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Lots of analogies come to mind along those lines. I have all of the respect in the world for Alan Parsons. That being said, I like to keep my scope wide. Some of my favorite engineers haven't been in the game even remotely near is long. But, it's a bit like comparing Lebron James to Pistol Pete...

I would more or less agree with all of the above. While it's not a metric standard to mix by, it is a standard practice. Even before spectral shaping was a thing, listening to reference tracks was still common in trying to emulate a target sound. The principal is essentially the same...

Ha! As a professional photographer, I appreciate the light meter reference. lol. Actually, I think a light meter is a better argument in favor of spectrum analyzers. Light meters analyze the ambient light, or flash, in order to dial in the correct exposure settings on your camera. Creatively...

Glad I could be helpful! Nope, midi is just note data that tells an instrument or module what to play. The midi input would be useful if you already have a midi keyboard. You could use the keyboard to trigger the sounds from your module. However, even then, you would still need the audio...

I think you're using analyzer plugins very effectively in your process. It's also worth mentioning that the technology has come a long way in a short time. These plugins become more and more useful all the time. That's a great example of a good use. It seems counter-intuitive to cut in the high...

This is a sound module. You'll need audio connections to get the sound into your computer. Midi connections are used to control the module with an external source like a DAW or controller. Midi is just data transfer. The Korg Voice series has a 3.5mm output. (the headphone jack.) You're going to...

Therein lies the point. A spectrum analyzer can show you if a mix is thin, thick, etc, in a given frequency range.. It's about comparing your master to other mastered recordings that you wish to emulate. Obviously, if you put an analyzer on one of the ABBA songs that was heavily compressed, it...

I'd say that ABBA is not the best example compared to the bulk of popular modern recordings. I don't think anyone has suggested that a mix always has to be flat or that it can't be dynamic. There are exceptions to every rule. The point is to simply have a visual reference that gives you a...

Fabfilter plugins are absolutely brilliant! Hard to beat! Love the tilt feature!! That's one of a handful of features that don't exist on the plugins that are in the ballpark. That's a perfect example. Thanks for sharing! My experience has been very similar. It's a huge help to keep my ears in...

It has certainly helped me to bridge the gap, too! I haven't been great to my ears over the years! lol

Here's another great way to use a spectrum analyzer. Turn on the "side" overlay to view the differences between the mid/side of the mix. It's very useful to ensure that stereo effects have not caused the side mix to eclipse the mids. It's also a good way to be sure that stereo information is...

Your initial statement is more along the lines of the way I have suggested using analyzers. I never said it was the key to a perfect mix, but rather a helpful tool to have in the toolbox. You've assumed a lot about my understanding. Feel free to point out at what point I said that it was in...

You may have misunderstood me. I don't recommend comparing an unmastered mix to a mastered reference. However, I would recommend comparing a mastered version of your mix to a target reference. In FL studio there is a "C" fader. It stands for "current." It monitors whatever track you have...

Izotope makes some great tools. I read that they recently improved the algorithms for the Tonal Balance feature on the low end. I've been wanting to try out the latest versions. Also, even young ears get worn out. It's a useful tool for all ages!

Are you suggesting that there are no consistencies between popular recordings relating to the curve you observe in an analyzer? Your argument is anecdotal to an extent. Fact is, many popular recordings have very similar curves, especially within the same genre. Fact is, there is math and science...

A spectrum analyzer can tell us a lot of things. It can tell us when our ears or our monitors are deceiving us. It can tell us when the mix is balanced, yes. It can tell us where frequencies are building up and likely causing problems such as masking. It's certainly not a requirement for good...

I’ve seen a lot of negative criticism on the use of spectrum analyzers. That’s really unfortunate. I would encourage newbies to take full advantage. Our ears are the best analyzers we have at the end of the day. That being said, our ears need a reference to establish the ability to identify...

The line level shifter is a great solution. It will convert your -10dbv outputs to +4dbu. That will give you +11db on the way in. You’d be peaking around -6db max when recording. You definitely want to resolve the issue on the front end to get a solid signal and a reasonable waveform.

Interesting. In the interim, I would add an extra gain plug-in as an insert just to reach an audible level while recording. A mixer or preamp either one may color your sound in a good or a bad way. I would shoot for something either transparent, or something that adds a color you know you like...