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IDProjectCategoryView StatusLast Update
0004102ardourfeaturespublic2021-06-12 14:06
Reporterdeva Assigned To 
PrioritynormalSeverityfeatureReproducibilityN/A
Status newResolutionopen 
Target Version3.X 
Summary0004102: Spectrogram view for clips.
DescriptionA feature I have been considering for a while now is the possibility to view a clip in the frequency domain using a spectrogram view.
It could be configured using the view-mode menu (currently linear/logarithmic).
This would be a great help when performing cutting at the beginning of eg. guitar chord strums, which can be quite hard to see in the time domain.
Also it could be useful when performing manual de-essing.
I imagine the clip looking a bit like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Spectrogram-19thC.png
TagsNo tags attached.

Activities

deva

2011-06-10 09:04

reporter   ~0010841

It seems others have gotten the same idea as well: http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?p=728536

lpirl

2016-03-03 06:16

reporter   ~0018036

+1 for this one.

It feels like now, that a spectrogram is implemented for the export, the editor supports multiple visualizations already, it can't be too hard to add a spectrogram as well (but maybe it is still very hard and a lot of work :)).

IMHO, this very information-dense view can help editors more easily spot tones, glitches, noises, etc.
Just think of a heavily gained guitar where your waveform basically looks like a plankā€¦

x42

2016-03-05 14:52

administrator   ~0018039

The spectrogram itself is the easy part (already done in a git branch a while ago: https://github.com/ardour/ardour/tree/spectrowave - hard replaces waveform display)

As usual, GUI integration is the vast majority of work:
- allow to switch wave/spectrum or overlay them
- cache precaluated the spectrum (in memory and on disk)
- calculate display in the background
- maintain a image and spectrum cache - not unlike peak-files
..and all sorts of details and edge cases.

I don't expect this to become part of Ardour anytime soon, but who knows.

UnixMan

2017-09-28 17:11

reporter   ~0020047

Spectrograms can be very useful. Even more so if also combined with spectral editing, like in e.g. Izotope RX.

A somewhat similar and very nice feature have been recently added to Reaper. Have a look here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSBO_VC9q3E

Something like this would be a really, really GREAT feature! ;-)

unfa

2021-06-12 12:52

reporter   ~0025941

This would be a great aid in editing - some content has waveforms that don't tell you much.
I'm making a tutorial about looping sound effects and some cases really require a spectrogram to let the user make cuts in the right spots.
This is why for some looping work Audacity may actually have an upper hand, even though in most cases I prefer Ardour.

x42

2021-06-12 13:07

administrator   ~0025943

some references and prototypes:
https://github.com/Ardour/ardour/tree/spectrowave
https://github.com/Ardour/ardour/pull/570

x42

2021-06-12 13:13

administrator   ~0025944

> This is why for some looping work Audacity may actually have an upper hand

Interesting. Could you explain how it is useful to you when looping?
The more bins a spectrum view has, the more undefined the time-axis becomes, you cannot make precise cuts at all.

What are you looking for in the spectrum to base your decision on? Could that information also displayed or made available otherwise?

unfa

2021-06-12 13:41

reporter   ~0025946

x42: Let me record a quick video for you about this.

unfa

2021-06-12 14:06

reporter   ~0025947

Here it is: https://youtu.be/Xh3f6wXy9b8

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
2011-06-09 10:34 deva New Issue
2011-06-10 09:04 deva Note Added: 0010841
2011-06-11 00:08 cth103 cost => 0.00
2011-06-11 00:08 cth103 Target Version => 3.X
2016-03-03 06:16 lpirl Note Added: 0018036
2016-03-05 14:52 x42 Note Added: 0018039
2017-09-28 17:11 UnixMan Note Added: 0020047
2021-06-12 12:52 unfa Note Added: 0025941
2021-06-12 13:07 x42 Note Added: 0025943
2021-06-12 13:13 x42 Note Added: 0025944
2021-06-12 13:21 x42 Relationship added duplicate of 0007786
2021-06-12 13:21 x42 Relationship deleted 0007786
2021-06-12 13:41 unfa Note Added: 0025946
2021-06-12 14:06 unfa Note Added: 0025947