Do I need special hardware to run an event with TL SEMS?

Only if you want objective reference curve measurement scoring — that requires a calibrated RTA microphone (UMIK-2, OmniMic, etc.). For 100% judge scoring — SPL, Install, SQ by ear — no hardware is required. Any phone, any network, no equipment.

TL SEMS — Tuning Labs Sound Event Management System

Everything Included

TL SEMS — Every Tool. Every Event. $0.

No hidden tiers. No features locked behind a paywall. No per-event fees. Every tool in the Tuning Labs Sound Event Management System is included free, for every event you run, forever.

1

Event Setup & Registration

🏆

Event Creation & Management

Create a full event in under 2 minutes — name, date, location, classes, entry fee, judging criteria. Staff-token gated so only your team can manage entries, scores, and event settings.

$0

💳

Entry Fee Collection — Your Processor

Add your own Stripe, PayPal, Venmo, Square, Cash App, or any payment link. Competitors pay you directly. We are completely out of the transaction — no fee, no percentage cut, no payout delays. You keep 100%.

$0 — you keep 100%

📲

Competitor Self-Registration

Share one link. Competitors enter their name, class, and vehicle info, then pay via your processor. No account required. They receive a unique entry code to track their score on the live leaderboard.

$0

📋

Custom Judging Criteria Builder

Build exactly the scoresheet you want — staging, imaging, bass, install craftsmanship, deadening, or anything else. Set your own criteria names and max point values. Not locked to any preset format.

$0

🎯

Multi-Class Support

Run SQ, SPL, Install Quality, Street, Motorcycle, and unlimited custom classes simultaneously. Each class runs independently with its own scoring criteria, reference curve, leaderboard, and results — no switching systems, no separate spreadsheets per class.

$0

🔐

Staff Access Control

Protect your event with a short staff code you choose (or auto-generated) — only your team can modify entries, edit scores, or manage the event. Competitors and judges never see admin tools. No accounts or passwords needed.

$0

2

Live Scoring & Day-of-Event Tools

📱

Judge Phone App — Scores Auto-Feed Totals

Judges score from their phone — no app download, just a URL. Pull up any entry, score each criterion, hit Submit. That score feeds directly into the running totals and the live leaderboard instantly. No manual entry, no clipboard, no spreadsheet math. The system tallies everything automatically. Works on iOS and Android — any phone browser.

$0

📊

Live Class Leaderboard

Scores update the moment judges submit — no refresh, no manual entry. Filter by class, ranked by total points. Share the link or throw it on a TV. Built for the crowd to follow in real time.

$0

🎧

SQ Scoring Display

Full-screen Sound Quality display for TV or projector. Shows each entry's score breakdown by judging criteria — staging, imaging, bass, clarity, install, or any custom criteria you set. Ranked by total points, filterable by class. Auto-refreshes as judges submit. Built for one-glance readability across the room.

$0

📢

SPL Competition Display

Full-screen Sound Pressure Level display for TV or projector. Entries ranked by dB reading — highest to lowest — per class. Updates live as scores come in. Class filter, large SPL numbers visible from across the lot. No app download for judges or spectators.

$0

🚀

Zero Friction for Participants

No accounts, no passwords, no app downloads for competitors or judges. Lower the barrier and you get bigger turnout. Competitors register with a name; judges score via a direct link.

$0

⚖️

Automatic Score Tallying — Zero Manual Work

Every score a judge submits is tallied automatically in real time. No manual entry. No spreadsheet. No adding up points after the event. Configure the ratio between judge scores and measurement scores — or run 100% judge scoring. Final totals update the moment any score comes in. Close scoring and results are done.

$0

📧

Automated Results Email

Final results emailed automatically to the organizer and all competitors at the close of scoring. No manual exports, no copy-paste. Every entry gets their scorecard delivered.

$0

❤️

People's Choice — Crowd Voting

A QR code appears on the live display screen. Spectators scan with their phone and vote for their favorite competitor in each class — no app, no account, no friction. Vote counts appear live on the leaderboard next to official scores. One vote per device per class, server-enforced. Makes every build matter to the crowd, not just the judges.

$0

❤️
People's Choice — The Crowd Has a Voice Now
The moment your display screen goes live, a QR code panel appears. Spectators scan it with their phone and vote for their favorite competitor — class by class. No app download. No account. Just scan and vote. Vote counts update in real time next to official scores on the leaderboard. One vote per device per class, enforced server-side. Perfect for crowning a fan favorite alongside the official champion.

          QR code auto-generated on display screen
          Scan → vote in 10 seconds
          Live vote counts on leaderboard
          One vote per device per class
          No app · No account · No friction
        

3

Reference Curve SQ Scoring

🎯
Objective SQ Scoring Against Industry Reference Curves
The Tuning Labs platform includes 12+ industry reference curves — Harman, Audiofrog/Wehmeyer, B&K, Whitledge, JBL MS-8, ISO 226, and more. Measure a competitor's system with the RTA, compare against the selected reference curve, and feed the accuracy score directly into competition scoring. Blends with human judge scores at any ratio you set.

          Harman Target Curve
          Audiofrog / Wehmeyer
          B&K Reference
          Whitledge
          JBL MS-8
          ISO 226:2003
          Custom curves
        

📈

RTA Measurement & Curve Scoring

Measure a competitor's frequency response live, overlay it against any reference curve, and calculate an accuracy percentage score. Uses the platform's calibrated RTA engine with UMIK-2 and OmniMic support.

$0

🎼

12+ Industry Reference Curves

Harman, Audiofrog/Wehmeyer, B&K, Whitledge, JBL MS-8, ISO 226, and more — preloaded and ready. All curves are derived from academic and professional audio research. Select the curve that matches your event format.

$0

🎚️

Mic Calibration for Accurate Measurement

Supports calibration files (.cal, .frd, .txt) for UMIK-2, OmniMic, and other measurement mics — so your competition scores are based on acoustically accurate, calibrated measurements, not a raw phone mic.

$0

⚖️

Configurable Auto/Judge Score Weight

Set how much the objective RTA score counts vs. human judge scores per event. Run 100% judge, 100% measurement, or any split. Final scores calculate automatically when all scores are in.

$0

4

Judge Management

⚖️

Judge Registry — Browse & Recruit

Browse certified judges by state, org membership, and cert level. Judges self-register their experience — IASCA, MECA, EMMA, dBDRA, USACi, Bagger Nationals, Sound Warz — and certifications: SQ, SPL, Head Judge, Motorcycle, Marine. Filter to your area, reach out, done.

$0

📣

"Judges Needed" on Event Listing

Post how many judges you need and what certs you want directly on your event. An amber badge on the calendar shows judges you're recruiting. Certified judges see it and can reach out to sign up.

$0

5

Free Social Media Advertising & Promotion

📣
We Promote Your Event — You Do Nothing
Submit your flyer and a few highlights. We write and distribute ready-to-post organic content, countdown posts, competitor callouts, and winner announcements — across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, and the Tuning Labs community feed. No ad budget, no designer, no copywriter. Just car audio people promoting car audio events.

          📷 Instagram
          👍 Facebook
          🐦 Twitter / X
          🎵 TikTok-ready copy
          🏆 TL Community Feed
        

📣

Free Multi-Platform Event Promotion

We write and distribute ready-to-post promotional content across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, and the TL community feed — including your payment link, registration URL, and event details. No ad budget, no agency, no extra work on your end.

$0 — we promote your event

📸

Pre-Event Buzz Campaign

AI generates a multi-post pre-event series — teaser, countdown, "who's in?", competitor callouts, and registration CTAs — all tailored to your event and ready to post or schedule.

$0

🏅

Post-Event Winner Announcements

AI writes winner announcement posts with class results, top scores, and congratulations copy for every platform — ready to post immediately after your event ends.

$0

📰

SEO Article Published on Tuning Labs

Accepted events get a full editorial article published in the Tuning Labs content hub — results, class winners, highlights, and links to your shop or organization. Indexed by Google. Builds your event's online reputation.

$0

📅

Public Events Calendar Listing

Your event is automatically listed on the Tuning Labs public calendar — searched by every car audio enthusiast looking for competitions to enter. Filtered by state, class type, and date.

$0

6

Reliability & Event Safety

🔐

Staff Code — Secure Event Control

Your event is protected by a short staff code only your team has. Competitors and judges see the scorecard and leaderboard — nothing else. No one can edit scores, close scoring, or modify event settings without your code.

$0

📶

Phone-Browser Scoring — No Venue Wi-Fi Needed

Judges score over any mobile connection — no app installs, no venue network required. If a score fails to send, the judge sees it instantly and can resend with one tap. Built for parking lots, fairgrounds, and real-world car audio conditions.

$0

📱

Any Device — No App, No Install

Every tool in TL SEMS runs in a phone browser — iOS, Android, any modern device. Nothing to download, nothing to update. Judges open a URL. Competitors register from a link. Organizers manage from any screen.

$0

💾

No Lost Scores

Every score submission is saved the instant it's sent. No clipboard to drop, no spreadsheet to corrupt, no "I forgot to save." Scores are permanent records — tied to the entry, the judge, and the timestamp.

$0

Entry Fees

You Collect the Money — We Never Touch It

You built the event, promoted it, and ran it. Every entry dollar should be yours.

💳
Bring Your Own Payment Processor — 0% Cut, No Delays
Add your existing payment link to the event — competitors pay you directly through your processor. We are completely outside the transaction. No platform fee. No percentage cut. No payout schedule. The money goes from competitor to you instantly, through your own account.

          StripePayPalVenmo
          SquareCash AppZelle
          Any payment link
        

How It Works

From Zero to Running Your Event in Minutes

No training. No setup calls. No installation. Just create and go.

1

Create & Configure

Name, date, location, classes, entry fee. Add your payment link. Set up judging criteria or pick SQ/SPL presets. Choose your reference curve if running objective scoring.

2

Promote & Register

Share your registration link. We start your free social media campaign. Competitors sign up and pay you directly. Judges browse the registry or respond to your "Judges Needed" post.

3

Score & Let the Crowd Vote

Judges score from their phone — no app, no clipboard. Scores auto-tally instantly. SPL and SQ displays update live on TV. The People's Choice QR code appears automatically on the display — spectators scan, vote, and live vote counts appear next to official scores. No setup needed.

4

Crown Winners & Share

Close scoring and results are final — no manual compile. Results emailed to every competitor automatically. Winner posts go out across social platforms. A results article publishes on Tuning Labs. Your event lives online forever.

Common Questions

Is This Really Free?

Yes. Here's exactly how it works — no fine print.

Free forever — how?

Tuning Labs makes money from its professional DSP tuning platform for car audio shops. TL SEMS is our contribution to the competition community — a way to give back and grow the sport. Event management is free. It stays free. That's the deal.

Do I need special hardware?

Only if you want objective reference curve measurement scoring — that requires a calibrated RTA mic (UMIK-2, OmniMic, etc.). For 100% judge scoring — SPL, Install, SQ by ear — no hardware required. Any phone, any network, no equipment.

What if the internet goes down?

Judges score from their phone browser over any mobile connection — no venue Wi-Fi required. If a score fails to send, the judge sees it immediately and can resend with one tap. Built for parking lots, fairgrounds, and real-world venues.

How long does setup take?

Most events are fully configured in under 5 minutes. Name, date, classes, entry fee, judging criteria — done. Add your payment link, share the registration URL, and you're running. No training. No setup call. No installation.

Do competitors need an account?

No. Competitors register with a name and class — no password, no email verification, no friction. They get a unique entry code to track their score on the live leaderboard. Judges score from a direct URL with nothing to log in to.

What orgs does it support?

Any org — or no org. TL SEMS is built around IASCA, MECA, EMMA, dBDRA, USACi, Bagger Nationals, and Sound Warz formats, but you define the classes and criteria. Independent shows, shop events, regional circuits — it all works.

Event Management Playbook

Best Practices — Run a Professional Event Every Time

Hundreds of car audio events happen every year. The ones people remember — and come back to — follow these three phases.

📋
Phase 1 · 2-4 Weeks Before
Pre-Event Planning
Define classes and criteria first — SQ, SPL, Install, Motorcycle, Street, or custom. TL SEMS lets you build any scoresheet in minutes.
Set entry fees and share registration — One link, your payment processor. Competitors sign up and pay you directly.
Recruit certified judges early — Browse the TL SEMS Judge Registry by state, org, and certification. Post a "Judges Needed" badge on your event listing.
Start promotion 2+ weeks out — Submit your flyer and TL SEMS generates ready-to-post social content for Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok. Free.
Dry run your scoring setup — Create a test event, add a few entries, score from your phone. Takes 3 minutes. Eliminates day-of surprises.

🏆
Phase 2 · Event Day
Day-Of Execution
Brief judges in 2 minutes — Show them the scoring URL on their phone. No app download, no login. "Open this link, pick an entry, score, submit."
Set up the live display — Cast the leaderboard URL to a TV or projector. SQ and SPL displays update in real time. The People's Choice QR code appears automatically.
Let the crowd vote — Spectators scan the QR code on the display, pick their favorite per class, and vote counts appear live next to official scores. No app, no setup.
Don't worry about venue Wi-Fi — Judges score over any mobile connection, and a failed send shows instantly with one-tap resend. Built for parking lots and fairgrounds.
Run classes in sequence or parallel — Each class has its own leaderboard, criteria, and scoring. No switching systems between classes.
Close scoring — results are instant — No manual tallying, no spreadsheet, no "hold on while we add up the numbers." Totals are already done.

📣
Phase 3 · After the Event
Post-Event & Growth
Results auto-email to every competitor — Scorecards delivered the moment you close scoring. No manual exports or copy-paste.
Winner announcements go out for you — AI generates platform-specific winner posts with class results, top scores, and congratulations copy.
SEO article published on Tuning Labs — Your event gets a permanent, Google-indexed article with results, highlights, and links to your org or shop.
Review and improve for next time — Score data is saved permanently. See which classes had the most entries, which judges scored, and where to grow.
Build your reputation — Every event you run builds your public profile on the Tuning Labs calendar. Competitors find you for the next one.

Get Started

Ready? Pick Your Path.

Whether you run events or judge them — TL SEMS has a place for you. Both paths are 100% free.

🏆

For Event Organizers

Create & Run Your Event

Set up your competition in minutes — classes, criteria, entry fees, payment link. Share the registration URL and you're running. Free organizer account — set up in minutes.

Create an event in under 5 minutes
Add your own payment processor — keep 100% of entry fees
Judges score from their phone — no app, no download
Live SQ & SPL displays for TV or projector
People's Choice QR voting — crowd votes from their phone, live on display
Free social media promotion for your event
Results auto-emailed to all competitors

🏆 Create Your Event — Free

No credit card · Free account · No hidden fees

⚖️

For Judges

Join the Judge Registry

Register your experience and certifications. Organizers browse the registry to recruit judges by state, org, and cert level. Get found for events near you.

List your org certs — IASCA, MECA, EMMA, dBDRA, USACi, Bagger Nationals
Set your specialties — SQ, SPL, Install, Head Judge, Motorcycle, Marine
Browse and mark availability for upcoming events
Score from your phone — no app download, no login for event-day
Score over any mobile connection — no venue Wi-Fi needed
Your profile visible to organizers across the country

⚖️ Register as a Judge — Free

No fees · No commitments · Update anytime

Why Tuning Labs

TL SEMS — Built for Car Audio. Not Generic Events.

Other event software is built for 5K runs and corporate seminars. TL SEMS is built for SPL sleds, SQ builds, and bagger showdowns.

Feature	Tuning Labs	Generic Event Apps	Spreadsheets
Cost & Fees
Cost to organizer	$0 forever	$29–$299/event	Free (but painful)
Cut of entry fees	0% — you keep all	2–5% + processor fee	0%
Collect fees with your own processor	✓	✗	✓
Scoring & Displays
Scores auto-tally — zero manual work	✓	Some	✗
Dedicated SQ & SPL TV displays	✓	✗	✗
Reference curve SQ scoring	✓	✗	✗
12+ industry reference curves built in	✓	✗	✗
Calibrated mic measurement for SQ	✓	✗	✗
Judges & Competitors
Judge phone app (no download required)	✓	Some	✗
Live class leaderboard	✓	✓	✗
No login required for competitors	✓	✗	✓
Certified judge registry	✓	✗	✗
People's Choice crowd voting (QR code)	✓	✗	✗
Results emailed to all competitors	✓	Some	✗
Promotion & Reach
Free multi-platform event promotion	✓	✗	✗
Winner announcements posted for you	✓	✗	✗
SEO article published for you	✓	✗	✗
Public car audio events calendar	✓	✗	✗

🛡️

No Bait and Switch. No Data Hostage. No Catch.

This isn't "free for now." There's no premium tier coming that locks your features. No paywall after your first event. No "upgrade to export your data." TL SEMS is free because it's our contribution to the car audio competition community — not because we're planning to monetize it later.

💰

$0 Forever

No monthly fee. No per-event fee. No premium tier. Every feature included, every event, always free for organizers.

💳

0% Cut of Entry Fees

Your entry fees go from competitor to your processor. Tuning Labs is completely outside the transaction. Always.

📁

Your Data Stays Yours

Scores, competitor lists, event history — all yours, all accessible, never held hostage. Export anytime. No "upgrade to download."

🚪

Leave Anytime

If you ever stop using TL SEMS, your data goes with you. No lock-in. No exit fees. No gotcha when you decide to walk.

🏗️

Built for the Community

Tuning Labs earns revenue from our DSP tuning platform for shops. TL SEMS is how we give back to the sport that built us.

🔒

No Account Lock-In

Organizers need no paid account. Competitors and judges need no account at all. The whole platform runs on event codes and direct links.

Run Your Whole Event
From Your Phone.
For Free.

Clipboard & Calculator vs. TL SEMS

TL SEMS — Every Tool. Every Event. $0.

You Collect the Money — We Never Touch It

From Zero to Running Your Event in Minutes

Create & Configure

Promote & Register

Score & Let the Crowd Vote

Crown Winners & Share

What TL SEMS Looks Like on Event Day

Judge Phone App

Organizer Dashboard

Live Leaderboard Display

People's Choice Vote

Is This Really Free?

Best Practices — Run a Professional Event Every Time

Ready? Pick Your Path.

Create & Run Your Event

Join the Judge Registry

TL SEMS — Built for Car Audio. Not Generic Events.

No Bait and Switch. No Data Hostage. No Catch.

Ready to Run Your Event with TL SEMS?

Run Your Whole EventFrom Your Phone.For Free.

Clipboard & Calculator vs. TL SEMS

TL SEMS — Every Tool. Every Event. $0.

You Collect the Money — We Never Touch It

From Zero to Running Your Event in Minutes

Create & Configure

Promote & Register

Score & Let the Crowd Vote

Crown Winners & Share

What TL SEMS Looks Like on Event Day

Judge Phone App

Organizer Dashboard

Live Leaderboard Display

People's Choice Vote

Is This Really Free?

Best Practices — Run a Professional Event Every Time

Ready? Pick Your Path.

Create & Run Your Event

Join the Judge Registry

TL SEMS — Built for Car Audio. Not Generic Events.

No Bait and Switch. No Data Hostage. No Catch.

Ready to Run Your Event with TL SEMS?

Run Your Whole Event
From Your Phone.
For Free.