extensions

Sound Pressure Level Extension

For help on how to use an App Inventor extension, please see this extensions guide.

Download

You can download the sound pressure level extension here.

Description

This extension measures the sound pressure level and returns the data in decibels. There are three different measurements reported, unweighted decibels (dB), A-Weighted decibels (dBA), and C-Weighted decibels (dBC). With this data you can build applications that measure and display sound around the device, or even to use the sound level as a way to control some other component of the application!

Notes:

There are some accuracy issues across devices. Different devices will have different microphones with different sensitivity levels, causing measurements to vary from device to device.

This extension requires permission to record audio in order to be able listen to the noise of the surrounding environment. This permission can be granted while running or before starting the application.

Properties

Is Sound Pressure Available Block

Indicates whether or not there is a microphone available to measure sound pressure.

Is Sound Pressure Enabled Block

Indicates whether or not the microphone is measuring sound pressure.

Set Sound Pressure Enabled Block

Sets the sensor’s Enabled flag to true to turn the extension on and false to turn the extension off.

Get Sound Pressure Level Block

Gets the sound pressure level data in decibels (dB). The measurement reported by this call is unweighted.

Set Sound Pressure Listening Interval Block

Sets the listening interval in milliseconds for how fast should the SPL return a reading.

Get Sound Pressure Listening Interval Block

Gets the listening interval in milliseconds.

Events

Sound Pressure Level Updated Block

This event is triggered when the sound pressure level is updated. This event gives access to the sound intensity over the last ListenIntervalMilliseconds amount of time in decibels (dB), A-Weighted decibels (dBA), C-Weighted decibels (dBC).

Example App

You can use a minimal App Inventor application or a more in-depth example App Inventor application to see the sound pressure level extension in action.

Developer Documentation

More in-depth information for developers can be found here.

Authors

This extension was originally created by Nathan Oesterle (lead developer), Guilherme Lopes Dias, George Colgrove, and Ryan Connors