What Is Spectral Editing?
Updated October 2026
Spectral editing shows a recording as a picture: frequency up the side, time across, and brightness for loudness. You select a sound you can see, such as a click or a hum, and repair just that part.
The short version
- A spectrogram shows frequency over time, with loudness as brightness.
- You select a sound on the picture and repair only that part.
- Good for clicks, hum lines, coughs and noises that stand out visually.
- Overuse leaves artifacts, so repair in small steps.
The short definition
Spectral editing is editing audio on a spectrogram, a picture of the sound. Time runs across the screen, frequency runs up, and the brightness shows how loud each part is. Sounds that stand out, such as a hum line or a cough, are easy to see.
What it is good for
Removing a sound that sits in a narrow band, such as a hum, a whistle or a cough, without touching the voice around it. It is precise, which is why professional repair tools use it.
Limits
Repair in small, careful steps. A large spectral repair leaves a dull patch or a watery sound. Compare the result with the original.
In Tunedzy
Quick edit has a spectral repair box: select a region on the spectrogram and it is repaired from the sound around it. The repair comparison covers how it compares with professional tools.
Repair what you can see
Tunedzy Quick edit has a spectral repair box, so you can select a sound on the spectrogram and repair it.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
Is spectral editing hard?
It takes practice. Start with one clear sound, such as a hum line.
Can it remove a cough?
Often, if the cough is distinct on the picture. Repair in small steps.
Does it need a special display?
No. A spectrogram view is enough.
Keep going
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