May 29, 2011 Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, Bethel, NY Sources Review

Well folks, just got back from my little 2 show tour and I had a blast.  Phish is definitely firing on all cylinders.  If you have been waiting to get a ticket to a show, don't delay.  This band is kicking right now and CK5 has been on fire too.

Anyway, this show doesn't have the jamming that the first two nights had, but it's definitely a raging dance party.  There are 6 sources from this show (5 full show, one partial).  I want to thank the tapers for the work they put in to getting these recordings into our hands so quickly.

Source 1 (hereafter MK4v source)
Source: Schoeps mk4v> KC5> M222> NT222> Aeta PSP-3> SD 744t (@24bit/96kHz)
Location: Section 100, Row H, Seat 16, DFC, ORTF, 7' Stand
Transfer: SD 744t> Samplitude SE 9.1.1(dither/resample)> CDWave> flac(16/44.1)

16 bit source
24 bit source

Source 2 (hereafter ME80 source)
Source: Sennheiser ME-80's> Sound Devices 702 (@24/48)
Location: OTS Section 100 Row G Seat 16
Transfer: SD702>Sound Forge Pro 10 (,fades, iZotope 64 BIT Sample Rate Conversion /iZotope MBIT+ Bit depth conversion to 16 Bit/44.1khz)>CDWAV>FLAC

16 bit source

Source 3 (hereafter MK41>Sonosax source)
Source:Schoeps MK41 (Dina)>kcy >Sonosax SX-M2/LS2>R44(OCM) 24/96
Location: Section 100, Row H, Seat 16, DFC, DIN, 7' Stand
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44 >Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 4 (hereafter CCM4 source)
Source:Schoeps CCM4(Din)>Vms5u>R44(OCM) 24/96
Location: Section 100, Row H, Seat 16, DFC, DIN, 7' Stand
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44 >Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 5 (hereafter KM150 source)
Source: Neumann KM150's>Sound Devices Mixpre-D>AES OUT> Sound Devices 744t (@24/48)
Location:  OTS Section 100 Row G Seat 16
Transfer: SD744t>Sound Forge Pro 10 (,fades, iZotope 64 BIT Sample Rate Conversion /iZotope MBIT+ Bit depth conversion to 16 Bit/44.1khz)>CDWAV>FLAC

16 bit source

Source 6 (hereafter MK41>MP2 source)
**2nd Set Only**
Source: Schoeps MK41's>Schoeps KCY 250/05I>Schoeps VST62iu>Sound Devices MP-2> Sound Devices 744t (@24/48)
Location: OTS Section 100 Row G Seat 16
Transfer: SD744t>Sound Forge Pro 10 (,fades, iZotope 64 BIT Sample Rate Conversion /iZotope MBIT+ Bit depth conversion to 16 Bit/44.1khz)>CDWAV>FLAC

16 bit source

Once again, there are many excellent recordings of this show, and once again, it took quite a bit of listening to decide which one was the best.

For the third night in a row, the MK4v source sounds the best to my ears.  The bass is just so rich and the high end sparkles.  My subwoofer kicks on this recording early and often, but there is still a lot of clarity to the bass, not the mud that you so often get with a bass-heavy recording.


The ME80's are also very good sounding.  The bass is nearly as good as the MK4v, however while it packs the punch of the Schoeps, it just doesn't have the clarity.  Also, there seems to be some lack of response in the upper-mids.  However, Page's piano work sounds stellar on this recording.  I would say this is the 2nd best recording from this night.

The MK41>Sonosax source is again, quite clear, especially in the higher frequencies, but is lacking at the low-end.  The same taper also runs the CCM4 source.  I suspect that a well-done matrix of these two sources would sound excellent.

The CCM4 source is again, very, very good, with excellent bass response and nice highs.  However, yet again, it just doesn't have the punch of the MK4v.

The KM150 source is also excellent for the 3rd night straight.  The clarity on this recording is just fantastic.  However, yet again, it just doesn't punch you the way the MK4v does.

The MK41>MP2 source has better bass response than the other MK41 source, but it still doesn't have the punch of the ME80's or the MK4v.

The MK4v source is available in 24 bit as well.  Be aware that 24 bit files will not work in your CD player, and even many iPods (at least it won't play on my nano).

Happy listening!