Jan 12, 2012 06:21 am "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a *****!"
RTA's &Spectrum Analyzers - PPM-Correlation-Phase-Freq spec
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 01:10 am
bam_on_drumz
DAW Shaman of Drumz
Member Since: Jan 12, 2012
RTAs & Spectrum Analyzers: use Eyes with your Ears ~ Part1
Above is a frequency chart of semi-tone to octaves to use with this topic: {not included here sorry)...Mission - keep forums friendly!
Using Real-Time Analyzers - Spectrum Analyzers, Correlation Meters, PPM(db), Stereo Phase Graphs to assist: Room Set-ups, Signal input/output level checks & for Mix & Mastering illustration. It gives us a snapshot of the very fast & fluid world of audio metering & control of peak frequencies. I'll post more specific, detailed!next level info, make corrections I've missed & please send any comments, errors, omissions I've made...
Spectrum Analyzers, somewhat like viewing a handy EQ curve field panel is just that: a snapshot. In an RTA fast moving changes of pulsing audio content, gives one a visual reference & of course doesn’t replace ears.
SA’s like my fav the Pinguin Spectrum Analyzer {PAS also has an excellent SA with a built in digi graphic 31 band EQ) do more than just frequency levels, but PPM db meter, Frequency Spectrum Analyzer, Correlation meter & Stereo Phase graph. Using SA's to tweak systems for venue/studio will be in the next article...Cubase 6 also includes a complete set of these tools, including Pink-White noise gens...
No meter is designed to or for replacement of Ears, really! Though this sounds obvious, or so I thought until I saw a crazy thread on a forum recently, where experienced engineers (apparently) could actually find room to disagree widely, when a newbie asked about: how he should, if he should, use these tools & why Cubase didn‘t have one (Cubase 6 does!). The debate got so grim, I had to write up a piece to clear this up at least in our forum. And, please, feel free to add & challenge my comments but I’m searching for some middle ground here!! Lol.
Like a VU meter, we’d be able to mix without, but how handy do you find them? A good SA-RTA should only ever augment the best tools that come with your recording systems: they’re located in stereo pairs one on each side of your head! Side burns are a good guess but ears is the right & left answer. Closing your eyes when tweaking inputs, readying insert presets or levels for mixes can’t ever be replaced simply by a meter. That's akin to gluing your fuel gauge & expecting the gas to not run out, due to the meters indication. So, how did good sound tech’s get me so peaked, the utter lack of common ground that’s sensible.
Simple uses include: analyzing an input prior to recording a track, taking a look after recording tracks or a song; a group, looking for a problem segment of the frequency spectrum, to watch phase scoping to double confirm or refute a concern.
Details on uses: Cubase 6 contains a SA & a white & pink noise generator to test your room for anomalies/unique characteristics so that your monitor & room size, shape & surface type & densities so that you can correctly & effectively make alterations for more accurate monitoring. Even some of the most experienced live & recording sound engineers rely on this info to make good choices in design & processing.
More Details on use of SA-RTA‘s for both live & studio sound assessment:
A pink noise generator sends this noise through a sound system‘s speakers & then taken into a mic for assessment. 31 band EQ’s are used to adjust the sound until the issues are neutralized. Pink noise, a swishy sound which presents all frequencies in the audio spectrum by pushing out equal amounts of energy in each frequency allows a standard test of each room's shape & furnishings. Peaks & lows are displayed of the analyzer while running this through the system to accommodate objects that vary venue to venue or in a recording studio. The idea is to gain a flat response through equalization.
Signal to Noise Ratio in studios:
In studios, an analyzer is used for gaining insight to allow better equalizing of instruments at the input stage and for mixing. Both uses gain the best available signal to noise ratio. Signal to noise ratio is the variance in loudness levels of the "noise floor baseline" (produced by your Cubase's or a 3rd party SA) and a view of the average input signal.
When the recorded signal is low, you will hear part of the ‘noise floor‘. The increased loudness one can record an average signal, (avoiding distortion), the less "noise" to signal ratio is achieved (high level peaks cause bad signal to noise ratios). The analyzer will help make clear the peaks that are too high & thus you avoid peaks in one freq. band or another. Zeroing in on these, can be discerned by "closed eye listening" but this is where the argument for ears only stops, as these metering techniques & corrections via EQ-ing the less distortion in the track in the mix & your song sounds hot without peaking constantly, or often worse, occasional horrid peaks that stick out in the end result of poor frequency monitoring & control with an EQ or multi-band compressor.
I like to look at each instrument as I’m setting up the track for recording, then look at the song as it develops towards the Mixdown for trouble frequencies. Taking note of what goes down to a track, the a group (guitars, drums, vocals, bass) write through into mix & mastering visual cues have this ability to show what tired ears hear no more.
When used in a proper way along with closing your eyes & listening at high & low volumes is the best of both worlds & makes that thread I saw look & sound sheepish…And no-one told him where to look in Cubase (or which version) that has a set of these tools, that the newbie was asking about. My earlier statement: there’s no dumb questions, shows that some answers do not necessarily have the same immunity!
To sum up…use Spectrum Analyzers with care & try to hear what they are showing you. This will allow the best of both to emerge with a better result, with a careful use of these ideas. Especially in the age of 32 bit floating point rendering & the headroom this gives, getting the hottest signal without distorting key frequencies will reap the peaks of a solid mix process, that doesn’t exclude a major tool in our modern audio arsenal…Remember, take gremlins & problems in the process of recording & producing & try to see them as opportunities, challenges as this makes the process more enjoyable & these excursions an excellent learning process. Enjoy recording & OMF yourself into Cubase to get the best tools DAW has to offer. Hope this has been helpful….Happy Tracking…
Kerry Dixon copyright 2012 ~ Steinberg Club Cubase Vancouver
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Jan 12, 2012 06:21 am "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a *****!"
Jan 12, 2012 08:04 pm (Awesome)
Geez, first time in years I didn't watch that...
Evidently, we're going from "drive-by's" to "drop-offs" for some reason.
Jan 13, 2012 12:38 am Steinberg Club? Is that a night-club in Vancouver?
Jan 13, 2012 11:28 am MM, I just saw that you enjoy motorcycling. I have a '92 Dyna Glide and '07 Goldwing. One of these years I'm going to do my second attempt to ride around Lake Michigan (1000 miles) in 24 hours. Failed the first time. Waited until too late in the year. Starting from Battle Creek.
Jan 13, 2012 11:38 pm I take it you ran into my old [used to be business, since turned personal] web site...
I'm all over getting a SS1k (Saddle Sore 1000 - for the uninitiated, it's doing 1000 miles on a motorcycle in less than 24-hours) one of these days - Planned it many times but something always fell through.
But I don't think I'd want to ride around the Mich in 24 hours... Too much cool stuff to see! I'd want to go back and forth over the Mac a few times, take in some of those absolutely stunning UP and northwoods WI roads (I try to hit 'em every year at some point) and the like.
Although it does sound like an interesting challenge... But I want a "really boring" 1k... Chicago to Denver, Chicago to Dallas... Something with some 70-75MPH speed limits and nothing much to see.
That said, I suppose that's the point of circumnavigating Lake Michigan in 24-hours... Heck, screw up hitting Chicago or Milwaukee at the wrong time of day and you're done. But I guess if you go clockwise and get that horrible mess on the south and southeast of the lake out of the way, it's probably a fairly enjoyable time after that.
Good luck to you on it -- Honk while you're passing the Kennedy. :-)
[EDIT]
Mid-to-late June beckons... Lots of daylight... Lots of moths ("tent moths?") up north, but I'd imagine if you left at 4AM or so, get through Chitown area before 8, even if you take your time, dusk will be hitting you in the UP (where it stays light considerably later than in Battle Creek, not even counting the time difference) and the "more boring" lower Michigan stuff would be in the dark in some more open-ish areas so it's easier to avoid the hooved locals...
Eh, I'm sure you've gone over the logistics already... See, I'd go counterclockwise from here just to get through this horrific traffic and looney drivers so I could actually try to enjoy myself. But if I ever get my "normal" 1k out of the way, this actually sounds interesting...
Jan 15, 2012 02:07 am I still tease myself with the thought of getting a Harley Nightster someday. My old mentor was a biker, and used to race motocross in his younger days. We had quite a few discussions, and he talked me into thinking about getting a bike someday. (I'm not a biker, haven't ridden a motorcycle myself) He's got a Nigh Train, and a Night Rod. Can't remember the years, but he had them while I was working, so at least 2006 if not older. I know one of em's a special. He lives down in FL, so he gets plenty of riding in around the year.
But yeah, still considering getting a bike someday. Not while we're living here in Iowa though. We're in an apartment complex, and don't have a private garage. We just have an open communal garage. Where my bicycle got stolen, no less :P
Had a chance to sit on a couple at the Harley factory in Wisconsin. (was up there for one of my wife's cousin's wedding.) I have to say I definitely prefer the feel of the forward controls compared to the mid-mounted.
Maybe if we move back south at some point, I'll consider getting a bike. (Wife's not exactly keen on the idea though, so we'll see lol)
Course, another friend of mine used to work as a dealer for Triumph, and was telling me some of their bikes are a little more beginner-friendly than the nightster.
Jan 15, 2012 12:22 pm Quote:
(Wife's not exactly keen on the idea though, so we'll see lol)
Taking a safety course -- together -- is a wonderful way to break some of that ice. Although it opens a can of worms with the wife wanting her own bike much of the time.
THAT SAID:
Quote:
Course, another friend of mine used to work as a dealer for Triumph, and was telling me some of their bikes are a little more beginner-friendly than the nightster.
Some of the Triumphs - Almost any of the Honda Shadow line (the 750's are wonderfully easy to handle - and wife-friendly in many cases if you end up do a lateral transfer when you get your Nightster). Great deals on low-mileage used Shadows are everywhere --
Half the HD riders I know had something out of the Shadow line at some point... My last non-HD bike was a Shadow Sabre 1100, just found a buddy (desperate for a Softail Deluxe, but it wasn't in the cards at the moment) a 2001 Sabre, less than 10k, bad-*** custom paint, fantastic operating condition (needed tires and standard maintenance) for something ridiculous - like $3300. We put floorboards on it, rigid-mount soft bags, low-profile windshield, new Metzler 880 rubber -- Now he's got a very nice, very slick ride in near-showroom condition with one of the greatest motorcycle powerplants ever designed (Honda's 1100cc V-Twin) and he's still in for less than $5k.
Another (my wife's cousin and best-est riding buddy ever) wanted to get something "reasonable" (as he put it) for his first bike. (1998?) Shadow 1100 (ACE?). $2300 if I recall. Same thing, new rubber and a tune-up later and we're riding 75MPH into a 55MPH headwind a week after he got his license. Now desperate for a HD touring model (I made the mistake of letting him ride mine for a while along the Mississippi and I wasn't sure he'd give it back) and the plan is to shift the Shadow to the wife when he gets (something in the Electraglide family).
Dammit... I hate winter. I was just riding a few days ago but it was 6 degrees this morning and there's salt everywhere (which is about where I usually call it quits for the season).
Actually put nearly 3000 miles on my car this year (so it wasn't a really good riding year anyway).
Favorite shot of the year (if it'll let me post it):
Take THAT, gas stations that DON'T sell ammo!!!
Jan 16, 2012 03:26 am cool, so you can pay for the ammo....rob the joint right there and then.. .and get your money back + some
Jan 18, 2012 06:40 am Yep. That was my thought. I started at 4 (when I failed), to go through Chicago before traffic and and I'd go clockwise so I wouldn't be heading into the sun either way. I guess by time I got to the bridge and headed west it would still be fairly early so I shouldn't have that problem if I did go counter clockwise. Oh well, I'll go over all my scenarios again before I do it. And yes, this was also for the Iron Butt Rally stuff.
I get all my maintenance done in Kendallviille, IN at Hayden Honda. Everyone asks me why I would go almost two hours away just for that. Well, it's a nice ride on two lane country roads. I usually meet up with a couple of friends, get down there around 9am. Get oil changed and then have lunch somewhere different each time. A good way to spend a Saturday morning to early afternoon. If I happen to go by myself, I hop on I-69 and open it up. Either way, good stuff.
Jan 18, 2012 12:14 pm Well, what was the "point of failure" on the last try -- Just get too tired? Weather get in the mix? Too much pretty scenery and found yourself doing 40 in a 65 zone?
As it does seem like a fun/challenging route, I'm just interested in what stopped the momentum...
I'm assuming that speed limits would have a certain amount of impact -- I can't remember what the top is in MI, but IL and WI are both 65MPH. Much easier going through IA or MN (70) and then NE and such (75).
That said, I'm pretty much a "5 or so over" type, as I'd hate the "point of failure" being a "minimum $375 fine" ---
Jan 19, 2012 07:47 am I'm not sure if I was mentally prepared for it enough. I left out at 4am and couldn't keep my face mask from fogging up. It was forty degrees but I knew it would get warmer. I think what really did it is the thirty miles of construction from Benton Harbor to the Indiana line. I was having trouble with the ground pavement with the foggy mask and no matter how I adjusted my headlights, I couldn't see far enough ahead of me without using my bright lights. Next time I just may use the brights. I guess I haven't ridden enough in the dark to know what to expect. Since then I have the lower driving lights added on as well, so that's sure to help.
At least I know what to expect next time, plus it'll be during peak summer daylight time.
I drove a big truck for seven years so the fatigue isn't an issue, although comfort may be. My right hip and knee tend to get angry after long bouts.
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