| Author
|
Mixing using spectral analyzers
|
piXan
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
107
Posts :
807
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 15:25:17
|
Hello fellow music makers!
for the time being im stuck with some below average monitors and room acoustics (i live in an apartment) so ive decided to aid my mixing with other methods, headphones and now im trying to use a real time spectral analyser on the master output using my old lap and soundcard just for this.
Is anybody doing the same . Can you give any tips for mixing with spectral analysers?
thanx.
  www.soundcloud.com/elektroakustica/sets/downtempo/ |
|
|
|
Dv2
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
27
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 16:59
|
What kind of tips are you looking for? I find spectrum analyzers useful in order to see inaudible frequencies, for example the useless low-end rumble in hihats etc.
You could cut them by ear, but an analyzer gives you a lot more info and control.
Another good application is using analyzers to see exactly where your kick and fundamental bass frequency peak, which is helpful in deciding what kind of kick and bass work together or where the problem areas are.
You have to be careful not to get lost in visuals though. Sometimes I have a kick and bass combo that sounds good, but looks problematic in my spectrum analyzer. I used to change the bass sound in order to make it look better, only to find that the lowend in some professional tracks looks equally problematic. Visual info is helpful, but not a substitute for your ears and subjective preferences.
You should also keep in mind that analyzers/EQs etc. are never 100% accurate.
A sound that peaks at 80Hz in my Voxengo SPAN might peak at 70 Hz in my APEQ analyzer. Which means, that analyzers are a good tool for getting a general idea about the mix or frequency content of certain sounds. But for surgical operations (i.e. high-q notch at exactly 74 Hz) your ears are the final judge when it comes to deciding wether you have achieved your goal or not. |
|
|
|
piXan
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
107
Posts :
807
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 17:06
|
|
hi thanx man thats exactly what i wanted to know , what applications you guys use for it, like for kick+bass as you said. im using the pinguin audio meter, and i finding useful to look at it when listening to some pro tracks i like. how do you deal with phase cancellation?
www.soundcloud.com/elektroakustica/sets/downtempo/ |
|
|
|
Beat Agency
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
53
Posts :
1752
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 17:15
|
Of course each to his own way of doing things but I always believed in mixing using your ears. I don't really care if the frequencies are wrong or right (according to some technical standards). All I care about is if the final mix sound the way I want it to and work where I want it to work.
I really do not think you will benefit in your mix using a spectral analyzer as what you need is a pair of decent monitors or a pair of very good headphones such as AKG. Not to forget a good sound-card.
www.beatagency.dk |
|
|
|
wizanda
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
24
Posts :
283
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 18:57
|
With FL PEQ2, got into a habit of using it to assess where the maximum frequencies exist, that are needed and then clearly cutting the rest.
Even if using it with different FX later, just to be visually sure where all of the frequencies are needed. 
www.wizanda.com www.soundcloud.com/wizanda |
|
|
|
makus
Overdream
Started Topics :
82
Posts :
3087
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 19:25
|
Quote:
|
On 2011-04-11 17:15, Beat Agency wrote:
Of course each to his own way of doing things but I always believed in mixing using your ears. I don't really care if the frequencies are wrong or right (according to some technical standards). All I care about is if the final mix sound the way I want it to and work where I want it to work.
I really do not think you will benefit in your mix using a spectral analyzer as what you need is a pair of decent monitors or a pair of very good headphones such as AKG. Not to forget a good sound-card.
|
|
Man, with all due respect, what kind of advice is that?
1. One CAN benefit from spectral analyzers, despite anything you personally believe. This is the same tool as any other in music production. It was created by wise people, has its purposes and is heavily used in many many pro and home studios. It is just a tool, like compressor or equalizer or volume control. Use it when necessary. It was invented to help.
2. If you don't care of right or wrong frequencies AND you have good headphones, monitors and sound card, I hope you also have great room treatment, otherwise there is not much sense in getting pro equipment. In badly sounding rooms spectral analyzer will help you see the frequencies which you can't control by ear.
3. After a mixing a track I always check the mix with analyzer. Sometimes it helps. Especially if you work with 10+ hours per day, each day.
Sure, no one should make mixing/mastering decisions only by spectral analyzer's information.
www.overdreamstudio.com |
|
|
|
Beat Agency
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
53
Posts :
1752
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 20:01
|
I's my advice based on 25+ years working with music. People get way to hung up on technical issues instead of using their ears. I am sorry you find my point less valuable than yours.
www.beatagency.dk |
|
|
|
supergroover
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
39
Posts :
1505
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 20:03
|
|
It can definitely useful for removing unwanted frequences and comparing it with already released tracks.
soundcloud.com/supergroover |
|
|
|
makus
Overdream
Started Topics :
82
Posts :
3087
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 20:09
|
Quote:
|
On 2011-04-11 20:01, Beat Agency wrote:
I's my advice based on 25+ years working with music. People get way to hung up on technical issues instead of using their ears. I am sorry you find my point less valuable than yours.
|
|
Fine, for someone working on music for 25 years spectral analyzer might not be so useful. But now read the initial post again - the guy says he has average monitoring, bad acoustics and old laptop. Care to help? 
www.overdreamstudio.com |
|
|
|
Beat Agency
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
53
Posts :
1752
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 20:18
|
Quote:
|
On 2011-04-11 20:09, makus wrote:
Quote:
|
On 2011-04-11 20:01, Beat Agency wrote:
I's my advice based on 25+ years working with music. People get way to hung up on technical issues instead of using their ears. I am sorry you find my point less valuable than yours.
|
|
Fine, for someone working on music for 25 years spectral analyzer might not be so useful. But now read the initial post again - the guy says he has average monitoring, bad acoustics and old laptop. Care to help?
|
|
My point is that a spectral analyzer wont do the trick and make him satisfied with his final mix. You cant get a proper mix going relying on the help from a spectral analyzer when you lack proper monitors/sound-card. My advice is to invest in these AKG headphones (half price at the moment) where he can mix with a clean uncolored sound just as well as if he had used high quality monitors.
http://www.iheadphones.co.uk/akg-k701-white.html
And you can easily use a external good quality sound-card even when you live in an apartment without good acoustics - together with proper headphones. www.beatagency.dk |
|
|
|
PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 21:49
|
Quote:
|
On 2011-04-11 17:15, Beat Agency wrote:
Of course each to his own way of doing things but I always believed in mixing using your ears. I don't really care if the frequencies are wrong or right (according to some technical standards). All I care about is if the final mix sound the way I want it to and work where I want it to work.
I really do not think you will benefit in your mix using a spectral analyzer as what you need is a pair of decent monitors or a pair of very good headphones such as AKG. Not to forget a good sound-card.
|
|
agree,imo eyes are often a bad influence when working with audio,mixing for me is all about hearing and getting the less influenced by what i see,just concentrating on one sense make it work better(i believe knowing nothing about theorie and just using hears is what lead to the best mix,using a analyzer are the oposite of this philosophie)
a analizer won t tell if it sound good or bad except if the mix, tonal balance is really bad.
|
|
|
|
PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 22:36
|
imo what could help is to listen your mix on many different speakers and place,learning a good headphone is also very usefull.
lot of electronics producers if not the majority use "ghetto setup" with no room treatment and not so great monitors, it s all about learning how the room translate. |
|
|
|
Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 23:02
|
Pinguin Audio Meter nearly always lives on my second screen while mixing.
When you use analyser a lot, you learn how the things should look
And if you don't notice a problem by ears, it can be obvious when you look at the analyzer.
http://soundcloud.com/aedem |
|
|
|
orgytime
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
120
Posts :
1703
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 23:07
|
|
PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Apr 11, 2011 23:07
|
|
a problem you don t notice by ear is not a problem ! it can help to avoid some trouble like in the low end with monitor that dont go low enought for example but it s still far to be a optimal way of fixing/mixing thing imo.if it s just about removing some useless low end but you have no idea of what is going on down there you better let that stuff to a proper master engeinneer or to talk with him first to see what your tracks need. |
|
|
|
