Published by PitchChanger · Updated · How these guides are made
Hear the difference
Original synthesized diagnostic material, authored at 48 kHz, 16-bit PCM. These are controls for the worksheet, not measurements of this tool or real instruments.
Pause your workspace preview before comparing these clips.
Start quietly. Download the WAV files for external comparison; no listening outcome is asserted.
How to use this workflow
Keep the passage identical
Use the same source boundaries, channel arrangement and duration for both files. Compare loudness over that passage, not two different song sections.
Reduce the louder version
Use an external editor or meter to measure the same quantity for each file. Apply constant gain to the louder one; avoid raising the quieter file into clipping.
Repeat the comparison
Keep headphone volume fixed and alternate order. Write the level method and gain correction next to any preference.
A known 6.0206 dB amplitude difference
The Steady and Quieter downloads contain the same 440 Hz tone and boundary envelope. Quieter multiplies every sample by 0.5 before 16-bit quantization. The intended amplitude difference is 20 log10(2) = 6.0206 dB. Reducing Steady by this amount produces the same nominal signal; rounding can leave a one-code difference.
This synthetic control establishes a gain relationship. It does not prove that equal RMS will match the loudness of a bass-heavy mix and a bright compressed mix. For such material, document a loudness-meter method and listen to the relevant passage.
Swipe or scroll sideways to read all columns.
| Checkpoint | Action or value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Source ratio | 2:1 amplitude | 6.0206 dB |
| Correction | Reduce louder by 6.0206 dB | Do not change playback volume |
| After matching | Repeat with labels concealed | Preference is still subjective |
When the comparison remains ambiguous
If the difference disappears after matching, report that the earlier preference depended on level under these conditions. Do not conclude that both files are identical. If timbre still differs, describe the event and timestamp where it is repeatable.
The Mastering workspace can create gain and compression variants, but it does not provide a certified loudness target or an automatic matched ABX player. Save each version and perform precise matching externally.