2007.07.16 - Reading, PA, USA @ Sovereign Center

Source A: Solid State Recorder --- Schoeps MK4's>Active Cables>Nbox+>Edirol R-09(@24/44.1)
Transfer: Edirol R-09>Wavelab 5(UV22HR Dither to 16/44.1)>CDWAV>FLAC
Taper: Dubble D

Notes: I do believe that the taper was A) a good distance away & B) ran conservative levels on the recording unit. The vocals, it must be from the mix, are buried like Hoffa although at times it seems like he would be easier to find. The MK4's are renowned for being excellent microphones whilst recording, that certainly holds true here. However, there seems to be a ton of lower level frequency. So much so that it tends to over-shadow the higher frequencies leaving the nuances + intricacies that I, for one, appreciate in a live recording. Not sure heavy bass is a way to describe it... kind of thick like maple syrup on a Winter's morning. I suppose that for the equipment used I expected a much brighter, vibrant & interesting product versus the end result, as it is. Meh...

Maynardism:
"Hello, uh uh, hold on. Hold on. Weird thing, hang on. Hello Puxatony... check, check... sorry. Good to be back where we are - we are here. Are you guys ready for a fun filled evening filled with clowns & circus animals? Well we got a show for you tonight. with the clowns, thank you very much, and VD."

Time: 2:01:13

<bass drone>
Jambi
Stinkfist
46 & 2
Lost Keys
Rosetta Stoned
Flood
Schism
Wings For Marie (Pt 1)
10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2)
Lateralus

Source B: DAT --- Core Sound Binaurals > battery box > Sony PCM-M1 (line-in)
Transfer: Tascam DA-20 > Coaxial > Audiophile 2496 > Audacity > CD Wave > .wav > SoundForge > Flac Frontend (level 8) > .flac
Taper: Daskrabs

Notes - Taper: Overall, great recording, IMHO. Complete show. There is a bit of crowd noise immediately surrounding the taper for most of the show. I would like to thank bennyblanco from CU.org for taking the time and effort to master this for me. He did a fine job.
Notes - Galen: Ok yeah I know that by me saying the following it will result in scratched heads & hate-mail, but, I prefer the overall product of this source versus the MK4>R09. This source sounds more like the MK4 source *should have* sounded. The overall sound is much brighter, there is much more separation of the instruments & MJK's vocals are not nearly as drowned-out/buried than on other sources. Nicely done. Now in the age of solid state recorders, DPA, SPCMC, MK4 microphone sources floating around who would have thought that the basic CSB>DAT rig could pull off such an impressive recording? Well, there you go. Clean, crisp & enjoyable even with the ever-so-present pre-pubescent females screaming now + then.

Time: 1:58:26

Source C: Solid State --- Edirol R-09 (with built-in mics)
Transfer: WAV 16bit -> USB -> WaveLab (for tracking, fades, slight level boost) -> Trader's Little Helper (for
encoding, checksum) -> FLAC 8
Location: Section 114, Row J
Taper: Dassarri

Notes - Taper: Second taping ever, two nights after taping the Albany show. Same setlist, but Maynard was much more on top of his game on this night. Cody from BB on Lateralus again, as in Albany, and was TPed by Maynard and Adam during the song. Hence the "Clean that shit up, Cody". In terms of the actual taping, about ten seconds or so are muffled during Forty- Six & 2 when Security seemed to be looking for someone in our row. I adjusted my recorder (maybe they saw a bit of light?) after quickly letting it disappear in my pocket. Other than that, it was a great night save for this damn bitch sitting right in front of me (am I a little bitter? Yes.) who simply would not shut up. Unfortunately you can hear her annoying laugh and pain in the ass blathering in the recording. I hope she comes to know that everyone in our immediate vicinity was getting really pissed. Even those higher than kites were about ready to put the little effort they'd be able to muster into smothering her.

Notes - Galen: OK well although the Edirol R-09 tends to have some *serious* issues with the line-in, it is rather cool that the little unit has a built-in microphone. The built-in mics are not superb but they do actually get the job done without distortion or brickwall. The sound is at least as good as an upper-end ECM microphone > DAT recording. Not too shabby. This recording is just like that; pretty good but not superb or brilliant based on the limitations of the microphones (which are apparent). The sound is not tinny, per se, but it can sound sort of swishy at times; sort of like a pack of emo-geeks at a Morrissey concert (with their little scarves wrapped around their throats). All in all, pretty decent but there are better sources of this performance available. Oh and the taper was not kidding about the chick in front of him, she is rather annoying.

Time: 1:58:33