Created by record producer Alan Parsons and designer Stephen Court, the SOUND CHECK 2 CD contains 99 tracks of practical material compiled as result of careful research and investigation into the needs of studio engineers, audio technicians, serious audiophiles, record producers and musicians.
The disc has been designed not only to help assess the technical performance of a wide range of sound recording and reproducing equipment, but also to offer the best available musical, vocal and effects sources for experimentation and demonstration.
The disc was mastered at London's Abbey Road Studios
This section is intended for loudspeaker frequency response analysis. System response can be plotted and graphic equalisers can be set by reading each band on The Sound Check Response Analyser (or a conventional sound level meter). Track 1 is the reference tone and lasts 30 seconds. All other tracks in this section are at the reference level and last 10 seconds.
These tones are intended for equipment alignment and are especially designed for active speaker set-up. Track 33 is a 1kHz reference tone lasting 30 seconds. Monitoring equipment should be set to a useful working volume and measuring equipment set to read 0dB. All other tones in this section are at the reference level. Phase checks are on Index 2, where appropriate, in 5 second bursts.
These are intended for sweep response measurements and are especially useful for checking system resonances. Track 41 is the reference warble and lasts 20 seconds. The sweeps are in one octave sections down from 1kHz and in one octave sections up from 1kHz - for easier frequency identification.
This section is for recording and reproduction equipment line-up, analysis and fault finding. The square wave spot frequencies are also useful for bandwidth assessment and loudspeaker phase and time alignment. Track 45 is the reference tone, lasting 10 seconds. All other tones in this section are 10 seconds. All sine waves are at the reference level, -14dB FS. The square waves are at -20dB FS.
While the sonic complexity of music is widely recognised, the human voice is equally difficult to reproduce accurately and a voice recording that one is familiar with is a useful reference source. Before Sound Check came along, a good, unprocessed voice recording was very difficult to obtain, especially under test conditions. These 4 tracks provide that reference and start with Alan Parsons' spoken voice. The rarely available dry, uncompressed voice of Luciano Pavarotti recorded live and Soprano Catherine Bott in a natural acoustic together with the dynamic voice of rock singer Steve Oveland complete this section of valuable reference recordings.
Rock and Pop engineers will find track 62 an ideal test source for limiters and compressors.
This section contains closely miked instrumental recordings without electronic processing such as limiting or compression. They contain subtle transients which define true high fidelity and which are often lost in the reverberation and processing of commercial records. These tracks are therefore invaluable for assessing the transient response and fidelity of audio equipment and for experimentation with effects units. These are original studio master recordings and in some cases intrument overspill may be heard.
Extracts from selected master recordings, specially selected to assess the various qualities of loudspeakers and sound equipment. Limelight, for example, has a very even frequency and dynamic balance throughout the audio spectrum and therefore is an ideal reference for overall sound quality. By contrast, Luv 4 Luv contains extremely high bass and sub sonic energy and is an ideal test for low frequency loudspeakers and their power amplifiers.
These sound effects provide extreme tests of dynamic and frequency range. The steam trains, the sub machine gun and the Chieftain tank are historical analogue recordings which have been digitally re-mastered.
A series of useful tools - a left/right channel ident; invaluable for multiple unit hook-ups, digital black for noise assessment, a tuning reference and timecode in all three standard formats for checking timecode-based equipment and striping code onto tapes.
Warning - This track is at the theoretical maximum recording level, 0dB FS.
THIS IS A VERY LOUD TONE - USE WITH CAUTION
Stephen Court and Alan Parsons
Stephen Court, who invented Sound Check, worked for the BBC, Londons Advision studios and Ealing Film Studios. He formed Court Acoustics Limited in 1974, and achieved a world wide reputation for his pioneering work on high power touring and club systems. A 20kw court System used at Londons Royal Albert Hall on Marc Almonds world tour, can be seen on the front cover. Court users also include Roxy Music, WetWetWet, Prince and Pink Floyd. Stephen has lectured in Japan, USA and Europe and is the author of many articles on sound re-enforcement and studio monitoring, including papers on high sound level hearing damage. He is a founder member of the Distinguished Engineers Audio Federation - D.E.A.F. - the recording industrys charity for deaf children.
Alan Parsons - renowned record producer, sound engineer and more recently live performer, has worked with The Beatles, Paul McCartney & Wings, and The Hollies. He first met Stephen Court while recording Pink Floyds classic Dark Side Of The Moon at Abbey Road. As a producer, Alan has enjoyed successes with Pilot, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, John Miles and three albums with Al Stewart including Year of the Cat. His production and engineering work with the Alan Parsons "Projects" have earned him a multitude of international awards, and it was his musical and technical creativity that made Sound Check possible. Alan writes regularly for the industry press and is a founder member of RePro, The Guild of Recording Producers, Directors and Engineers.
Both Stephen and Alan have had a long association with Abbey Road Studios where they carried out the final editing and mastering of Sound Check.
The Sound Check 2 CD is also available with The Sound Check Spectrum Analyser
designed for use with the third band octave tracks of the Sound Check 2 CD.
Price of The Sound Check 2 CD (including packing and postage):
Pounds Sterling 32.00
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