tools that spectrum analyser, pan analyser, frequency distribution and such kinds of?

i rarely use it anymore, i did in the past but now i just listen in headphones and monitors and if is sounds like i want i dont need to check with the tools how the track works

 

Of course, I use these types of tools all the time, as Samplitude user I have everything built in the DAW

 

just... SmartEQ

 

is it even possible not to?
all DAWs have channel meters, many EQs have frequency graphs etc...
if you have trained ears with good idea on what result sound you want, then obviously you don't need to (and shouldn't) follow what analyzers show you

 

Yep. Tonal Balance is a life saver when I am completely out of any reasonable orbit. ) And Youlean Metering, as sanity check. The main tool is the master metering in REAPER, where I have set the RMS meter so that it's equal the LUFS-M. Always have that in sight, ever so slightly into the red, very, very slightly, like we did at times with cassette recorders when copying the new Rolling Stones album.

 

I like it so I can compare it with other tracks that I know sound good.
It is still a reference, but it helps to achieve a better balanced sound. although in the end you decide if you like it or not.

AIO:
Plugin.Alliance.ADPTR.MetricAB / Excite.Audio.VISION.4X / DMG TrackMeter
Frequency:
Span Plus / Tdr Prism / Hofa IQ-Analyser
Osciloscope:
FX23 Psyscope Pro
VUmeter:
Tbpro mvMeter2
Phase:
Voxengo Correlometer
Concentrate and compare different parts of frequencies:
Tbpro ISOL8

 

Last edited: Mar 28, 2024

Once your ears are fried for the day it's meters time. Really helps when you begin to loose perspective. Bit like going to reference material really.

 

first thing i look at when i open EQ is the frequency (unless analogue)

 

Of course, helps pinpoint nasty frequencies, and spotting stuff like infrasonics and DC offset.

 

I work via a console so just my ears; the exact same thing that the public will experience.

 

Voxengo Correlometer and SPAN plus; Spek; Youlean Loudness Meter Pro; Sonble SmartEQ4 for delta graphs of comparison with pink noise; Ayaic Ceilings Of Sound PRO for checking slopes.

 

I use Izotope Insight 1 and 2, similar meters in logic, Youlean, and I just started using VPS Scope. I watched a older Protoculture mixing video and he used it extensively in Cubase for pretty much the whole video. It's old and removed from most links and the VPS site; but I found a working link on the Computer Music Magazine FileSilo website and it is pretty much the same thing. It's both PC/Mac installers in the same zip. https://www.filesilo.co.uk/software/vengeance-sound-scope/

I frequently just stick a digital EQ like Pro-q3 or Kirchhoff on a channel just to see what is really happening after or in-between plugins.

 

Last edited: Mar 28, 2024

i also sometimes use the VPS Scope. but the equalizer in studio one with the frequency spectrum is useful.. for panning i just trust my ears.
the bass is always checked in headphones.. i dont go too advanced with analysing my music

 

Yep. My TC Electronic CLARITY M is always on. Also helps a lot when I have ear fatigue.

 

I do this stuff probably 90% while mixing, or bouncing and setting up stems. I do not get much further than eq'ing while I am making stuff. There isn't much point to doing extensive metering and eq outside of context that part will play in a track. Just some simple subtractive.

If I am using external synths/sampler I might use Fre(a)koscope. That's another old freebie that can be annoying trying to find or I would have added a link to that one too.

 

Voxengo SPAN for all kind of analysis

 

Signalizer

 

I suggest SPL Hawkeye.
It has AIO tools to check audio quality.

 

btw speaking of free tools,

Toneboosters have a nice free GonioMeter:


and free Spectrogram: