Audio Spectrum [Layer Only] - HitFilm Legacy

Audio Spectrum is available in the Motion: Audio Visual Pack.

The audio spectrum effect generates spectrum patterns based on a chosen audio layer. The effect is akin to the readout on a graphic equalizer. Extensive controls allow you to fully customize the appearance of the spectrum.

Audio Input

Audio Layer: Choose any layer containing audio, to use its audio as the source for generating the spectrum. The effect examines the audio frequencies present in the selected layer, and generates a spectrum that displays those frequencies.
Channel: Select the audio channel from the source layer that will be used to generate the spectrum.
- Left: Uses the left audio channel from the layer.
- Right: Uses the right audio channel from the layer.
- Average: Combines the values from the left and right channels then divides by two, and uses that average value.
Start Frequency: Sets the lowest frequency that will be factored into the effect.
End Frequency: Sets the highest frequency that will be factored into the effect.
Duration: Sets the duration for which each sample will be displayed before it is updated from the source audio.
Offset: Allows you to shift the visuals through time in relation to the source audio. Negative values will cause the visuals to appear after their corresponding audio. Positive values will cause the visuals to appear before their corresponding audio.
Sampling: Controls the number of samples displayed in the visual spectrum.
- Adaptive: Evaluates the audio track, and determines how many samples to use based on the contents of the audio.
- Custom: Allows you to specify the exact number of samples used, using the Number of Samples slider that appears when this option is selected.

Audio Start

Position: Defines the origin point of the spectrum effect, on the low end of the spectrum.
Use Layer: Select another layer from the timeline using this menu, to use the selected layer’s position to control the start position of the spectrum. When a layer is selected, the Position property above functions as an offset from the parent layer’s position.

Audio End

Position: Defines the origin point of the spectrum effect, on the high end of the spectrum.
Use Layer: Select another layer from the timeline using this menu, to use the selected layer’s position to control the end position of the spectrum. When a layer is selected, the Position property above functions as an offset from the parent layer’s position.

Colors

Preset: Choose from one of many built-in presets. Presets can be used as-is, or serve as a starting point for further adjustment of settings.
Interpolation: Controls how the colors are mapped onto the effect. The following three examples all use the same gradient from green to yellow to red, so you can see the difference in each interpolation method.
- Distance: Maps the color gradient vertically onto the total height of each sample of the spectrum. As the height of each sample changes, the length of the gradient will shift to match the height.
- Time: Maps the color gradient horizontally across the entire spectrum effect, starting at the start point, and ending at the end point.
- Amplitude: Maps the color gradient vertically onto the total height of the spectrum effect, so the position of each color in the gradient is fixed, and the samples move through them as their height changes.
Number of Colors: Sets the number of different colors used to create the gradient. Separate numbered color controls will be displayed below for as many colors as you select here.
Color Controls (Numbered)
- Radius: Controls the position of the color’s center along the total length of the gradient. A value of 0.00 places it all the way at the start position, and a value of 1.00 placed it all the way at the end position.
- Color: Choose a color. You can use the eyedropper to choose a color from the layer, or click the swatch to open a color picker and choose any color you prefer. You can also manually enter the color values for the red, green, and blue channels.
- Alpha: Sets the transparency of the color. 0.00 is completely transparent, and 1.00 is completely opaque.
Height: Defines the overall height of the spectrum, in pixels.
Thickness: Defines the thickness of each visual sample. Lower values give a finer degree of detail, while higher values will use fewer points to generate the visual spectrum.
Render Mode: Choose how the spectrum is drawn. Each of the following examples uses the exact same audio input, so you can see how each option differs from the others.
- Points: Only the point marking the top of each sample is drawn.
- Lines: A solid line is drawn, connecting each sample to the samples on either side of it.
- Fill: A baseline is combined with a solid line connecting all sample points, and filled to create a solid shape.
- Bar Graph: Each sample is drawn as an individual vertical line.
Amplitude Transform:
- None: The default option. Increasing audio levels move upward from the baseline.
- Flip: Flips the effect upside down, so increasing audio levels move downward from the baseline.
- Mirror: Combines the original and flipped effects, so increasing audio levels move both upward and downward from the baseline, creating a symmetrical effect.
Blend: Controls how the effect is combined with the contents of the layer it is applied to.