This edition of bpb Freeware Studio features a list of the best freeware spectrum analyzers in VST plugin format. There are several other free spectrum analyzer VSTs available, but I’ve only picked the very best ones for this list (since theres really not much point in having a dozen diferent analyzers installed).
Still, if I’ve missed a plugin that you think deserves to be on the list, feel free to mention it in the comments section, and I’ll be more than happy to check it out!
Follow the links for screenshots & download info:
- Fre(a)koscope by [email protected] (Mac, Windows)
- FreqAnalyst by Blue Cat Audio (Mac, Windows)
- Inspector by RNDigital (Mac, Windows)
- MAnalyzer by MeldaProduction (Mac, Windows)
- MultiFreek Junior by U.F.O Scientific (Windows)
- MultiInspectorFree by VertexDSP (Mac, Windows)
- Oscarizor by Sugar Audio (Mac, Windows)
- Real Time Analyzer by reFuse Software (Mac)
- Sonogram SG-1 by ag-works (Windows)
- SPAN by Voxengo (Mac, Windows)
- Spectrum Analyzer by Seven Phases (Windows)
So, SPAN is without a doubt my favorite spectrum analyzer. It packs plenty of useful features like m/s analysis, K-metering, and is basically my go-to plugin for this sort of stuff. You’ll find a nice tutorial video on using SPAN, below in this post.
MultiFreek Junior and MultiInspectorFree are also very cool since they are optimized for monitoring multiple signals at the same time – a great feature for detecting clashing frequencies in a mix, visualizing how your bass and kick work together, etc.
Spectrum Analyzer by Seven Phases is pretty simple, easy to use, and has a resizeable GUI. This means you can put plenty of these on a single screen, or put one giant spectrum analyzer on a single screen and thus get all the hot girls for yourself.
Sonogram SG-1 is a bit different, it’s actually a sonogram, also known as a spectrogram, but basically just a different type of spectrum analyzer. I sometime use it to analyze my final mixes, and to check if certain frequencies are too loud.
Fre(a)koscope and Inspector are also worth checking out, perhaps one of these two will become your favorite.
Finally, many thanks to FiestaRed for suggesting MAnalyzer, another good spectrum analyzer and part of the neat MeldaProduction freeware bundle.
That’s all for now, thanks for reading and see you soon with another selection of the best freeware VST plugins!
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This article is part of the bpb Freeware Studio series. Each article in the series features a selection of the best freeware VST instruments/effects, or other audio related software in a certain category. Feel free to suggest your own favorites in the comments section below. Enjoy!
17 Comments
FiestaRed
onVery good, another cool free analyzer is melda production MAnalyzer.
http://www.meldaproduction.com/freevstplugins/manalyzer.php
Ciao :-)
bedroomproducers
onright, good call! i’ll add it to the list later today. thanks! ;]
excellent post.
I was looking for a spectrum analyzer who could analyze different tracks simultaneously.
thanks you!
bedroomproducers
oncheers!
audiosprite
onWith you on SPAN. Blue Cat’s FreqAnalyst is a good one, too.
http://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Bundle_FreewarePack/
bedroom producers blog
onthanks for the suggestion, i’ve added it to the list!
Raul Silva
onI see you were using Live 8 in the video. Does Span work just as well with ProTools.
Thanks for all the good work you do.
bedroom producers blog
onhi Raul, it’s not my video, i don’t use Live (nor do i use PT). but i’ve seen reports online that SPAN works fine with the FXpansion VST-RTAS adapter, so i guess you could try that!
Fess
onthanks for posting this but do you know of any spectral analysis tools that will open in Garageband? (AU) I’ve found a few but they’re all for os x 10.5 or up. do you know of any for a 10.4.11 power book g4?
dapluz
onany other dl url for multifreek? this one seems broken.
Thomas
onHi, i just downloaded Span and tried to follow the Tutorial. But the Problem is, that instead of the 6 Inputs in the Video, in my Version i only see 2 Inputs. One L and one R. So i was not able to set it up right. I use Cubase 7 Elements. Any Ideas anyone?
Pianoman
onAlso SIR Audio Tools SpectrumAnalyzer should be added to the list: http://www.siraudiotools.com/Spectrum-Analyzer.php
Leonid
onMetering – http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/trmetering/
Good one.
Howard Ellison
onThankyou Tomislav for your hard work. Very helpful. I do agree that SPAN is a great plug in.
What I can’t find, so far, is a plug (Mac) that will display Left-Right phase. This immediately reveals any mono content in a mix. For example, bass used to be restricted to mono to suit vinyl cutting, but is now very much part of creative stereo imaging. A straight line/hysteresis XY display (easy on a hardware ‘scope) would be so useful.
viceverser
onDefinitely my fave would be Signalizer… LOTS of features, including tuneable freq note value (can adjust the tuning for non 440 values) :)
http://www.jthorborg.com/index.html?ipage=signalizer
Marco Cruz
onalguien para Mac Inspector by RNDigital :)
Boot
onMAnalyzer link broken – “Page Not Found”.