June 17, 2011 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Charlotte, NC Sources Review

The last weekend of the first leg of summer tour started with a bang in Charlotte, NC. I've met some pretty cool folks from North Carolina (leo and g711 I'm thinking of you and others!) and they deserve a throw down show because they throw down like nobody's business down there. I imagine Trey and Mike eating some fine Carolina barbeque and being inspired. Whatever did it, they played a fantastic show and by all accounts one of the top 5 of the tour. Luckily for us, there are eight different sources available for this evening. Thanks go out to all the tapers who do yeomans work to get these shows into our hands.

Source 1 (hereafter MK4v source)
Source: Schoeps mk4v's(DIN)>kc5>m222>nt222>aeta psp-3>744t
Location: OTS
Transfer: 744t>CD Wave>Wavelab 5>Flac

16 bit source

Source 2 (hereafter DPA source)
Source: DPA 4022 (ortf)>oade m248>sd 744t
Location: OTS/DFC/9'
Transfer: 744>samitude>cd wave editor>tlh

16 bit source

Source 3 (hereafter Audix source)
Source: Audix m1280/HC > Lunatec V2 > (Oade Warm) PMD-661 (24/44.1)
Location: OTS / DFC / Mics up 8ft, ORTF
Transfer: SDHC > WaveLab 6.0 > CD Wave > .flac (level 8)

16 bit source

Source 4 (hereafter Berliner source)
Source: Berliner CM-33's > Naiant Littlebox > Tascam DR-07(16/44.1)
Location: OTS, 9' high
Transfer: USB > Amadeus Pro > WAV > xACT > Flac

16 bit source

Source 5 (hereafter MK41>SXM2/LS2 source)
Source: Schoeps mk41 (DINa) > kcy > Sonosax SX-M2/LS2 > Mytek 192 > Tascam HD-P2 (24/48)
Transfer: CF > Sound Studio > xACT > .flac (16/44)

16 bit source
24 bit source

Source 6 (hereafter CCM4 source)
Source: Schoeps CCM4(DIN)>VMS5u>R44(ocm) 24/96
Location: OTS
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44 >Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 7 (hereafter MK41>SXM2 source)
Source:Schoeps MK41(dina) > Kcy > Sonosax SX-M2/LS2>R44(ocm) 24/96
Location: OTS
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44 >Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 8 (hereafter MK41>VMS5u source)
Source: Schoeps MK41 (DINa) > KCY > Schoeps VMS-5u > Mytek 192 > Tascam HD-P2 @ 96 kHz, 24 bit
Location: OTS, front row, DFC on stand approx. 8 feet:
Transfer: Tascam HD-P2 > via firewire > Dell XPS m1730 > edited & resampled to 44.1 kHz & 16 bit in Vegas 9.0e > FLAC'd using Trader's Little Helper 8/8
***Chalkdust Torture is patched from MK41>SXM2 source ***

16 bit source
24 bit source

Phish - 6/17/11 "Jam > Ghost" from Phish on Vimeo.

It's so nice when there are so many great sources to choose from. For this night, there are some really, really good ones.

The MK4v source has a really nice balance and sounds good from top to bottom, however the levels are a bit low, at least compared to the MK41>VMS5U source.

The DPA source, much like the MK4v source, sounds a bit distant at first, this is fixed after a little bit. However, the levels remain fairly low and the low-end is kind of boomy.

The Audix source has really nice balance and very clear highs, however the low-end could use just a bit more. This is still the best Audix source I've heard all tour.

The Berliner source is very bright and clear, but, like the Audix, could use a bit more bass.

The MK41>SXM2/LS2 source has relatively low level, however it has excellent balance. Just doesn't punch like the MK41>VMS5U source.

The CCM4 source has a very boomy low-end and doesn't have quite the definition in the low-end that I would like.

The MK41>SXM2 source has lower levels and, like the CCM4 source, is a bit boomy.

The MK41>VMS5U source is the best sounding of the bunch. The levels are insanely good, the low-end could have a bit more definition, but really upon close listening, none of the other sources were any better down low. The bass kicks the sub hard. This source is also available in 16 or 24 bit.

Happy listening!