Sound systems | Hi-Fi | miscellaneous | Christmas
[ movies | television | other | streaming ]
IS - Intensity Stereo, JS - Joint Stereo, S - Stereo, DC - Dual Channel, SC - Single Channel (mono)
Sound System Trailers| file | size/length | [added]/description |
|---|---|---|
| DTS disc.mp3 DTS disc.m3u |
233kB, :30 | [9/25/98] The original disc trailer from Digital Theater Systems. |
Hi-Fi| file | size/length | [added]/description |
|---|---|---|
| testing2.mp3 testing2.m3u |
534kB, :34 (JS, 128kbit/s) |
[12/24/96] Spoken channel identification. From "Hi-Fi News & Record Review Test Disc HFN003" (1985). This clip does not include the "out of phase" section, which the MP3 encoder cannot handle properly. |
| garage1.mp3 garage1.m3u |
625kB, :40 (JS, 128kbit/s) |
[12/24/96] Sound of a, um, well, it's a garage door. But played at realistic sound levels (Mike Skeet should sound like he's about 6 feet away), this clip could damage an underpowered audio system! This is an especially stringent test of the dynamic range and low-bass capabilities of your system. Recorded in the early days of CD (1982). From "Hi-Fi News & Record Review Test Disc HFN003". |
| barque.mp3 barque.m3u |
5.39MB, 5:53 (JS, 128kbit/s) |
[12/29/96] Ravel's "Une barque sur l'ocean" (A boat on the ocean) played by pianist Minoru Nojima; From the CD "Nojima Plays Ravel;" Reference Recordings RR-35CD. One of the best-sounding solo piano recordings I've run across - with just the right combination of instrument detail and room acoustics, and plenty of dynamic range. It also doesn't hurt that Nojima plays masterfully on this track, fully capturing the movement and temperament of the sea. |
| amazing.mp3 amazing.m3u |
1.86MB, 2:02 (JS, 128kbit/s) |
[12/30/96] A binaural recording of "Amazing Grace" played as one might hear at a funeral procession in New Orleans, from AudioStax's "The Space Sound CD: Dummy Head Recording." The idea of binaural recordings is to reproduce a realistic soundstage by placing the microphones inside a "dummy head", then listening to the recording through headphones. The results are impressive, but this isn't the last word in realistic soundstage reproduction. The outstanding problem is that the soundstage moves as you move your head, diminishing the audio illusion. Best aural experience is obtained listening through high-quality headphones, but this track sounds just fine over loudspeakers as well. On a good audio system, the trombone should almost startle you to hear it. An excellent page devoted to binaural recordings is the Binaural Source. |
| floyd.mp3 floyd.m3u |
508kB, :32 (JS, 128kbit/s) |
[1/2/96] Demonstration of interaural crosstalk cancellation using the Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram Generator (very old audio hardware product). The first 32 seconds of "On the Run" from Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" was processed (analog copy). The idea of crosstalk cancellation is to make sure that either ear hears only sounds coming from the corresponding loudspeaker (this idea is similar to the one behind binaural recordings, but in that case, headphones ensure that there is no crosstalk). The resulting soundstage expansion is quite dramatic, even over cheap computer speakers. In this clip, you should hear a sound circling your head (in a counterclockwise direction for someone looking at the top of your head. You should also hear another sound panning from far right to far left. To achieve the full effect, your head and the two speakers should roughly form an equilateral triangle. Crosstalk cancellation is currently marketed by a host of competing companies: Carver's Sonic Holography, Polk Audio's Stereo Dimension Array (SDA) loudspeaker design, Lexicon's processor in Panorama mode, QSound Lab's Virtual Audio, and Spatializer Audio are all different implemtations of the same basic idea. Sound Retrieval System (SRS) is a technology that does not use crosstalk cancellation. QSound, Spatializer, and SRS all have dramatic demo WAV's of their stereo soundstage expansion at work. |
| vermont.mp3 vermont.m3u |
1.68MB, 3:40 (SC, 64kbit/s) |
[2/2/97] From Verve's "Ella and Louis," 825 373-2. A rendition of "Moonlight in Vermont," recorded August 16, 1956. This track should drive home the point that stereo does not mean the same thing as high fidelity. I have had the pleasure of hearing a cut off this CD through an expensive pair of Martin Logan electrostatic speakers, and it was an ear-opening experience! The only way I can describe it is to say that it sounded like it was real. |
| sally.mp3 sally.m3u |
3.65MB, 3:59 (JS, 128kbit/s) |
[2/16/97] Cover version of "Mustang Sally," sung by the Commitments (MCAD-10286). Visit your local guitar store and play this CD through a typical sound-reinforcement speaker. That visceral drumbeat which makes your eardrums close up in shock -- that's what it should sound like. Now go home and listen to it through your own system. Are you disappointed? |
| scheherazade vbr.mp3 scheherazade vbr.m3u |
15.8MB, 11:34 (JS, v191kbit/s) |
[2002.01.12] New VBR version is even better! (originally 1/09/98) 4th movement (Allegro molto) of the Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (opus 35), performed by the Orchestre de l'Opéra Bastille. This recording utilizes the '4D' technique, developed by Deutsche Grammaphone. In this process, the audio is converted from analog to digital as soon as possible - on the stage a few feet from the microphones. It is sent to the mixing booth and recorded and mixed digitally at 21-bit resolution (126dB of dynamic range) before being recorded on CD. This track is from the 4D demonstration CD (439 597-2) which was made available for limited release in 1993. The Archiv Produktion CD's are some of the best quality in the world. If you have a professional (non-resampling) sound card with digital outputs (like the M-Audio delta series) and a digital receiver, you will really appreciate the quality of this recording. |
Miscellaneous| file | size/length | [added]/description |
|---|---|---|
| hurley.mp3 hurley.m3u |
204kB, :29 (SC, 56kbit/s) |
[9/14/96] Got milk commercial. Setting is the boardroom of a cookie company. |
| magic.mp3 magic.m3u |
207kB, :30 (JS, 56kbit/s) |
[10/20/97] Commercial for Magic the Gathering, a ccg from Wizards of the Coast. |
| barney.mp3 barney.m3u |
466kB, :59 (SC, 64kbit/s) |
[10/27/97] Closing theme from the Barney TV show. |
| Windows95.mp3 Windows95.m3u |
1.98MB, 2:10 (JS, 128kbit/s) |
[12/21/97] Parody of "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones discussing the vagrancies of Windows95. This version is performed by Spike O'neil of Twisted Radio out of KISW 99.9FM, Seattle, WA. |
Christmas| file | size/length | [added]/description |
|---|---|---|
| santa.mp3 santa.m3u |
2.92MB, 6:23 (JS, 64kbit/s) |
[10/1/96] "Santa Claus and His Old Lady": this was released as a Christmas 45 in 1971. Cheech is explaining Santa Claus to a clueless Chong in a 60ish sort of way. |
| grinch.mp3 grinch.m3u |
1.37MB, 3:26 (SC, 56kbit/s) |
[11/22/96] The lyrics of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch", spliced together. |
| dogbells.mp3 dogbells.m3u |
682kB, 1:39 (SC, 56kbit/s) |
[11/30/96] Jingle Bells, as sung by the Singing Dogs (1956) |
| stnick.mp3 stnick.m3u |
798kB, 1:56 (SC, 56kbit/s) |
[12/8/96] Little Saint Nick, by The Beach Boys (1963) |
| merry.mp3 merry.m3u |
1.40MB, 3:04 (JS, 64kbit/s) |
[12/14/96] Merry Christmas Darling, by The Carpenters (1978) |
| christmas.mp3 christmas.m3u |
2.89Mb, 3:09 (JS, 128kbit/s) |
[12/19/97] The Christmas Song, sung by Nat King Cole. |
| What's This.mp3 What's This.m3u |
2.47Mb, 3:05 (JS, 112kbit/s) |
[12/3/98] What's This, from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Performed by Danny Elfman as Jack Skellington. |
| Gagliarda.mp3 Gagliarda.m3u |
2.60Mb, 3:02 (JS, v120kbit/s) |
[12/6/00] Gagliarda by Johann Hermann Schein, one of the earliest examples of Christmas celebration dance music. The version is performed by Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller and can be found on "Christmas in the Aire" (AG1995-2). More info on this album is available from American Gramaphone. |
| Traditions.mp3 Traditions.m3u |
4.94Mb, 3:38 (JS, v190kbit/s) |
[2003.12.05] Traditions of Christmas by Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller. His personal addition to the Christmas music soundscape. It holds up 15 years later, as it should for many to come. Check out the album "A Fresh Aire Christmas" (AG1988-2). More info at American Gramaphone. |
