August 12, 2011 Polo Fields, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA Sources Review

The final show on Phish's West coast run was a stop at the venerable Golden Gate Park for the Outside Lands Festival.  There have been many, many debates about Phish's various festival performances, particularly recently at Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits.  These shows often are light on jamming and heavy on songs.  This show was no different.  In addition, both of these recordings were made stealthily and one is marred by several missing songs, which are patched from the other recording.  I want to thank both tapers for going out and capturing this night for all of the community.  Thanks a lot guys!

 
Source 1 (hereafter CA source)
Source: Church Audio STC-11 Cards  > CA 9100 > iRiver
Location: DFC, PAS, BOB ~100', Stick ~6'
Lineage: Adobe Audition (Fades, tracking, overall 50Hz HPF, spot 80Hz HPF for wind and incidentals, normalize to -.1dB) > xACT (SBE fix, flac level 8, tagged)

16 bit source



Source 2 (hereafter Senn source) ***patched in middle of 1st set from CA source***
Source: Sennheiser MKH 8050's-Oade Transparent Mod PMD 661
Location FOB 60 Ft. Back from Stage Dead Center standing against railing on left side.Mic's in Hat

16 bit source


Phish - 8/12/11 "Julius" from Phish on Vimeo.

The CA source is my pick for recording of the night.  Not only is it complete, but it is the better sounding of the two.  The dynamic range is level and distinct.  The bass is not as full as on the Senn source, but the recording is much clearer and sounds so much better in the mids.

The Senn source is very bass heavy and the overall effect is to sound boomy.  The highs sound fine, but there seems to be a great deal lost in the mids which makes the recording sound less dynamic than the CA source.

Happy listening!