ProSoundWeb Community

Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB: The Classic Live Audio Board => Topic started by: Preston Soper on May 24, 2011, 10:07:17 PM

Title: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Preston Soper on May 24, 2011, 10:07:17 PM
I thought I would start a thread here on some select music tracks that are your favorites in evaluating a sound system either before or after tweaking it.
We all have different methods to achieve our goal of a well tuned PA including the music we listen to evaluate our progress.


In terms of a format to follow, please list the following:
1. Song Title:
2. Artist:
3. Name of Album:
4. Why: A brief description of what in that particular song is noteworthy for this task.
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Mac Kerr on May 24, 2011, 10:19:55 PM
I thought I would start a thread here on some select music tracks that are your favorites in evaluating a sound system either before or after tweaking it.
We all have different methods to achieve our goal of a well tuned PA including the music we listen to evaluate our progress.

Miss Chatalaine
kd lang
Ingenue
Great vocal production and singing. If kd's voice and the guitars around it sound good, the system sounds good.

Constant Craving from the same album is also good for the same reasons.

I use measurement a lot to work on eq, but all eq decisions have to pass the kd test to make the grade.

Mac
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Preston Soper on May 25, 2011, 08:15:31 AM
"I will Remember"
Toto
Tambu

Great drum & low end production on this track.
Overall tonal balance is good so if you have dipped too much out of the low/high mids its easy to hear.
Vocals have a bit of extra high mids on the track that help me rein in that bite out of the pa.
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: JonathanSmith on May 25, 2011, 09:47:46 AM
I thought I would start a thread here on some select music tracks that are your favorites in evaluating a sound system either before or after tweaking it.
We all have different methods to achieve our goal of a well tuned PA including the music we listen to evaluate our progress.


In terms of a format to follow, please list the following:
1. Song Title:
2. Artist:
3. Name of Album:
4. Why: A brief description of what in that particular song is noteworthy for this task.

(http://www.pollsb.com/photos/60/27842-beating_dead_horse_what.jpg)
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Adam Kane on May 25, 2011, 01:37:21 PM
Michael Ruff - Wishing Well
Sheffield (can't remember which disc)

Final mixdown of this song seems to have very little compression/squashing...lots of dynamic range. Nice tonal balance.

I have many others that I use for different things...vocal clarity, controlling hi-mid harshness/low-mid mud, etc. Too many to list. The music I play varies from gig to gig depending on what genre the evening presents itself with.
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Tim McCulloch on May 25, 2011, 03:12:48 PM
(http://www.pollsb.com/photos/60/27842-beating_dead_horse_what.jpg)

Agreed.  How is this thread any different from the dozens of "what's your favorite system-checking music" threads that have been floating around on the PSW forums for the last 7 years?
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: g'bye, Dick Rees on May 25, 2011, 03:37:03 PM
Agreed.  How is this thread any different from the dozens of "what's your favorite system-checking music" threads that have been floating around on the PSW forums for the last 7 years?

I prefer Pink Floyd.......or Pink Noise.......or Big Pink.  Anythink ping.
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Preston Soper on May 25, 2011, 03:58:40 PM
Agreed.  How is this thread any different from the dozens of "what's your favorite system-checking music" threads that have been floating around on the PSW forums for the last 7 years?
I know this may be a topic that has been posted before on the old forums. We all have our usual media that we use for evaluation but this can grow stale.
I like to keep things fresh so some outside input was why I  started a new thread on an old forum topic. No worries , maybe the mods could move this thread to the lounge.


Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Mac Kerr on May 25, 2011, 04:13:15 PM
Agreed.  How is this thread any different from the dozens of "what's your favorite system-checking music" threads that have been floating around on the PSW forums for the last 7 years?

Number one, because no one can post in the old threads on PSW. Since the changeover there is a new audience at PSW who were not part of those years. Are they not allowed to participate?

Number two, if we never mention anything that has been discussed before there won't be very many threads. Is there a pro audio forum out there that doesn't have a fairly current thread about bass drum mics?

Tim and Jonathan, I think it was probably pretty clear what this thread was before you clicked on it. I wonder why you didn't just pass it by?

Mac
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Preston Soper on May 25, 2011, 04:40:44 PM
The way I look at is that by discussing a topic like this allows you, if time and patience in your workday permits a chance to have a listen to your system from another perspective than your own. This could lead to new thoughts about old preconceived ways of our daily routines. The main reason I come to PSW is to learn from those that have posted before me along with current and future posters on this forum. I admire the knowledge that often fills these threads. Insight into the trends and choices of media from an in the trenches perspective may give some of our fledgling engineers out there and old road dogs a new way to evaluate thier work through stepping out of their comfort zone.




Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: g'bye, Dick Rees on May 25, 2011, 05:46:46 PM
The way I look at is that by discussing a topic like this allows you, if time and patience in your workday permits a chance to have a listen to your system from another perspective than your own. This could lead to new thoughts about old preconceived ways of our daily routines. The main reason I come to PSW is to learn from those that have posted before me along with current and future posters on this forum. I admire the knowledge that often fills these threads. Insight into the trends and choices of media from an in the trenches perspective may give some of our fledgling engineers out there and old road dogs a new way to evaluate thier work through stepping out of their comfort zone.

Thanks.  That's Soper-ific.
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Jay Barracato on May 25, 2011, 06:34:40 PM
The way I look at is that by discussing a topic like this allows you, if time and patience in your workday permits a chance to have a listen to your system from another perspective than your own. This could lead to new thoughts about old preconceived ways of our daily routines. The main reason I come to PSW is to learn from those that have posted before me along with current and future posters on this forum. I admire the knowledge that often fills these threads. Insight into the trends and choices of media from an in the trenches perspective may give some of our fledgling engineers out there and old road dogs a new way to evaluate thier work through stepping out of their comfort zone.

From way out of the box, I am currently using Jubal's Kin "Raleigh and Spencer" and the Dixie Bee-Liners "Lord Lay Down My Ball and Chain". Both are string band music with an impact (good detail from 50-200hz) that will test the sub crossover region and a female vocalist that will test the vocal clarity of any system.
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: JonathanSmith on May 25, 2011, 08:09:36 PM

Number two ... Is there a pro audio forum out there that doesn't have a fairly current thread about bass drum mics?

No, and that's why I rarely frequent the other "pro" forums. Also found at the other "pro" forums is the bi-weekly "What's your tuning music?" thread.

Tim and Jonathan, I think it was probably pretty clear what this thread was before you clicked on it. I wonder why you didn't just pass it by?

I was hoping that the use of larger words would provide something new and interesting. Let's say, some sort of fancy wiki site with the ability to sample and link to downloads of music, and comment on it's uses/features/things to listen for. If I was to create said website, I might title it something cool/unique like "The Evaluation Music Repository."

I'm not trying to be a PITA, I just don't think this well-discussed topic is LAB worthy. Maybe the Lounge or the Basement, but I like that the LAB is a bit more high-level stuff. Example: Preston's discussion of the MLA. That was excellent stuff! Just my $.00002
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Mac Kerr on May 25, 2011, 08:31:20 PM
I just don't think this well-discussed topic is LAB worthy. Maybe the Lounge or the Basement, but I like that the LAB is a bit more high-level stuff. Example: Preston's discussion of the MLA. That was excellent stuff! Just my $.00002

Let me get this straight, when Preston talks about the speaker system he uses he is a LAB level poster, but when he talks about the music he uses to evaluate that system he's a Lounge level poster.

Anyone who not interested in any given topic is free to not follow it. The topic title made it pretty clear what this is, and it should have been easy to ignore.

Mac
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Preston Soper on May 25, 2011, 11:47:00 PM
Jonathan,Tim
No worries
I see your point on whether the post belongs in the lab or lounge.
In the lab we talk about advanced subject matter that keeps us all coming back for valued opinions and advice. The post was meant  for the viewpoint of the lab that may have some thoughts to share on some of the tools of the audio toolbox so to speak. It's been covered before but my thought in the process of this we might find some evaluation music outside of the standards that have been discussed before and find new program material that expands our ability listen. Lounge or lab we are all here because we love learning from each other and a spot on our new forums, for people to find inspiration for something new while using the standard media that have gotten stale to you & the crew would be cool to have.

Thank you for the kind words about the earlier thread. Hell, this week I may just let the lighting & video guys pick all the music.




Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Rob Spence on May 26, 2011, 08:05:01 AM
I thought I would start a thread here on some select music tracks that are your favorites in evaluating a sound system either before or after tweaking it.
We all have different methods to achieve our goal of a well tuned PA including the music we listen to evaluate our progress.


In terms of a format to follow, please list the following:
1. Song Title:
2. Artist:
3. Name of Album:
4. Why: A brief description of what in that particular song is noteworthy for this task.
Flight of the Cosmic Hippo
Bella Flec
(don't remember the album - got the song at the sub shootout in NYC)

I use it for the first sounds after putting the rig together and powering it on. Quick way to tell if all the parts are working as it has plenty of content in each of the 3 driver ranges for my rig.
Title: Re: Evaluation Music Repository
Post by: Chris Hindle on May 26, 2011, 08:54:53 AM
.......... Hell, this week I may just let the lighting & video guys pick all the music.

Hey Preston, I can GUARANTEE you'll only do that once...
(been there, tried that)

I'll usually do my basic setup with:
Tom Cochrane & Red Rider
The Symphony Sessions
Tracks 4, 5, 10 and 11
Then to put a smile on the faces of event staff, I'll run some Weird Al through. Alapalooza has some pretty funny shit going on.

If the "event" is not Pop/Rock, I'll run some tunes of the specific genre through to make sure the "stupid low" is up to snuff.

Chris.