RME Intelligent Audio Solutions Test Files The following wave files can be found on our web site http://www.rme-audio.com/english/downloads They contain special, completely digital generated signals. Some of them were reduced to one channel (mono) because of their size. The ZIP-archives contain this text file and some screenshots, explaining the signal and its usage. The screenshots show measuring functions of RME's DAM-1 and the FFT software HpW Works. The files need several MByte space on your harddisc when unpacked. Both 16- and 24- bit files may be played back with Windows own player (Media Player) as long as a hardware supporting these formats is available. To play back 24 bit files we recommend DIGI32, DIGI32/8 or DIGI32 PRO, all 24 bit PCI digital in/out cards from RME. The two files with 96 kHz sample rate can be played back without sample rate conversion only by the DIGI32 PRO. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0_16.wav 44,1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo, 1 kHz sine at 0 dBFS (full level), phase right -180°, dither. This clean sine is free of distortion, but has a limited signal to noise ratio. Measuring distortion with a hi-class measurement system will show a THD+N at 0,001%. Peak level meter show exactly 0 dBFS, in no case over must be shown. The corresponding RMS level is exactly -3 dB (or dBFS). As this value is normally scaled + 3 dB for better handling, the RMS meter will often show the same as the peak level meter (0 dBFS). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0_16_96.wav As 0_16.wav, but with 96 kHz sample frequency and mono. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50_16.wav 44,1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo, 1 kHz sine, right channel phase -180°, dither. Sine with a level of -50, -60, -70, -80 and -90 dBFS, each 5 seconds. This level sweep allows an easy test of the effective dynamic. Many soundcards claiming the use of 16 bit technology will not let you hear -90 dBFS sine but only their noise. This file also allows to test the real (and true) handled dynamic of home (Hi-Fi) equipment. Set up your amp as usual and play back this file. In most cases -80 dB will not be audible. If the volume is raised so that -90 dB will just be audible, then switching back to normal music will result in horrible volume. The level may also be viewed with a level meter display like RME's DAM-1, which has a customizable view of up to 160 dB range. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- dc_16.wav 44,1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo, DC (0 Hz) at -20 dBFS, left channel positive, right channel negative, 20 seconds. DC (0 Hz) at -20 dBFS. This file allows testing wether a digital device uses, transmits or changes dc levels. Also wether digital level meters show dc levels or not. Peak and RMS-values are identical with this signal. Because of the usual scale change of RMS level meters (+3 dB) the RMS level may be displayed three dB higher as the peak level. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- crest_16.wav 44,1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo, 40 sines at -35 dBFS, right channel phase -180°. Multisine with very high crest out of 40 single sines between 40 Hz and 20 kHz, its peak level is exactly 0 dBFS. Very good for checking the accuracy and precision of level displays, because the RMS-value of this signal is only -16,1 dBFS. Most Peak or RMS level meters will fail showing the right (true) level. RME's DAM-1 does not, because it uses exact digital mathematics to compute the real values. Automatic gain controls can also be checked. Their automatic level detection will often fail when recording this signal, resulting in high overloads. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- crest_96.wav As crest_16.wav, but with 96 kHz sample frequency and mono. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20khz_16.wav 44,1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo, 20 kHz sine with -10 dBFS. 20 kHz sine with -10 dBFS. This signal is inaudible for 99,9% of all human beings. The signal needs high precision DAC's for playback because it's near to the sampling frequency. As the signal is inaudible, and is an extreme load to tweeters (the crossover before the tweeters is not working at these frequencies) we reduced the length to 1 second. NormalIy only a short click should be heard at the begining and the end (hard cut, no fade in/out). Depending on the quality of the used DAC noise, low level whistles or other tones may occur. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 100_24.wav, 110_24.wav, 120_24.wav, dither. 44,1 kHz, 24 bit, stereo, 1 kHz sine with -100 dBFS, -110 dBFS and -120 dBFS level, each 5 seconds, right channel phase -180°. 1 kHz sine with -100 dBFS, -110 dBFS and -120 dBFS. These very low levels can of course only be processed in 20 or 24 bit technology. You will not hear -120 nor -110 dBFS when using modern DAC's, because the sine is hidden behind the noise of the DAC's. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8.wav 1 kHz sine, 0 dBFS, 16 bit 8-channel wave file, 44,1 kHz sf Demonstrates that Windows own soundsystem is capable of more than two channels. There has to be a 8-channel device in the system, and has to be set up as preferred playback device in multimedia. Then play back this file using the media player! Note: The newest media player that comes with the Windows 98 update, is no longer useable as playback reference. Microsoft did not only implement different codecs and streaming, but disabled also all formats of more than 16 bit or 2 channels, propably as preparation to the WDM technology. Additional the player has a digital volume control without any reference. This makes it nearly impossible to transfer the played data unaltered to the output of a digital audio card. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All files copyright RME 1997/1998. RME allows the free distribution of these files, as long as the original archives are unaltered. RME can not be held responsible for damages occuring when using these files. Any usage is at your own risk! RME: http://www.rme-audio.com Infos about the FFT software: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hpwidmer --------------------------------------------------------------------------- File end