VU Meter Pro vs BMA Spectrum Analyzer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VU Meter Pro
This professional audio metering app provides a comprehensive suite of tools for broadcast, streaming, and live sound. It offers VU, loudness, phase, LED bar, and waveform displays, configurable to your workflow. Connect external audio interfaces via USB for accurate measurements anywhere.
- VU meter
- Loudness meter
- Phase meter
- LED bar meter
- Waveform display
- Configurable meter layout
- USB audio interface support
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VU Meter Pro is a professional audio metering app for broadcast, streaming, and live sound. It combines an analog VU meter with a loudness meter, phase meter, LED bar meter, and waveform display. Arrange the meters you need on screen to match each on-site workflow. Connect any USB class-compliant device (audio interface, mixer, recorder, or the audio output of a camera or switcher) with a single USB cable and start measuring right away. Use it as a portable meter in the field, or as a fixed tool in the studio. Works on both iPhone and iPad. What it measures · Audio level (analog VU meter / LED bar) · Loudness (Momentary / Short-term / Integrated / True Peak / LRA) · Loudness history (graph display, up to 24 hours) · Waveform (Waveform Scope, up to 30-minute history, pinch-to-zoom) · Phase (Lissajous + correlation meter) Standards-based measurement Loudness measurement follows ITU-R BS.1770 and conforms to EBU R128 / EBU Mode (Tech 3341 and 3342) and ARIB TR-B32, at 48 and 96 kHz. Measurements are verified against reference signals. ITU-R BS.1770 is the measurement standard widely adopted by national broadcast loudness practices such as ATSC A/85 (US) and OP-59 (Australia), which target −24 LKFS. Loudness presets set the target and the True Peak limit in one tap: ARIB TR-B32, EBU R128, ATSC A/85 and OP-59 for broadcast, plus Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts for streaming. Built for the field · Responsive, real-time metering · Standard and wide-range VU scales (−20 to +3 / −40 to +10) · Seven meter themes for different lighting conditions and preferences · LED bar colors: four presets, or set your own three zone colors · Peak Indicator with an adjustable True Peak threshold, so you can tell at a glance whether a peak occurred · Input Trim (±5 dB) for level calibration · Peak-hold readouts for easy reading at a glance Launch and measure. No setup required. This app is built and maintained by a working engineer in radio, audio, and video production, for use in the field. Visibility and operational reliability are the top priorities. Use with an external audio interface. The built-in microphone is not suitable for accurate measurement.
BMA Spectrum Analyzer
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BMA Spectrum Analyzer turns your iPhone or iPad into a professional real-time audio spectrum analyzer. Built around a precision FFT engine with a retro instrument aesthetic, it delivers instant visual feedback on any sound source - from mixing and mastering to live events and room acoustics. HOW IT WORKS Point the microphone at any audio source and watch the frequency spectrum come alive across the full 31.5 Hz – 20 kHz range. The METER panel tracks AVG, PEAK, CREST and MAX levels with frequency readout in real time. FREE • Real-time spectrum display • 2 band configurations: 7 and 11 bands • 2 visual themes • Live METER with AVG, PEAK, CREST and MAX • Tap-to-read frequency and level PRO - ONE-TIME PURCHASE • Full controls: fall rate, hold time and compression • All 5 band configurations: 7, 11, 14, 21 and 31 bands • All 11 visual themes • Peak hold display, brightness mode and linear scale • Spectral envelope (ENV) average curve overlay • FFT resolution selector • High-precision dual 4096-point FFT for low frequencies • SPL calibration offset for live sound measurement SPL CALIBRATION Installing sound for a live event or venue? Calibrate against a reference SPL meter and the app displays calibrated dB SPL readings in the METER panel - useful for system checks, venue tuning and compliance measurements. DESIGNED FOR Musicians - Audio Engineers - Live Sound Technicians - Studio Producers - Educators - Audiophiles PRIVACY All audio processing runs entirely on-device. Microphone audio is never stored or transmitted. No account required.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: BMA Spectrum Analyzer at Free against VU Meter Pro's $9.99. BMA Spectrum Analyzer also leads on iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.6). VU Meter Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On ads 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
BMA Spectrum Analyzer is free to download; VU Meter Pro costs $9.99 up front. BMA Spectrum Analyzer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. VU Meter Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.
VU Meter Pro ships an update every 3 weeks, BMA Spectrum Analyzer every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VU Meter Pro | BMA Spectrum Analyzer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 16.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tomoaki Shimizu | JAVIER PUGA SORIANO |
In-app purchases
VU Meter Pro
No in-app purchases
BMA Spectrum Analyzer
- BMA Spectrum Analyzer$2.99
Questions
Is VU Meter Pro free?
Is BMA Spectrum Analyzer free?
Do VU Meter Pro or BMA Spectrum Analyzer have ads?
Which is updated more often, VU Meter Pro or BMA Spectrum Analyzer?
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