Essential Information About Blue Cat FreqAnalyst Multi Software
- Real-time multi-track spectral analysis: overlay up to 16 curves to compare multiple audio sources on a single screen, with smooth and highly detailed playback.
- Key tool for mixing: quickly identify frequency overlaps between instruments (masking) and clarify the spectral balance of an arrangement.
- "Diff" view for comparison and adjustment: display the difference between spectra to facilitate EQ matching and response curve measurement.
- Highly customizable interface: zoom, transparency, layout, and the ability to create a custom interface via the skin system.
What Blue Cat FreqAnalyst Multi Is For
Blue Cat FreqAnalyst Multi is a multi-track spectrum analyzer plug-in designed for mixing and mastering. It helps you visualize, in a single view, the frequency distribution of multiple tracks (kick, bass, guitars, vocals, synths, buses, reference...) to spot competing areas and make quick decisions on equalization, arrangement, or dynamics. It is a particularly effective tool for understanding "who occupies what" in the spectrum and for ensuring mix clarity across different listening systems.
Main Features
Multi-source overlay and precise playback
The highlight of FreqAnalyst Multi is its ability to display multiple spectral analyses simultaneously with high resolution and extremely smooth rendering. You can analyze signals in mono, stereo, or mid/side, and use zoom as well as coordinate display to precisely measure a peak, resonance, or the balance of a frequency range. The note information display also facilitates the musical interpretation of key areas (fundamentals and harmonics).
Analysis modes adapted to context
For each track/curve, three behaviors are available: instant (maximum responsiveness), peak (peak values), and average (mean). This combination allows switching from a quick diagnosis (instant) to a more "global" reading (average), while retaining the ability to spot occasional excesses (peak). Analysis parameters are finely adjustable, with slope correction and offset for coherent reading according to your workflow.
"Diff" view and curve comparison
The "Diff" view displays the difference between multiple curves, which becomes very practical for comparing two instances (for example, a track and a reference, or before/after EQ) and guiding equalization choices. This approach also helps visualize a filter response or spectral variations from one section to another without getting lost in an overly dense overlay.
A/B memories and production workflow
With 4 memory slots, you can save curves and recall them for quick comparisons between different settings, song sections, or processing versions. Interface management (including transparency and multiple display sizes) enhances comfort during sessions, especially when the analyzer remains open permanently on a secondary screen.
Studio integration and Blue Cat Audio standards
FreqAnalyst Multi integrates easily with most digital audio workstations thanks to support for common formats. It also includes production-oriented features such as MIDI Learn, automation, smooth bypass without artifacts, a preset manager, and handy tools to duplicate states between instances. Processing stops when silence is detected, optimizing CPU usage during quiet phases of the project.
Technical Specifications
System Requirements
- Mac: OS X / macOS 10.9 or later
- Mac: Intel or Apple Silicon processor
- Windows: Windows 7, 8, or 10
- Windows: SSE2-compatible processor (Pentium 4 or newer)
- Sample rate: all sample rates supported
- Optimization: processing stops during silence (CPU usage reduction)
Supported Formats
- Mac: VST-2, VST-3, AU, AAX
- Windows: VST-2, VST-3, AAX
Analysis Features
- Real-time multi-track spectrum analyzer in mono, stereo, or mid/side
- Display and comparison of multiple signals on the same graph (up to 16 curves)
- "Diff" view: calculation and display of difference between spectra (EQ matching, response curve measurement)
- Advanced analysis parameter settings with slope correction and offset
- Interpolation algorithm for very smooth display
- Spectral view with zoom, precise measurements, coordinate display, and note information
- Instant, peak, and average curves for each track
- Customizable name for each curve (simplified sharing/reading)
- 4 memories to save curves and facilitate A/B comparisons
- Customizable thresholds: absolute and relative
Interface and Workflow
- Multiple display sizes
- Control of interface opacity
- Advanced layout customization
- Ability to create a custom interface via Blue Cat's skin language
- Undo/Redo
- Smooth bypass: activation/deactivation without noise
- Integrated preset manager
- Copy/paste plug-in state between instances
Control and Automation
- Full MIDI support: control, automation, and MIDI Learn
- Option to send MIDI events when MIDI parameters change (updates control surfaces)
Version
- Version: 2.42
- Added Apple Silicon support for the AAX format
- Fix: VST3 version did not always load correctly in Ableton Live 11
- Improved display of VST parameter values in some hosts
- Improvement: undo and automation when using the mouse wheel on knobs
- AAX: fixed erratic mouse behavior in Pro Tools on Mac
- Mac: notarization of installers and plug-ins (reduces security alerts on macOS Catalina and later)
- Windows: multi-screen HiDPI support (4K, high-resolution displays) for Windows 10 version 1607 and later
- Mac: improved Retina support (sharper graphics at all resolutions and zoom levels)
- Mac: fixed random interface refresh issues in Reaper on Retina displays
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