spectrum analizer

[jimistone]

i know this is home reocrding but i thought maybe someone here may know more than me about spectrum analizers.
I want get one and use it to set the eq for live music applications. my main questions are these:

is there alot of difference in quality from one brand to another?

what can i expect to pay for one?

where do i get one?

whats the best bang for the buck?

and finally...
can they be used to tune your studio and control room?
(in other words...can you take a reading of the room and see what frequencies will need to be tamed down to get a flat responce)

any input will help cause i know nothing about spectrum analizers

thanks
jimistone

 

[tonmacaron]

jimistone,

I wish I had a better quality one than I do but I don't even see any other brands advertizing them - I have a $100 Radio Shack 10 band stereo eq that has a 10 spectrum on it. It's helped immensely over the years. It's not always obvious what frequencies are really sticking out without one. I do a lot of comparisons between different sounds. Yes, it could help you tune a room or a recording. 10 bands is not a lot but its gets you in the ballpark. I'd also be interested to know of some musical quality ones - who makes them and how much.

BTW - it only has RCAs in and out so I usually go into a preamp of some sort and then into it.

Good luck.
Tonmacaron

 

[Phyl]

Use the search engine with the term "spectrum analyzer" and you'll get a wealth of information on the topic.

Most of the information is on software spectrum analyzers, the kind that you could put on a laptop and bring to your show. Prices range from under $100 to over $300. Check out this link http://www.brainspawn.com/products/SpectR-Pro/SpectR-Pro.htm for a excellent product that is reaonably priced. All the software analysers I found offer a demo download for free.

BlueBear uses a hardware unit, use the search engine to find out which one.

Good luck!

 

[Middleman]

If you are doing this live i.e. without a computer then look at this site. I have used their handheld analyzers for doing setups and they are great.

http://www.jwd.com/Goldline.htm

The M10 or ASA10B are the models to look for, or if you have more money you can go 1/3 octave instead of 10 band.

 

[jimistone]

thanks for your input guys.

i talked to the dude at the local music store (the dude that fixes the electronic stuff) and he told me that they run upwards of 500 to 2000 bucks. he said thats for a good one. He told me that peavey used to make a good one that was not too expensive (thats saying alot for peavey cause he's not a big peavey fan)... a "peavey autograph". he said that it will just give you a real good starting point and that you will still have to tweak your sound system a bit....but...when you get it set just right you can store that setting and automatically punch it back up the next time you play there. only problem is that peavey doesn't make them anymore.

i checked out e-bay and there are 2 peavey autographs for sale (one guy is auctioning both of them)

"buy now" option for 225 bucks.....has the manual, that may be my best bet

 

[Freudian Slip]

I want get one and use it to set the eq for live music applications.

thanks
jimistone

The main problem with using a spectrum analizer for live set up is that while it may give you a base idea of what to do with a master EQ it is not fool proof. You will never be able to take your rig from place to place only having to adjust the main out EQ.
The reason being that the room changes all through the night depending on the number of people in it, if they are standing up or sitting and of course if it's the dead of winter and they pile in with thick parkas on your screwed.

I have had the luck of becoming friends with a pro sound man who has worked or toured with several bands (the romantics, bangles, johny cash.....) He pretty much sonld me on the Idea that you will never set up a room at the begining of the night and have it be right at the end.

Now an RTA on the other hand would be very handy That's if I ever get to play in that large of a place.

Later
F.S.


PS if you want to use it to figure out how to treat your room that would be cool but, Using a eq to flatten you controll room is generaly fround on.