Free Vst Spectrum Analyzers list

[Villy]

List is "finalized" (pics & basic details).

Thanks for the help guys:>

[CC4]

no problem.

[boin]

I think Span is a bit vague in the bass range...but perhaps I just didn't configure it right.

To improve definition in low frequencies you need to use bigger block sizes (low frequencies = longer periods = big block sizes for proper analysis). The problem is that big block sizes means slower response times.

So there is a trade-off here. The default block size (2048) is a good compromise for most applications. What I do: when I need to look at anything bellow, say, 100 Hz, in more detail, I increase the block size as much as necessary but always return to the default size for general monitoring.

One thing that I like very much in Span is the slope control. The 3dB default setting means that if you pass a pink noise signal thru it (equal energy in every octave) you get a flat (horizontal) spectrum. To get a reading without any compensation you need to use a 0dB slope. A large orchestra playing symphonic music would show an average slope (without compensation) around 6dB - that is, if you use the slope control at 6dB you would get a flat reading.

Most music today have slopes between 3 and 6 dB. I personally use 4.5 dB (for me 3dB is too bright). And the whole point about an horizontal reading is that it is much easier to control and correct things while keeping the general spectrum as you want to.

Great stuff

[arke]

do you people know any free vu meters other than the psp vintge meter???

no, but i have a question on that: what's the advantage of a VU meter compared to a "usual" volume indicator as found in most hosts/sequencers?

Usually the host gives you a Peak meter which shows the peak volume average over a pretty short interval. A VU Meter, however, will compute the RMS average of the amplitude over time. So, the Peak meter is how loud it gets and the VU meter is how loud you hear it.