Hey just trying to get better at mixing. Have been improving a lot over the last while and just started to get into using analyzers and have a few questions.
 
First is there a good analyzer built into sonar? I have looked around and could not find anything.
 
Second, I got the VST Voxengo SPAN and it works great for showing me what is going on for 1 track but I was wondering is there a way you can use it to show all of your tracks at once playing but seperate them by color or something so you can actually see what tracks are filling up the frequencies without having to check one track at a time?

You would need to have a different analyzer on each track if you want to see each track individually or solo the track if its on the master bus

Since your new, dont get caught up into looking and reading these analyzers that much. More important is to train your ears to your room and let your ears decided what sounds good

metalstorm


Hey just trying to get better at mixing. Have been improving a lot over the last while and just started to get into using analyzers and have a few questions.
 
First is there a good analyzer built into sonar? I have looked around and could not find anything.
 
Second, I got the VST Voxengo SPAN and it works great for showing me what is going on for 1 track but I was wondering is there a way you can use it to show all of your tracks at once playing but seperate them by color or something so you can actually see what tracks are filling up the frequencies without having to check one track at a time?

As CJ points out - and an easy way - put your analyzer(s) on the Master Bus (where all the signal ends up) and then just solo the tracks as needed to see.  
 
I think analyzers are critical - but I also agree with CJ that one shouldn't only use them  -- use your ears.
 
Analyzers are useful though -- but one has to realize how to use/read them as well.
 
Span is good.  It's free.  Sonar comes with Analyst -- not bad, but not a fully mature plugin in my opinion.
Visualizer, while not cheap, is excellent -- it's a 3rd party plugin that has a number of built-in analyzers (this is also my main Master Bus analyzer, btw).
 

I used every frickin' analyzer out there and came back to SPAN. I can't even tell you a specific feature or reason, it just is big and no-nonsense and when I make critical adjustments with it it seems to match upon reference listening easier than the others.

But yeah, agreed with the above of don't give it preference over your ears. In my experience, it's helped me to adjust for the rather poor acoustics of my room because I can SEE what the problem is even though it might not be represented at my listening position. I double-check with it before committing to changes and moving on, but I don't stare at it whilst I'm adjusting most times.

Thanks for all the info guys, yeah still suck at mixing but already today just from using SPAN I have noticed a huge difference mainly in how much better I can get the bass to sound now.

In reply to the OP's query about whether you can use an analyser to display more than 1 channel at once with the channels separated by colour, according to to the info about SPAN from Voxengo you should be able to do this:

"SPAN supports multi-channel analysis and can be set to display spectrums from two different channels or channel groups at the same time.  Spectrum's color can be chosen to taste."

And indeed SPAN does have 4 input channels that you can choose as inserts. Presumably you should be able to display different channels by choosing group buttons or choosing a group to underlay.  I say "presumably" as unfortunately I can't seem to get this to work and there doesn't seem to be any documentation about it.  Does anyone know how to set up this function or does it not work?

Analyzers are also a good trainng tool.

As you start learning to mix its often difficult to hear subtle differences or hear the effect from a small change on one setting or another. In combination with the sound if you can see where the change occurs it will help develop your ability to hear subtle changes on color, pitch, frequency and tone.

Just a thought.

When I'm absolutely stuck on getting a good sound I'll the part of the mix I'm struggling with through Harbal

""SPAN supports multi-channel analysis and can be set to display spectrums from two different channels or channel groups at the same time.  Spectrum's color can be chosen to taste."

And indeed SPAN does have 4 input channels that you can choose as inserts. Presumably you should be able to display different channels by choosing group buttons or choosing a group to underlay.  I say "presumably" as unfortunately I can't seem to get this to work and there doesn't seem to be any documentation about it.  Does anyone know how to set up this function or does it not work? "

Yes, it is a fantastic feature.

best regards,
mike

Hi Mike

That's great, can you explain how I route it correctly as I can't get it to work.  

I had assumed I just insert SPAN on a track and if I wanted to compare a second track I just send an insert from that track to one of the inserts in SPAN (insert 2 for example), and then if I wanted to view that I then press the group 2 button.   Is that correct or am I missing something as I can't seem to get it to work?

Thanks

Many of the better analyzers can be run as different instances on different tracks.
Say for example you have three tracks you install the analyzer on each track making Track 1 the master unit which means you route track 2 and 3 to 1 which becomes your master.

Bluecat analyzer has this feature and on their website they have very clear instructions showing you how to route. It will be much the same routing for all analyzer plugins.

You then assign a different color for each track for bass put it red, acoustic, green, piano purple and on the master you will see these colors and any problem frequencies clashing.
Put the analyzer to avg as it can get confusing with all them lines popping about.