2006.05.31 - Luxembourg City, Luxembourg @ Rockhal
Source A: Unknown Recording
Dissemination: CD ? > MP3 > Download in .rar format (06/2006)
Notes - by: Galen: I sincerely hope that a lossless version of this source is made available. As of 06/06/06 (what a date) there is surprisingly no source information nor are specific information pertaining to this recording. What a shame. From the MP3s contained herein, this is an exceptionally clear recording. Makes me wish recordings of Tool from the Spring US mini tour would've been able to sound like this does (this was due to the venues, not the recorders). All in all, a very solid recording. However, this is MP3 & even if/when the taper or the friend or whomever has the master does something with it there will be many inferior copies, like this, floating around. Said that... but you have to hear the scream during Stinkfist... wow. Again, note: all known copies of this source are MP3 sourced.
CD 1
Time: 48:35
<bass drone>
Stinkfist
The Pot
"Luxembourg. Damn glad to see ya."
Forty Six & 2
"Newsflash. We had a new album come out. Not sure if you knew that. New song from said album, and begin."
Jambi
Schism
Right In Two
CD 2
Time: 52:44
Lost Keys (Blame Hoffman)
Rosetta Stoned
Sober
"Had enough? Had enough?"
Lateralus
Vicarious
"I hope you enjoyed yourselves, cause we certainly did. Peace Out."
Ænema
Source B: DAT --- Sony ECM-717 > Sony TCD-D100
Dissemination: Sony TCD-D100 > Sony POC-DA12P > Philips CDR 765 > Master CD-RW > EAC > NERO 5.5.9.9 > 2nd gen CDR > EAC > WAV > FLAC (level 8)
Location: Less than 3m from the PA
Taper: Kabi225
Gen: 2nd gen
Notes - by: Taper:
A venue like the Rockhal with a capacity of roughly 4000-5000 people (apparently not sold-out, at least it didn't seem sold-out) is therefore not what I prefer. So, the combination of a) my first Tool show, b) my first time at this venue, c) a "big" venue and d) the supposedly strict security measures made me slightly nervous despite my experience. Finally decided to start the tape early, set the levels rather low and to hope for things to work out OK, as I usually check my levels frequently during a "normal" concert. Also opted for a FOS recording (right side) and when the gig started I was about 5 meters away from the barrier without people standing in between, which soon changed, however, as people tried to get closer to the stage. In addition, some of the security blokes were starting to "collect" cameras, so after about 3 minutes into the opener Stinkfist I decided to move right up to the barrier, less than 3 meters away from the PA. [I guess that's what you call "hugging" the PA] The funny thing was that for most of the gig one of those security guys was standing so close to me that I almost got sick of his after shave. :P Whenever he or one of the others went for somebody with a camera I made a confused face and shook my head and had a hard time not starting to smile, very entertaining indeed. ;D Anyway, I managed to tape the entire show (103 minutes). The first couple of minutes are a bit "rough" with all those people pushing in from the side but as soon as I moved to the barrier the tape became very clean. However, the volume was definitely close to the maximum that the ECM-717 can handle, especially the bass drum was very boomy in places and I didn't think the PA mix was perfect, OK yes, but not great. Anyway, there was apparently one error on the tape (Murphy's Law apparently as I've never had problems with DENON tapes before); two minutes into Schism there are a couple of short digital dropouts. I've managed to repair most of them and unless you listen closely you will probably not be bothered by this. Being a FOS recording there is hardly any loud clapping and talking on the recording. Compared to most recordings seeded on DIME this is probably a bit worse-sounding. I've rated it an "A-/B+". If I actually was the only taper [which I cannot imagine] we've got at least one complete, OK-sounding recording.
Notes - by: Galen:
I hear what the taper is talking about in regards to a bass-sound that basically thumps rather than having a clean sound. Hard to describe. I do believe the taper to be a bit incorrect in his assumption that this is a somewhat "worse sounding" as this is a clear, crisp & overly enjoyable recording. The bass is the only place to draw some amount of criticism but even this small issue is inconsequential. Something that strikes my fancy in this source is in the detailed-capture towards the end of The Pot (MP3'd as a sample). Thsi gives an indication of, overall, how this recording sounds. All in all, very nice & definitely a good capture. I would take a bet that the majority of US mini-tour tapers would've been pleased with results similar to this recording...
CD 1
Time: 48:35
CD 2
Time: 38:54
Source C: Mini Disc --- Core Sound Binaurals > Sharp MT-77
Dissemination: Master MD > Analog transfer > Mac > Bias Peak > WAV 16/44100 > FlacFrontend > FLAC Level 8
Taper: Duncan
Gen: 0 / FLAC
Notes: This fine audio recording is brought to you courtesy of one of the most prolific Tool tapers known to be around (still); Duncan. It is rather surprising that this recording is sourced from a compressed MD source with rather basic microphones. Goes to show you that the old standby of CSB>MD can deliver some very nice recordings... this is no exception & is better audio clarity (perhaps quality) than many of the US Mini Tour performances. Perhaps it is something to do with how the PA system is set up in Europe or maybe this taper simply knows how to tape? We may never know. There is a bit of crowd chatter & talking that is pervasive throughout but not nearly as noticeable as on other recordings. This recording travels around as one complete track sourced from a FLAC that the taper traded with a friend. There may be versions of this source with the WAV file split-up so do not have a cow if you see that at some point or another. Fine recording of Tool, fine performance by Tool & enough to make you want to go see them live. Go see them live & pay at least $70 w/service charges per ticket that is. Or, buying one of Tool's "ticketmaster ticket auctions' for a prime seat. Ha. Depends on what you want to do.
One Track
Time: 1:40:29
Source D: Solid State Recorder --- Hama Stereo Digital Microphone 46108 > iRiver (model # not known)
Taper: Eulenspiegel
Gen: 1 from Master
Notes: Fair recording. There is a good deal of crowd chatter however, to the credit of this source, that is a minimal issue. To my ears, the sound appears to be almost come from behind you from the back-right. To see what the hell I am talking about, put on a pair of decent headphones & listen. Thus, not sure where the microphone was positioned, I presume it was pointed towards the sound source however audibly it is unclear. If you listen intently you will also notice a layer of bass distortion that is not completely overwhelming, more of a 'if you know what to listen for you will it' type of situation. That said, the low end instead of being there, basically hits a brickwall due to the inability of the microphones to accommodate the SPL frequencies. Ah. This source is worth a listen as the vocals are surprisingly crisp & clean. This would be considered, on an audiophile level, to be well below average for 2006 Tool recordings thus giving it a label of collector's only due only to the lack of comparable benefit in regards to recordings from this leg. Had this been from, say, 1997 the designation would not be made. This is significantly better than the taper's 2006-06-08 recording though.
CD 1
Time: 48:58
CD 2
Time: 52:07