STILL / FIELD NOTES 11

Compare fan noise without changing the experiment

Compare one change at a time: fan speed, device position or another setting. Keep the phone's position, microphone route, weighting, response and session length unchanged. Repetition matters more than a single impressive-looking number.

September 8, 2026 · Arve Tech, maker of Still

Separate level and sound character

A level summary and a spectrum describe different aspects of the recording. A change in a tonal component can be noticeable even when a broad summary changes little. Record both observations without assigning a universal comfort score.

Keep the test honest

Do not move the phone closer for one fan than another or compare a quiet room with a busy room. Account for nearby ventilation and handling noise. Still's unadjusted dBFS values do not establish a manufacturer's SPL specification or an occupational exposure assessment.

Try a repeatable approach

1. Choose one distance and keep the microphone unobstructed.
2. Record each fan setting using identical app settings.
3. Repeat the sequence to check that the observation is consistent.

Source and scope

NIOSH: Sound Level Meter app and measurement limitations

Measurement guidance is educational. Still is not a certified sound level meter and does not establish medical, legal or workplace-compliance conclusions. App-specific statements describe version 1.0.0, currently awaiting App Store review.