Waveform and Frequency Spectrum Display plugin for Winamp/Foobar?

What the title says. I want to be able to pinpoint and jump to a specific location on a track rather than having to use the seeker and guess the time.

 

Huh? I can see where a waveform display might be used to locate a spot in a track, a snare hit, a guitar solo etc. But I don't see how a frequency spectrum display could be used, as there is no time component in a spectrum display, at least not in the spectrum displays I am familiar with. (Other than some 3d stacked displays.)

All the waveform displays I have seen are a sliding window type, not the type you are looking for. What about using something like Audacity instead of Winamp. It has a full waveform display of the entire sound clip.

Gary

 

Frequency spectrum display is common in audio applications. Why would it be useful? hint: when it comes to over-compressed brickwalled music, you really don't know where the chorus, verses, instrument solos, etc. begin and end when looking at a waveform.

That's the thing. Audacity isn't a media player. It's an audio editor similar to Adobe Audition or Soundbooth. I need something that's light like winamp and foobar, but has waveform and frequency spectrum displays.

I've found a waveform plugin for foobar by zao, but no luck with the frequency spectrum plugin.

 

I am aware that Spectrum Analyzer displays are common in audio apps. (I am co-owner of a recording studio.) But what I don't understand is how one would let you find the beginning of a chorus or verse. None of them I have ever seen have any sort of timeline associated with them. They are all a snapshot of the spectrum at a point in time. How would you use one to find a chorus??? (I have seen one that displayed a series of spectrum plots one behind the other with each one slightly offset to the right and above, so as to create a 3d display of the plots over time.)

But to your point about over compressed stuff, I think that tends to screw up the spectrum displays even more than it does the waveform. With a waveform you can usually still pick out the transitions you are talking about, except in the most extreme brickwalled garbage.

I know Audacity isn't a media player per se, but it does have the functionality you were asking for, albeit with a LOT more to boot.

Gary

 

I think I must have worded it wrong. Spectral Frequency display and Frequency Spectrum Analyzer are two different things. I think I understand where the confusion is. You're referring to the latter; something with FFT. I was referring to a 2d graph of the entire track with frequency on the y-axis and time on the x-axis.

 

Now you have me intrigued. Do you have a sample of such a display? I a confused by the "frequency on the y-axis". Is that the loudest frequency or what?

Gary

 

The color intensity is dB.

 

OK! Now I get it. There are THREE variables, frequency, time and dB. That's what had me confused. You mentioned just frequency on one axis and time on another and I just didn't see what that was going to convey with just those two things. With the addition of dB as the third element, it make perfect sense. And I can see where it could be useful for isolating various parts of a song.

BTW what app is that?

Thanks,
Gary

 

Adobe Audition.

This is something I really would like to have in winamp/foobar. To be able to toggle between waveform and spectral frequency views. If only I knew programming, I would work alongside with Zao