Support
Rattlewise — Noise & Vibration Finder
Getting Started
How do I find a rattle?
Park the vehicle (or stand in the room), open Rattlewise, and start a session. Play the tone sweep to make the loose part resonate, watch the live spectrum until a peak appears, then tap Diagnose to get a ranked list of likely culprits and a guided fix checklist.
How does the tone sweep work?
The sweep plays a tone that rises through a range of frequencies. When it reaches the resonant frequency of a loose panel, clip, or piece of trim, that part starts to buzz audibly — and a peak jumps up on the live spectrum. That peak is your rattle's frequency.
What does the live spectrum show?
It's a real-time FFT graph of the sound in the room. Loud frequencies show up as tall peaks. The app locks onto the strongest peak and tracks its exact frequency — even when the rattle is intermittent — so you can see the buzz instead of just hearing it.
Finding & Diagnosing
How does the accelerometer confirm which part is buzzing?
With a session running, press the back of your phone gently against a panel you suspect. The accelerometer picks up structure-borne vibration, so if that panel is the source you'll see it respond — a quick way to confirm before you start tightening anything. (Accelerometer fusion is a Premium feature.)
What are "likely culprits," and how accurate are they?
Rattlewise maps the rattle's frequency and behavior to a ranked list of common sources in plain English, each with a confidence level. It's honest by design: it shows likely culprits, ranked — never a fake guaranteed diagnosis. Use the guided checklist (press here, tighten here, add felt tape, reseat the clip) to confirm and fix.
What is the before/after proof report?
After you make a fix, measure again. Rattlewise overlays the before and after spectra and quantifies the drop — for example, "peak −14 dB at 280 Hz." You can share it as a PDF or image to settle a debate with a spouse, a forum, a mechanic, or a buyer. (Proof reports are a Premium feature.)
It couldn't locate my noise. Why?
Rattlewise is built for light-to-moderate cabin and room rattles that resonate when excited by a tone. Some noises — drivetrain, brakes, suspension, mechanical faults, or wind/road noise while moving — can't be found this way and need a professional. If a buzz is intermittent, try sweeping slowly and re-running while gently pressing nearby panels.
Does it work for home and HVAC noises too?
Yes. The same approach works on buzzing ductwork, loose speaker grilles, appliance panels, and rattling fixtures. Assign the hunt to a "room" space so your history stays organized alongside your vehicles.
Do I need an internet connection?
No. Everything — the sweep, the live spectrum, the accelerometer confirm, the diagnosis, and the proof report — runs entirely on your device. It works in a garage, a parking structure, or anywhere with no signal.
Safety
Can I use it while driving?
No. Rattlewise is a stationary tool — use it only while parked or standing still. Locating a rattle needs your attention on the screen and on the vehicle's interior, which is not safe while driving.
Free vs Premium
What's free vs Premium?
Free: the live FFT spectrum and peak tracking, the full guided tone & frequency sweep (the core resonance trick is never paywalled), one live session at a time, and a diagnosis preview showing the top likely culprit. Premium: unlimited saved hunts, the full ranked diagnosis with guided fix checklists, shareable before/after proof reports, multi-session history per vehicle and space, accelerometer structure-borne fusion, and PDF/CSV export. No ads on either tier.
Is there a free trial?
Yes — the Premium Annual plan ($24.99/year) includes a 7-day free trial. You'll only be charged at the end of the trial. Cancel anytime in your Apple ID subscription settings before the trial ends.
How do I restore my purchase?
Open Settings inside the App and tap "Restore Purchases". This re-applies your active subscription if you've previously purchased one on this Apple ID.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Open the iOS Settings app, tap your name at the top, then tap Subscriptions. Find Rattlewise and tap Cancel Subscription. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.
Privacy
Where does my microphone audio go?
It stays on your iPhone. Rattlewise does not record or upload your audio — it's processed live to compute the spectrum and is never saved as a recording. Saved hunts store only the measurements (frequencies and dB values), not raw audio. See the Privacy Policy for full details.
What permissions does the app need?
Microphone (to measure sound during a session), Motion & Fitness (optional, only for the accelerometer confirm), and Notifications (optional, for re-measure reminders if you opt in). There are no ads, analytics, or third-party trackers.
Contact Us
Email Support
For questions, bug reports, or feature requests:
We typically respond within 48 hours. If you're reporting a missed rattle, telling us the rough frequency of the peak and the vehicle or space helps us improve the diagnosis.