Comparison

Spectre vs Audio / Spectrum Analyzer

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

Head to head
About

Spectre

This audio analysis utility provides real-time FFT and oscilloscope views for sound input. Customize waveform display, control sample rates, and zoom in for detailed analysis on iOS devices.

Highlights
  • FFT Analysis
  • Oscilloscope
  • Customizable Waveform
  • Linear & Logarithmic Forms
  • Pause/Play Controls
  • Zoom Functionality
Features
Read full description

Spectre is an iOS audio analysis utility designed to be useful and visually appealing, making use of retina displays. Feature Highlights: • FFT(Fast Fourier Transform) Analysis • Oscilloscope • Customizable Features: Wave Amplitude, Sample/Time Control, Line Width • Linear & Logarithmic Wave Forms • Pause/Play Controls • Zoom in/out on the Waveform! • Optimized for iPhone 3,4,5 and iOS 7 Currently this app takes input from standard input, and external mics. Cross-app sound analysis coming soon! Waveform recording also coming soon!

About

Audio / Spectrum Analyzer

This application analyzes audio input from your microphone, displaying both the waveform and amplitude spectrum in real-time. It offers extensive customization for display, calculation, and signal generation.

Highlights
  • Simultaneous waveform and spectrum display
  • Configurable display layouts
  • Selectable FFT size and averaging
  • Frequency weighting options (Flat, dBA, dBC)
  • Octave band analysis
  • Audio signal and noise generation
  • Peak hold and pitch meter
Read full description

This RTA app supports simultaneous display of "Audio Waveform", as well as the FFT-based "Amplitude Spectrum" (frequency magnitude) and "Spectrogram" (frequency distribution over time), for audio signals input from a microphone. (FFT: Fast Fourier Transform, RTA: Real Time Analyzer) [Features] - Supports simultaneous display of Waveform / Spectrum / Spectrogram - Supports orientation both portrait and landscape - FFT size - Window function - Spectrum average - Spectrum Tilt - Frequency weighting (Flat, dBA, dBC) - The type of expressing the frequency of Spectrum / Spectrogram (Linear, Log) - Displays the peak level and its frequency of the spectrum - Peak Hold (displays the results of holding past peak values ​​of the spectrum) - Octave Analysis (displays the spectrum divided into octave bands) - Generates the audio signal (Sine, Triangle, Squire, Saw) - Generates the noise signal (white noise, pink noise) - Pitch meter display The Pro version offers Ad-Free Viewing and High-Resolution Analysis (FFT size: 16384, 32768, Spectrum Average: 4, 8). [Setting items] 1. Screen structure : Select the display screen configuration. View Num : 1, 2 View Type : - 1 screen : Wave (Waveform) / 1D (Spectrum) / 2D (Spectrogram) - 2 screens : W+1D / W+2D / 1D+2D Layout : Vertical / Horizon 2. Frequency Axis Scale Type : Selectable the type of expressing the X direction (frequency) of Spectrum / Spectrogram. - Linear: Distributed at equal intervals - Log: The intervals increase logarithmically 3-1. FFT size : 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384, 32768 (* 16384, 32768 is available in the Pro version.) 3-2. Window function : Hanning, Hamming, Blackman, No window 4. Spectrum Average Number of spectrum average for a display of spectrum. 1, 2, 4, 8 (init value: 1) (* 4 and 8 are available in the Pro version.) Higher value will make the spectrum less noisy and more smooth, at the cost of lower time resolution. 5. Spectrum Tilt : Compensates the visual slope of the spectrum around a 1 kHz pivot. -6.0 to +6.0 dB/oct in 0.5 dB/oct steps (0 means no tilt). 6. Frequency Weighting : Selectable frequency weighting. - Flat: No frequency weighting is applied. - dB(A): Frequency response that takes into account human hearing. - dB(C): Relatively flat response. 7. Peak Hold : Displays the results of holding the past maximum values ​​(peak values) of the spectrum. 8. Octave Analysis : Displays the results of classifying the spectrum into octave bands. Division method: - FFT: Spectral display - 1/24, 1/12, 1/6, 1/3, 1 octave: Display divided into octave bands Calc method: - Max: Displays the maximum spectrum value in each band - Average: Displays the average spectrum value in each band 9. Generates the audio signal : Set the audio signal to be generated. - There are 4 types of waveform. (Sine, Triangle, Squire, Saw) - It can set the value of the frequency in 20Hz - 20000Hz. 10. Generates the noise signal : Set the noise signal to be generated. - There are 2 types of noise. (White noise, pink noise) [Other] - Background color: Black, White - WaveForm: Line Color (Green, Yellow, Invert), Line Width (1.0 ~ 6.0 px) - Spectrum: Bar color (Green, Yellow, Color patterns) - Spectrogram: Colormap, Display range (-150 ~ -60 dB), Display time (4 ~ 60 sec), Apply Spectrum Tilt - Bluetooth connection policy selection (disabled, HFP, A2DP). - Scaling of Waveform / Spectrum display in the Y direction (magnification: 0.5 - 2.0). - Scaling of Spectrum / Spectrogram display in the X direction (magnification: 1.0 - 16.0).

Screenshots

Spectre4 screens
Audio / Spectrum Analyzer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Audio / Spectrum Analyzer at Free against Spectre's $0.99. Audio / Spectrum Analyzer also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.0) and review sentiment (79% vs 40%). Spectre's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On 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

Audio / Spectrum Analyzer is free to download; Spectre costs $0.99 up front. Audio / Spectrum Analyzer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Spectre asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Audio / Spectrum Analyzer holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Audio / Spectrum Analyzer has 1K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Spectre's written reviews are positive against 79% of Audio / Spectrum Analyzer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spectre ships an update every 96 months, Audio / Spectrum Analyzer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Spectre versus Audio / Spectrum Analyzer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpectreAudio / Spectrum Analyzer
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.6 (1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews78.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings21K — better
Update frequencyEvery 96 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael HandLoop-Sessions.LLC.

Customer experience

Spectre

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

Audio / Spectrum Analyzer

All ratings1,048 ratings
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.8%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews103 reviews
Positive78.6%
Neutral2.9%
Negative18.4%

Bugs and requests

Spectre

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Audio / Spectrum Analyzer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Stuck on latest measurement
  • White noise instead of expected functionality
  • Disconnects AirPods

Requested features

4 requests
  • Sampling rate adjustment
  • Wave shape tracking
  • Audio file analysis
  • Octave analysis

In-app purchases

None

Spectre

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Audio / Spectrum Analyzer

One-time1
  • Pro (Remove ads, High-Res analysis)$11.49

Questions

Is Spectre free?
Spectre costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Audio / Spectrum Analyzer free?
Audio / Spectrum Analyzer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Spectre or Audio / Spectrum Analyzer?
Audio / Spectrum Analyzer is rated higher. Spectre averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Audio / Spectrum Analyzer averages 4.6 from 1K ratings.
Do Spectre or Audio / Spectrum Analyzer have ads?
Audio / Spectrum Analyzer shows ads; Spectre does not.
Which is updated more often, Spectre or Audio / Spectrum Analyzer?
Spectre ships an update every 96 months, and Audio / Spectrum Analyzer every 2 weeks. Most recently, Spectre was updated on September 6, 2026 and Audio / Spectrum Analyzer on September 25, 2026.

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