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New audio signal analysis features for "mk3" interface users

A new software update is now available as a free download for all owners of MOTU "mk3" FireWire audio interfaces. This new software installer package includes an updated version of CueMix FX, the cross-platform software application that gives users graphic, on-screen access to the many mixing and processing features in their mk3 interface. The CueMix FX software update provides three new advanced diagnostic tools for visual analysis of individual audio signals and entire mixes: a real-time FFT graph, a Spectrogram “waferfall” display, and an Oscilloscope. This CueMix FX software update enables these new tools for owners of all currently shipping MOTU “mk3” FireWire audio interfaces, including the 828mk3, 896mk3, UltraLite-mk3 and Traveler-mk3.

FFT display

CueMix FX provides an optional real-time FFT display super-imposed on top of the graphic EQ curve so you can see as well as hear the effect of your equalization adjustments.


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Spectrogram

The new CueMix FX real-time spectrogram "waterfall" display provides rich, detailed visual information about the frequency content of any signal or mix. You can expand the spectrogram to fill the entire resizable CueMix FX on-screen window. You can also combine the spectrogram with the FFT display and EQ curve in the same display, or separate them to view them individually but simultaneously.


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Oscilloscope

The new CueMix FX Oscilloscope graphs the amplitude of an audio signal in real time, just like a real hardware oscilloscope. It opens in a separate window that can positioned anywhere on screen and adjusted to any size. With many features found on conventional oscilloscopes, the CueMix FX oscilloscope will feel easy and familiar to expert users, and it will be an ideal way for beginners to learn the basics of how to use one. But innovative features are also provided, including Waveform Recognition, which searches through new audio data looking for a waveform which most resembles that which was previously displayed. The result is a highly stablized, easy-to-view waveform on screen that transforms its shape based on important changes to the incoming signal.

The new oscilloscope can be used in many ways during the routine operation of your recording studio. For example, you can:

  • Analyze and compare harmonic content
  • View transients such as drum hits when tweaking signal processing settings (such as compression)
  • Perform accurate clip detection
  • Build synthesizer patches with live, real-time visual feedback as you make changes
  • Build guitar tones while visually observing the effects of pedals, processing, etc.
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