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In music, spectral refers to the analysis or representation of sound based on its frequency content over time. It's a way of understanding how much energy (or amplitude) is present at each frequency in a sound at a given moment. This is often visualized using a spectrogram, which shows time on one axis, frequency on another, and amplitude as color intensity or brightness.

Key Terms:
1. Spectrogram: A graphical representation of a sound's spectral content over time.
2. Spectrum: A snapshot of the sound's frequency content at a specific point in time.
3. Fourier Transform: A mathematical tool used to break down a waveform into its individual frequency components, forming the spectrum.

How is it different from a waveform?
A waveform represents how a sound's amplitude changes over time. It is a time-domain representation of the audio signal, showing the fluctuations in air pressure (or electrical signal) as the sound occurs.

Example:
- A waveform might show the attack, sustain, and decay of a piano note over time.
- A spectral view would show the fundamental frequency of the piano note along with its overtones (harmonics), giving insight into its tonal qualities.

Both perspectives are crucial in audio engineering, music production, and sound analysis for understanding and manipulating sound effectively.