Back

Equipment Scanner | SonaVyx

Point camera at audio equipment

Capture a photo of audio equipment to identify it with AI

AI-Powered Audio Equipment Recognition for Sound Engineers

SonaVyx Equipment Scanner uses advanced computer vision and AI to instantly identify audio equipment from a single photograph. Whether you are documenting a venue install, inventorying rental stock, or reverse-engineering a festival PA rig, the scanner recognizes mixers, amplifiers, loudspeakers, microphones, signal processors, and more. Simply point your phone camera at any piece of gear and tap the shutter button -- AI does the rest.

How It Works

The recognition pipeline starts with a high-resolution capture from your device camera (up to 1920x1080). The image is analyzed by a multi-modal AI model that has been trained on tens of thousands of professional audio products spanning major manufacturers such as Yamaha, JBL, QSC, d&b audiotechnik, L-Acoustics, Allen & Heath, Shure, Sennheiser, Crown, Lab Gruppen, and hundreds more. Within seconds, the AI returns the make, model, equipment type, and a confidence score indicating how certain it is about the identification.

Knob and Fader Position Detection

Beyond simple identification, the SonaVyx scanner can detect the positions of physical controls visible in your photo. When you photograph a mixing console, the AI reads knob angles and fader positions, translating them into approximate numeric values. This is invaluable for documenting a system setup before teardown, recreating a proven configuration at a different venue, or troubleshooting why a channel sounds wrong. The detected control positions are displayed alongside each identified device, and you can export the entire scan to a JSON file for archival or sharing with your team.

Use Cases for Live Sound Professionals

In live sound, time is everything. During load-in, you can scan unfamiliar backline gear to instantly pull up specifications, input/output counts, power requirements, and rigging weights. System technicians can photograph an amplifier rack and get a complete inventory without manually reading labels. For corporate AV, scanning a ceiling speaker identifies the model and its coverage pattern, helping you decide if additional units are needed. Rental companies can use the scanner to verify returned equipment against manifests.

Integration with SonaVyx Measurement Tools

Equipment Scanner is part of the broader SonaVyx platform. Once you have identified your loudspeakers, you can jump directly into the Transfer Function Analysis tool to measure their real-world frequency response, phase alignment, and coherence. The AI Diagnostic tool can then compare your measurements against the manufacturer specifications that the scanner retrieved, highlighting discrepancies that may indicate a blown driver, incorrect DSP preset, or wiring fault. This end-to-end workflow -- identify, measure, diagnose -- is what sets SonaVyx apart from single-purpose measurement apps.

Privacy and Data Handling

Photos captured by the Equipment Scanner are processed in real time and are not stored on SonaVyx servers after analysis is complete. The image data is transmitted securely over HTTPS and is discarded once the AI model returns its results. Your equipment inventory stays on your device unless you explicitly choose to export or share it. SonaVyx is committed to protecting the privacy of its users and complies with applicable data protection regulations.

Manual Search Fallback

If you cannot use the camera -- perhaps you are at your desk reviewing a system design, or the equipment label is too worn to photograph -- you can type the make and model into the manual search field. The AI will look up the equipment in its database and return the same detailed specification cards. This makes SonaVyx Equipment Scanner a versatile reference tool that works both in the field and at the office.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of audio equipment can SonaVyx identify?
SonaVyx can identify mixing consoles, power amplifiers, loudspeakers, subwoofers, stage monitors, microphones, wireless systems, signal processors, crossovers, equalizers, compressors, DI boxes, and audio interfaces from hundreds of manufacturers including Yamaha, JBL, QSC, d&b audiotechnik, L-Acoustics, Allen & Heath, Shure, Sennheiser, and many more.
How accurate is the AI equipment recognition?
Accuracy depends on image quality and the equipment's condition. Under good lighting with a clear view of the front panel, the scanner typically achieves 85-95% confidence for popular models. Older, obscure, or heavily modified equipment may yield lower confidence scores. The confidence badge color-codes results: green for 85%+, amber for 60-85%, and red below 60%.
Can the scanner read knob positions from a photo?
Yes. When the AI detects rotary knobs, faders, or switches in the image, it estimates their current positions and translates them into approximate numeric values. This works best with clear, well-lit photos taken from directly in front of the equipment. Angled shots may reduce position accuracy.
Is there a cost to use the Equipment Scanner?
The basic equipment identification feature is free to use with a SonaVyx account. Advanced features such as batch scanning, detailed specification lookups, control position detection, and export to professional inventory formats are available with a SonaVyx Pro subscription.
Are my photos stored on SonaVyx servers?
No. Photos are transmitted securely over HTTPS for real-time AI analysis and are discarded immediately after processing. SonaVyx does not retain your images. Scan results are stored locally on your device and only shared if you explicitly use the export or share feature.