2007.07.09 - Hamilton, ON, Canada @ Copps Coliseum

Source A: Hi-Mini Disc --- Audio Technica 853S > Mini Battery Module SP-SPSB-6 + Core Sound Cardioids > 3 wire battery module >> Sony MZ-N1
Transfer: analog out > CD Wave > WAVELABS > FLAC
Taper: bobcat

Notes - Taper:
I used a double stereo connector and thought id try recording this with both sets of mics i own. I had some techinical (sic) issues with my mini disc for the first 20 minutes or so..i fixed that up as best as possible which took me too much time. u can hear it but its nothing super bad. other then that its a pretty good pull using two sets of mics with a dual stereo jack is the way to go. :)

Notes - Galen:
Hmm. Yeah well, retrospectively, I should have gone to this gig. Could have had a floor ticket (I pulled it up when they went on sale) but decided against driving another (total) 10 hours to>from where I live to Hamilton, ON for a 5th Tool show in the span of 11 days. I even checked a few other occasions & was able to score even halfway decent tickets in the stands. However, I decided to not do it. And then look what happens, they bust out the intro to Passage to Bangkok, play Flood & add a cover from The Kids In The Hall series. WTF? Ah well. This recording is quite interesting. The taper used a technique called "real-time matrix" via using two different microphones at the same time. The end result of this is a different sound that basically blends both microphones together. I, myself, have been doing the same type of taping since 2005 (but not for Tool) & it is actually a little bit more of a challenge simply because you end up with more variables to consider. Regardless, nicely done to the taper. As of 08/2007 there are *no* other "real-time matrix" recordings known to exist, thus, this is a first for the Tool live recording community (if I am wrong, please point me towards correcting my assumption). Now there are some technical issues that occur throughout the recording, on + off again. I noticed a couple microphone issues in regards of phasing & at least a few examples of a channel-drop (i.e.: one mic became louder than the other, than a shift back to how it was prior). All in all though... a very pleasant (and unique) capture of one of the more pleasurable (and unique) setlists from this leg of the tour.

Maynardism: "Good evening. As you all know, it is Danny Carey's birthday & he showed up for work.”

Time: 1:55:33

<bass drone>
Jambi
(w/Passage To Bangkok)
Stinkfist
46&2
Schism
Rosetta Stoned
Flood
(intro)
Most Days It's Dark / Death Lurks
(Kids In The Hall - cover)
Flood
Wings For Marie (Pt 1)
10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2)
Lateralus
Vicarious

Source B: Core Sound Binaural > Sony MZ-R30

Notes: Loud crowd mixed with a location which was a good deal of distance from the PA’s. Pervasive crowd. Vocals are quite buried. Not a terrible recording by any means but it is not the most vibrant source for this performance, this evening. Had the taper been closer to the stacks, this could have been a different story. Also, the recording is vastly incomplete after Flood. All things concerned, this would be best left for collectors.

Time: 64:41

Source C: Sony TCM-353V

Notes: Man… This source material. Clearly, this is straight up just for collectors. Sound is warbled, distorted and somewhat chaotic. Do not get me wrong, the world is a better place with this recording in it, however, this would be passable for a source in 1991 or 1992. Not, 2007.

Source D: The Sound Professionals SP-CMC-8 > M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96
Taper: Dru

Notes: This is a fantastic recording. I would argue the best of the bunch. Vocals are crisp and clear, Adam’s guitar cuts through the silence, Justin’s bass is resounding while Danny does some of his best drumming this tour. Where has this jewel been hiding for so long? Fantastic. And the performance of Flood > Most Days > Flood is just amazing.

Time: 2:16:04