This catches very narrow peaks that you might not see with smaller FFT sizes.įFT overlap sets the amount by which the analysis bands overlap. When you’re looking for frequency anomalies, use a high value, like 16K or 32K. Higher numbers give better frequency resolution, but require more time to compute the display. 3: Sony Sound Forge allows for multiple customization options for its spectrum analyzer display.įFT size determines the number of samples per band. Some digital audio editors let you customize the way a spectrum analyzer displays data, as well as alter its analysis process. But if, for example, your mixes sound muddy and other CDs don’t, investigate what’s happening in the bass and lower midrange. Differences are not necessarily “bad” it depends on the music and style. Compare their curves to yours and see where the differences lie. Spectrum analyzers are also invaluable for analyzing the spectral response of well-mixed, well-mastered recordings. A very uneven average bass response may indicate acoustics-related problems - either from room resonances when miking acoustic sources, or from mixing if you’re using EQ to compensate for room anomalies of which you’re not aware. (Interestingly, the Har-Bal mastering EQ program includes representative reference curves for different types of music.) For example, you’ll see more bass on a dance mix with a prominent kick drum. However, the object is not to aim for a flat response generally, the highs trail off gently, while what happens in the bass depends on the genre of music. 2: Sonar X3’s ProChannel EQ has a “fly-out” for a more detailed view, which also includes a background spectrum analyzer so you can see the results of changes made with the EQ. 1: When you call up the parametric EQ in iZotope’s Ozone5 mastering plug-in, you’ll see a superimposed real-time spectrum and the response curve you’ve created (the red line).įig. 2), now include software spectrum analysis tools.įig. 1), and even some multitrack hosts ( Fig. Most digital audio editing programs ( Fig. This feedback is invaluable in training you to correlate what you hear with your ears to hard data about frequency response and amplitude. It does this by dividing the audible frequency spectrum into hundreds or even thousands of bands (also called “windows”) using a process called Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), then displaying the level of each band in a graph or 3D display. A spectrum analyzer is a tool that can help analyze a track or mix, and reveal frequency or dynamics anomalies.

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