Scans audio for common technical and tonal problems. Returns a severity-coded list of detected issues with frequency locations and suggested fixes.
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| file_path | string | required | Path to audio file |
| channel | string | "all" | Channel to analyze: "left", "right", or "all" |
| sensitivity | string | "normal" | "low", "normal", or "high" detection threshold |
Example Output
$ detect_problems vocals.wav
Problem Detection Scanned: vocals.wav (3:24, 48kHz/24bit, stereo)
Issues Found: 3
SIG Sibilance at 6.8 kHz Severity: moderate | Peaks at 0:42, 1:15, 2:33 Suggestion: De-esser targeting 6-8 kHz range
MOD Mud buildup 200-400 Hz Severity: mild | Consistent throughout Suggestion: High-pass or gentle cut at 250-350 Hz
LOW DC offset detected Severity: low | +0.003 offset on left channel Suggestion: Apply DC offset removal
No issues: clipping, ISP, hum, harshness, resonances
What the Numbers Mean
Severity codes:
- SIG (significant) — Likely audible and worth addressing. Yellow flag.
- MOD (moderate) — Noticeable on careful listening. Worth considering.
- LOW — Technical issue but may not be audible. Optional fix.
Problem types:
- Clipping — Samples at 0 dBFS. Causes digital distortion. Always fix.
- ISP (Inter-sample peaks) — Peaks between samples exceed 0 dBFS. Causes distortion in DA converters and lossy codecs.
- DC offset — Non-zero baseline. Reduces headroom and can cause clicks at edit points.
- Hum — Power line interference at 50/60 Hz and harmonics.
- Sibilance — Harsh “s” and “t” sounds, typically 4-10 kHz.
- Mud — Excessive low-mid energy (200-500 Hz) that obscures clarity.
- Harshness — Aggressive upper-mid energy (2-5 kHz) that causes listener fatigue.
- Resonances — Narrow frequency spikes from room modes or equipment.
Example Prompts
Quick check
Are there any problems with my vocal recording at vocals-take3.wav?
Mix problems
Check my mix for any technical issues before I send it to mastering
Sensitive scan
Run a sensitive problem detection on master.wav — I want to catch everything
Related Tools
- full_diagnostic — Includes problem detection plus all other analyses
- analyze_spectrum — Detailed frequency view to investigate detected mud/harshness
- analyze_loudness — Check if clipping is related to overlevel
Pro tip
Run problem detection early — before you start mixing. Fixing DC offset, hum, or sibilance at the source is always better than processing a mix that already has these issues baked in.