August 8, 2011 The Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA Sources Review

Phish continued their quick run through the west coast with a stop at the legendary Hollywood Bowl.  While the show didn't pack the heft of either of the Gorge shows, there were, as always, moments worth hearing again as well as a fun cover of Paul Simon's 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover.  For this night, there are currently 6 sources available, not counting 24 bit sources.  I want to thank the tapers for getting these recordings made and for sharing them with the community.  Thanks a lot fellas!

Source 1 (hereafter M934C source)
Source: Schoeps m934c> M221B> Sonosax SX-M2> Edirol R44 (@24bit/96kHz)
Location: Section Garden 932, 8' Stand, ORTF, m934c/cardioid
Transfer: SDHC> Samplitude SE 9.1.1(dither/resample)> CDWave> flac(16/44.1)

16 bit source

Source 2 (hereafter AKG source)
Source: AKG c422 > s42 > Grace Design Lunatec V2 > Sonic AD2K+ > Tascam HD-P2 (24 bit, 96 kHz)
Location : Garden Box 932 (right of center), ~8' stand, offset arm/nanoclamp
Mic Config : Blumlein
Transfer : CF card > USB 2.0 card reader > PC > normalize to 95%, fades, invert polarity (Samplitude)
> POW-r #3 (Samplitude) > Resample Ultra High 1 (Samplitude)

16 bit source

Source 3 (hereafter SPC4 source)
Source: Studio Projects C4s (cardioid) > Segue Dogstar XLRs > Fostex FR-2LE (24bit/48khz)
Location: Terrace Box 1032, stand @ 6.5' Config: 20cm @ 70* 
Transfer: CF Card > .bwf > Audacity (fades/gain/resample/dither) > CDWave > .wav > .flac

16 bit source

Source 4 (hereafter MK4 source)
Source: Schoeps CMC6/MK4 -> Sound Devices 744T (24bit/96k)
Location: Terrace Box 1032
Transfer: Samplitude Professional v11.2 -> FLAC/16

16 bit source
24 bit source 



Source 5 (hereafter Senn source)
Source: Sennheiser Mkh8050-Marantz Pmd 661 (Oade Transparent Mod)

16 bit source

Source 6 (hereafter CCM4 source)
Source:Schoeps CCM4(NOS)Vms52ub>R44(ocm)24/96
Location: Section Garden 932, 8' Stand
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44>Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source


Phish - 8/8/11 "Joy" from Phish on Vimeo.

The M934C source sounds a bit muddy down low, in fact the overall effect is like the bass knob has been turned up on an old EQ.  Further, the lowest notes of the bass are lost, they just lack tone. 

The AKG source is quite crisp and well defined, but the bass just doesn't kick my sub and the levels are noticeably lower than the better sources.

The SPC4 source is very crisp sounding as well, with better levels and dynamism than the AKG source, but not quite the umph of the MK4 or Senn sources.  The separation on the instruments is quite good on this source though.

The MK4 source gets my nod for best source of the night.  The bass is great, full and dynamic, the high-end is crisp and the separation of the instruments is fantastic.  In addition, the levels are quite nice. 

The Senn source is probably the second best source of the night.  Like the MK4 source, it kicks the sub, and has great separation.  However, there seems to be something missing in the low-mids that makes the source sound a bit hollow down there.  In essence the difference between the MK4 and Senn source is one of tone.  I just think the MK4 sounds a bit more transparent.  However, the Senn source is quite good.

The CCM4 soruce is crisp, like the AKG source, with a bit better levels.  However, like many of the other sources, it just doesn't get the sub firing hard.

Happy listening!