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RE: Tune Method
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Fredrik Lejonklou
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Jul 11, 2002 10:30 PDT
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Grice, Anita wrote:
| | As you're all such pros, would some kind person please explain
to me as a complete novice what the "Tune Method" is
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Pros? We're all just beginners here - at least when it comes to
something we haven't tried before...
Below is my own description of how to perform the Tune Method, a text
that I keep revising each time I post it. Feel free to email the list
(or me at the address below) if you have any questions!
There's also some useful information on this subject on the Linn
website:
http://www.linn.co.uk/buy_linn/how_to_judge_a_system.cfm
Good Luck and best regards,
Fredrik Lejonklou
List Moderator
lejonklou @ sverige.nu (omit spaces)
The Tune Method
The Tune Method (sometimes called a Tune Dem when it's part
of a demonstration) or "Sing Along" or "Silent Repetition"
method is most easily learnt by visiting a Linn retailer
that uses it. It does take some practice and sometimes a
bit of help to really get into it.
It is a way of comparing two things against eachother and
determine which of the two is the best musical performer.
It can be two pieces of equipment, two speaker positions,
two ways of connecting the mains cable or whatever. Never
Ever change more than one parameter at a time! If you do,
you can't draw any conclusions from the outcome of your
comparison.
The result is not much to discuss - it's just a matter of
'better' or 'worse'. The idea is that by focusing on your
understanding of the music - or rather the melody or tune
of the song - you are not distracted by details or more
immediate subjective feelings of how you perceive the
sound. The result of a Tune Method comparison can therefore
be regarded as a short-cut to what your opinion would be if
you had listened to the two alternatives for a very long time.
The method is not unlike the way some musicians tune their
instruments. Imagine a skilled guitar player tuning his
guitar by plucking three strings in succession: E, A, D.
He repeats the tones in his head to get an internal
"reference" and focus his hearing: E, A, D.
He then changes the tension of the D string very slightly
and plucks them again: E, A, D. Was that more in tune? Yes,
that is more like it! If he isn't quite sure, he goes back
once more to the first setting and compares it with the second.
In the version of this method adapted to hifi comparisons,
you make comparisons using an A-A-B method while actively
following or singing along with the tune of the song:
* Play on machine A while following or singing along to the
main tune of the music. (At Linn they played the piece once
and then asked one of us to repeat it by singing the tune
loud - this can be very effective and is a way of making
sure that the listener is actively trying to follow the
song. Singing quietly, inside your head, also works). Play
no more than around 20 seconds, because that is easiest to
remember correctly.
* Repeat the 20 seconds on machine A (because it is
usually is a little easier to sing along the second time).
* Now play the 20 seconds on machine B.
Was it, with B, easier to follow/sing along with the tune
or was it more difficult?
Did you feel that the melody was more "in tune" with B
than with A?
Could you feel how other instruments (drums or percussion
for example) were helping you to sing the tune (then B is
better!) or were they slightly distracting or playing on
their own? (Then A is better).
If you were feeling "yeah, that's how it goes!" the last
time, then B is better. If you became puzzled and no
longer really sure how the tune goes, it might indicate
that A is better but you will perhaps have to do it again.
You can use almost any type of music, with any type of
instruments. It is, however, preferable if the song starts
more or less immediately with a clearly distinguishable
melody. Use each song for no more than 2 or 3 comparisons,
after that it will almost always be easier with a new song.
It is often easiest to compare with songs that you have
never heard before, otherwise you will already have the
tune inside your head and that does _not_ make the
comparison any easier. Beware of old favourites!
Also: stay on roughly the same spot in the room while
you're listening, which spot is irrelevant as long as it
is the same on all three occasions (A, A and B).
Whenever you start feeling tired, stop and relax for a
while. It's essential to feel relaxed and at ease when
doing these comparisons. If you are not, you won't be able
to focus on the music, which will tend to make you judge
more by "feeling" - which also works sometimes, but not as
reliably.
I hope this can be of some help. With some practice, it's
very easy to do and the results are consistent and
repeatable. Sometimes you just need 5 seconds to tell...
It is also interesting to note that people who usually
disagree almost always come to the same conclusions if
they use this method.
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