Spectrum Analysis

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cyanbeat

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I have no idea how to read a spectrum analyzer...any pointers on this would be appreciated! I use Ableton. I've tried surfing the web to understand it but it still seems difficult. Hope this isn't a stupid question :)
 
The easy answer is don't, and use your ears.

But if you must know, all it does is tell you the volume of a specific frequency. So you can see how loud 500 hz is, how loud 30 hz is, etc. Pretty straightforward.
 
To understand a spectrum analyzer, you'll need to understand EQing. Look into that and it'll explain itself and you'll know what to look out for on one.
 
Spectrum analyzers are best suited for calibration.
 
A spectrum analyser on a music signal is next to useless. As Massive Master says, they're better suited for calibration--put in a known signal like white or pink noise then see how close the result at the other end is.

Other than that, the biggest use I've found for a spectrum analyser is as a glitzy looking prop in a sci fi based play!

(Obviously the above is about audio spectrum analysers--ones working at radio frequencies are almost essential when setting up satellite feeds, finding bandwith for radio mics, etc. etc.)
 
cyanbeat said:
I have no idea how to read a spectrum analyzer.
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For what purpose? As others told you, analyzers are not useful for mixing. But besides helping you to adjust your speakers and room acoustics, they're a great tool for learning about audio and also musical instruments.

--Ethan
 
For those starting out on EQ, I think spectrum analyzers can be used as a sort of "visual guide" when you are EQ-ing. For example, if you hear a very annoying overtone in an instrument that you want to EQ out but can't seem to really detect which frequency it is, you can fire up an analyzer, solo the instrument and look at where the peaks are. With a high enough FFT window size, you can get really fine resolution, and it helps in your surgical EQ-ing. Of course, some guys with a little more experience would be able to identify the freq range on listen, and use a sharp EQ boost to isolate the frequency. In this case, they do not need the analyzer at all.

Another possible use: you know a recording that is exactly the type of sound you want, in terms of spectral shape. You tweak and tweak but you don't seem to be able to get there, and you start to feel like you don't know what you are doing. Take a look at the analyzer when playing the reference recording, and see the general shape. Go back to your recording and look. If you see any region with a drastic difference, you now have a better clue where to start working on.

Please be careful not to over-analyze and start trying to force a sound out of something totally different. Again, a lot of the pros and the more experienced guys will probably not see a use for it as they already have a good sense of which part of the spectrum to start working on just by listening. Nevertheless, it's a tool - and you can use it if it aids you, but the general advice is always to not base your decisions on how the spectrum looks. It's perhaps a better idea to force yourself to use your ears all the time - it serves as ear training :)
 
godchuanz said:
For those starting out on EQ, I think spectrum analyzers can be used as a sort of "visual guide" when you are EQ-ing. For example, if you hear a very annoying overtone in an instrument that you want to EQ out but can't seem to really detect which frequency it is, you can fire up an analyzer, solo the instrument and look at where the peaks are. With a high enough FFT window size, you can get really fine resolution, and it helps in your surgical EQ-ing. Of course, some guys with a little more experience would be able to identify the freq range on listen, and use a sharp EQ boost to isolate the frequency. In this case, they do not need the analyzer at all.
Click to expand...

Yes, this. ^^^^^^

I think they're a good learning tool to identify where certain things happen in the frequency range. After that, not useful in mixing.
 
Yeah, oftentimes I use them for specific purposes. For example, I use it to calibrate my de-essers. I also like boosting the fundamental note of vocals, and while I have perfect pitch, some singers are hard to identify what range they are singing in, so I'll use that to figure it out so I can apply the boost to the right location. That's about it though.
 
I honestly never use them.

Cubase actually put them on their eq section in the mixer in version 7. I still have no idea why, but they can be turned off so it's all good.
 
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