Anyone know of an MP3 sound test?

JohnB47

I'm wondering if my TVs Canton sound base is playing up. Recently I'm finding it hard to hear actors voices as clearly as I used to. It could be just the programmes I suppose but I'm wondering if I could get hold of an MP3 version of some audio test stuff. I could transfer it to a USB stick and plug it into my TV or HDR and play it through the sound base.

I'm thinking of something like the sound test vinyl LPs you could get a long time ago (probably still can) where a signal is played through each channel in turn and various frequencies are played to test circuitry, balance and speakers.

Does such a thing exist as an MP3?

OnlyTheBestWillDo

https://www.kozco.com/tech/soundtests.html

http://www.sockhopsaturdaynight.com/audiotest/

http://www.testsounds.com

https://www.kicker.com/test-tones

Just a small sample of what is out there

[Deleted User]

Surround? Industry standard is BLITS, sure there are few around but you might want to understand it.

OnlyTheBestWillDo

half_empty said:

Surround? Industry standard is BLITS, sure there are few around but you might want to understand it.

Almost useful  http://dpp-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/DPPLineUpTones.zip

JohnB47

Thanks folks. I'll have a look at those links.

[Deleted User]

It also depends what the source is. 5.1 or stereo or mono. If you listen to the TV speakers, is it any different. What down convert settings are dialled in for the source and so on.

Can't say I have any issues with stereo but I do have some poorly authored DVD's that have the speech dialled down too low for surround, nothing will rectify them on my system.

JohnB47

half_empty said:

It also depends what the source is. 5.1 or stereo or mono. If you listen to the TV speakers, is it any different. What down convert settings are dialled in for the source and so on.

Can't say I have any issues with stereo but I do have some poorly authored DVD's that have the speech dialled down too low for surround, nothing will rectify them on my system.

Yes, I intend to try listening through the TV speakers when I have a recorded program that sounds odd. I always have the sound base set to stereo. Surround sounds really odd on some programs.

Heedtheadvice

Hmm. Not sure if any of those test tone files will be of any use for you, John, good though many of them are great for playback. You would as a minimum need to understand what they are trying to test and can achieve!

Modern sound reproduction can be very atmospheric but techniques demand high quality reproduction (not always done through retail tv systems) and reproduced at high levels. Combine that with aging or damaged ears and it can be 'what did they say?'. Recently played a dvd of an old tv program drama, famous in it's time and the comments were how clear it sounded and very intelligible. Not exactly digital hifi standard but not a word missed!

If you like I can make you some simple mp3 files that could be useful. Just p.m. me if you wish. No cost. I'll tell you what I would propose to include and probably add something you request too! (Stereo and mono only as I do not have surround sound monitoring facilities)

Though with a bit of searching you will no doubt find something on the web that might do what you want.

OnlyTheBestWillDo

https://www2.iis.fraunhofer.de/AAC/multichannel.html

JohnB47

Heedtheadvice said:

Hmm. Not sure if any of those test tone files will be of any use for you, John, good though many of them are great for playback. You would as a minimum need to understand what they are trying to test and can achieve!

Modern sound reproduction can be very atmospheric but techniques demand high quality reproduction (not always done through retail tv systems) and reproduced at high levels. Combine that with aging or damaged ears and it can be 'what did they say?'. Recently played a dvd of an old tv program drama, famous in it's time and the comments were how clear it sounded and very intelligible. Not exactly digital hifi standard but not a word missed!

If you like I can make you some simple mp3 files that could be useful. Just p.m. me if you wish. No cost. I'll tell you what I would propose to include and probably add something you request too! (Stereo and mono only as I do not have surround sound monitoring facilities)

Though with a bit of searching you will no doubt find something on the web that might do what you want.

Thanks for that kind offer. Let me have a play over the next few days.

I need to se if it's a sound base problem or the particular programs I was watching recently.  The worst one is that Hollington Drive series on ITV - so much quiet whispering and the difference between quiet bits and loud ones is massive. I'm thinking of turning on subtitles for the last episode next week.

Heedtheadvice

@OnlyTheBestWillDo has given links to some great test signal sources from a leading manufacturer. Well done for imparting that knowledge of high quality test sources. Many people, including me, would not know of them.

Don't get me wrong here as they can be very useful for testing codecs and channels but sometimes test gear is required too plus the technical knowledge of how to interpret the results. So in the wrong hands of limited usefullness.

I feel John's issue is more basic stemming from mixes that work fine on professional level full frequency equipment in a studio environment that can cope with a huge dynamic range but not necessarily so on domestic equipment in a home environment with probably poor speaker placement maybe coupled with deteriorating hearing with a listener who is not concentrating in the same way as the audio engineer in a great acoustic environment.

Only John can comment on his home system/environment but if it is only some programme material then much of the cause lies at source! Similar complaints are now very common not only on the drama programmes but also cheap or constrained productions where an audio engineer is now no longer used at recording time. I 'hear' it often for example on some News reports or streaming videos.