2002.08.10 - Baltimore, MD, USA @ Baltimore Arena

Source A: DAT --- Sound Professionals Slimilne Cardioids (Audio Technica 933) > Sony TCD-D8

Notes: Very nice audience recording. Low crowd noise, vocals are clear & the instruments shine through very nicely. I do detect a slight brickwall though, but I'm just being a picky bastard. Performance is as polished & professional as one would expect from this leg of the tour. Hmm...not really sure what to say on a tour-level or global-level. I had a lot of hopes for this tour & it seems to be a little repetitive like the 2001 US Arena tour was. Oh well....from what people have said who were at this show, it was a good performance & the recording does pick that up very nicely. It would be fair to say that someone who may not be completely familiar with the performance patterns of this leg of the tour (i.e.: casual listener) would not notice. To me, it seems that there is some passion missing from this leg, especially from the beginning of Aug - Sept, end of this leg. I had my tickets for the 08.26.02 Detroit show & knew it was going to be very similar to this performance. Not much variability.

 CD 1
Time: 65:41                                                                   

CD 2
Time: 49:03

Source B: DAT --- Core Sound Cardioids > Sony PCM-M1

Notes: Overall, this recording accurately captures the presence, power & precision that was Tool during this particular and somewhat repetitive summer tour. In comparison with the SPC>D8 version, I would hazard an opinion & say that they are pretty much the same with this source being slightly brighter but lacking a little bit as far as presence. Opinion, just an opinion. This is most likely due to the position of the respective tapers. I have no idea whether this version is considered rare or not but before I received it, I had not seen any copies floating out there. All in all though, this is a recording version that is not spectacular but is at least average to above average.

 CD 1
Time: 67:10

CD 2
Time: 47:27

Source C: Unspecified Recording Equipment
Source C: Unknown Gen (low) VHS > DVD

Notes: The audio is slightly brickwalled on the higher frequencies but is otherwise not too bad for a video, let alone a VHS>DVD conversion. There is a line of analog noise from the VHS conversion that is evident but this is not really a huge issue. It is unknown if there are any Master>DVD copies floating around. if there, let me know. As of 2005, there appear not to be any. Although this video is not exceedingly rare, it did make it's way into some form of general trade not too long ago. Like many videos, there is unknown or unverified recording equipment information. Your guess is as good as mine - wait. Stop that. Don't guess... if you do not know the source information do not pretend that you do. Fair performance, lacks in a bit of energy to those that would notice a difference in comparison to... whatever.  

Maynardism: "Baltimore. Baltimore. Are you sure?”                                                                                  

DVD
Time: 1:55:17

Tuva
The Grudge
(-) Ions
Stinkfist
H.
Schism
Parabol
Parabola
Eon Blue Apocalypse
The Patient
Ænema
Intermission
Disposition
Reflection
Triad
Lateralus