A massive subject, potentially, I know, but I need to improve, or reinforce my understanding of frequency equalisation.
 
Let's not go into too much detail right now. First of all, I am trying to get to grips with the tools that I am using:-
 
FabFilter Pro-Q, which I am using for "EQ" duties, and because it has a spectrum analyser, I am using it for that too.
 
SPAN, which is a spectrum analyser "only."
 
I'm getting different graphs on the above, and I need to understand why.
 
Pro-Q allows you to set the resolution (low, medium, high and max) and speed (very slow, slow, medium and fast).
 
SPAN's options are simply too numerous to list. It does have some presets and I have tried each of those.
 
I suppose, initially, I could do with some pointers on which are the best settings to use when trying to analyse a wave file.
 
By way of an explanation of why I am asking this is, I am currently saving some commercial tracks to wave files so that I can bring them into Sonar and look at their frequency spectrum, as well as listening to the finished mix and master, in an effort to improve my own skills, which are somewhat lacking.
 
cheers, and many thanks for even getting this far... I look forward to your thoughts
 
andy
 
edit:-
 
I should also explain that I am not totally new to this and I've spent a ton of time over the years reading and trying to learn about this subject and I am mainly trying to improve my current skill and understanding level with a view to improving my own mix and final master attempts 

A couple of hours later, with help from another post in the Song forum, and finally getting the Voxengo manuals out, I am finally making some headway with SPAN. I know more now about some of the changes you can make in the SPAN settings in order to change the ranges, slopes, speeds and what have you. Still a load to learn but I'm starting to get there.
 
Looking at the spectrum of the commercial songs, while listening to them and switching between each song, including two versions of my own tune, is really helping me to develop a better understanding of EQ. I wish I had done this earlier.
 
Onwards and upwards.........

Are you an Ozone user? Ozone's spectral graph offers a "critical band" view that's very helpful when analyzing full mixes. The so-called critical bands are based on how frequencies are physically detected and perceived by the human auditory system.
 
Unfortunately, SPAN does not offer this view. It does have a Master mode, which is helpful for seeing the big picture without being distracted by irrelevant data such as fast-moving and very narrow spectral changes.
 
The most important SPAN option is the Slope setting. As you analyze commercial mixes, make note of their spectral slopes. To determine slope, put SPAN into Master mode and adjust the Slope knob until the display is roughly horizontal. Write down the Slope values for each reference song you've analyzed. You'll start to see patterns emerge within specific genres, and this will provide you with a guide for your own mixes.

Hi Dave,
 
No, I don't have Ozone... I've just had a look at it on the iZotope website. That is one awesome looking set of tools, but they come at a hefty price (because I'd probably convince myself that I need the dynamic EQ that comes with the "advance" version).
 
So I'm going to have to work with what I have.
 
I read a post of yours in the song section, where you mentioned "slope." So I finally got the SPAN manuals out and had a more thorough look around the plug-in ("and about time" I hear you say LOL).
 
I've since been checking out pro mixes of bands such as Pink Floyd, Madonna, Porcupine Tree, Slipknot, Opeth and Massive Attack. While a song is playing I look at the general slope of the graph, which I hadn't appreciated before, but now that you've mentioned it I know know what you are saying.
 
The difference between each song is surprising. I have been experimenting in SPAN by making the slope 0 (zero) and then manually adjusting it so that it looks horizontal. Obviously, this can vary somewhat as you judge what you think is horizontal, as an average over the spectrum.
 
I am also playing with the other settings like smoothing, average time and overlap (not sure what this does).
 
So at least I am getting a better understanding of the spectrum tool and also how the higher frequency sound lack the same power as the lower frequency sounds, which is why, in SPAN, if you set the slope to 0 it looks like the high frequency stuff is lacking somewhat.
 
That has raised a question about the Pro-Q spectrum analyser... Does that, then, have a built in slope to suit "general" music? Because there is no way of changing it.
 
Anyway, I've had a fun and educational day so far.
 
Thanks yet again for your time Dave
 
cheers
 
andy

No, Pro-Q does not have a slope adjustment. That's one reason I use it only for setting filters and trust SPAN for evaluation of the full mix.
 
You might find some inspiration in the article I wrote on the MSpectralDynamics plugin. This awesome plugin's reason for existence is to apply massively-multiband compression to empress a desired spectral slope on your mix. That article's actually part 3 of a three-part series on dynamic equalization. Check out the other two if you have an interest in dynamic EQ - no need to get Ozone.

bitflipper
You might find some inspiration in the article I wrote on the MSpectralDynamics plugin.

Yeah Dave, that's one great article. I've just had a quick scan over it and read selected bits, but I've bookmarked the SoundBytes website and signed up to the mailing list. There's a wealth of information there...
 
Some of my observations from yesterday's exercise are being confirmed in that article.
 
That MSpectralDynamics plugin is an amazing tool, from what I saw of their overview of it. Would I still use Pro-Q for general EQ duties? Perhaps just placed on a track bus? And then use the MSpectralDynamics plugin on the master bus only?
 
thanks again Dave, that was a great help in furthering my understanding 

MSpectralDynamics is not a substitute for an equalizer, but more of a fine-tuning last step. It's not great for making large changes in EQ, but it can do things no equalizer can accomplish.
 
MSD is an awesome tool, but it's by no means essential. The reason I pointed you to the article is that it explains slopes as a preamble to explaining the plugin. It also describes how to determine the slopes of your reference recordings.

bitflipper
It also describes how to determine the slopes of your reference recordings.

Yeah, Dave, I got that, thanks 
 
I'm so much wiser than I was a couple of days ago 

try Har Bal
 
it's a great teacher

Thanks Rob. I've heard of Har-Bal but it was quite a while ago and I need to remind myself why I didn't invest in that tool...
 
cheers
 
andy