Using Spectrum Analyzer in SF5.0

decrink wrote on 4/26/2002, 1:52 AM

I'm interested in knowing how people use the spectrum analysis in SF5? I've found the you can get a reading...(is it a composite or an average) by dragging the cursor over an area of the song. If I do the whole song I get a 'curve'. What should one look for in this curve to make the mixes better. Would you adjust overall EQ to look for balance?
How would you pros advise using this tool to its full capabilities?
Thanks.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 4/26/2002, 11:56 AM

You can't use this for general EQ adjustments without taking into account what the source material is. A recording of a tuba or conga drums will show lots of bass and very little treble. Adjusting this for an even EQ distribution based on what you see in the display will make the sound very tinny and unnatural. The same thing in reverse would happen with a recording of a piccolo or a snare drum.

If you know what you're doing with the mix, this display can help you find hot spots in the spectrum. Don't use it as a general EQing guide though.

mcm wrote on 4/26/2002, 12:42 PM

I use it to help isolate a problem sound. Maybe it's a ringing quality in a piano that I can't pin down or a vocal Ess that's driving me crazy. I'll grab just a bit of the ring or Ess and let the analyzer show me what the problem frequencys are. This allows me to then set the EQ or DeEser more closly. It's a handy tool. mcm