Switch to : Notches (EQ cut)
Purpose
Our Discriminative Frequency Training Test used band-filtered noise to ensure a training independent from any musical content. The following test puts those frequencies back in their context, and uses a short music track instead of noise.
This custom track starts with an ultra-low frequency rumble layered with crystal clear chimes, followed by a conventional mix made from various "classic" pop instruments such as an electric bass, drums and other percussion instruments, electric piano, electric guitar and synthesizer strings, along with a male voiceover and female vocal line. The track covers the full audible spectrum and will be altered to emphasize a particular frequency band.
Training Files
| 31 Hz | 63 Hz | 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz |
| 1 kHz | 2 kHz | 4 kHz | 8 kHz | 16 kHz |
The aim of this test is to familiarize the listener with the sound of the different frequency bands, not subtle frequency abnormalilties. To serve this purpose, the original recording has been abusively EQ'd using a massive 24 dB (!) peaking filter, centered around the target frequencies, spaced one octave apart.
Those who mastered our Discriminative Frequency Training Test will go straight to the blind test section. Others will listen to each octave and learn to associate it with its respective center frequency.
Here are a few hints of what the different frequencies sound like:
- 30 Hz: our audition's lowest limit (sub-woofer required); a rumble felt in your chest.
- 61 Hz: where the bottom of the bass lies.
- 125 Hz: bass warmth; fundamental frequency of male voices.
- 250 Hz: muddiness; fundamental frequency of female voices.
- 500 Hz: low midrange; think telephone, bottom.
- 1 kHz: midrange; think telephone, middle.
- 2 kHz: high midrange; think telephone, top.
- 4 kHz: harmonics mainly, hash, tiring; where human ears are most sensitive.
- 8 kHz: brightness, air.
- 16 kHz: sparkle, shimmer.
The Test
| 31 Hz 63 Hz 125 Hz 250 Hz 500 Hz 1 kHz 2 kHz 4 kHz 8 kHz 16 kHz Original | |
| Listen to [?] then vote — multiple guesses not allowed (your vote triggers a new draw) | |
To pass a blind test, you will need to perform 10 trials at least, obtain a high score and reach a high confidence level: 95% is standard to rate statistical significance. It means that your score outperforms random guesses by 95%. There is still a probability that you just got lucky though, 5%. To reduce such probability to 1%, keep testing until you reached a confidence level of 99%.
Once you have succeeded in getting a score of 100% without listening to the individual labeled files during the test, your training will be complete!
Related Pages
Other EQ Training Tests
External Links
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Take up the challenge
- Find the smallest difference in sound levels you can detect.
The Level Series: 6dB 3dB 1dB 0.5dB 0.2dB 0.1dB - Find the highest frequency you can reliably hear.
The Frequency Series: 10kHz 11k 12k 13k 14k 15k 16k 17k 18k 19k 20kHz - Find the smallest difference in pitch (frequency) you can hear.
The Pitch Series: 50c 20c 10c 5c 2c 1c - Find the shortest timing difference you can reliably hear. NEW
The Timing Series: 1ms 2ms 5ms 10ms 20ms 50ms 100ms - Find the highest dynamic range offered by your listening environment.
The Dynamic Range Series: 36dB 42dB 48dB 54dB 60dB 66dB 72dB 78dB - Do you have the absolute hearing ability?
The Perfect Pitch Blind Test: C Scale Chromatic - Are your ears sensitive to Absolute Phase?
The Absolute Polarity Blind Test: Here - Can you hear a difference between 16-bit and 8-bit audio files?
The 16-bit v/s 8-bit Blind Test
