Masters at Work — Hard Times - Masters At Work - 1st Birthday - 6.8.1994
House · 1h 60m · analysed 19 Aug 2026
About this house set
Hard Times - Masters At Work - 1st Birthday - 6.8.1994 is a house DJ set by Masters at Work, running 1h 60m. It was measured by the SOONOS multi-agent engine and scores 88/100 overall — festival ready.
The engine files this performance as “Promising”.
How the score breaks down
SOONOS scores this set across 5 weighted categories. The strongest is IDENTITY at 95/100; the weakest is SURPRISE at 84/100.
The final score is capped by measured -: the DSP layer overrides the listening layer whenever it measures an execution issue directly in the audio.
Analysis coverage for this file is 100% — the share of the set the engine could measure with full confidence.
Energy and structure
The energy curve was sampled at 48 points, moving between 75 and 95 on the SOONOS energy scale — a moderate dynamic range across the set.
6 transitions were detected and scored individually.
Beat-grid measurement (DSP) reports 225.9 grid breaks per hour, with a median beat offset of 19 ms.
Full SOONOS analysis
The 8 dimensions
Score breakdown
TECHNIQUE
How well did you execute?
25%86
TECHNIQUE
How well did you execute?
STORYTELLING
Did the mix go somewhere?
25%92
STORYTELLING
Did the mix go somewhere?
ENERGY
Did you control the room?
20%88
ENERGY
Did you control the room?
SURPRISE
Did you remain unpredictable?
15%84
SURPRISE
Did you remain unpredictable?
IDENTITY
Did the mix sound like you?
15%95
IDENTITY
Did the mix sound like you?
Final score capped by measured execution (-) — weighted average was 89.
Energy arc
Transitions analysed (6)
Long EQ blend with low-end swap
Perfectly executed handover; the transition is almost imperceptible as the new percussion takes over.
Percussive layering into 'Hard Drive'
Seamlessly brings in the iconic 'Deep Inside' rhythm. The swing of both tracks is perfectly matched.
Long percussive blend with mid-range EQ swap
Smooth transition that keeps the vocal energy high while introducing a new rhythmic drive.
Fast layering with high-pass filter
A bit of frequency clutter in the high-mids during the swap, but the energy remains high.
Bass swap on the downbeat
Perfectly timed drop that re-energizes the segment for the final stretch.
Long vinyl blend with EQ layering
A patient transition typical of the MAW style. Slight manual correction audible but groove remains intact.
Technical subscores
85
EQ balance
85
Beat alignment
88
Energy control
87
Tempo stability
85
Loudness control
92
Musical coherence
89
Harmonic compatibility
85
Transition cleanliness
Measured (DSP)
19.1 ms
Beat-grid drift (median)
107.4 ms
Drift p95
7,172
Boundaries detected
10
Hard cuts / h
233
Clipping events
219
Level jumps
Measurement confidence 100% · analysed on the full audio.
Recurring patterns
Long static loops (6×)
Sections sitting on the same loop without layering, EQ moves or tension shifts (12:00, 26:00, 30:00, 36:00, 41:00, 63:00). Long loops kill dancefloor momentum.
Timeline
- 0:00The Foundation
- 7:15Groove Lock
- 11:05Anthem Tease
- 15:20Groove Lock
- 19:15High-End Clutter
- 18:45Risky pressure or vibe dip
Curious how your own set scores?
Questions about this analysis
- What score does Masters at Work's Hard Times - Masters At Work - 1st Birthday - 6.8.1994 get?
- Hard Times - Masters At Work - 1st Birthday - 6.8.1994 scores 88/100 in the SOONOS Mix Database (festival ready), based on audio measurement plus multi-agent listening.
- How long is Hard Times - Masters At Work - 1st Birthday - 6.8.1994?
- The analysed recording runs 1h 60m.
- Which part of the mix scores best?
- IDENTITY is the strongest category at 95/100, while SURPRISE is the lowest at 84/100.
- How is this score calculated?
- SOONOS measures the audio with a DSP pass (beat grid, loudness, tempo, energy) and runs a multi-agent listening pass on top. Measured axes always override the listening layer, so an execution issue heard in the file caps the final score.
More Masters at Work sets analysed
Similar house sets
- Louie Vega — NOVEMBER 2016 MIX BY LOUIE VEGA88
- Kerri Chandler — Kerri Chandler - BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix88
- Seth Troxler — Seth Troxler - Essential Mix 2022-05-0787
- Honey Dijon — Honey Dijon Love at Smartbar March 25, 201787
- Derrick Carter — DJ Sneak + Derrick Carter + Mark Farina Heroes of House Metro 4 17 15 Chicago Pt. 287
- Catz n Dogz — Catz 'n Dogz - Essential Mix (2013-04-20)87
- The Martinez Brothers — THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS - Live At Ultra 2014 - Sunday Underground Stage87
- The Martinez Brothers — The Martinez Brothers - Live At ULTRA 2015 Resistance Stage Sunday87