Reference track
A commercial recording used as a comparison point while mixing or practising, to keep judgement anchored to a known good sound.
Hearing is unreliable over long sessions: the ear adjusts to whatever it is hearing and loses perspective, which is why engineers play a familiar record to check that their own mix is not too bright, too dark or too quiet. The same technique works for players, who can compare their tone with the sound of a record in the same style. The reference should always be played at a similar loudness to the material being judged, since louder almost always sounds better.
Example: Playing a favourite record between passes of your own mix to check the low end is using a reference track.
See also
Related
- PageNear-field monitor
- PageMix
- PageTimbre
- PageAmp mic placement
- PageAudio interface
- PageAux send
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley