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Spectrum Reference Tracks
A reference track adds a saved, whole-track average spectrum to Spectrum. Use it to compare the tonal balance of live audio with another recording, rather than trying to remember the shape of a moving curve.
This is a visual comparison. Loading a reference does not play the file, replace the captured source, apply EQ, or change audio heard from the system or DAW.
References are available in the desktop Spectrum, its detached window, and the Spectrum DAW plugin. They are not available in the TUI.
- Enable Spectrum and open its settings.
- Select the Reference tab, then Load track.
- Choose one mono or stereo WAV, AIFF, FLAC, or MP3 file. You can also drop a single file directly onto Spectrum.
- Wait for analysis to finish. Progress and a developing preview appear while the track is analyzed.
- Play the source you want to compare and choose Overlay or Difference.
Prism keeps one reference at a time. It analyzes the whole file, so a song containing quiet verses and loud choruses produces a combined reference rather than a chorus-only target. Use a separately prepared excerpt when one section is the intended comparison.
| View | What you see | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Overlay | A dashed reference curve alongside the live spectrum | Comparing broad shapes and checking the reference's level |
| Difference | Live level minus the adjusted reference, centered on zero with a ±24 dB scale | Spotting frequency regions above or below the reference |
In Difference, positive values mean more live energy at that frequency; negative values mean less. Zero means the displayed levels agree. The vertical values describe a difference in dB, not an absolute dBFS level.
Reference comparison uses the Mid signal: the average of left and right. Strong opposing stereo components can cancel in Mid, so use the Side display, Vectorscope, or correlation meters alongside it when stereo width matters. A whole-track average and a momentary live curve describe different time spans; movement away from zero is normal.
Comparison is limited by the reference file's available frequency bandwidth. A low-sample-rate reference does not gain genuine high-frequency detail by being loaded into a higher-sample-rate session.
Trim shifts the reference by -24 to +24 dB in 0.1 dB steps. It does not change live input gain. Use the number field or slider; the reset button or a slider double-click returns it to 0 dB.
Match level adjusts reference trim once using recent live audio, up to the latest three seconds. It requires at least one second of current, non-silent audio and is unavailable while an import is running. Play a representative passage, then select Match level before judging tonal differences.
Matching is not continuous gain riding or a LUFS normalization tool. If the source changes substantially, match again or adjust trim manually. Desktop Audio > Trim is a separate control that affects the signal received by all analyzers and the rolling recorder.
Use Replace to choose another file. Analysis runs in the background and can be canceled from its progress display. During import, Spectrum temporarily uses Overlay so the developing curve is visible. The previous reference remains available if loading fails or is canceled.
Use Remove reference to clear the reference from the current Spectrum settings and return to ordinary analysis. This does not delete or alter the original audio file. Save the profile or DAW project if you want the removal remembered.
Desktop profiles and Spectrum plugin state store the analyzed curves and comparison settings. Reopening a saved setup does not require the original file. The stored data contains the track name and spectral information, not a playable copy of the recording.
Save the desktop profile after loading or changing a reference. Save the DAW project for a plugin instance. A new unsaved reference is not a substitute for a backup of the original track.
When sharing a .prsm profile, remember that its reference name and curves travel with it. Older Prism releases may not understand the newer profile format. See Profiles.
Use Spectrum's General tab for FFT size, scales, range, smoothing, and display controls. Those choices still shape the comparison; a larger FFT offers more frequency detail at greater cost.
With Linked Analysis enabled, frequency guides remain available in Difference view. A relative difference is not treated as an absolute spectral level in other scopes.
- The file will not load: Check that it is a supported, readable mono/stereo file and drop only one track at a time. Keep the original file and read the import error; a failed replacement preserves the prior reference.
- Match level is disabled: Finish or cancel the import, then send at least one second of non-silent audio into Spectrum. Confirm the intended device or Bridge is selected.
- Difference looks mostly shifted up or down: Match levels using a representative passage before interpreting broad tonal changes.
- Difference is empty during silence: Send live audio; silence or an incomplete initial analysis window does not provide a useful comparison.
- Stereo energy seems understated: The comparison uses Mid, so opposing left/right content can cancel. Inspect Side and Vectorscope as well before drawing conclusions about the full stereo signal.
See Spectrum and Spectrogram for the normal analyzer controls and Audio Sources and Capture for source and input-level checks.