| name | spectrum-analyzer-window |
| description | The dedicated Metal-based spectrum analyzer window — 84-bar mode list, window geometry, docking behavior, the cropped analyzer curve used by Classic/Enhanced/Ultra, vis_classic exact mode and its waveform demand. Use when modifying the spectrum window chrome, mode list, controls, or analyzer curve. |
Spectrum Analyzer Window
Dedicated Metal-based spectrum analyzer providing larger, more detailed view than the main window's 19-bar analyzer. Two implementations (classic/modern UI modes) both embed SpectrumAnalyzerView. For per-mode shader internals see gpu-vis-modes.
Accessing
- Click the spectrum analyzer display in the main window
- Context Menu → Spectrum Analyzer
- Window menu → Spectrum Analyzer
Features
- Bar Count: 84 bars (vs 19 in main window)
- Rendering: Metal GPU shaders at 60Hz
- Window Geometry: default 275×116 at 1×; supports horizontal + vertical stretching with skin minimum size constraints
- Color Source: skin's
viscolor.txt (24-color palette)
Docking
Participates in the docking system with Main, EQ, and Playlist:
- Docks and moves with the window group
- Opens below the current vertical stack
- State saved with "Remember State on Quit"
Quality Modes
| Mode | Description |
|---|
| Classic | Low-fi stepped bars from the skin palette with chunky peak caps, hard LED bands, and the shared cropped analyzer sub curve (default) |
| Enhanced | Compact professional LED analyzer with cropped logarithmic frequency mapping, controlled low-bass shaping, clean peak caps, short release trails |
| Ultra | Dense professional analyzer with cropped logarithmic frequency mapping, controlled low-bass shaping, fast decay, clean peak caps |
| Fire | GPU fire simulation with audio-reactive flame tongues (4 color styles) |
| JWST | Deep space flythrough with 3D star field, JWST diffraction flares |
| Lightning | GPU lightning storm with fractal bolts mapped to spectrum peaks (8 color schemes) |
| Matrix | Falling digital rain with procedural glyphs (5 color schemes, 2 intensity presets) |
| Snow | Layered procedural snowfall with spectrum-shaped density, gusting drift, soft atmospheric haze |
| EKG | Oscilloscope-style ECG monitor with phosphor trace, medical grid, scan glow; pure peak detector — each audio onset fires one QRS, height = peak prominence |
| vis_classic | Exact-port vis_classic analyzer core with profile-compatible INI behavior |
Switching Modes
- Double-click the spectrum window to cycle through modes
- Right-click → Mode to select specific mode
- Left/Right arrows: cycle flame/lightning/matrix styles (or prev/next profile in
vis_classic)
- [ / ]: previous/next profile in
vis_classic
Spectrum Analyzer Curve
Classic, Enhanced, and Ultra avoid spending visible columns on the deepest sub range because these modes don't render frequency labels. SpectrumAnalyzerView maps the visible analyzer width over a cropped logarithmic source range starting at 48 Hz, then applies controlled low-bass tapers that begin around 42 Hz before the values reach the mode-specific renderers.
- Classic keeps its low-fi identity after the shared curve: 19/84 stepped bars, hard palette bands, quantized heights, chunky peak caps
- Enhanced uses the same standard cropped curve as Classic, with smoother LED release trails and clean peak caps
- Ultra uses the same analyzer strategy at a denser bar count, with slightly faster decay and air lift for the larger spectrum window
vis_classic Exact Mode and Waveform Demand
vis_classic exact mode consumes the shared 576-sample waveform notification stream (.audioWaveform576DataUpdated), not just generic spectrum data.
SpectrumAnalyzerView registers a waveform consumer only while qualityMode == .visClassicExact- The registration is tied to active rendering, so hidden/occluded analyzers do not keep the waveform side path alive
- This is separate from
spectrumConsumers — do NOT merge the two demand signals when refactoring
For full vis_classic details (profile menus, persistence, keyboard controls, INI import/export) see vis-classic-guide.
Responsiveness Modes
Bar fall speed:
| Mode | Retention | Feel |
|---|
| Instant | 0% | No smoothing |
| Snappy | 25% | Fast and punchy (default) |
| Balanced | 40% | Middle ground |
| Smooth | 55% | Original Winamp feel |
Key Files
Windows/Spectrum/SpectrumWindowController.swift — window controller (classic)Windows/Spectrum/SpectrumView.swift — container with classic chromeWindows/ModernSpectrum/ModernSpectrumWindowController.swift — window controller (modern)Windows/ModernSpectrum/ModernSpectrumView.swift — container with modern chromeVisualization/SpectrumAnalyzerView.swift — Metal rendering + vis_classic frame upload (shared)Visualization/VisClassicBridge.swift — Swift bridge to C vis_classic coreSources/CVisClassicCore/ — portable C/C++ vis_classic core + C APIApp/SpectrumWindowProviding.swift — protocol abstracting classic/modern
