Grateful Dead

There is really only one solution. It's a bit complicated.. so hang in there with me. This is what we all need to do.

1) Get out the credit card with the greatest limit.
2) Google, select and purchase the new Wall of Sound, Home Edition TM (C) R with this credit card. As soon as the purchase is made destroy this card.
3) DO NOT TELL your partner/significant other.
4) Go to the roughest bar in town and tell some raunchy mom jokes to the bouncer. Keep doing this until he pummels you.
5) Come home and tell your partner / significant other you were mugged and robbed. Tell them all they took was your credit card.
6) If your partner is suspicious file a police report.
7) Install the WOS Home Edition in your listening room while your partner is not home. If complaints arise later, amnesia from the head trauma is your response. "honey, I am having trouble remembering anything from that week.
8) Replay Dave's Picks 38 at high volume.

Your sound issues are now resolved. Happy listening.

I mentioned that a while ago, after others had already detected it with headphones.

I played the CDs twice on my stereo system are did not detect any sound issues.
Onkyo 6-disc CD changer
Cambridge Audio receiver
Onkyo subwoofer
Bose 301 speakers

I then imported to computer and made ALAC files for my music players and AAC files to play from a USB flash drive in the car.
When I played the imported AIFF files on the computer there was extensive distortion through the small external computer speakers.
The colored bars that show the sound levels (not volume) on the computer audio software were almost hitting red. Clearly too high, but don’t know if that is on the original recording or the result of mastering.
Recall that on 8-25-72 Norman boosted Phil’s bass beyond what was on the original recording.
Maybe he boosted the levels for this release.

I played the ALAC files with an iBasso DX120 music player connected to my Cambridge Audio receiver. Did not detect any distortion or other sound flaws.
Been playing the AAC files in the car this week and have not heard any issues so far (set 2 started just before getting to work today).

So, it definitely depends on your system whether you hear the issues.
Crappy computer speakers sound terrible.
Apparently a high end system like Oro’s reveals the sound problems too.
My midrange system sounds good as does the audio system in my car.

Upon several listens to these cd's, I concur, this release has a few abnormalities that don't take away from the overall enjoyment of listening to these discs, but they are noticeable and makes me wonder if it was the master tape or was it a mailed in mastering job?
This has also made me wonder, will the rest of Dave's sound like this? I love me some Jerry right up front, why I'm here, but there should be a better balance of all the players in a band, not just one or two.
Disappointing? yes, deal breaker? not sure yet, will have to wait and see, but if there is any more killer shows that they do want to release, lets hope that the folks who do the mastering of these ancient tapes does a little bit better job than this release.
On a separate note, I was privileged to receive a code for the Dead and Company presale going on today at 10 am. Funny, I did not receive a code last tour, not privileged I guess. The price for these tickets is outrageous. A vip guaranteed reserve seat is over 250.00$. That's for one ticket.
It was fun getting excited like the old days, yahoo, the dead to tour, get your head together, get some tickets, get excited, get ready.....then I realized that those days are over for me. I can go see Billy strings, get a great hotel room, then go to the hot air balloon festival and get to ride on a hot air balloon, all for the same amount of cash. Kinda seems like a no brainer here, twice as much fun for the same dollars.
I realize that Bobby, Mickey and Billy are getting up there and there won't be too many more tours for them, and I would love to revisit these guys one more time.
The last time I tried to get tickets and got them, the show was cancelled due to Mayer's appendicitis. I don't want to jinx it so I will pass on this tour, besides, it's just too soon for me to be out there with all those vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Too all those who decide to go, enjoy.

I ultimately reached the conclusion that part of the issue is how people are listening. I do not listen on headphones, computer speakers or use any type of equalizer. So far I have not listened in the car. I did try using Dolby on one of our stereo systems, which reduced the noise to a certain extent, but not entirely.

I've been in the record business all my life and agree with AJS. There is almost no way an audio anomaly like what was described could occur on some discs and not others for Dave's Picks. These discs are pressed ùfrom the same master. There would need to be two different master mixes for a subset of CDs to contain an anomaly. I would say the player could be a factor, but Obo ruled that out already. I assume like Jim said we are not counting Bertha because it is uneven for obvious reasons. I hear a decent sounding 1973 show here. The master tapes sound better better than Pacific Northwest but not as good as DaP 5. I don't hear many audio issues at all. I would like to hear what Obo and AJS are disliking. I whipped out the Bose headphones and all I hear is Jerry "shredding". What a night he is having. Weir too. Early on somebody said Keith was gone and that is true. Every once in a while I will hear a section that sounds like a tunnel for 5 or 10 seconds, but they are few and far between. Or Weir will just stop playing like in China Cat Sunflower but he needs to rest sometimes. He played China Cat, HCS, EOTW and Bird Song all in one night ;-)

The chances are virtually nil that some defect would have only affected such a small number of discs. Furthermore, it only occurs on the 9/8 show, not 9/7. I am very surprised as well that others are not hearing it.

I don't hear it, which isn't saying much. I rip everything to my hard drive as WAV files and run them through an equalizer with a bunch of sound options. "Concert Hall" is perfect for these old Dead tapes, plus I push up the four EQ sliders all the way to the right about halfway.

That being said Oborious, this sentence got my attention. You say:

I’ve noticed the phenomena/artifact on several instruments and vocals, usually only noticeable when that source is loud and/or with sharp attack...but it’s never like everything is distorting all at the same time.

This phenomena sounds like something Norman may have done in production. It sounds like a feature I have that prevents clipping at high volume. I am a fan of good sound but no engineer so I will copy the internet definition, which you probably know:

Clipping is a form of waveform distortion that occurs when an amplifier is overdriven and attempts to deliver an output voltage or current beyond its maximum capability. Driving an amplifier into clipping may cause it to output power in excess of its power rating.

When I play stuff too loud this feature cuts back on only the parts that are causing the clipping. It is obvious to the ear when this feature on my system gets activated. It sounds exactly like your description where you say 'several instruments and vocals, usually only noticeable when that source is loud and/or with sharp attack...but it’s never like everything is distorting all at the same time.'

My theory is that the master tapes Jeff Norman worked with had some hot spots so he used a feature like what I have on my equalizer to "even out" all the levels as he input the music from the master tapes on to a digital storage.

I am not sure why I don't hear it but I guess my EQ is dressing it up. If I listen to the CD with no EQ it sounds like the treble needs to get turned up all the way. Even then it doesn't sound even close to the quality of the EQ and Concert Hall enhancement. It makes me curious if a lot of people out there listen straight off the CD with nothing 'extra' to improve the sound.

On a different note I laughed heartily at the quacking duck interview. Well done whoever made that up. It sounds like something Jerry would say.

And last, I listened to the Dark Star / Morning Dew that KF mentioned on 5/18/72. I don't know how I overlooked that one but it is much better than I remembered. Somehow the Europe 72 Dark Stars never stuck with me. Probably because I rarely play those shows. Only because I want them to be special every time.

Great joke.. made my day.
I wholeheartedly agree.

Yes.. the sound on 38 is a bit wobbly in the beginning. But isn't that Grateful Dead standard time? It sounds ok by the time they get warmed up.

Next up on the E72 anniversary list. What at a great show. And it's Dark Star => Morning Dew night.
I'm going to go out on limb here and say it's the first time they did this combo. This is one of my favorite shows from the tour. Jerry's guitar is louder than usual (and louder is always better). Crunchy guitars are tight!

Sugar Magnolia really hits a groove, and Billy has this absolutely ridiculous drum fill at the....drum fill part; I've never heard him play it quite like this - it's like gets a running headstart. Great version despite a classic Bobby lyric miss early on (proof of the weed).

Jack Straw is great. This is maybe the second one where Jerry sings the Watchman and Tulsa verses, and Bobby forgets it's not his line anymore - so they both jump the Watchman - not a fair fight at all.

And some great banter after Black-Throated Wind. Jerry always makes me laugh up there. He was the king of one-liners:

Girl Fan (to Jerry): Lovelight!

Jerry: Turn on YOUR Lovelight baby.

Girl Fan: You Turn on yours first.

Jerry: Oh no, after you...

I was surprised this is the first real discussion about it. I got my copies a week ago, and have made it through the Bonus and Bird Song and Playing as I ripped and converted and had 9/7 first. Also, made it up to Weather Report Suite on the release. The sound struck me as incredibly washy, and while it's great to hear Keith and Bob much more than usual (some releases you wonder if Keith played on much at all from his presence on the tapes, but these are great for Keith fans!), so I just balance that with the cymbal heavy mix. Maybe they were trying new mic placements for the drums. Not Kidd Candelario's best tape by any stretch. He's usually top notch, though. Jai Alai Fronton last year is a phenomenal Kidd tape. That may be my favorite Wall of Sound release for sound quality.

Also, I'm surprised, or have missed, no reference to the Bonus Eyes ending not with its Slipknotish jam, but ending with a Here Comes Sunshine jam. A fantastic Eyes! Phil with a different start to his solo, and a different feel, maybe reacting to the Wolf darting around? So far enjoying the release and bearing with the sound.