our cloud-based iOS device calibration database, which we updates as new devices are released. INTERNAL / EXTERNAL MIC -- Select Internal to activate the included compensation filter, which is designed to flatten the frequency response of the built-in or headset mic. External will work with our iPhone Measurement Mic, to be released later this summer. See our website for more details. SPL Meter is bargain-priced to make it easy for anyone to check out one of our professional, accurate apps. Studio Six Digital is dedicated to making the iPhone and Touch a professional audio and acoustics test device. Check out our full line of professional-grade audio and acoustics apps: SPL, the professional digital iPhone sound level meter, SPL Graph, for recording SPL over time, RTA, a 1/3 octave real-time analyzer, FFT, for detailed acoustic analysis, ETC, the energy-time curve function, RT60, for automated octave-band decay time measurement, Speaker Pop, to test speaker polarity, and Generator, the iPhone signal generator. Also, if you are looking for more great acoustical and audio test apps, have a look at AudioTools, our premier app for audio professionals.

About

Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer

Master Pro Tools shortcuts with interactive quizzes and a comprehensive shortcut library. Learn and test your knowledge across various topics, track your progress, and earn achievements to become a Pro Tools expert.

Highlights
  • Interactive shortcut quizzes
  • 228 Pro Tools shortcuts
  • 10 topic categories
  • Onscreen keyboard testing
  • Mac/PC keyboard modes
  • Favorite shortcuts
  • Timer with achievements
Features
Read full description

Tired of forgetting Pro Tools Shortcuts? This is the best way to memorize them. Impress your peers. - Take a quiz with an onscreen keyboard to test and expand your shortcut knowledge. - 228 Shortcuts! (203 in the free version) across 10 topics. - New: Press the info button for details/images behind when the shortcuts does - New: A timer with timer-related achievements - Browse all shortcuts outside of the quiz and filter by topic. - Mac or PC keyboard modes are available. - Mark Favorites and build your own quiz - Skip shortcuts in the quiz and retry them later - Reveal answers when you are uncertain. - Earn achievements! Become a Pro Tools ninja and never let the mouse interrupt your creative or technical flow again. New in 1.9.5: - A timer option! - Shortcuts updated for Pro Tools 2022.12 - Bug Fixes

Screenshots

SPL Meter3 screens
Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer at Free against SPL Meter's $0.99. Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.1) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). SPL Meter's advantage is chart position (#81 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer is free to download; SPL Meter costs $0.99 up front. SPL Meter sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 35 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of SPL Meter's written reviews are positive against 86% of Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPL Meter ships an update every 4 months, Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
SPL Meter versus Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPL MeterPro Tools Shortcuts Trainer
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.1 (28 ratings)4.7 (35 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.9% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2835 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#81 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew SmithSteve Arms

Customer experience

SPL Meter

All ratings28 ratings
Positive78.6%
Neutral3.6%
Negative17.9%
Written reviews170 reviews
Positive72.9%
Neutral10.6%
Negative16.5%

Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer

All ratings35 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative7.1%

Bugs and requests

SPL Meter

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Meter readings change completely and are not stable
  • App crashes on iPhone 6s Plus with jumbled screen display
  • Screen scaling issues on iPad models
  • Display glitches when rotating device between portrait and landscape
  • Greyed out settings after installation
Show 6 more
  • Blurry UI and low resolution after updates
  • App fails to respond or shows 999dB reading
  • Incompatibility with iOS 8 and iOS 10.3.2
  • Screen only fills bottom-left corner of display
  • Microphone not responding with external mics
  • Feedback/screeching with certain external microphones

Requested features

12 requests
  • Larger meter display in landscape mode
  • Digital-only display option without analog meter face
  • Peak hold and min/max reading indicators
  • Time-based decibel graph visualization
  • Linear response visual option in addition to logarithmic
Show 7 more
  • Lighter display theme for outdoor readability
  • Larger digital numbers for better visibility
  • Data capture and note-tagging functionality
  • Three-point calibration system
  • Octave band analysis
  • Automatic range selection
  • Improved knob/dial controls (less touchy)

Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SPL Meter

One-time1
  • Controls & Ad-Free$0.99
1 purchases

Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer

One-time1
  • Full Version$2.99

Questions

Is SPL Meter free?
SPL Meter costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer free?
Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SPL Meter or Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer?
Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer is rated higher. SPL Meter averages 4.1 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer averages 4.7 from 35 ratings.
Do SPL Meter or Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer have ads?
Neither SPL Meter nor Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPL Meter or Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer?
SPL Meter ships an update every 4 months, and Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer monthly. Most recently, SPL Meter was updated on October 14, 2026 and Pro Tools Shortcuts Trainer on October 5, 2026.

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