Bass test
Encyclopedia
A bass test is an audio
recording, usually composed mainly of synthesized
low frequency
bass notes often played with a simple, repeating melody
. Bass tests are used to test the low end, or bass response, of audio systems, particularly loudspeakers (woofers and subwoofers) and amplifiers. Bass tests often concentrate on frequencies under 50 Hz
because there is little musical content below this frequency (referring to non-synthesized music).
with the low frequency content added, or they may be just the low frequency content, separated by silent periods. Bass tests are often used to test either decibel
levels achieved by sound system
s or the amount of cone excursion
a woofer
has. Bass tests are especially popular for testing or showing off audio systems with subwoofers.
. However, especially for hi-fi applications, compact disc
recordings are most preferable due to superior sound quality. Although, some YouTube bass tests contain download links for a high quality version of the test.
playing solo
, then the synthesized bass track begins playing with the repeating piano riff
, which continues throughout the entire track. The bass remains at a relatively constant frequency
, except for between each bar, at which time there is a sub-audible
frequency note under 10 Hz.
are included in this test, such as "feel the bass," which refers to the way audio frequencies below about 120 Hz can be felt as well as heard.
which was designed to test the ultra-low frequency response of rotary woofers. It is about 3 minutes and 8 seconds (3:08) long. This test consists solely of low frequency tones played at the frequencies of first, third and fifth position notes, as well as subharmonics. The majority of the tones played in this test are infrasonic (below 20 Hz).
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
recording, usually composed mainly of synthesized
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
low frequency
Frequency
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. It is also referred to as temporal frequency.The period is the duration of one cycle in a repeating event, so the period is the reciprocal of the frequency...
bass notes often played with a simple, repeating melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
. Bass tests are used to test the low end, or bass response, of audio systems, particularly loudspeakers (woofers and subwoofers) and amplifiers. Bass tests often concentrate on frequencies under 50 Hz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
because there is little musical content below this frequency (referring to non-synthesized music).
Overview
Bass tests may be in the form of a song like progression, usually composed of a simple, repeating riffRIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
with the low frequency content added, or they may be just the low frequency content, separated by silent periods. Bass tests are often used to test either decibel
Decibel
The decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. A ratio in decibels is ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two power quantities...
levels achieved by sound system
Sound reinforcement system
A sound reinforcement system is the combination of microphones, signal processors, amplifiers, and loudspeakers that makes live or pre-recorded sounds louder and may also distribute those sounds to a larger or more distant audience...
s or the amount of cone excursion
Excursion (audio)
Excursion is defined as how far the cone of a speaker linearly travels from its resting position. In general lower frequency drivers or subwoofers are designed to move more air and have more excursion than those of higher frequency...
a woofer
Woofer
Woofer is the term commonly used for a loudspeaker driver designed to produce low frequency sounds, typically from around 40 hertz up to about a kilohertz or higher. The name is from the onomatopoeic English word for a dog's bark, "woof"...
has. Bass tests are especially popular for testing or showing off audio systems with subwoofers.
Popular bass tests
Bass test recordings can be purchased on various recording mediums, or viewed for free on YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. However, especially for hi-fi applications, compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
recordings are most preferable due to superior sound quality. Although, some YouTube bass tests contain download links for a high quality version of the test.
Bass, I Love You
Bass, I Love You is a popular bass test by Bassotronics. It is about 3 minutes and 48 seconds (3:48) long. Bass, I Love You begins by two bars of the pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
playing solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
, then the synthesized bass track begins playing with the repeating piano riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
, which continues throughout the entire track. The bass remains at a relatively constant frequency
Frequency
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. It is also referred to as temporal frequency.The period is the duration of one cycle in a repeating event, so the period is the reciprocal of the frequency...
, except for between each bar, at which time there is a sub-audible
Infrasound
Infrasound is sound that is lower in frequency than 20 Hz or cycles per second, the "normal" limit of human hearing. Hearing becomes gradually less sensitive as frequency decreases, so for humans to perceive infrasound, the sound pressure must be sufficiently high...
frequency note under 10 Hz.
Woofer Cooker
Woofer Cooker is a popular bass test by Bass Hit. It is 4 minutes and 10 seconds (4:10) long. It begins with a declining frequency sweep, then it is just a low frequency tone for about 10 seconds with a standard synthesizer playing. Then it goes into a repeating musical progression in the style of rap/hip-hop. Some lyricsLyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
are included in this test, such as "feel the bass," which refers to the way audio frequencies below about 120 Hz can be felt as well as heard.
Eminent Technology rotary woofer bass test
This is a bass test by Eminent TechnologyEminent Technology
thumb|200px|Eminent Technology is a company established in 1983 by Bruce Thigpen to create innovative products for the audio field. Their first product was an air bearing straight line tracking tonearm for phonograph playback, this was the first implementation of a captured air bearing for tonearm...
which was designed to test the ultra-low frequency response of rotary woofers. It is about 3 minutes and 8 seconds (3:08) long. This test consists solely of low frequency tones played at the frequencies of first, third and fifth position notes, as well as subharmonics. The majority of the tones played in this test are infrasonic (below 20 Hz).