I always have trouble identifying frequencies contained within sounds when EQing (kick drum, snares, vocals just about everything really).

Do you think a real time frequency analyser will help and do you have any recommendations.

I've been looking at secondhand behringer ultracurve pro DEQ 2496 and ultracurve pro dsp 8024 on ebay. Both have RTA's listed among features. Can anyone confirm if RTA works only on reference mic signal or if it will analyse incoming audio as well (as I would require).

thanks in anticipation.

I think using an RTA probably would help you, although they really are no substitute for using your ears.

I usually check my mixes using an RTA plugin, just to make sure that my poorly treated room hasn't hidden something from me and to check the balance visually against commercial mixes.

I use the free version of Inspector, which is pretty good and you can find it HERE

thanks for reply joseph.

I should have said our studio is totally hardware based and home pc is internet only.

I do take your point about using ears.
I'm hoping to use the RTA as a training aid for my ears so that one day I wouldn't need it. Certainly, buying a compressor with good metering helped me focus in and hear what was going on with the compression

thanks again

My studio's predominately hardware based too, but the PC is just another tool...mine even sits nicely in my rack with all my other gear

However, like with RTAs, there are some things that a PC can do better than, (and more often than not cheaper than), a dedicated hardware unit.

With the greatest of respect, in 2007 i'd have thought a PC would be an essential hardware component in any music studio. You don't have to use it as a master controller, or change your current practices in anyway, but instead just use it as a cheap and extremely versatile FX processor if nothing else.

I can understand not wanting to use a computer, especially with the danger of relying on it more and more, but surely you're missing a trick by not using one at all. As i say it's a cheap, powerful tool that you can use to whatever end you decide...and in your position you wouldn't need a powerful machine or an expensive soundcard to take advantage of all the free VST plugins out there!