The tutorial for reading data in SpectrumView (a popular real-time audio analysis application developed by Oxford Wave Research) focuses on navigating its dual-axis interfaces to pinpoint audio frequencies and signal intensity.
Here is the comprehensive, step-by-step breakdown of how to isolate, read, and export acoustic data using the app. Step 1: Choose Your Analysis Interface
Open the app to display live audio captured by your microphone, or load a track from your library. Switch between the two main analytical views using the toggle buttons at the bottom of the screen:
Spectrogram Mode: Best for tracking frequency changes over time. The horizontal axis represents Time, the vertical axis tracks Frequency (Hz), and the color brightness dictates Amplitude (Volume).
Spectrum Analysis Mode: Best for capturing exact loudness levels at a specific moment. It displays an unfurled, real-time graph where the horizontal axis maps Frequency and the vertical axis maps Intensity (dBFS). Step 2: Set the Scale and Gain
Before measuring, configure your visual parameters to highlight subtle audio details:
Adjust Scaling: Navigate to settings to toggle between a Linear scale (best for higher harmonic frequencies) and a Logarithmic scale (best for human speech and musical pitches).
Apply Gain: If target sounds are faint or masked by background noise, inject up to 24 dB of Spectrogram gain to boost visual clarity without distorting the underlying data. Step 3: Isolate Frequencies via Touch Controls
Read specific data points directly off the graphical display by turning on interactive settings:
Tap for Details: When enabled, tapping any line or peak on the graph instantly displays a pop-up with the exact Frequency in Hertz (Hz) and Intensity in Decibel Full Scale (dBFS).
Musical Pitch Notation: If you are tuning instruments, switch this setting on. Tapping a point will translate the raw Hz number into the closest scientific musical note along with its offset in cents (e.g., A4 +12 cents).
Isolate via Zoom: Use standard two-finger pinch-to-zoom and pan gestures to narrow down a specific band of frequency activity. Step 4: Use Peak Hold for Transient Sounds
To freeze and analyze instantaneous spike sounds (like a drum strike, click, or animal call), activate the Peak Hold feature:
Tap the screen simultaneously with two fingers to freeze the current frequency envelope line in place.
The app lets you freeze up to three distinct peaks in different colors at the same time to directly contrast different sound events. Swipe up with two fingers to erase the last held peak line. Step 5: Export Raw Spectral Data Snapshots
If you need to analyze numerical trends or run mathematical calculations, you can export the graph data into external spreadsheet software:
Tap the Data Snapshot button on the bottom right corner of either analytical view to record a snapshot of the current frequency behavior.
Retrieve the raw .csv file via your mobile Files app or Web File Transfer.
Open the file in programs like Microsoft Excel or Apple Numbers. The spreadsheet will generate a two-column index, matching every specific frequency precisely to its decoded amplitude reading.
For a visual walkthrough on operating the app interface and managing audio recordings: SpectrumView 2.4.2 Quick-Start Guide Oxford Wave Research YouTube · Mar 7, 2024
If you are looking to troubleshoot a specific audio issue, tell me:
What type of sound are you trying to analyze? (e.g., human speech, instrument tuning, background hum)
Do you need to track how the sound changes over a period of time, or just its peak loudness?
I can give you custom tips on matching your specific analytical goals to the app’s settings. SpectrumView Help | Oxford Wave Research
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