What wav forms tell about pickups

blipndub · #1 08-31-2010, 08:23 PM

This is a picture of a pbass and a jazz bass side by side playing the same track through the exact same set up, yet the wav form is different for each guitar. And the jazz (bottom) doesn't sound as full as I would like. How can I interpret what these visuals are telling me?

**line6man** · #2 08-31-2010, 08:38 PM

Looks like they are out of phase.

giacomini · #3 08-31-2010, 08:39 PM

You can't tell much by looking at a waveform. Yes, it shows phase (up/down the centerline) and it shows gain/volume peaks. You can tell when the attack starts, you can clearly see if there's compression (it'll look all squared), etc, but nothing much (regarding tone).

I see you're using Sonar there. If you have Waves plugins installed, run the PAZ Analyzer, then you'll be able to "see your sound", I mean, you'll have a graphic that will tell you the frequencies in each note.

blipndub · #4 08-31-2010, 08:44 PM

I should clarify that these were two tracks recorded independently. If they were a single source they would look out of phase to me, but since they are two separate tracks I don't understand why I'm getting upward peaks on one and downward peaks on the other.

This is the precision track: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9593624

And the jazz: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9593619

Thank you for the replies. I'll look into the PAZ Analyzer, could be helpful.

**line6man** · #5 08-31-2010, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blipndub

I should clarify that these were two tracks recorded independently. If they were a single source they would look out of phase to me, but since they are two separate tracks I don't understand why I'm getting upward peaks on one and downward peaks on the other.

This is the precision track: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9593624

And the jazz: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9593619

Thank you for the replies. I'll look into the PAZ Analyzer, could be helpful.

The pickups could be on opposite phases.

+1 to giacomini.
These graphs don't tell you squat in terms of tone, only volume peaks.
I use the Waves PAZ analyzer personally.

Here was a comparison of my bass' Jazz pickup versus a soundclip SGD-Lutherie sent me of one of his...

blipndub · #6 08-31-2010, 08:54 PM

So I wouldn't be able to determine if the jazz pickups are out of phase by a simple waveform, correct? Would I be able to tell that on a frequency analyzer. I don't have the Waves plugins, and PAZ runs about $400! I have a cheapo Cakewalk Home Studio not officially Sonar.

FunkMetalBass · #7 09-01-2010, 12:45 AM

Not to hi-jack, but are there any recommended frequency analyzer plugins for Adobe Audition?

FunkMetalBass · #8 09-01-2010, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blipndub

So I wouldn't be able to determine if the jazz pickups are out of phase by a simple waveform, correct? Would I be able to tell that on a frequency analyzer. I don't have the Waves plugins, and PAZ runs about $400! I have a cheapo Cakewalk Home Studio not officially Sonar.

You could also just switch the wires in your bass really quickly and take a listen. I've heard that running the two pickups in series will increase the low end a bit, so that may be a potential jazz bass mod as well.