Some explain how to use the spectrum analyzer

[josephjobling]

Forget those things.

It'll just get in your way if you don't trust your ears to begin with.

I was thinking along those lines BUT in the end Spectrum is still useful, just not as useful as it might seem. it looks so cool, it must be a great tool. it's not, but it can help.

it's hard to explain... when I use Spectrum I use it to compliment what my ears hear. when I can't quite figure out what frequency is pissing me off I pull out Spectrum. I give each of my ears a vote, Spectrum gets one vote.

+1

[knotkranky]

Forget those things.

It'll just get in your way if you don't trust your ears to begin with.

I was thinking along those lines BUT in the end Spectrum is still useful, just not as useful as it might seem. it looks so cool, it must be a great tool. it's not, but it can help.

it's hard to explain... when I use Spectrum I use it to compliment what my ears hear. when I can't quite figure out what frequency is pissing me off I pull out Spectrum. I give each of my ears a vote, Spectrum gets one vote.

Sure, that's valid bro but if ya have to ask how to use it, my first thought would be not to. It's one of those tools that a bad judgement can still be made on because of it.

I can argue how it doesn't improve a thing in your final mix. Besides, frequencies are spose to be all over the place right? Ya know, whats the ref point?

[Tone Deft]

totally agree. to go around knocking down peaks in a mix with Spectrum is like painting the Mona Lisa with a wrecking ball.

there are times I'll notch out some frequencies and not see a significant drop in Spectrum's readout. my initial response is to cut it more, then I slap my hand and say "stop that shit."

[SubFunk]

Forget those things.

It'll just get in your way if you don't trust your ears to begin with.

+1

[knotkranky]

totally agree. to go around knocking down peaks in a mix with Spectrum is like painting the Mona Lisa with a wrecking ball.

there are times I'll notch out some frequencies and not see a significant drop in Spectrum's readout. my initial response is to cut it more, then I slap my hand and say "stop that shit."

i would count that quote as the answer to the op's question.

[zeitaliesin]

Thanks, except for the few that are depriving villages of an idiot. I think I have a better understanding.

[H20nly]

put the liquid on your tongue...

wait about an hour

now analyze the spectrum in your mind

[leedsquietman]

I always use spectral analysis, phasescopes and the whole metering shebang - but as KK and TD, SF and others have said, it's only there as a backup to what I'm hearing and to catch the odd stray transient which may not be as audible as it appears on a scope.

If you have a PC, I prefer Voxengo's SPAN to Live's Spectrum tool. It doesn't look as cool, no orange, but it is easier to see the waveforms, plus you get the benefit of seeing peak values, RMS and peak RMS values, giving it extra use as a mixing tool. It's free, but Aleksy hasn't coded it to Mac OSX yet (although he has coded many other Voxengo plugins to OSX recently).

[SubFunk]

I always use spectral analysis, phasescopes and the whole metering shebang - but as KK and TD, SF and others have said, it's only there as a backup to what I'm hearing and to catch the odd stray transient which may not be as audible as it appears on a scope.

If you have a PC, I prefer Voxengo's SPAN to Live's Spectrum tool. It doesn't look as cool, no orange, but it is easier to see the waveforms, plus you get the benefit of seeing peak values, RMS and peak RMS values, giving it extra use as a mixing tool. It's free, but Aleksy hasn't coded it to Mac OSX yet (although he has coded many other Voxengo plugins to OSX recently).

of course an analyzer can be useful at times, i like bias reveal for example, very accurate and has also a phasescope, etc.

I just think it's not a 'mixtool' and it's defenitely better to stay away from analyzers unless you are a very advanced user and know where and when it makes sence.

They are in my eyes more 'damaging' then anything else, i am basically against everything that takes you away from training and believing your ears.

[josephjobling]

fair play - they are not a mixing tool no. but they do have their uses - i use it quite a bit - but you are right you need to know what you are looking for/at.

[paq]

maybe i should open a new thread, but it fits in the topic.

in comparision to the simple freq-gfxs of spectrum & co i think a graphical spectral analysis like foobar has in its actual version it way better - especially for the high frequencies if u use linear scale. i love the foobar spectrum thing. it really lets u read the music.

does anybody know a vst that has the same possibilities as this foobar thing? the only one i know is schwa spectro, but it doesnt have linear scale and is not so useful at all... i also still miss an waveform-analyser like the one in foobar. qspec is useless.

thanks for any help.

regards

[Tone Deft]

do you know why a logarithmic scale is preferable by most people?

[paq]

am i stupid? its not about preferences. its about possibilities to switch it.

[Tone Deft]

can you answer the question?

[paq]

yes.