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iSolutions For Audio Professionals
Theres more than an app for that... by Kyle P. Snyder
forting to know when I grab my gig bag I can tackle most problems that come my way with its contents. With tools and testing devices constantly being condensed into sleeker, more compact all-in-one devices, it was only a matter of time until I could walk out the door with little more than what I could carry in my pockets. Thanks to the iPhone and subsequent developments, that time is now. Currently in its third generation, the iPhone and its iTunes App Store make an ever-growing cadre of audio tools available at an affordable price. by far one of the most compelling offerings is AudioTools by Studio Six digital. It provides a host of useful functions, such as SPL and rTA, and can be expanded to include FFT, eTC, and much more. This allows the purchase of additional modules as needed, so you can grow your testing platform in concert with your needs. even more notable is Studio Six digitals first of its kind iPhone/iPod Touch accessory, the soon-to-be-released iAudioInterface, designed as the hardware complement to I was very aware AudioTools. The iAudioInterface is housed in a compact aluminum chassis outfitted with a mono of the accuracy of balanced line input with three gain ranges, a stethe measurements reo unbalanced line input that can be switched being delivered into an unbalanced line input, an output that runs in stereo mode and is configurable to be a true balanced output, a level control that can easily be bypassed, and a uSb pass-through port to get power to iAudioInterface. It also comes with a measurement microphone. And the picture just keeps getting better, with a rational Acoustics Smaart Mobile app module slated to join AudioTools a bit later this year. Its all the brainchild of Andrew Smith, who brings an excellent track record of success in pro audio innovation as the founder of TerraSonde, uptown Automation, and Colorado Sound recording Studios. A few weeks ago, Andrew sent me a beta iAudioInterface to check out, and on a side note, its just cool to get a true firstrun product - the serial number on the unit is 008. The iAudioInterface effortlessly plugged into the dock connector of my iPhone through an 18-inch cable. This configuration moves the audio electronics away from the phone to keep noise low. I quickly tested AudioTools in a familiar studio, playing pink noise from the iAudioInteface output into the patch bay to soffit-mounted Genelec monitors, and then ran an FF T analysis. having previously worked in this room with a Sencore Audio Toolbox,

>>>>>> AS I heAd ouT The door To A Job, its com-

I was very aware of the accuracy of the measurements being delivered by AudioTools. I had initially encountered a couple of minor bumps when installing the new beta version of AudioTools, but Andrew responded very quickly to a note (sent late on a Friday, no less) about a potential fix. It took a few phone calls and e-mails to get everything set, but the response really speaks highly to quality customer service. Thats the kind of developer you want on your side when youre committing to deploying these types of tools in the field. Just a few short years ago I watched the initial iPhone introduction, thinking the mobile computing scene had just been transformed, and clearly, it has. Now with tools like FF T apps and emerging companion hardware, our own part of that scene has been transformed as well. n

Kyle P. Snyder is an audio engineer with numerous credits who writes about live sound and recording at www.prosoundweb.com.
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Live Sound International March 2010

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