Calibrated measurement microphone
The trusted reference ear for accurate acoustic measurement
What it is
About Calibrated measurement microphone
Unlike typical recording microphones, a calibrated measurement microphone comes with a calibration certificate documenting its exact frequency response, allowing acousticians to take trustworthy, repeatable readings of sound pressure level, reverberation time, and frequency response in a space. They're essential for room acoustic testing, noise assessments, and loudspeaker or room measurement work where accuracy — not tonal character — is the point.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Measure sound pressure levels accurately against a known reference
Capture impulse responses for reverberation time (RT60) analysis
Verify room acoustic treatment performance
Conduct environmental and occupational noise assessments
Calibrate and validate loudspeaker or sound system performance
How to learn it
Learning Resources
Institute of Acoustics (IOA) measurement training courses
Manufacturer guides from Brüel & Kjær, NTi Audio, and GRAS application notes
ISO 3382 (room acoustic measurement standard) as reference reading
Hands-on practice pairing the mic with measurement software like REW or dedicated acoustic analysis suites
Pro Tip
Always use the microphone's individual calibration file (not a generic one) in your measurement software — even mics of the same model have slightly different real-world response curves.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool