Spectrum dynamic range too small

[MrGreen]

Hi!

We use Audacity to analyse digital microphones. Then we make recordings with 24 bit resolution and have an expected noise level at -108dBFSrms (A-weighted level). Sometimes we have internal interference from other electronic parts that creates noise at different frequencies. We want to be able to see this noise spectrum even if the rms level is super low. If I look at the spectrum, the dynamic range is limited to -99dBFS. This is good enough for 16 bit recordings, but for 24 bit, it would be nice to add some extra dynamic range. Is there a way to do that without amplifying the signal before analysing the spectrum? I would like to avoid that extra step.

Regards

Björn

Audio and acoustics engineer at Axis Communications in Lund, Sweden

[Trebor]

If you adjust the range of the meter in preferences, the spectrum-plot range changes accordingly …

Alternatively the free version of Voxengo SPAN plugin is a more controllable spectrum display .

[MrGreen]

@Trebor

preference

Thank you! This kind of works, but when I set the Meter dB range to -145dB, I can only look at 30dB dynamic range or less. Normally I want to look at 60dB dynamic range. The zoom is set to a minimum.

[Trebor]

Other than the SPAN plugin, the only other free option I can think of is OCENaudio …