Analyzes frequency masking between two audio files with per-octave-band severity. Scores spectral overlap in each octave band. The score is symmetric: swapping the files does not establish which one masks the other. Overlap alone does not establish audible masking or prescribe an EQ cut.
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| file_path_a | string | required | Path to first audio file |
| file_path_b | string | required | Path to second audio file |
Example Output
Illustrative summary; MCP responses use structured JSON.
$ analyze_masking vocals.wav guitar.wav
Overlap Analysis: vocals.wav and guitar.wav
Overall masking severity: 0.38 (moderate)
Per-octave Overlap: 31 Hz: 0.05 none 62 Hz: 0.09 none 125 Hz: 0.18 low 250 Hz: 0.34 moderate 500 Hz: 0.52 moderate 1 kHz: 0.67 high 2 kHz: 0.58 moderate 4 kHz: 0.31 moderate 8 kHz: 0.14 low 16 kHz: 0.05 none
What the Numbers Mean
-
Overall Masking Severity – A weighted spectral-overlap score from 0 to 1 (
overall_score), with anoverall_severitylabel. Higher scores mean more overlap in the measured bands, not a probability that one source is inaudible. -
Per-octave Overlap – Masking intensity in each of the 10 octave bands (31 Hz to 16 kHz). Higher values mean more competition. The severity labels map to:
- none (below 0.1): No action needed
- low (0.1-0.3): Minor overlap, usually not worth chasing
- moderate (0.3-0.6): Worth addressing with EQ
- high (0.6 and up): High overlap. Listen to the pair before choosing an EQ or arrangement change.
The tool doesn’t return a single “conflict zone” – look at which bands carry the highest scores to find where to focus EQ cuts.
Example Prompts
Vocal clarity
Are the guitars masking my vocals? Check analyze_masking on vocals.wav and rhythm-guitar.wav
Bass vs kick
Is the bass guitar conflicting with the kick drum? Check frequency overlap
Pair analysis
Where are vocals.wav and synth-pad.wav fighting each other in the spectrum?
Related Tools
- multi_stem_masking – Compare masking across 2+ stems simultaneously
- analyze_spectrum – See the full frequency picture of each individual stem
- separate_stems – Separate a mixed file into stems for masking analysis
Pro tip
When masking severity exceeds 0.5 in a band, cutting the masker is usually more effective than boosting the masked signal. A 2-3 dB cut on the guitar at 1-2 kHz will reveal vocals more naturally than a 2-3 dB boost on the vocals.