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How I Use Voxengo’s Span Plus for Tonal Balance and Reference Mixing
When it comes to achieving a balanced mix, having a reliable spectrum analyzer is essential. In my mixing workflow, mixing with Span Plus from Voxengo has become indispensable. Span Plus provides me with a tonal balance overview at all times, ensuring that my mix translates well across all listening environments. In this blog post, I’ll delve into how I use Span Plus to enhance my mixing process, compare with my reference mix’s spectrum, and make informed decisions that elevate the quality of my music.
The Importance of Tonal Balance in Mixing
Before diving into the specifics of Span Plus, it’s crucial to understand why tonal balance is so important in mixing. Tonal balance refers to the distribution of frequencies within a mix. A well-balanced mix ensures that no frequency range is overpowering or underrepresented, resulting in a more polished and professional sound. Without proper tonal balance, your mix might sound muddy, harsh, or lack clarity.
Overview of Voxengo’s Span Plus
Voxengo’s Span Plus is an advanced real-time audio spectrum analyzer plugin that offers a wide range of features tailored for professional audio analysis. Unlike basic spectrum analyzers, Span Plus allows you to compare multiple spectra, export/import data, and customize settings to fit your specific needs. You can explore its full capabilities on the Voxengo Span Plus official website.
Customizing Span Plus for Optimal Performance
To get the most out of Span Plus, I have configured it with specific settings that provide me with detailed and accurate spectral analysis. Here are the settings I use:
- Type: RT Average
- Block Size: 8192
- Slope: 4.5
- Range: 20Hz to 20kHz
- Average Time: 6168
- Window: HANN
Breaking Down the Settings
Type: RT Average
Selecting “RT Average” allows Span Plus to display a real-time averaged spectrum. This means that the displayed spectrum is a smoothed representation over time, reducing rapid fluctuations and providing a clearer picture of the overall frequency content.
Block Size: 8192
A block size of 8192 samples offers a high-resolution frequency analysis. The larger the block size, the more precise the frequency resolution, which is essential for identifying specific frequency issues.
Slope: 4.5
Setting the slope to 4.5 dB per octave compensates for the natural roll-off of human hearing at higher frequencies. This adjustment results in a more balanced visual representation of the spectrum, aligning it closer to how we perceive sound.
Range: 20Hz to 20kHz
This range covers the full spectrum of human hearing, ensuring that no frequency is left unmonitored.
Average Time: 6168
An average time of 6168 milliseconds provides a longer-term average of the spectrum. This helps in smoothing out transient spikes and gives a better sense of the mix’s consistent tonal balance.
Window: HANN
The HANN window function reduces spectral leakage, providing cleaner and more accurate spectral analysis.
Maintaining Tonal Balance While Mixing
With these settings, Span Plus becomes an invaluable tool during the mixing process. By constantly monitoring the spectrum, I can ensure that each element in the mix occupies its appropriate frequency space. For instance, if I notice an excessive buildup around 200Hz, I can identify which instrument is contributing to it and make the necessary EQ adjustments.
Spectrum Matching with Reference Tracks
One of the challenges in mixing is ensuring that your mix stands up against professional tracks. To address this, I use Span Plus to compare my mix with a reference track. Here’s how I do it:
- Level Match the Reference and Mix: Before comparing, it’s crucial to level match the reference track with my mix so the spectrums are both the same size in Span. I use a gain plugin to adjust the reference track’s level to match my mix’s RMS or LUFS level.
- Insert Span Plus on the Reference Track: place an instance of Span Plus on the reference track, using the same settings as my main mix. This ensures consistency in the spectral analysis. Set this instance to “Export”
- Compare the Spectrums: Now insert Span Plus on your Master Output as well and ‘Import’ the Reference mix spectrum. Now you can view both spectrums in one window to visually compare the frequency content. This allows me to see where my mix differs from the reference in terms of tonal balance.
Comparing the Two Mixes
By comparing the spectra, I can identify specific areas where my mix deviates from the reference. For example:
- Low-End Energy If my mix shows less energy below 100Hz compared to the reference, I might need to enhance the bass or kick drum.
- Midrange Clarity A buildup in the 500Hz to 1kHz range might indicate muddiness, prompting me to clean up that area with EQ.
- High-End Presence If the reference has more activity above 10kHz, I might need to add some sheen or air to my mix through gentle EQ boosts or harmonic exciters.
Optimizing Mix Decisions
Having this visual feedback allows me to make informed decisions during the mixing process. Instead of relying solely on my ears, which can become fatigued, I have a visual guide to ensure consistency. This is especially useful when mixing in less-than-ideal acoustic environments.
Practical Example: Mixing a Track with Span Plus
To illustrate how Span Plus enhances my mixing process, let’s walk through a practical example.
Step 1: Initial Mix
I start with a rough mix of a track. After setting initial levels and pans, I insert Span Plus on the master bus using my preferred settings.
Step 2: Analyzing the Mix
While playing back the mix, I observe the spectrum in Span Plus. I notice that there’s a significant dip around 3kHz, which is crucial for the presence of vocals and lead instruments.
Step 3: Adjusting Elements
I revisit the EQ settings on my vocal track and lead guitar, making subtle boosts around 3kHz. I also ensure that no other instruments are masking this frequency range.
Step 4: Comparing with Reference Track
I import a professional mix in a similar genre as a reference track. After level matching, I observe that their mix has a more pronounced low-end below 80Hz.
Step 5: Enhancing the Low-End
I use a combination of EQ and compression on my bass and kick drum to enhance the low-end. Span Plus confirms that the low-frequency energy is now more in line with the reference.
Step 6: Finalizing the Mix
With continuous monitoring through Span Plus, I make minor adjustments to ensure the tonal balance is consistent across the frequency spectrum.
Enhancing My Workflow with a Dedicated Display
To maximize the efficiency of Span Plus, I invested in a 7-inch mini computer display as a second monitor. This screen is mounted above my primary display and is dedicated to showing the Span Plus plugin in wide mode. By having Span Plus always visible on this dedicated screen, I can monitor the tonal balance of my mix in real-time without cluttering my main workspace.
Benefits of the Dedicated Display
- Constant Monitoring: With Span Plus filling the entire 7-inch screen, I have an uninterrupted view of the spectrum analyzer at all times.
- Improved Workflow: This setup allows me to focus on mixing without toggling between windows or plugins.
- Enhanced Precision: The wide mode on Span Plus provides a detailed view of the frequency spectrum, making it easier to spot issues.
Benefits of Real-Time Analysis
Using Span Plus for real-time analysis offers several benefits:
- Immediate Feedback can see the impact of any adjustments instantly, helping me make precise tweaks.
- Consistent Monitoring By keeping Span Plus open throughout the mixing session, I maintain a constant awareness of the tonal balance.
- Informed Decision-Making Visual data complements auditory perception, especially when ear fatigue sets in.
Overcoming Mixing Challenges
Mixing in non-ideal environments or with less-than-perfect monitoring systems can introduce challenges. Room acoustics and speaker limitations can mask certain frequencies. Span Plus serves as an objective reference, helping to mitigate these issues.
Additional Features of Span Plus
Beyond the basic spectrum analysis, Span Plus offers features that enhance its utility:
- Export/Import Spectrum Data can export the spectrum of my reference track and import it into the instance running on my mix. This allows for a direct comparison even when the reference track isn’t playing.
- Correlation Meter Span Plus includes a correlation meter, which helps in monitoring phase relationships, ensuring that the mix is mono-compatible.
- Mid-Side Analysis By switching to mid-side mode, I can analyze the stereo field and make adjustments to the spatial elements of my mix.
Integrating Span Plus into Your Workflow
To maximize the benefits of Span Plus, consider integrating it into your standard mixing template. Place instances on key tracks or buses, such as:
- Master Bus Monitor the overall mix’s tonal balance.
- Individual Instruments Analyze problematic instruments that may be masking others.
- Effects Returns Ensure that reverb and delay effects are sitting well in the mix.
Tips for Effective Use of Span Plus
- Regularly Switch Between Soloed Tracks and Full Mix Analyzing individual tracks helps in identifying sources of frequency buildup or masking.
- Use Span Plus in Combination with Your Ears While visual analysis is valuable, always trust your ears. Use Span Plus as a guide, not an absolute rule.
- Save Presets for Different Scenarios Create and save different Span Plus settings for various mixing situations, such as mastering or mixing for different genres.
Addressing Common Misconceptions
Some might argue that relying on spectrum analyzers can lead to over-analysis or mixing by sight rather than sound. However, when used correctly, Span Plus enhances your mixing by providing objective data that complements your auditory perception.
External Resources
For more insights on how to effectively use spectrum analyzers in your mixing process, check out these resources:
- Understanding Spectrum Analysis in Mixing
- The Role of Tonal Balance in Professional Mixing
- Level Matching Techniques for Accurate Mixing
- Setting Up Dual Displays for Music Production
Conclusion
Incorporating Voxengo’s Span Plus into my mixing workflow has been a game-changer. By mixing with Span Plus, I have a constant tonal balance overview and can effectively compare my mixes with professional references. The addition of a dedicated 7-inch mini display for Span Plus has further enhanced my workflow, allowing for continuous monitoring without distractions.
Final Thoughts
In the ever-evolving world of music production, tools like Voxengo’s Span Plus empower us to create mixes that are both sonically pleasing and technically sound. By leveraging its advanced features and optimizing our workspaces, we gain access to a wealth of information that helps us make informed decisions, leading to better mixes and ultimately, better music.
Call to Action
If you’re looking to take your mixing skills to the next level, I highly recommend giving Voxengo’s Span Plus a try. You can download it and learn more about its features on the Voxengo Span Plus official website. Your journey towards better mixes starts with the right tools.
By integrating Span Plus into your workflow and considering enhancements like a dedicated display, you’ll find that achieving a professional tonal balance becomes more intuitive and efficient. Happy mixing!
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