Mixing with a spectrum analyzer

[Benny]

I am looking for a book or website or advice about how to use the waves spectrum analyzer to effectively resolve frequency conflicts when mixing.

[xeetstreet]

What spectrum analyzer? What is it called? Is it available for the PC?

[Benny]

It is the spectrum analyzer that comes with the waves gold bundle and I'm pretty sure that it is available for PC. I'm looking for information on how to use spectrum analyzers to resolve frequency conflicts.

[DAS]

What exactly do you mean by "frequency conflicts?"

[Benny]

I am looking for equalization tips, specifically to help clarify the kick drum and bass. I'm using my spectrum analyzer to look at what frequencies each signal is putting out. I not sure how to determine which freqencies to cut or boost to help me achieve more clarity. I know there is not a receipe that will fix this problem, but I'm interested how people are handling this issue. My mixes are not defined enough in the low end. I want the kick and bass to be more distinct and have more punch. I'm new to the field of mixing so I apologize if I'm not being clear enough.

[SteveR]

Originally posted by Benny
It is the spectrum analyzer that comes with the waves gold bundle and I'm pretty sure that it is available for PC. I'm looking for information on how to use spectrum analyzers to resolve frequency conflicts.

The Analyser can only show you the frequencies and the energy at those frequencies. If it has an Eq section then it's ultimately useful.

One place to start would be to analyse individual instruments and see parts of the 20hz-20Khz spectrum they don't have notable amounts of energy in. Low and Hi pass filtering can be useful in this situation as you can set them just right per instrument. This will improve instrument seperation in a mix as well as keeping the mix clean.

Other points would be to see where two instruments that might styfle each other (Drums/Bass... Bass/Piano... Piano/Guitar). I would observe the bandwidths of different instruments so as to remember them when you are mixing..

Dropping a lot of the bottom end off a acoustic guitar can make the guitar sound flat and horrible, do this to make a little room for a bass and the results can be impressive..

Enough gabbling... ;)

SteveR

[JeffBarnett]

What you're talking about is called PAZ (Psycho-Acoustic Analyzer). It is not available for PC.

[jamie garner]

SteveR-

so you mean soloing each track, noting what this analyzer is showing for frequency 'action' on each instrument or submix, and then using that as a visual reference to start attenuating and boosting bands for the whole mix? kind of like using your eyes to help your ears?

if so, it sounds cool- is it available seperately from the wave's package?

[cmchamp]

Ulysses has a free software RTA for PC. I'm sure there are other shareware/freeware options out there built on an FFT enging.
Yes, you'll want to solo the channels you want to isolate and feed the RTA singal from a headphone jack, control room feed, or anything else off the board that get's the solo'ed signal.
This is a good way to learn, but not a good way to opperate live. The best way to learn the frequency relationships between instruments is to play an instrument or sing, though I prefer playing to the singing. You don't have to be great, infact you can outright stink, but learning the relationship of notes and how instrments fit together by playing one will greatly enhance your ability to mix and understand EQing of each instrument.