An audio equalizer is a frequency range of an audio input with is a normally displayed using bar for specific frequencies. Equalizers are used in recording studios, broadcast studios, and live sound reinforcement to correct the response of microphones, instrument pick-ups, loudspeakers, and hall acoustics. A graphical equalizer is a representation of the frequencies you may have seen these on an audio player in real time as they peak to an audio input.
In blender there is a plugin that allows the user to generate, audio nodes which when connected to a source generate a frequency range. This then can be linked to a shape, which will deform to the change in frequency. By putting these together you can create a graphical audio equalizer. This is interesting to watch and see how it moves depending on the track and the instrments used in it.
I used blender to create a 3d equalizer to a song with a wide range and depth of audio variations. Here is what I managed to produce on my first attempt. I used 3 bars, which had 3 different depths of frequency so they would all be slightly different. By making their colours similar to a spectrum to get a flow of colour creating a more interesting visual effect.
- Actually working – It worked after several attempts with loss of sound.
- The colour – The range of colour comes from right across the spectrum works really well.
- The shadows – Use of a harsh light make the colours really pop.
- Length – Making it longer will give a better range of audio variations.
- More Depth – Maybe making more bars or change the camera angle to make it interesting.
- Mirror – Added a mirror in the background giving a reflection of the bars and a grainy faded effect
- Camera Angle – Adjusted the camera angle to give the shapes harsher light