The Noise App

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I downloaded the app on advice of my housing association and local council to prove the excessive noise pollution my son and I have been subjected to for nearly a year (without resolution despite multiple complaints). There is excessive static noise in the background of recordings, so it doesn't always pick up noise despite it being loud enough to hear from neighbours (and I'm deaf in one ear). It has in other cases picked up music and TV noise throughout my flat from next door (I might add next door is actually an adjoining building) when it is extremely loud. Problem is that whilst the housing association accept the noise is excessive, local council refuse to accept 42 recordings stating they don't 'percieve' the noise as excessive as they apparently can barely hear the recordings due to background static etc. Interesting when I can and housing association can (who now won't do anything as the council are refusing to act). Unfortunately once you've sent off the file you have no record of it for yourself to access and listen to. Totally frustrated. Had hoped this would help resolve the issue as it's affecting health. Don't understand why councils and housing associations are recommending the app when they then won't use the evidence generated. App let down by significant background static type noise.

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I was encouraged by the council to use this app to gain audio evidence to help resolve a (still ongoing) very noisy neighbour problem that I’ve had for over two years, I successfully and easily recorded 5 x 30 second audio clips that were clear (apart from the hiss on playback) and quite loud each day, complete with all required details over a two week period and guess what..... the council said the record levels were insufficient!!!!!!!!! This app really is a complete waste of time and effort, it gives you false hope of resolving ongoing noise problems, but you will surely find this out for yourself if you use it, your neighbours noise will probably sound loud in your room while recording them (like ours did) but on play back the levels are low even at full phone volume and this is what the council go on, in the end this will cause you depression and anxiety resulting in the council suggesting you need counselling (it gets them out of doing their job), I would give this app 0 stars if it would let me 👎☹️

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No online (web page) sign up so you're reduced to the hunt & peck on the phone. Then it forces you to play the password guessing game - only telling you the (arbitrary and pointless) rules after you don't meet them. User interfaces like these are why so many people have bad passwords. Completes the insult by immediately making you log in again after signing up too. Minimum effort T&Cs acceptance page where it's not even clear what you're accepting (no, I don't typically accept a bodged window to the bottom half of an equally useless website. Does it mean I'm somehow accepting every single piece of text that can be traced back to it via links?) The assumption that the app is for reporting unreasonable noise *levels* *in your premises* only (a narrower definition than the law) is buried in the second screen of T&Cs, as is a specific condition disallowing its use *outside* your premises. From the reviews of how well it does its job elsewhere here (no surprise given the design quality encountered so far) - and my experience of how my council behaves even when contacted directly (not a unique experience I'm sure) - I think it's a pretty safe bet this isn't worth the effort.

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Since newest update it will not open at all .. pointless when you really need it .. since I downloaded it I’ve nothing but issues .. rubbish app. Will probably turn out to be inadmissible evidence because the council don’t want the workload.. No one seems to care how these horrible creatures barking and screeching from 5:30am all through the day until 00:40 .. they are encouraged by their insane owner to bark and tell everyone who complains to F off .. My four year old daughter is exhausted from lack of sleep.. I suggest you use the microphone on your phone or actually video the incident as it will be far better than this non working nonsense. STILL GETTING BLACK SCREEN and being returned to phone home screen. AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS RIDICULOUS 30 SECONDS RECORDING TIME .. IDIOTIC! HOW ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO?

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Why the council uses this when it doesn't pick up certain frequencies well i don't know. Developers please please please work to improve the council has put our lives in your hands. After months of coping i can no longer bear the noise i have to leave my own home when they start and pray they are done when i return. I am now extremely depressed and have high anxiety levels. I cant live in my own home much longer as it is intolerable and severely affecting my mental health. Please please please developers look at decibel meters app and tweak yours so noise can be proven even when what is picked up isn't so good. It shows better how indirect sound affects us and registers tones much better i am using an iphone xs.