10-10-10 1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO Tape Review

As of this morning (October 12) there are 3 sources available.  All three are excellent and you can't really go wrong with any one of them.  However, it is my job to review and critique them, so here goes.

Source 1 (hearafter Schoeps source)

Source: Schoeps mk4v's(DINa)>kc5>m222>nt222>744t
Location: FOB/DFC
Transfer: 744t>CD Wave>Wavelab 5>Flac

Etree Source

Source 2 (hearafter Neuman source)

Source:  FOB/DFC > Neumann ak40's(NOS) > lc3 >
km100 > Aerco mp2 @ 20db > Sd 702 @ 24/48
Transfer: Cf Card > *Wavelab 6.0 > Resample/Uv 22Hr Dither >
Cd Wave > TLH > 16/44 FLAC (*Lowered Gain By -1db.)

Etree Source

Source 3 (hereafter Sennheuser source)

Field: Sennheiser MD441U > Edirol R4Pro ( Oade preamp mod ) @ 24/88.2
config: pointed slightly outside PA array, centered, 12 feet 4 inches high.
Path: R4Pro > WaveBurner ( track on sector boundaries, fades, SRC, BDC ) > xACT ( to flac, and for tagging and checksums )


Etree Source

Much like the Trey and Mike benefit show from the night before, all of the recordings available are excellent, and where they are deficient, they are all that way, which I attribute to the house mix.  First the deficiency, Page is very low in the mix and I think this is to the detriment of the show overall.

Now the good stuff, the Neuman source, as with the night before, has a long intro of crowd noise before the first track, while the other two sources split the crowd intro into a separate track.  There is a strong bass response from the Neuman source, but it does have a slight lack of definition between the bass and kick drum at the low end.  However, this problem is more pronounced in the Sennheuser and Schoeps sources.  When you hear Gordon hit an extremely low note all alone, as in the intro to Ocelot, it is clear and well-defined. 

The Sennheuser source has especially crisp highs and, like the Neuman source, good frequency response into the lower registers.  There is a bit more mid-range in Trey's tone which makes this source slightly less preferred than the Neuman.

Unlike the night before, the Schoeps source performed the least well.  The levels are noticeably low at the beginning of Chalkdust Torture, though the taper quickly remedies this as the full band comes in.  However, there is not as much punch as I like when Gordon really gets the song going.  There is great definition in the highs.  Also, there is noticeable chatting during some of the quieter parts of songs. 

Once again, I must tip my hat to these tapers who put forth so much effort in both recording the performances as well as disseminating them so rapidly.  All three sources were available before 12 noon eastern the day after the show.  That's incredible.  As I said from the outset, all three recordings are excellent.  However, if forced to choose, I would rate the Neuman source the best, the Sennheuser source next, and the Schoeps source last. 

Happy listening!