THE MUSIC BEHIND THE CHECK

Music credits & licenses

Real recordings, clear credits. Every music excerpt in Earphone Check is used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

The artists retain their rights. CC BY 4.0 permits sharing and adaptation, including commercial use, subject to its terms. This use does not imply artist endorsement of Earphone Check or Heatwave. License notices and source links are provided for each recording.

FUNK

Funkorama

"Funkorama" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Original track & artist source · Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Changes made: 30-second excerpt (0:20–0:50); static level adjustment and short fades; encoded as 320 kbps stereo MP3. No EQ or added stereo effects.

JAZZ & LOUNGE

Airport Lounge

"Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Original track & artist source · Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Changes made: 30-second excerpt (0:45–1:15); static level adjustment and short fades; encoded as 320 kbps stereo MP3. No EQ or added stereo effects.

R&B / ELECTRONIC

Cipher

"Cipher" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Original track & artist source · Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Changes made: 30-second excerpt (0:40–1:10); static level adjustment and short fades; encoded as 320 kbps stereo MP3. No EQ or added stereo effects.

ELECTRONIC / DANCE

EDM Detection Mode

"EDM Detection Mode" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Original track & artist source · Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Changes made: 30-second excerpt (2:00–2:30); static level adjustment and short fades; encoded as 320 kbps stereo MP3. No EQ or added stereo effects.

ACOUSTIC POP

Carefree

"Carefree" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Original track & artist source · Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Changes made: 30-second excerpt (0:30–1:00); static level adjustment and short fades; encoded as 320 kbps stereo MP3. No EQ or added stereo effects.

CLASSICAL PIANO

Gymnopedie No. 1

"Gymnopedie No. 1" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Composition by Erik Satie; recording and arrangement by Kevin MacLeod.

Original track & artist source · Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Changes made: 30-second excerpt (0:30–1:00); static level adjustment and short fades; encoded as 320 kbps stereo MP3. No EQ or added stereo effects.

How the excerpts were prepared

Each clip is a 30-second excerpt. Static gain adjustments reduce loudness differences while preserving the original dynamics. Short fades avoid abrupt starts and stops. We have not added EQ, stereo widening or dynamic compression. The files are stereo MP3 at 320 kbps, re-encoded from the artist’s MP3 sources; they are not lossless masters. Subjective listening notes are prompts to explore a recording, not a precise measurement or a product rating.

Sine and square tones, white noise and pink noise are synthesized by Earphone Check and are separate from these licensed recordings. Selecting a channel mode changes playback in real time without changing the stored music file.

Sources and licenses checked: October 19, 2026

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