Waveform vs spectrogram

1. What is the difference between a waveform and a spectrogram?
2. What is the difference between a waveform and a spectrum?
3. What's a spectrogram waveform?
4. What is sound spectrogram used for?

What is the difference between a waveform and a spectrogram?

Waveform. In audio software, we're accustomed to seeing a waveform that displays changes in a signal's amplitude over time. A spectrogram, however, displays changes in the frequencies in a signal over time. Amplitude is then represented on a third dimension with variable brightness or color.

What is the difference between a waveform and a spectrum?

Spectral data is displayed in the frequency domain while waveform data is in the time domain. Spectral information is obtained by applying a Fourier transform to waveform data; this converts the data to show that amplitude and phase of the vibration at different frequencies.

What's a spectrogram waveform?

A spectrogram is a visual way of representing the signal strength, or “loudness”, of a signal over time at various frequencies present in a particular waveform. Not only can one see whether there is more or less energy at, for example, 2 Hz vs 10 Hz, but one can also see how energy levels vary over time.

What is sound spectrogram used for?

Spectrograms map out sound in a similar way to a musical score, only mapping frequency rather than musical notes. Seeing frequency energy distributed over time in this way allows us to clearly distinguish each of the sound elements in a recording, and their harmonic structure.