Mixing
How to use spectrum analyser to find problem frequencies
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I would like be able to identify problems in a mix by looking at the spectrum analyser, now I realize that mixing is done with the ears, not the eyes but I mix in a room with bad acoustics so I cannot rely only on what I hear. How do problems in a mix look in a spectrum analyser? (by problems I mean things like resonances, mud or anything that can make a song sound bad)
software mixing
asked 4 hours ago
lost-mid
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up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I would like be able to identify problems in a mix by looking at the spectrum analyser, now I realize that mixing is done with the ears, not the eyes but I mix in a room with bad acoustics so I cannot rely only on what I hear. How do problems in a mix look in a spectrum analyser? (by problems I mean things like resonances, mud or anything that can make a song sound bad)
software mixing
asked 4 hours ago
lost-mid
61
New contributor
lost-mid is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Sadly, if there were reasonably simple algorithms which could process the output of a complex FFT and give you the info you want, everyone would be using them. There aren't.
– Carl Witthoft
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I would like be able to identify problems in a mix by looking at the spectrum analyser, now I realize that mixing is done with the ears, not the eyes but I mix in a room with bad acoustics so I cannot rely only on what I hear. How do problems in a mix look in a spectrum analyser? (by problems I mean things like resonances, mud or anything that can make a song sound bad)
software mixing
asked 4 hours ago
lost-mid
61
New contributor
lost-mid is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I would like be able to identify problems in a mix by looking at the spectrum analyser, now I realize that mixing is done with the ears, not the eyes but I mix in a room with bad acoustics so I cannot rely only on what I hear. How do problems in a mix look in a spectrum analyser? (by problems I mean things like resonances, mud or anything that can make a song sound bad)
software mixing
software mixing
asked 4 hours ago
lost-mid
61
New contributor
lost-mid is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
lost-mid
61
New contributor
lost-mid is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
lost-mid
61
New contributor
lost-mid is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
lost-mid
61
asked 4 hours ago
lost-mid
61
61
New contributor
lost-mid is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
lost-mid is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
lost-mid is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
Sadly, if there were reasonably simple algorithms which could process the output of a complex FFT and give you the info you want, everyone would be using them. There aren't.
– Carl Witthoft
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1
Sadly, if there were reasonably simple algorithms which could process the output of a complex FFT and give you the info you want, everyone would be using them. There aren't.
– Carl Witthoft
3 hours ago
1
1
Sadly, if there were reasonably simple algorithms which could process the output of a complex FFT and give you the info you want, everyone would be using them. There aren't.
– Carl Witthoft
3 hours ago
Sadly, if there were reasonably simple algorithms which could process the output of a complex FFT and give you the info you want, everyone would be using them. There aren't.
– Carl Witthoft
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
Welcome to our Q&A board! :-)
Long story short: resonances are frequencies with especially high amplitude (so look at especially bright stripes on spectrum analyser), mud is too much lower frequencies (and that is not so obvious to tell by only looking at the spectrum).
But in my opinion it is impossible to make a good mix just by looking, you REALLY need to HEAR it. If the acoustics of the room is a problem no worries - just equip yourself with proper headphones. Better mix on the headphones than on monitors in room with bad acoustics. I recommend for example Sennheiser HD600, they have lot of detail and do not enhance the sound (the characteristic is flat as possible). Of course it's not the only model, you should browse more audio engineering-related forums to find other recommended models.
Also, please use search function, there was quite similar question recently - How to identify mud and resonance in a mix
answered 3 hours ago
Wookie88
28918
2
Can't quite agree with the advice of mixing with headphones. In particular “mud†will generally not be as obvious on headphones as it is on speakers. Good as supplementary aid, yes, but dangerous if you rely solely on them.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
We ALL mix in a room with bad acoustics (and using imperfect monitors)! That's why we get nice and close to our monitor speakers - more direct sound, less room sound - and why we take our mixes to different playback systems - car stereo, home hi-fi, phone and earbuds, boom-box - to check what a range of listners will hear. With experience, we get to know how a mix needs to sound on our studio monitors.
There's one thing a spectrum analyser CAN be invaluable for. It's easy to over-do the low bass. YOU may not have a playback system that goes (audibly) down to 20Hz... (The flip-side of this is that sometimes 'compatibility' isn't the way to go. If you're making EDM aimed at club systems, do a 'Club mix' with room-shaking bass, a 'Radio mix' without.)
answered 3 hours ago
Laurence Payne
29.2k1451
I agree. Plus there are few DIY inexpensive tricks to improve acoustic for mixing. I've heard that putting behind you books on the shelves improves much the clarity, but haven't tried that yet.
– Wookie88
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I use a spectrum analyzer to equalize the sound in the room, the monitors and the room will have their own resonances which can be identified with the analyzer. When the peaks are attenuated and the weak frequencies boosted to achieve flat response in the room then the listener/engineer has the most ideal possibility of adjusting the mix to accurately represent the original sound as it was recorded. That said, spectrum analyzers and equalizers have their limitations, well designed rooms and flat responding monitors are also very important.
answered 1 hour ago
skinny peacock
1,7922321
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
Welcome to our Q&A board! :-)
Long story short: resonances are frequencies with especially high amplitude (so look at especially bright stripes on spectrum analyser), mud is too much lower frequencies (and that is not so obvious to tell by only looking at the spectrum).
But in my opinion it is impossible to make a good mix just by looking, you REALLY need to HEAR it. If the acoustics of the room is a problem no worries - just equip yourself with proper headphones. Better mix on the headphones than on monitors in room with bad acoustics. I recommend for example Sennheiser HD600, they have lot of detail and do not enhance the sound (the characteristic is flat as possible). Of course it's not the only model, you should browse more audio engineering-related forums to find other recommended models.
Also, please use search function, there was quite similar question recently - How to identify mud and resonance in a mix
answered 3 hours ago
Wookie88
28918
2
Can't quite agree with the advice of mixing with headphones. In particular “mud†will generally not be as obvious on headphones as it is on speakers. Good as supplementary aid, yes, but dangerous if you rely solely on them.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Welcome to our Q&A board! :-)
Long story short: resonances are frequencies with especially high amplitude (so look at especially bright stripes on spectrum analyser), mud is too much lower frequencies (and that is not so obvious to tell by only looking at the spectrum).
But in my opinion it is impossible to make a good mix just by looking, you REALLY need to HEAR it. If the acoustics of the room is a problem no worries - just equip yourself with proper headphones. Better mix on the headphones than on monitors in room with bad acoustics. I recommend for example Sennheiser HD600, they have lot of detail and do not enhance the sound (the characteristic is flat as possible). Of course it's not the only model, you should browse more audio engineering-related forums to find other recommended models.
Also, please use search function, there was quite similar question recently - How to identify mud and resonance in a mix
answered 3 hours ago
Wookie88
28918
2
Can't quite agree with the advice of mixing with headphones. In particular “mud†will generally not be as obvious on headphones as it is on speakers. Good as supplementary aid, yes, but dangerous if you rely solely on them.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Welcome to our Q&A board! :-)
Long story short: resonances are frequencies with especially high amplitude (so look at especially bright stripes on spectrum analyser), mud is too much lower frequencies (and that is not so obvious to tell by only looking at the spectrum).
But in my opinion it is impossible to make a good mix just by looking, you REALLY need to HEAR it. If the acoustics of the room is a problem no worries - just equip yourself with proper headphones. Better mix on the headphones than on monitors in room with bad acoustics. I recommend for example Sennheiser HD600, they have lot of detail and do not enhance the sound (the characteristic is flat as possible). Of course it's not the only model, you should browse more audio engineering-related forums to find other recommended models.
Also, please use search function, there was quite similar question recently - How to identify mud and resonance in a mix
answered 3 hours ago
Wookie88
28918
Welcome to our Q&A board! :-)
Long story short: resonances are frequencies with especially high amplitude (so look at especially bright stripes on spectrum analyser), mud is too much lower frequencies (and that is not so obvious to tell by only looking at the spectrum).
But in my opinion it is impossible to make a good mix just by looking, you REALLY need to HEAR it. If the acoustics of the room is a problem no worries - just equip yourself with proper headphones. Better mix on the headphones than on monitors in room with bad acoustics. I recommend for example Sennheiser HD600, they have lot of detail and do not enhance the sound (the characteristic is flat as possible). Of course it's not the only model, you should browse more audio engineering-related forums to find other recommended models.
Also, please use search function, there was quite similar question recently - How to identify mud and resonance in a mix
answered 3 hours ago
Wookie88
28918
answered 3 hours ago
Wookie88
28918
answered 3 hours ago
Wookie88
28918
answered 3 hours ago
Wookie88
28918
28918
2
Can't quite agree with the advice of mixing with headphones. In particular “mud†will generally not be as obvious on headphones as it is on speakers. Good as supplementary aid, yes, but dangerous if you rely solely on them.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
2
Can't quite agree with the advice of mixing with headphones. In particular “mud†will generally not be as obvious on headphones as it is on speakers. Good as supplementary aid, yes, but dangerous if you rely solely on them.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
2
2
Can't quite agree with the advice of mixing with headphones. In particular “mud†will generally not be as obvious on headphones as it is on speakers. Good as supplementary aid, yes, but dangerous if you rely solely on them.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
Can't quite agree with the advice of mixing with headphones. In particular “mud†will generally not be as obvious on headphones as it is on speakers. Good as supplementary aid, yes, but dangerous if you rely solely on them.
– leftaroundabout
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
We ALL mix in a room with bad acoustics (and using imperfect monitors)! That's why we get nice and close to our monitor speakers - more direct sound, less room sound - and why we take our mixes to different playback systems - car stereo, home hi-fi, phone and earbuds, boom-box - to check what a range of listners will hear. With experience, we get to know how a mix needs to sound on our studio monitors.
There's one thing a spectrum analyser CAN be invaluable for. It's easy to over-do the low bass. YOU may not have a playback system that goes (audibly) down to 20Hz... (The flip-side of this is that sometimes 'compatibility' isn't the way to go. If you're making EDM aimed at club systems, do a 'Club mix' with room-shaking bass, a 'Radio mix' without.)
answered 3 hours ago
Laurence Payne
29.2k1451
I agree. Plus there are few DIY inexpensive tricks to improve acoustic for mixing. I've heard that putting behind you books on the shelves improves much the clarity, but haven't tried that yet.
– Wookie88
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
We ALL mix in a room with bad acoustics (and using imperfect monitors)! That's why we get nice and close to our monitor speakers - more direct sound, less room sound - and why we take our mixes to different playback systems - car stereo, home hi-fi, phone and earbuds, boom-box - to check what a range of listners will hear. With experience, we get to know how a mix needs to sound on our studio monitors.
There's one thing a spectrum analyser CAN be invaluable for. It's easy to over-do the low bass. YOU may not have a playback system that goes (audibly) down to 20Hz... (The flip-side of this is that sometimes 'compatibility' isn't the way to go. If you're making EDM aimed at club systems, do a 'Club mix' with room-shaking bass, a 'Radio mix' without.)
answered 3 hours ago
Laurence Payne
29.2k1451
I agree. Plus there are few DIY inexpensive tricks to improve acoustic for mixing. I've heard that putting behind you books on the shelves improves much the clarity, but haven't tried that yet.
– Wookie88
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
We ALL mix in a room with bad acoustics (and using imperfect monitors)! That's why we get nice and close to our monitor speakers - more direct sound, less room sound - and why we take our mixes to different playback systems - car stereo, home hi-fi, phone and earbuds, boom-box - to check what a range of listners will hear. With experience, we get to know how a mix needs to sound on our studio monitors.
There's one thing a spectrum analyser CAN be invaluable for. It's easy to over-do the low bass. YOU may not have a playback system that goes (audibly) down to 20Hz... (The flip-side of this is that sometimes 'compatibility' isn't the way to go. If you're making EDM aimed at club systems, do a 'Club mix' with room-shaking bass, a 'Radio mix' without.)
answered 3 hours ago
Laurence Payne
29.2k1451
We ALL mix in a room with bad acoustics (and using imperfect monitors)! That's why we get nice and close to our monitor speakers - more direct sound, less room sound - and why we take our mixes to different playback systems - car stereo, home hi-fi, phone and earbuds, boom-box - to check what a range of listners will hear. With experience, we get to know how a mix needs to sound on our studio monitors.
There's one thing a spectrum analyser CAN be invaluable for. It's easy to over-do the low bass. YOU may not have a playback system that goes (audibly) down to 20Hz... (The flip-side of this is that sometimes 'compatibility' isn't the way to go. If you're making EDM aimed at club systems, do a 'Club mix' with room-shaking bass, a 'Radio mix' without.)
answered 3 hours ago
Laurence Payne
29.2k1451
answered 3 hours ago
Laurence Payne
29.2k1451
answered 3 hours ago
Laurence Payne
29.2k1451
answered 3 hours ago
Laurence Payne
29.2k1451
29.2k1451
I agree. Plus there are few DIY inexpensive tricks to improve acoustic for mixing. I've heard that putting behind you books on the shelves improves much the clarity, but haven't tried that yet.
– Wookie88
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
I agree. Plus there are few DIY inexpensive tricks to improve acoustic for mixing. I've heard that putting behind you books on the shelves improves much the clarity, but haven't tried that yet.
– Wookie88
2 hours ago
I agree. Plus there are few DIY inexpensive tricks to improve acoustic for mixing. I've heard that putting behind you books on the shelves improves much the clarity, but haven't tried that yet.
– Wookie88
2 hours ago
I agree. Plus there are few DIY inexpensive tricks to improve acoustic for mixing. I've heard that putting behind you books on the shelves improves much the clarity, but haven't tried that yet.
– Wookie88
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I use a spectrum analyzer to equalize the sound in the room, the monitors and the room will have their own resonances which can be identified with the analyzer. When the peaks are attenuated and the weak frequencies boosted to achieve flat response in the room then the listener/engineer has the most ideal possibility of adjusting the mix to accurately represent the original sound as it was recorded. That said, spectrum analyzers and equalizers have their limitations, well designed rooms and flat responding monitors are also very important.
answered 1 hour ago
skinny peacock
1,7922321
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I use a spectrum analyzer to equalize the sound in the room, the monitors and the room will have their own resonances which can be identified with the analyzer. When the peaks are attenuated and the weak frequencies boosted to achieve flat response in the room then the listener/engineer has the most ideal possibility of adjusting the mix to accurately represent the original sound as it was recorded. That said, spectrum analyzers and equalizers have their limitations, well designed rooms and flat responding monitors are also very important.
answered 1 hour ago
skinny peacock
1,7922321
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
I use a spectrum analyzer to equalize the sound in the room, the monitors and the room will have their own resonances which can be identified with the analyzer. When the peaks are attenuated and the weak frequencies boosted to achieve flat response in the room then the listener/engineer has the most ideal possibility of adjusting the mix to accurately represent the original sound as it was recorded. That said, spectrum analyzers and equalizers have their limitations, well designed rooms and flat responding monitors are also very important.
answered 1 hour ago
skinny peacock
1,7922321
I use a spectrum analyzer to equalize the sound in the room, the monitors and the room will have their own resonances which can be identified with the analyzer. When the peaks are attenuated and the weak frequencies boosted to achieve flat response in the room then the listener/engineer has the most ideal possibility of adjusting the mix to accurately represent the original sound as it was recorded. That said, spectrum analyzers and equalizers have their limitations, well designed rooms and flat responding monitors are also very important.
answered 1 hour ago
skinny peacock
1,7922321
answered 1 hour ago
skinny peacock
1,7922321
answered 1 hour ago
skinny peacock
1,7922321
answered 1 hour ago
skinny peacock
1,7922321
1,7922321
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
lost-mid is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
lost-mid is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
lost-mid is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
Sadly, if there were reasonably simple algorithms which could process the output of a complex FFT and give you the info you want, everyone would be using them. There aren't.
– Carl Witthoft
3 hours ago