Editing Audio analysis (section)

== Signal Analysis ==
[[File:Spectrum analyzer, display, noise floor.jpg|thumb|Example of a frequency analyzer]]
{{further|Audio system measurements}}
Audio signals can be analyzed in several different ways, depending on the kind of information desired from the signal.

Types of signal analysis include:

*[[Amplitude|Level and gain]]
*[[Frequency domain]] analysis
*[[Frequency response]]
*[[Total harmonic distortion|Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise (THD+N)]]
*[[Phase (waves)|Phase]]
*[[Crosstalk]]
*[[Intermodulation distortion]] (IMD)
*Stereo and Surround

[[File:THX-DeepNote-Spectogram.png|thumb|A spectrogram image of the THX audio sound]]
Hardware analyzers have been the primary means of signal analysis since the invention of the first audio analyzer, made by [[Hewlett-Packard]], the [[HP200A]]. Hardware analyzers are typically used in engineering, testing, and manufacturing of professional and consumer grade products. As computer technology progressed, integrated software found its way into these hardware systems, and later there would be audio analysis tools that did not require any hardware components save for the computer running the software. Software audio analyzers are regularly used in various stages of music production, such as live audio, mixing, and mastering. These products tend to employ [[Fast Fourier transform|Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)]] algorithms and processing to provide a visual representation of the signal being analyzed. Display and information types include frequency spectrum, [[Goniometer|stereo field]], [[Surround sound|surround]] field, [[spectrogram]], and more.