Spectral peaks are the prominent local maxima identified within a magnitude spectrum, representing the frequency components with the highest energy density. They are computed by detecting local maxima above a noise floor threshold in the frequency domain representation of a signal. Widely used in audio analysis, music information retrieval, and timbre characterization. [formal: spectral_peak | substrate: mind | horizon: a moment | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
spectral-peaks
Spectral peaks are the prominent local maxima identified within a magnitude spectrum, representing the frequency components with the highest energy density. They are computed by detecting local maxima above a noise floor threshold in the f…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made signal processing construct identifying the prominent local maxima in a magnitude spectrum. Built to persist through audio analysis algorithms, music information retrieval systems, and spectral feature extraction toolkits.
Names and aliases
- spectral-peaksen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmsqglbgv00763e32jisx8hz3INSTANCE_OF →
Spectral peaks is a specific kind of spectral feature — a competent speaker would call it 'a spectral feature.' It identifies prominent local maxima in a magnitude spectrum, fitting squarely within the class of spectral features used in audio and signal analysis.
- cmsps9i0v06eejlssqrjcqyviDEPENDS_ON →
Spectral peak detection needs signal processing to operate — magnitude spectrum computation via FFT, noise floor estimation, and local maximum detection are signal processing primitives. Remove signal processing and spectral peak analysis collapses.
- cmsop0xz702e7jlssmzq3gk17DEPENDS_ON →
Spectral peaks are local maxima IN a magnitude spectrum. Remove spectrum and spectral-peaks has nothing to operate on. Removal test passes.
- cmsop0xz702e7jlssmzq3gk17DERIVED_FROM →
Spectrum (frequency decomposition of signals) predates the concept of spectral peaks. The spectral-peaks concept — identifying local maxima in a frequency representation — derives from having a spectrum to examine. Which-came-first test passes. Note: DEPENDS_ON stft was already struck as too narrow; this DERIVED_FROM to the broader spectrum concept is correct.
- cmsrrpmnd0004h7yu0m6ty8g1SERVES →
Spectral-peaks extraction is designed for the sake of MIR — local maxima in frequency representations identify timbral landmarks, instrument attack points, and harmonic structure that MIR tasks depend on. The designed purpose is to further MIR's operation. Law 8d: servant→master.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Aug 13, 2026, 6:33 PM UTC
- Content hash
- 4599bb75a2df7c37d2ae176a34455a7095e84365cc089130838b255a6a4834bf