The Problem Spectro Solves
A file extension of .flac or .wav does not guarantee sound quality. Some online platforms, promotional channels, and files downloaded from Bandcamp may be lossless formats converted from MP3. The file size increases, but the actual sound remains compressed.
Spectro does not analyze metadata; instead, it uses a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to analyze the true frequency spectrum of the audio signal, providing an accurate verdict.
How It Works
The app is very simple to use, requiring just three steps:
- Drag files or folders into the app window. Spectro supports FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, MP3, and AAC formats, with no need to import or move files.
- Get a verdict for each file. Results are displayed in real time, including LOSSLESS (true lossless quality), MEDIUM (medium quality), or FAKE (fake lossless). It also shows a confidence percentage, estimated bitrate, and brief diagnostic information.
- Take action based on the results. You can filter out fake lossless files, move them to the Trash, or open the full spectrogram for detailed analysis before deciding what to do.
Features
- Batch processing: The app is designed for large music libraries and can load from 1 to 20,000 files at once. On devices with M-series chips, Spectro can process up to 100 files simultaneously and group files by verdict.
- Finder integration: Spectro can automatically add Finder color tags to files. This way, you can see “lower-quality” files directly in folders without even opening the app.
- Playlist import: Supports importing from Rekordbox XML files and various M3U/M3U8 playlists, compatible with Traktor and VirtualDJ. Serato support is planned for the future.
- Auto Mode (watched folders): You can assign any folder to Spectro. Tracks newly added to that folder are analyzed automatically, and a notification can be sent when analysis is complete.
