Spectrum Analyzers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phyl
  • Start date Start date
P

Phyl

Guest
Sorry for the cross post but I didn't have much luck in the Recording Techniques forum...

Spectrum Analyzer Uses

I thought of a question while reading a thread started by BlackOrpheus and thought I'd start a new one rather than highjack his.

What other uses have you found for spectrum analyzer plug ins?

I was wondering if it could be used in the mixing stage to help find a "space" for each instrument. There is a lot of discussion on this bbs about using the stereo field to provide separation between instruments, but folks also talk about using EQ to insure that one instrument isn't obscuring another.

I really don't know how to pose the question any better except to say that I'm always impressed when I listen to a mix where each of the instruments seems to occupy its own space both in the stereo field and the sonic spectrum. The recordings JMarcomb (sp?) have posted are a good example.

One last question, what role does reverb play in creating space around an instrument?
 
Good question. I find that spectrum analyzers are invaluable to check a mix and ensure that every instrument is balanced properly. What I do is see if the analysis more or less shows an even, sloped line that is loudest at the low end of the frequency spectrum. If the analysis does not show a straight line, I use the frequency ranges in which the anomaly occurs to identify the instrument that is causing the problem. Then, I will use EQ, compression, or the like to make the appropriate adjustments to that instrument, add it back into the mix, and see if the frequency analysis of the overall mix is any smoother. It seems that through this method, the instruments will naturally end up with sufficient space in the frequency spectrum and thus nothing will obscure anything else. True, there are many other ways to balance a mix using a spectrum analyzer, but I find that the previously method described provides the quickest and most balanced results.

To answer your last question, reverb is usually used to seperate instruments in 3-D space, with instruments with the most reverb begin located back in the mix and instruments with the least being the most immediate.
 
Shit, and I thought it was a unique question. Thanks for the link Chess.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top