Comparison

LiveSpec vs Spectrum

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

Head to head
About

LiveSpec

This audio analysis tool allows users to measure and optimize sound in any environment. It provides real-time spectrum analysis, sound level monitoring, and tools for system tuning and live mixing. The app supports various audio interfaces and offers iCloud syncing for configurations.

Highlights
  • Real-time spectrum analyzer
  • Spectrograph for sound over time
  • SPL monitor with A/C weighting
  • Dose meter for safe listening time
  • Live Mix plugin host
  • Transfer function with phase
  • Impulse response and delay finding
  • Parametric and Graphic EQ
Read full description

LiveSpec is the audio analyzer you can carry into any room. Point it at a stage, a sanctuary, or a stream feed and see exactly what is happening, then fix it with confidence. Whether you tune arenas for a living or run the board at church on Sunday, the tools are the same and they are all included. RUN THE SHOW Real time analyzer with sharp, smooth traces and a 3D view that shows how the spectrum moves. Spectrograph that unfolds your sound over time, so feedback and rumble have nowhere to hide. SPL monitor with A and C weighting, LAeq and LCeq, a stoplight for your limit, and logging you can export to prove how loud the night really was. Dose meter with NIOSH and OSHA standards, so you know how much safe listening time is left. Live Mix plugin host that runs Audio Unit plugins on your stream or broadcast feed, with input and output meters and LUFS targets. Mix Balance targets that give your whole team one standard to mix to, every night. Auto EQ with Smart Listen that hears the mix and suggests the correction, then lets you shape it. TUNE THE SYSTEM Transfer function with phase and coherence, so you can trust what the trace tells you. Impulse response, delay finding, and speaker alignment, with multiple microphones averaged into one picture. Decay, waterfall, RT60, and harmonic distortion views when you need to look deeper. Parametric and Graphic EQ with profiles that match the grid of popular consoles and processors, so what you design is what you can actually dial in. Signal generator with popular noise types, sweeps, and a playlist for your reference tracks. Setup wizard that finds your interface, checks your channels, and has you measuring in about a minute. MADE FOR THE JOB Works with the built in microphone or any USB audio interface, from a single mic to a full multichannel rig. Calibration files for your measurement microphones. Measurement configurations, targets, captures, and settings sync between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac through iCloud. Dark themes designed for a dim front of house position, with every panel readable at arm's length. ONE PLAN, EVERYTHING INCLUDED Start with a 7 day free trial. All Access is $17.99 per month or $149.99 per year and covers every feature on every device signed into your Apple account. No add ons, no tiers, nothing held back. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment is charged to your Apple account, and you can manage or cancel in your account settings at any time. Privacy policy: https://linearphase.com/privacy Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Spectrum

Features
Read full description

Spectrum turns your phone into a modern real-time audio analyzer - the clean, fast tool that older spectrum apps never gave you. See sound the moment it happens: a live FFT frequency spectrum and a scrolling spectrogram (waterfall), with automatic peak detection and the matching musical note. Built for a phone screen, with a beautiful dark and light theme - not a cramped desktop port. WHY SPECTRUM • Modern, readable interface - designed for touch, dark & light themes • Save your measurements and revisit them anytime (most analyzers forget everything the moment you close them) • Export the spectrogram as a high-resolution image, or your data as CSV • Works on both iPhone and iPad • Real peak frequency + musical note readout, in cents FEATURES • Real-time FFT spectrum, log or linear frequency axis • Spectrogram (waterfall) view • Tap the chart for a frequency cursor with dB and musical note • Peak hold and peak-frequency tracking • Musical note detection (A4 = 440 Hz) • A-weighting for perceived loudness • Adjustable FFT size (2048 / 4096 / 8192) • Save, name and organize measurements • Image & CSV export • 8 languages SPECTRUM PRO - one-time purchase, no subscription • 1/3 octave RTA view with per-band peak hold - the classic real-time analyzer used for live sound and room tuning • Tone generator: sine tones, 20 Hz-20 kHz logarithmic sweep, white & pink noise for testing speakers and room acoustics • Peak list: the strongest peaks with harmonics tagged • Up to 4 frequency markers on the chart • Calibration offset (±20 dB) to match a reference meter • Extra-high resolution 16384 FFT • High-resolution image export and no ads, forever Everything is processed on your device - no audio is ever uploaded. Microphone access is the only permission needed. Perfect for musicians, audio engineers, students, DIY speaker builders, hum & noise hunters, and anyone curious about the sounds around them.

Screenshots

LiveSpec4 screens
Spectrum4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: LiveSpec at none against Spectrum's shown. Spectrum's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, 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

Both are free to download. LiveSpec sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month and Spectrum sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LiveSpec ships an update every 2 weeks, Spectrum every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
LiveSpec versus Spectrum: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLiveSpecSpectrum
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB89 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLinear Phase LLCSEONYONG LEE

In-app purchases

6 purchases

LiveSpec

Subscriptions6
  • All Access Monthly$17.991 Month
  • Live Mix Monthly$19.991 Month
  • System Tune Monthly$19.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • All Access Annual$149.991 Year
  • Live Mix Annual$149.991 Year
  • System Tune Annual$149.991 Year
1 purchases

Spectrum

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$4.99

Questions

Is LiveSpec free?
LiveSpec is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Spectrum free?
Spectrum is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do LiveSpec or Spectrum have ads?
Spectrum shows ads; LiveSpec does not.
Which is updated more often, LiveSpec or Spectrum?
LiveSpec ships an update every 2 weeks, and Spectrum every 8 days. Most recently, LiveSpec was updated on October 14, 2026 and Spectrum on October 8, 2026.

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