Sound Check 2 is the definitive audio test disc. Created by Stephen Court and Alan Parsons (of "The Alan Parsons Project"), it contains 99 tracks of practical material compiled as a result of careful research and investigation into the needs of studio engineers, audio technicians, serious audiophiles, record producers and musicians. Its double CD case comes complete with a built in microphone and specially calibrated sound level meter for instant frequency response measurement.
The disc has been designed not only to help access the technical performance of a wide range of sound recording and reproduction equipment, but also to offer the very best available musical, vocal and sound effects sources for experimentation and demonstration.
Included on the CD:
Sound Check 2 Response Analyser with Pink Noise 1/3 Octave Spectrum Analysis
The Sound Check 2 response analyser uses individually recorded third octave bands on CD, which are read by an integral sound pressure level meter calibrated in 3dB steps from -15dB to +12dB, with a central amber 0dB reference indication. The third octave bands are warbled (modulated) to eliminate room standing waves whish could cause false readings, and the meter is averaged to provide steadier readings at low frequencies.
Pink Noise Test Tones
Intended for equipment alignment and especially designed for active speaker set up.
Sweep Tones
Intended for sweep response measurements and useful for checking system resonances.
Sine and Square Wave Spot Frequencies
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.
Vocal
These 4 tracks provide unprocessed voice recordings as useful reference sources - the dry uncompressed voices of Alan Parsons, tenor Luciano Pavarotti, soprano Catherine Bott and rock singer Steve Overland.
Instrumental
This section contains closely miked instrumental recordings without electronic processing such as limiting or compression. The tracks are invaluable for assessing the transient response and fidelity of audio equipment, and for experimentation with effects units.
Music Tracks
This set of extracts from studio master recordings was specially selected to assess the various qualities of loudspeakers and sound equipment.
Sound Effects
These sound effects provide extreme tests of dynamic and frequency range.
Utility Tracks
This series of useful tools - a left/right channel indent (for multiple unit hook-ups), digital black (for noise assessment), a tuning reference and a timescale - are provided in three standard formats for checking timecode-based equipment and striping code onto tapes.
Maximum Level Tone
Warning - this track is at the theoretical maximum recording level, 0dB FS. This is a very loud tone - use with caution.
