Audio Analyzer

The Audio Analyzer displays a real-time FFT spectrum visualization of audio signals. This tool is similar to spectrum analyzers found in professional DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) and hardware audio analyzers — showing the frequency content of your audio from 20 Hz to 24 kHz on a logarithmic scale.

The analyzer works by capturing audio frames, applying a Hann window to reduce spectral leakage, computing the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and displaying the resulting magnitude spectrum in dBFS (decibels relative to full scale). A 50% overlap between frames provides smooth, responsive visualization without missing transients.

Availability: Desktop version of Composer only
Location: Main Menu → Analysis → Open Audio Analyser Window

When to Use

• Monitor frequency content — See what frequencies are present in your audio in real-time
• Identify problematic frequencies — Find resonances, hum, or unwanted noise
• Verify audio quality — Check for clipping, bandwidth issues, or missing frequencies
• Compare audio sources — Switch between inputs to compare frequency response
• Calibrate levels — Use the dBFS display to verify signal levels

Controls

Audio Input

Frame Size

Number of samples used for each FFT calculation. Larger values provide better frequency detail but slower response to changes in the audio.

Default: 4096

Display

Frequency Axis (X)

The horizontal axis shows frequency on a logarithmic scale from 20 Hz to 24 kHz (Nyquist frequency at 48 kHz sample rate). This matches human hearing perception, where each octave occupies equal visual space.

Tick labels automatically format as Hz below 1000 Hz and kHz above (e.g., "500 Hz", "2.0 kHz").

Amplitude Axis (Y)

The vertical axis shows amplitude in dBFS (decibels relative to full scale) from -120 dBFS to 0 dBFS:

Hover Information

Moving the mouse over the plot displays the frequency and amplitude values in the window title bar:

• Frequency — The frequency at the cursor position (Hz or kHz)
• Gain — The amplitude at the cursor position (dBFS)

For example: "Audio Analyzer - Frequency: 1.0 kHz, Gain: -12.3 dBFS"

Usage Examples

General Monitoring

For typical audio monitoring during playback or recording:

• Frame Size: 4096
• Provides good balance of frequency detail and responsiveness

Speech Analysis

For analyzing voice recordings, podcasts, or dialogue:

• Frame Size: 2048 or 4096
• Speech fundamentals typically range from 85-255 Hz (male) and 165-255 Hz (female)
• Look for presence in the 2-4 kHz range for clarity and intelligibility

Background Music

For monitoring music beds or background tracks:

• Frame Size: 4096 or 8192
• Check for frequency conflicts with speech (typically 100 Hz - 4 kHz)
• Verify low-end content isn't overwhelming the mix

Balancing Speech and Music

For ensuring speech sits well over background music:

• Frame Size: 4096
• Compare the spectrum of speech-only vs. music-only
• Look for overlap in the 200 Hz - 3 kHz range where speech clarity lives
• Background music should be lower in these frequencies to avoid masking

Finding Problem Frequencies

For identifying hum, resonances, or interference:

• Frame Size: 8192 or 16384
• High resolution helps pinpoint exact frequencies
• Look for narrow peaks that stand out from surrounding content

Tips

1. Start with the default frame size (4096). It works well for most situations.

2. Use larger frame sizes for bass. Lower frequencies are easier to see with higher frame sizes like 8192 or 16384.

3. Use smaller frame sizes for fast-changing audio. Quick sounds like drums update more smoothly with 512 or 1024.

4. Compare different inputs. Switch between audio sources using the dropdown to compare their frequency content.

5. Pause to freeze the display. Stop playback to examine a specific moment in detail.

6. Hover to see exact values. Move your mouse over the display to see the frequency and level in the window title bar.