Voxengo SPAN

Active

Overview

Voxengo SPAN is a real-time FFT (fast Fourier transform) audio frequency spectrum analyzer plugin for professional music and audio production applications. It provides visual analysis of audio spectrums across mono, stereo, and surround sound formats, along with level metering and correlation analysis. The plugin is designed to assist mixing and mastering engineers in making critical frequency-based decisions during audio production.

Key Features

FFT Spectrum Analysis - Real-time frequency spectrum visualization with adjustable display modes and color customization
Multi-channel Analysis - Support for stereo, mono, mid-side, and surround sound (5.1, 7.1) spectrum analysis
Level Metering - RMS, true peak level detection, and clipping identification with adjustable ballistics
EBU R128 and K-system Metering - Professional loudness metering standards including LUFS/LU measurement and K-system calibration
Stereo Correlation Meter - Analysis of phase relationships between stereo channels
Multi-track Spectrum Comparison - Ability to display and compare spectrums from different channels or channel groups simultaneously
Internal Channel Routing - Flexible routing options for analyzing specific channel combinations
Preset Manager - Save and recall custom analyzer configurations

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
SPAN (Free)	Free	FFT spectrum analyzer, stereo/mono/surround analysis, level metering, EBU R128, K-system metering, correlation meter, clipping detection
SPAN Plus	Commercial license (pricing not specified)	All SPAN features plus PNG export, real-time spectrum import/export, multi-track comparison, wide display mode, static spectrum display

Platforms & Requirements

SPAN runs on Windows (32- and 64-bit, XP and later) and macOS (10.12 and later). It requires a 2.5 GHz dual-core processor or faster with at least 4 GB of RAM. The plugin is compatible with AAX, AudioUnit, VST, and VST3 plugin specifications, allowing use in any conforming audio host application.

Integrations & Ecosystem

AAX plugin format
AudioUnit plugin format
VST plugin format
VST3 plugin format
Internal channel routing and grouping
PNG spectrum snapshot export (SPAN Plus)
Real-time spectrum import/export (SPAN Plus)

Alternatives

App	Difference
iZotope RX Spectral Editor	Offers advanced spectral editing and repair capabilities beyond analysis, with higher cost
FabFilter Pro-Q	Combines spectrum analysis with parametric EQ functionality, providing integrated mixing tools
Waves Spectrum Analyzer	Part of larger plugin suite with additional metering and analysis tools
Blue Cat's Spectral Display	Provides real-time spectral analysis with additional visualization options and customization

Reputation

SPAN is widely regarded as one of the best free spectrum analyzer plugins available for audio professionals. Users appreciate its comprehensive feature set, accurate analysis, and minimal CPU overhead. The plugin is frequently recommended in mixing and mastering communities for its reliability and effectiveness in frequency-based decision making. Some users note that the interface, while functional, is less modern compared to commercial alternatives, though this does not significantly impact its utility.

Sources (9)