DIY Audio Spectrum Analyzer, AFFORDABLE RTA! 

Thanks for doing this. It's people like you that make it possible for weekend audio warriors like me to be able to dive deep into out hobby without forking out big bucks for professional gear that we don't need.

You got that right, any rta is better than no rta. Shout out Kicker!!!!

So far this is my favorite video of yours. Really informative and quality information.

Well! This is why I have subscribed to your channel. To be honest, This is the 1st time I have heard of an RTA. I was into car audio in my late teens and early 20s and all we had or knew of was fairly basic. Deck, RCAs, amps, subs and dashboard EQs. As I have progressed rapidly in the past year I have learned so much more that has absolutely reignited the passion for car audio!!! Have a shed that I call my workshop and once I get it insulated I will have 1 side set up for wood working and the other or rest is all car audio, etc. Thank you!!!

Just found your and this video alone is worthy of a sub! Thanks for sharing this info, as I just purchased all necessary items for under $55. This is a hobby where I only install systems in my new cars or family/friends so I couldn't justify Audio Controls RTA option currently.

you rock dude. thx.

I’ve used the audio tools app and it definitely gets you pointed in the right direction for very little money. I used the Dayton imm-6 and loaded the calibrated file although it didn’t seem to make much of a difference over the iPhone mic

It good for beginners who want learn before invest expensive RTA equipment

I use an UMIK-1 calibrated USB microphone plugged into my laptop and run Room EQ Wizard software. Fast and easy.

I just subscribed after seeing this video

Have you ever tried to test an audio spectrum with pink or white noise (or maybe some sort of easy sweep generator? I've seen them as android apps) ? We've got a special ham radio application we are trying to set up so we know more about what a "repeater" sounds like. A "repeater" is a special fm radio on a mountain top that picks up weak fm radios and transmits them to the other side of the mountain for instance. The spectrum on some repeaters (especially ours) can be messed with to the point where you don't know what you've got. Its radio audio and every radio messes with the audio specrum (FM Pre-Emphasis and De-Emphasis). We have a volunteer group with special repeaters (ham radio) trying to fix the audio so every repeater sounds the same. The end gadget needs to be inexpensive, easy to replicate, and easy to power. We can't rely on our ears, sometimes you are in a building with fans and air conditioning and can't hear yourself think !

Let me get this right, If you want to check an aftermarket stereo with RCA preouts you can simply plug in your 3.5mm to rca into the headset buddy attenuator , other end into stereos rcas and run the app. If you want to check a factory stereo or any other radios you need to do the same but include a LOC to reduce the volume before going into the attenuator.

Have you tried different rcas? there's a big difference on how twisted pair and shielded rcas work dymore has a video explaining that, cause I'm sure the 3.5 jack has a ground for the noise to go and if there's not a place for it to go it will be picked up on the rcas, a ground loop isolator may fix that,dymore also has a video on line output converters, which output converters are better the Kicker one is in that video to also,there may be better options, I'm looking for a budget rta and this video helped alot I'll just get a Audiocontrol lc2i and go for a 3.5 to rca cable that's shielded and ground that shield to the ground on the lc2i which should kill that noise being the rcas and the ground are isolated Thanks Again

Did you say we can use the input signal wires off the head unit as a option? That would be better! Larry

Will this need to be done before any gains are set on the amp? Reason i ask is, when i mess eith the EQ settings on HU it makes the music louder and lower volumes.

I built one of these a few months back and I'm using the same app with the same IMM6 mic. Loading the calibration file can be a bit tricky. I had to follow some hints by some reviews on Amazon and parts express. With the DIY RTA I have the same issue with noise using the same parts you did and a Samsung Galaxy A50. If you ever find a solution is love to know.

cell phone mics are not calibrated maybe it will work on signal lvl

Can you make a frequency spectrum analyzer full skall

I don’t know if I missed it, but what was the source? What did you play the pink noise through?

Hi i need some help, I have an kenwood ddx4048bt with 2 sets of RCA (Front and rear/sub) I want to connect 2 amps (1 4 channel for speaker and a 2 channel for sub) but an missing an RCA from the radio, what can I do?

I don't understand that headset buddy as 1 end is 2.5mm and the other is 3.5 mm. I'd like to do this using my Iphone with the lightning cable. The lightning adapter you link to is 3.5 mm. What about the 2.5mm end? What am I missing? or does the headset buddy come with everything needed ? Please advise.

Today's adventure lol

I purchased the headset buddy and rca adapter to 3.5mm and also a 3.5 mm adapter to plug into my fire hd10 tablet. Problem is finding an app that will allow reading the signal and not just the sound the tablet's microphone picks up. If I disable the micrphone permission for the app the app will not function. The app i'm trying to use is RTA analyzer free version. Amazon app store has limited apps to download. I had no luck installing google play store on my tablet to try to get more app choices. Do you know how to get an app to function via the cable and not the internal microphone? is it just a matter of purchasing the full version of the app instead of using the free version? That would make sense but I don't want to buy an app just to find out it wont work. I know kicker recommends the Octave app but I cannot get that on my stupid tablet. All this technology is lame. Please advise if you can.

Try solder it to an RCA jack? Or is it possible to use just the rca to 3.5 on a low level rca to see the signal only?

Can I use an lc7i line output converter?

With all the money This project would cost it would be cheaper just to buy a $35 Spectrum analyzer kit

line output converter itself not giving you flat signal and you should use cheap ones