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Setting up the Analyzer

Setup the hardware:
Install the sound card and driver (refer to instructions included with your hardware) and connect the audio signal you wish to measure to the Line-In or Microphone jack on the rear edge of the sound card.

Frequency Range:
Prior to making a measurement, you need to determine what frequency range you are interested in, and what frequency resolution is required.  Go to the Settings dialog box by selecting the <Settings> command under the <Options> menu item.  Set the Sampling Rate to at least twice the highest rate that you wish to measure.  Now adjust the FFT size so that the spectral line resolution (displayed directly under the title of the dialog box) meets your objectives.   Click OK to close the dialog box. 

Axis Scaling:
Go to the Scaling dialog box by selecting the <Scaling> command under the <Options> menu item.  Select the appropriate scaling options.  The program defaults to Logarithmic amplitude scaling and Linear frequency scaling. 

Open any of the views you wish to display
Each view can be opened and closed by toggling the corresponding menu item.  A check mark will appear next to any open view.  Views can be opened and closed even when the processor is running but in the case of the 3-D Surface and Spectrogram views, the contents are erased once closed.

Select the operating mode
Select the Recorder mode if you wish to save the audio data for later processing.  Select Real-Time mode if you wish to run in a monitor mode without saving the data.  The Real-Time mode will allow you to run continuously whereas the Recorder mode is limited by available hard disk space or memory (depending on the selected File Options) on the computer.  Post Processing mode is used for processing from a previously recorded WAV file.

Start the analyzer
Click <Run> or <Rec> on the toolbar or use the associated accelerator key <alt> <R> to start the processor.  The displays will then begin updating.  Optionally, you can press the enter key when in the real-time mode and the analyzer will make a single measurement and then stop.

Stop the analyzer and make a measurement
Click <Stop> on the toolbar or use the associated accelerator keys <alt> <S> to stop the processor.  Use the mouse to point to a feature of interest on one of the views and press the left mouse button.  Measurement boxes will appear which contain the corresponding plot values.  (See Cursor Measurements for more information). 

Print the results
Selecting the <File> <Print> menu item will print the active view on the selected printer.  You will also have an opportunity to enter custom annotation which is printed along the top center of the page.  

Save the configuration
You may save the current analyzer configuration at any time by using the <File> <Load> Configuration menu item.  All current settings are saved as well as the size and position of each view and any open WAV file.


See also:  Basic Operation, What is a Spectrum Analyzer? , Working With Audio files , Aliasing, Printing , Configuration Files , Keyboard Shortcuts