log vs linear spectrum?

[punkrockdude]

I am interested in knowing what the differences are between these two spectrum viewings.
I know that one of them has equal distantes between frequencys and the other doesn't.

So, why does one of them has uneven distances between frequences? Is there any advantage this way? Is it made to make SOMETHING easier?

As always, I am really grateful for all the help I can get.

Best Regards
Rickard Gerthsson

[haydxn]

Linear = same distance between units (i.e. each time you move across 100Hz, you are moving the same distance e.g. 1cm or whatever)

Logarithmic = distance between units gets smaller further along the axis.

that sounds weird, but if you bear in mind that an OCTAVE HIGHER is a doubling of frequency. i.e. one octave above 440Hz is 880Hz. An octave higher again is 1760Hz.

Our perception makes us feel that C1 is the same distance from C2 as C2 is from C3 (they are each an octave apart, the same distance, right?). But their actual frequencies are doubled, rather than going up a fixed amount. There are many scientific reasons for this, but basically our ears respond 'logarithmically' to both level (volume) and frequency.

A logarithmic scale means that each octave occupies the same 'width' across the spectrum. This makes it easier to judge certain things. On a linear scale, though the frequencies are even distances apart, if you were to plot the octave band limits, you would see them getting further apart as you go along the axis. It is confusing stuff, i know, but basically it all boils down to the fact that most properties of sound are analysed logarithmically, unless you are pinpointing a specific frequency.

dB values, for example, are the logarithmic version of various different sound 'level' measurements - how loud a sound is.

sorry if this is too technical an explanation, i tried to keep it simple

[nuffink]

The log scale more closely matches our perception of the sound spectrum.
As an example take the sounds from 0-1000 hz. This would contain pretty much all of the bass and kick drums plus a good amount of everything else in a tune.
Now compare that to the spectrum from 9000-10000 hz. A bunch of high harmonics and some cymbal noise.
Obviously the lower 1000 hz is of much more importance musically but in the linear scale it is given equal weight. The log scale addresses this disparity and displays the audible range in a more subjectively natural way.

[MrM]

It has to do with making it easier to understand / reas out the 'lines' or 'graphs' on the screen.

Suppose you look at the bandwith of a audio signal. You can look at the gain-bandwith diagram with the bandwith (frequency) linear or logarithmic.

Linear scaling often produces a more readable spectrogram plot. Though you would need a larger screen to see the same info as with logarithmic; linear is nice when zooming in, but logarithmic provides a great overview in a small(er) window.

[punkrockdude]

Thanks alot guys! I think I get it now.
Your responses were great and you are great "friends in need"

Now, I am to try to learn the K Mastering system.
Looks very diffusing when checking all the different RMS values in the different metering plugins.

Have a nice day!

Best Regards
Rickard Gerthsson

[Alive In Chernobyl]

Thanks alot guys! I think I get it now.
Your responses were great and you are great "friends in need"

Now, I am to try to learn the K Mastering system.
Looks very diffusing when checking all the different RMS values in the different metering plugins.

Have a nice day!

Best Regards
Rickard Gerthsson

You need good external meter for k-mastering system. Internal meter is expensive for proper one!

[nuffink]

Now, I am to try to learn the K Mastering system.

There's a good thread about the K-System and metering here.