Quick start

This guide takes you step by step to your first measurement. No prior knowledge needed.

What you need:

• a computer running Windows or macOS
• an SPL Tools sensor with USB cable
• for SPL Cloud (step 8): internet and an email address

1. Install SPL Sense

1. Download SPL Sense for your operating system:
   • Windows
   • macOS with Apple chip (M1 and newer)
   • macOS with Intel processor
2. Open the downloaded file and follow the installer.
3. Start SPL Sense. On first start, a notice appears. Read it and click Accept and Continue.

SPL Sense updates itself: when a new version is available, a notice appears.

2. Connect the sensor

Connect the sensor via USB. Only one sensor may be connected per computer. The status bar at the top right shows whether SPL Sense detects the sensor.

If the status bar shows Sensor disconnected, unplug the cable and plug it in again.

3. Create a measurement

A measurement stands for one measuring point, for example “Main stage Openair 2026”. It can run over many days.

1. On the overview, click New measurement.
2. Fill in the fields:
   • Name: how the measurement appears in the overview and in the report.
   • Value Profile: defines which values are calculated and which limits apply. For events in Switzerland, choose the template that matches your reported category: VNISSG 93dBA, VNISSG 96dBA or VNISSG 100dBA. In Germany, choose DIN 15905-5. What the templates contain: Templates for V-NISSG and DIN 15905-5.
   • Day Boundary: when a measurement day ends. Choose a time about two hours after the end of the event, at the latest 06:00. This way a party lasting until 03:00 ends up in one day instead of two.
   • Cloud Uplink: leave it off for now. You switch it on once SPL Sense is connected to the cloud (step 8).
3. Click Create Measurement.

4. Activate the measurement

Only one measurement can be active at a time. The active measurement is the one SPL Sense records into.

Open the measurement and click Activate measurement.

5. Set the offset

The limit applies at the loudest place in the audience, at ear height. You usually can’t put the sensor there. That’s why you measure at a different place and compensate for the difference with the offset. Background: Measuring point and offset.

How to set the offset (the measurement must be active and stopped, the sensor connected):

1. In the Measurement menu, open Tune offsets.
2. Play pink noise through the sound system, as loud as during the event.
3. Click Reset max values.
4. Walk through the audience area with the sensor, including the front and the sides. SPL Sense remembers the highest value.
5. Place the sensor at its measuring position, for example at the mixing desk.
6. Set the Offset so that Level with applied offset is as high as the stored Max value.
7. Click Save.

Nothing is recorded while tuning offsets. If you already know the offset, for example from a handheld meter, enter it directly under Edit Measurement.

6. Measure

1. Click Start. SPL Sense is now recording. The first values appear after the first full minute.
2. Below the page title you see the current levels. The chart shows the course of the day.
3. For a large, easy-to-read display, for example for the DJ or the technicians, click Live Screen.
4. When the event is over, click Stop and confirm.

If the sensor is unplugged during the measurement, SPL Sense shows Interrupted. When you plug it in again, the measurement continues by itself.

7. Edit the measurement

You can change name, day boundary, offsets and value profile later, as long as the measurement is stopped: Measurement menu › Edit Measurement, make the changes and Save.

If you change the value profile or the day boundary, SPL Sense recalculates the limits and measurement days.

8. Connect to SPL Cloud

In SPL Cloud your measurements are safely archived. You can see them on the go and share them with others. The basic features are free.

Create an account (once):

1. Open spl.cloud in your browser.
2. Click Sign up now, enter your email address and click Send verification code.
3. Enter the code you receive by email and confirm.
4. Add your password and name and finish with Create.

Register SPL Sense (once per computer):

1. In SPL Sense: Settings › Cloud › Register instance.
2. Click the link shown or scan the QR code with your phone. The code is only valid for a short time; if it has expired, request a new one with Get new code.
3. In SPL Cloud: under Owner, choose who this computer belongs to: you personally or an organization you are a member of. Click Save.
4. SPL Sense now shows Instance is registred.

Upload the measurement to the cloud:

1. Open the measurement in SPL Sense, Measurement menu › Edit Measurement.
2. Switch on Cloud Uplink and save.

SPL Sense now uploads all data of the measurement, including what was already recorded. If the internet connection drops, SPL Sense keeps measuring and catches up with the upload later. In SPL Cloud, the measurement appears on the overview under the independent measurements.

9. Download a PDF report

For every measurement day, SPL Sense offers a day report as PDF.

1. Open the measurement in SPL Sense.
2. Select the day.
3. Click PDF next to the day.

With CSV next to it, you export the values of the day, for example for Excel.

In SPL Cloud, the day report is available with SPL Cloud Pro.

What next?

• When the event is completely over, complete the measurement: Measurement menu › Complete measurement. After that it can no longer be changed. You can re-open it if needed.
• Measuring point and offset: measuring correctly according to V-NISSG and DIN 15905-5
• Read access: give the organizer or the authority insight
• Leveler: keep the level below the limit automatically