12-27-10 DCU Center, Worcester, MA Source Review

Hey now!
Thanks for waiting it out with me.  I just had a fantastic trip down to NOLA for some serious jazz, some serious partying, and some serious eating.  If you can't be at Phish for New Years, I highly recommend New Orleans. Also, be sure and check out the Free Agents Brass Band, and the Stooges.  Both of those just blew me away.  Plus a big shout out to the zydeco band at the Tropical Isle on Bourbon St.  Thanks for letting me and Erin sit in, that was a blast!

Anyways, enough about me, you came here to see what I think of the sources for this show.  There are five sources for this show currently, and they also sound pretty darn good.  I want to thank and commend all the tapers for delivering such great tapes to the community in such a short period of time.  Great job fellas.

Source 1 (hereafter MK 22 source)
Source: Schoeps MK22>KC5>CMC6>Sonosax SX-M2>Apogee Mini-me(aes out 24bit/96khz)>COAX>Edirol R-44
Location: ORTF FOB DFC 60' from stage
Transfer: SDHC Card>usb>Macbook Pro>Wave Editor(tracking,fades,resample(izotope)/dither(mbit+) to 16bit/44.1k)>XAct(FLAC 8,ffp,ffp)


16 bit source
24 bit source


Source 2 (hereafter Beyer source)
Source: beyerdynamic CK930 > Sonosax SX-M2 > Marantz PMD-661 w/ "Oade Concert Mod" (@ 24 bit / 96 kHz)
Location: dead center of the front row of the taper's section
mics angled 90 degrees, spaced approximately 8 inches
Transfer: SDHC Card > Samplitude SE v9.1.1 (fades, level adjustments, splice, resample to 44.1 kHz, dither to 16 bit, track splits) > FLAC v1.2.1 (Level 8)

16 bit source
24 bit source

Source 3 (hereafter Busman source)
Source: Busman Bsc1 (Hypers)>HYDRA silver Shorty XLR's>Fostex FR-2LE(Busman T-mod) @24/96
Location: OTS
Transfer: CF Card>Wavelab 6.0(Resample and Dithering>CD Wave(tacking>TLH(flac 16 level 8)

16 bit source

Source 4 (hereafter MG200 source)
Source: Microtech Gefell M200's(DIN)>Audio Magic Hyper-Conductors>Edirol R-4(Oade T mod) @ 24/96
Mic Placement: OTS (LOC)
Transfer: R-4>USB>pc>Sound Forge 7(track, resample and dither to 16/44.1)> Flac Frontend 1.7.1

16 bit source

Source 5 (hereafter MK5 source)
Source: Schoeps mk5> KC5> M222> NT222> Aeta PSP-3> SD 744t (@24bit/96kHz)
Location: FOB, DFC, 6' Stand, NOS, mk5/cardioid
Transfer: SD 744t> Samplitude SE 9.1.1(dither/resample)> CDWave> flac(16/44.1)

16 bit source

There is little that separates the three best recordings and the other two are quite good as well. 

The MK22 source has nice balance, however Mike lacks some clarity in the lowest registers.  Further, this source is not quite as punchy as the Beyer source.  As an FOB, there is some crowd noise, but it is not as noticeable as on the MK5 source.  

The Beyer source is, to my ears, the best of the bunch.  It has great highs, good balance, and some real punch on Mike's bass without losing any tone.  The MK22 and MK5's only shortcomings compared to the Beyer are the extra umph that seems to be on the low end.  I love a great sounding tape that can kick my sub hard, and this recording delivers.

The Busman source is quite good, but, as with much of fall tour, is just a bit thin.  The low-end just lacks much punch at all, and compared to all the other sources, ends up lacking as a result.

The MG200 source is very warm, something I really like about the mics, however, in this case, the warmth is covering up a lack of bass tone in the lowest registers.  There is some real roundness down there, but not as much clarity and attack as the other sources.  I like it better than the Busman source, but any of the top three provide a bit more clarity while sacrificing little warmth.

The MK 5 source has, as noted above, a fair amount of crowd noise. As usual, these mics have great balance, nice lows and highs.  However, this recording just doesn't have the punch of the Beyer source. 

Thanks for checking in.  Look for a review of the 28th tomorrow.
Happy New Year and Happy Listening!