The overall rating is calculated from the performance, programming, and presentation ratings. These are weighted: performance 50%, programming 30%, and presentation 20% of the overall score.
This is the most important rating, making up 50% of the overall score. It is a measure of the quality of the band's performance on the recording. This includes almost everything associated with the performance, including (but not limited to) intonation, ensemble playing, solo passages, tempo, style, balance and dynamics. The reviewer scores each item on the recording individually, then prepares the performance rating as an aggregate of those scores. The order of the items on the recording and the choice of items is not considered as a part of the performance rating, because these are rated in the programming rating.
The programming rating makes up 30% of the overall score. This rating measures the quality of the items presented on the recording, and the order in which they are heard. Some things that are taken into consideration for this rating are the orginality of the programming (whether it contains unique items or rarely-recorded pieces), the flow of the recording if it is heard in entirety, and the match of the items chosen to the skill level of the ensemble.
Presentation measures the quality of both the visual and auditory presentation of the recording, including packaging, liner notes and information, and the technical quality of the recording. It makes up 20% of the overall rating.