June 19, 2012 nTelos Pavilion, Portsmouth, VA Sources Review

Phish moved down the eastern shore a bit from Jersey down to Virginia.  nTelos was the smallest venue of tour and launched a meme that Phish played with all tour.  On top of tucking, Phish played a version of Split Open and Melt that is definitely worth a re-listen.  For a Tuesday night show, there were a ton of tapers on hand.  There are 9 sources available for this night!  I want to thank the tapers for all that they do and for sharing their recordings with the community.

Source 1 (hereafter M934c source)
Source: Schoeps m934c> M221B> PS> Aeta PSP-3> SD 722 (@24bit/96kHz)
Location: FOB, DFC, DIN, m934c/cardioid
Transfer: SD 722> Samplitude SE 9.1.1(dither/resample)> CDWave> flac(16/44.1)

16 bit source
24 bit source


Source 2 (hereafter Busman source)
Source: Busman k11 > BSC2 > Lunatec V2 > Tascam DR100-mkII (24/44.1)
Transfer: SDHC > Sound Forge 10 > CD Wave > .flac (level 8)
Location: FOB / DFC / Mics up 6 feet, ORTF

16 bit source

Source 3 (hereafter MK4v>KC5 source)
Source: Schoeps mk4v's(DIN)>kc5>m222>nt222>aeta psp-3>744t
Location: FOB/SLOC
Transfer: 744t>CD Wave>Wavelab 5>Flac

16 bit source

Source 4 (hereafter B&K source)
Source: B&K4022(xy) > Sonosax [55%] + B&K 4027(ortf) > Sonosax [45%] > 744T
Location: fob 1st row seats dfc
Transfer: 744T>soundforge 10.0>cd wave>flac

16 bit source

Source 5 (hereafter MK4v>VST source)
Source:Schoeps MK4v(Din)> Vst 62IUg>Aeta PSP-3>Mytek 192 adc aes/spdif>R44(OCM)24/96
Location: FOB, DFC 6' Stand
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44>Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 6 (hereafter MK41v source)
Source:Schoeps MK41v(NOS)> Kcy > Sonosax SX-M2/LS2>R44(OCM)24/96
Location: FOB, DFC 6' Stand
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44>Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 7 (hereafter MK21 source)
Source: Schoeps mk21> KC5> M222> NT222> Aeta PSP-3> SD 744t (@24bit/96kHz)
Location: FOB, DFC, NOS
Transfer: SD 744t> Samplitude SE 9.1.1(dither/resample)> CDWave> flac(16/44.1)

16 bit source
24 bit source

Source 8 (hereafter Nak source)
Source: franken nak 300>cp-1>r4 oade tmod 24/48
Location: fob loc 4 ft pas @9ft
Transfer: r4>pc audacity dither 16/44.1>cd wave splits>tlh flac 8

16 bit source

Source 9 (hereafter MK41 source)  ****24 bit only****
Source: Schoeps MK41 > KCY > Schoeps VMS5-U > Mytek 192 > Marantz PMD-661
Location: FOB (just) at left corner of FOH On Stand, approximately 8'
Transfer: SDHC Media Card -> Dell m1730 via media card reader > Sony Sound Forge 10 @ 96kHz, 24

24 bit source





Phish - 6/19/12 "Maze" from Phish on Vimeo.

Once again, the M934c source is my pick for best of the evening.  It is extremely clear from the lowest lows to the highest highs and has great presence and levels.  The low-end has plenty of umph to it and the tone is very natural.

The Busman source  doesn't have the low-end punch of the M934c or MK21 sources.  It is quite clear though.

The MK4c>KC5 source is a bit boomy and there is a fair amount of crowd noise.

The B&K source is very muddy sounding, particularly in the low-end.

The MK4v>vst source is nice and clean sounding, but just doesn't have the punch of the MK21 or M934c sources.

The MK41v source sounds a bit distant and doesn't have the definition of the better schoeps sources.

The MK21 source has excellent low-end and is very clean.  There is plenty of low-end without being boomy.  However, the tone is slightly different from the M934c and I don't prefer this source quite as much.  That said, if you already have the MK21 source, by all means keep it.  It is really good.

The Franken Nak source is quite good for a Nak source, however the low-end just can't compare to the MK21 and M934c sources.

The MK41 source is incredibly in your face and is really present.  However, there is a bit of crowd noise and the low-end isn't quite as punchy as the MK21 or M934c sources.

Happy listening!

June 17, 2012 Bader Field Atlantic City, NJ Sources Review

The third night of an excellent run at Atlantic City didn't have quite the punch that the first two nights had, but it did offer a few choice nuggets that are worth a re-listen.  I would definitely recommend giving the 2001 a spin as well as the Reba that follows.  I want to thank the tapers again for their efforts in getting these shows into our hands.  I hate to apologize again to my readers, but life and tour got in the way of keeping these up as fast as I would like.  However, things look fairly open for the next several days, so I hope to get through nTelos this week and have the OH-PA-OH run up next week, with the Creeks to follow shortly there after.  Lots of good stuff to get to.  There are 7 sources for this evening.

Source 1 (hereafter M934c source)
Source: Schoeps m934c> M221B> PS> Aeta PSP-3> SD 722 (@24bit/96kHz)
Location: FOB, DFC, DIN, 6' Stand, m934c/cardioid
Transfer: SD 722> Samplitude SE 9.1.1(dither/resample)> CDWave> flac(16/44.1)

16 bit source
24 bit source


Source 2 (hereafter CCM4v source)
Source: Schoeps CCM4V'S(din)>Lunatec V2>Benchmark AD2K>
Sound Devices 722 (24/48)
Location: FOB/DFC 42' From Stage, 6' High
Transfer: Sound Devices 722>Sound Forge 9.0>CD Wave>flac(16)

16 bit source

Source 3 (hereafter MK22+MK8 source)
Source: Schoeps mk22 + mk8 [M-S]> Vark KCY> Darktrain 30' KCY Extension> Naiant Littlebox (onboard M-S conversion)> Sony m10 (@24bit/96kHz)
Location: FOB, DFC, ~6' Stand.
Transfer: Dithered to 16bit via Mbit II and resampled to 44.1kHz via iZotope

16 bit source
24 bit source

Source 4 (hereafter MK21 source)
Source: Schoeps mk21> KC5> M222> NT222> Aeta PSP-3> SD 744t (@24bit/96kHz)
Location: FOB, DFC, DIN, 6' Stand, NOS
Transfer: SD 744t> Samplitude SE 9.1.1(dither/resample)> CDWave> flac(16/44.1)

16 bit source
24 bit source

Source 5 (hereafter MK4v source)
Source: Schoeps Mk4v> KCY>Schoeps Vst 62IUg>Oade 248>Mytek 192 adc aes/spdif>R44(OCM)24/96
Location: FOB, DFC,Din, 6' Stand
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44>Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 6 (hereafter MK41v source)
Source: Schoeps Mk41v(NOS)> KCY>Schoeps Vms5u>R44(OCM)24/96
Location: FOB, DFC 6' Stand
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44>Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 7 (hereafter AKG source)
Source: AKG392's(Right of SBD behind TS rail) -> 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 -> Adobe Audition 3.0 16/44.1 conversion -> Flac Frontend

16 bit source
24 bit source




Phish - 6/17/12 "Reba" from Phish on Vimeo.

The M934c source is my pick for the best of the night.  It is extremely clear sounding and the bass response is great.  The differences between this source and the MK21, and really the MK4v was right there too, are miniscule.  I slightly preferred the tone of the bass, it seemed a bit brighter, particularly on some of the really interesting stuff that Mike is doing at the beginning of 2001.  That said, if you already have the MK21 source, unless you are really obsessive, there is no reason to replace it.

The CCM4v source is pretty boomy and sounds a bit distant.

The MK22+MK8 source, like so many matrix mixes, has too much low-end without enough definition.

The MK21 source, as mentioned above, is excellent.  It is very clear with great separation.  The only differences between it and the M934c source are minor tonal differences.  If you already have this source, there is no need to switch.

The MK4v source is also quite good.  It doesn't have quite the separation of the MK21 or M934c source, but is still excellent.

The MK41v source is a bit boomier than the MK4v source or the MK21 or M934c source.

The AKG source is a bit thin on the low-end.  At points where Gordon is really dropping a bomb, the AKG's just kind of fade out.  Nowhere near the punch of the M934c or MK21 source.

Happy listening!

June 16, 2012 Bader Field, Atlantic City, NJ Sources Review

Night two at Atlantic City brought some heat right from the start.  There are very few bad shows that kick off with Mike's Song and this show is no exception.  The Lighteca in the second set is definitely not to be missed.  As with the night before, there are 5 sources available, though the sources are slightly different.  I want to thank all the tapers for recording this show and sharing it with the community.

Source 1 (hereafter MK21>KCY source)
Source: Schoeps Mk21> KCY>Schoeps Vms5u >R44(OCM)24/96
Location: FOB, DFC,NOS, 6' Stand
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44>Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 2 (hereafter M934c source)
Source: Schoeps m934c> M221B> PS> Aeta PSP-3> SD 722 (@24bit/96kHz)
Location: FOB, DFC, DIN, 6' Stand, m934c/cardioid
Transfer: SD 722> Samplitude SE 9.1.1(dither/resample)> CDWave> flac(16/44.1)

16 bit source
24 bit source

Source 3 (hereafter MK21>KC5 source)
Source: Schoeps mk21> KC5> M222> NT222> Aeta PSP-3> SD 744t (@24bit/96kHz)
Location: FOB, DFC, DIN, 6' Stand, NOS
Transfer: SD 744t> Samplitude SE 9.1.1(dither/resample)> CDWave> flac(16/44.1)

16 bit source
24 bit source


Source 4 (hereafter MK4v source)
Source: Schoeps Mk4v> KCY>Schoeps Vst 62IUg>Sonosax SX-M2>Mytek 192 adc aes/spdif>R44(OCM)24/96
Location: FOB, DFC,Din, 6' Stand
Transfer:SDHC>Audacity 16/44>Amadeus Pro>xACT

16 bit source

Source 5 (hereafter AKG source)
Source: AKG392's(Right of SBD) -> 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 -> Adobe Audition 3.0 16/44.1 conversion -> Flac Frontend

16 bit source
24 bit source




Phish - 6/16/12 "Light" from Phish on Vimeo.

The MK21>KCY source is a bit boomier than the other sources, all of which sound pretty darn good.  However, the separation and balance just isn't as good as the MK21>KC5 source.

The M934c source is very clear and quite well balanced, but it doesn't have the extra umph on the low-end that the MK21>KC5 source has.

The MK21>KC5 source is my pick for the night.  It is extremely clear and well balanced.  The separation is superior to the AKG source and the low-end has just a bit more kick than the M934c source.

The MK4v source sounds quite good but doesn't have the separation that the MK21>KC5 and M934c sources have.

The AKG source is quite good, but there is a bit of boominess at the lowest frequencies and the overall sonic separation isn't as good as the MK21>KC5 source.

Happy listening!