July 3, 2011 Superball IX, Watkins Glen, NY Sources Review

Hey folks.  Again, sorry for the big delay in bringing you this sources review.  Life intervened, but now I'm looking forward to the second half of summer tour.  This is one of the best nights that Phish played all year and everybody needs to have this in their collection.  As such, its pretty important to get it right.  There are 10 different sources available for this night and I can tell you from listening to them all, that there are some seriously good ones and the best of them isn't a whole lot better than the worst of them.  Given that, it was definitely difficult to choose the best.  I want to give a big shout out to all the tapers who took the time to record this and all the shows so far this year.  Without their efforts we wouldn't get to share in the groove like this.  Thanks a lot guys!

Source 1 (hereafter DPA matrix)
Source 1:DPA_4052_(omni)_V2_AD2K_SD744_Split_24_inches
Source 2:DPA_4023_(cards)_V3_SD744_Split_12_inches
Location: F.O.B_ROC_ORTF_Stand_Height_Apporx._12_Feet
Recorded in 24/96 *16 bit Version *MATRIX
Transfer: Compact Flash> Adobe Audition 3.0> Sound Forge 7.0>CDwav

16 bit source

Source 2 (hereafter MBHO source)
Source: MBHO KA500HN >>> Hi Ho Silver Actives >>> MBHO MBP 603A >>> Darktrain Silver Interconnects >>>  Naiant LittleBox[Output Transformers] >>> Darktrain Silver Interconnects >>> Sony PCM-M10[24-Bit/96kHz]
Location: NOS/FOB/DFC
Lineage: Sony PCM-M10 > WaveLab 6[Normalize/Crystal Resampler/UV22HR Dither] > CD Wave 1.98
> CKRename > Traders Little Helper v2.6.0[Encode To FLAC/Level 8/Align On Sector Boundaries]

16 bit source
24 bit source

Source 3 (hereafter CCM4 source)
Source:Schoeps CCM4(ortf) Schoeps/VMS5u>R44(ocm) 24/96
Location:FOB/DFC 6' stand
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44 >Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 4 (hereafter MG Matrix source) ***24 bit only***
Source: Microtech Gefell um900 (omni, 52cm split, fob) + Schoeps mk41v (dina, fob) > kc5 > cmc6 > lunatec V3 (digital out) > SD744T (24/48);
Location: FOB
Transfer: Wavelab 5 (matrix, fades, tracking)

24 bit source

Source 5 (hereafter AT source)
Source: AT4050ST-> Marantz Oade Warm PMD660
Location: OTS/DFC, 120°Stereo @ 8'h
Transfer: CDWave->FLAC16

16 bit source

Source 6 (hereafter AKG source)
Source: AKG392's(OTS/DFC) -> Hydra Silver XLR's -> Edirol UA-5 (Oade warm mod) ->
Microtrack II 24 bit @ 48 Khz
Location: Omnidirectional 39" separation, 75 HZ bass rolloff, Mics aimed at PA Stacks, approximately 12 ft high on stand.
Transfer: Microtrack II-> USB -> PC-> CD WAVE Editor -> Flac Frontend

16 bit source
24 bit source

Source 7 (hereafter SKM184 source)
Source: Neumann skm184>sd702>wav24/48
Location: OTS>13ft
Transfer: CF>goldwave(dither resample 16/441)>cd wave>flac level 8

16 bit source

Source 8 (hereafter SPTFB-2 source)
Source: SP-TFB-2 > SP-SPSB-10 > MARANTZ-PMD620
Location: BOB  
Transfer: MASTER > AUDACITY > CD WAVE > FLAC LEVEL (8)

16 bit source

Source 9 (hereafter DPA 4023 source)
Source: DPA 4023>Sonosax SX-M2>Sound Devices 722 (24/96)
Location: NOS/FOB/DFC 6' stand
Transfer: 722>Firewire>Macbook>Sound Studio 3.6(fades, normalize peak, +gain, track)>
Wave Editor (iZotope Resampler/MBIT+ Dither)>
xACT 2.13(align on sector boundaries, encode, tag, fingerprint)>flac16 (level 8)

16 bit source
24 bit source


Source 10 (hereafter Oktava source)
Source: Oktava MC-012s  > Edirol UA-5 (DIY digi-mod, 44.1kHz) > optical > Creative Nomad JB3 (WAV)
Location: hyper, OTS, 10' up, NOS
Transfer: Creative Nomad JB3 > USB > Creative Play Center > CDWav > normalize -b (+1.49dB) > Trader's Little Helper (FLAC Level 8)

16 bit source


Phish - 7/3/11 "A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing" from Phish on Vimeo.

The DPA matrix source is very nice sounding.  However, it is not as full as the DPA 4023 by themselves.  The highs are quite nice, but the sub just doesn't kick the way it does on the DPA 4023's.

The MBHO source has nice bass response, but lacks definition and clarity at the lowest frequencies.

The CCM4, like the MBHO's has nice bass response, however the highs aren't as crisp as the AKG, the AT, or the DPA 4023 source.

The MG matrix has a lot of bass.  The highs, like the CCM4's, aren't as crisp as you would like.  This source is also a tad boomy.  As is often the case with matrix mixes, I would love to hear the MG's all by themselves.

The AT source has nice and crisp highs, however there seems to be a bit of hollowness in the high-mids.  The bass response is nice, but again, not as full as the DPA 4023's.

The AKG 392's, like most AKG sources, are very crisp sounding, however there is a bit of boominess down low.  The bass also lacks definition in the lowest frequencies.

The SKM184's sound nicely balanced, but are actually a tad lacking in low-end response compared to the DPA's. 

The SP-TFB-2 source doesn't kick the sub like the DPA's.  Also, like the AT source, there is a hollowness in the high-mids.  Overall, it is a bit muddy down low as well.

The DPA 4023 source is my pick for the night.  The bass response is excellent, while still maintaining excellent highs.  Overall the recording is very transparent and makes for a great listen.

The Oktava source doesn't have the bass response that was evident in the first night.  It is still very nice sounding and I look forward to hearing this source at more shows.

Happy listening!