What Are You Listening to RIGHT NOW? Version 13

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January 16, 2017 - 8:58am

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marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

New year, new update. Tell us of your musical adventures in real time!

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October 17, 2024 - 7:34pm

#181

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Noise Reduction and...

I used Dolby for a brief blink of an eye when I first started copying tapes. Being young and naive, I thought who wants tape noise to come through on the recording, duh.. no brainer, I flipped the Dolby switch on my Nak and hit record. I just want to hear the music, no hiss.

Very quickly reality set in. Was it Dolby A or Dolby B? Was the source tape recording using Dolby, if so, if you hit Dolby wouldn't it further compress the recording and further alter the sound, you can't play back using Dolby Squared, right? And what do you do in the car, in the boom box (yes.. we were just a few years out of 8 tracks when I started getting tapes). And who really flips or unflips the Dolby switch anyway based on how you think the recording was made. After all, were all these tapes properly notated every step of the way.

So I quickly gave up on noise reduction, I had a good enough tape deck that I shouldn't be so worried about tape noise. I quit Dolby and never looked back (and never worried about pressing the Dolby button again).

Just spit balling here, but my prejudices sometimes come to the surface when I hear a Dicks or Daves or Road Trips that sounds a bit muffled and I wonder if the particular Reel or Cassette or Betamax or whatever might have had a Dolby snafu baked in. To be clear, I have no proof this has ever occurred, I just wonder sometimes.

I should emphasize Jeffrey Norman / David Glasser, etc. have gotten better at their jobs. So if there is any compression or noise reduction used anywhere along the way, they better at making this music sound as good as it possibly can, regardless of the sordid history of the source tapes. Thank you GD, Mockingbird Studios, the good folks and Plangent Processing and all the others that get this music to my front porch. Oh, and thank you tapers too!
October 17, 2024 - 3:54pm

#182

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Ooops, forgot

I can’t say for sure off hand about everyone who recorded Dead and NR, but Betty was known for not using it, and if things are done right, no need.
Nothing comes for free, so every time you do something, it will effect other things, sometimes negatively…a cost benefit trade off…perhaps just like BITD with high gen cassettes? To Dolby or not to Dolby, that is the question lol
I always have tried not to do any permanent adjustments/fixes, preferring to try and fix some other way, eq etc, but nothing permanent that you can’t fix yer fix!

Imho NR etc becomes more of a band aid for when things weren’t able to be right, or to help mask issues beyond repair, i.e., the ravages of time.
Don’t think I’ve ever used any on a master recording?

Onto rest of GDM soundtrack this afternoon…
October 17, 2024 - 1:16pm

#183

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

Thx Oro

So 15 ips or 30 ips would have been impractical for shows I imagine. Expense, changing reels too often, and as these were for listening by the band not studio use, etc. But what about them using noise reduction? I'm guessing no Dolby.
As an aside, I seldom have my Dolby on when listening to cassettes even though most were recorded with it. Even factory tapes with Dolby seem less muffled without it and I'm not listening at thunderous levels (most of the time) where hiss is an issue.
Skylabs, a top notch mid-western audio repairer, no longer works on certain categories of equipment: Consoles, quad receivers, linear tracking turntables, automatic turntables, and reel to reels. Just not worth it from a cost perspective for what those machines sell for vs. repair costs. There are still plenty of specialists who will and R-to-Rs are available restored at very reasonable prices but good luck finding pre-recorded tapes (old or new). Nobody makes them anymore. I was never tempted but my cassette guy sells tons of R-to-Rs for like $200-$300 fully restored, but they are more run of the mill Sony and not high end. And they sell fast!
Thanks again and cheers bro
October 17, 2024 - 12:37pm

#184

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

First half of GDM soundtrack

Ist show. The more surface area (wider the tape), and/or the faster the recording speed, the higher the resolution. And yes R2R can most certainly sound best. (Like anything though, if done well)
The problem is a good one is very expensive, they’re as hard to keep maintained etc as a TT, and good linage quality tapes are rare and expensive, oh, and more a pain to “flip” than even a record…but they can sound amazing!

Remember, many CDs AND most vinyl are sourced from (hopefully) master R2R tapes! A purist with the gear and ears might argue that direct to (vinyl) disc recording is the ultimate…but good luck lol
One of the main reasons digital still gets such a bad rap is twofold
1- the conversion used originally, and lack of attention to disparity’s between different DACs in the chain. Conversion has come a loonnggg way baby! AND…
2- a significant number of the CDs first produced to meet the huge demand were not sourced from the master tapes, and lineage and source quality were often a joke! Caveat emptor: not all CDs are created alike!…or Blu-ray’s, or DVDs, or Vinyl etc Like drugs boys and girls, know your sources!
October 17, 2024 - 12:06pm

#185

1stshow70878

Joined:
September 11, 2014

4-11-78

5th show in the box.
OK, now were getting there.
Great 1st set.
2nd set list looks good too.
Moving right along...
Cheers

Random ?s for the tapers and the knowledgeable. Were these original tapes running at 7.5 ips on reel to reels and were they done with any Dolby or whatever? And do you audience tapers use any noise reduction? Been talking to an analog guy who says with reel to reel running fast you get superior saturation and the best analog sound of all, which to his ear beats CDs and even vinyl, and Dolby is unnecessary for good reel to reel recordings.
October 16, 2024 - 5:04am

#186

uncle_tripel

Joined:
October 2, 2023

"Don't...

climb on the fence, you idiot"

august 6th 1974

now that's much better, the sound is less polished or over-dubbed...or whatever...

support your local library,
my better half's employer also

Peace for All!
uncle_tripel

PS - Hey Bobby, party like it's 1984, Happy B-day!
October 15, 2024 - 2:08pm

#187

Colin Gould

Joined:
September 15, 2009

Right now

This is a little niche for this forum since I’m streaming it on BBC iplayer so it’s probably only accessible in the UK,
John Martyn - Live at Reading University 1978
This is an episode of ‘Rock Goes to College’. We saw him several times 78 -79 and his solo concerts were always excellent. It’s available for the next 27 days and is highly recommended. For those who can’t access it I recommend his album ‘One World’ which was his current album when this concert was recorded.
Edit: To be honest I’d recommend any of his albums really
October 15, 2024 - 12:35pm

#188

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Slumming it ; )

With Dave’s 17, since the rude abrupt halt to my research via the archive being down : (
Ah well, I’ll just have to suffer lol

Hope their highly trained crack equipment crew gets it just exactly perfect sooner than later 🤞Was gonna do the big five O anniversary treatment of Rocktober 74, complete in order as I don’t think I’ve done so? Sigh…bastards!

Kudos to Uncle T supporting the local Library! (TOO is a librarian ; )
If you don’t use em, ya lose em!
And remember, they killed Marion ; )
October 15, 2024 - 7:46am

#189

uncle_tripel

Joined:
October 2, 2023

yeah, so ...

...this weekend I visited our local library, been awhile...
took home the 5 CD GOGD Movie Soundtrack box...
today's listening party:

oct 20 1974 set 2

maybe, I'll need to listen to this box abit more, or maybe not...?
finding the mix is almost like, well, you know, too studioish...

... DL announcement later this week, hey now, how about it?

make LOVE, not WAR!!!

uncle_tripel
October 14, 2024 - 9:20am

#190

proudfoot

Joined:
August 2, 2020

Soon

10 9 89

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Currently Listening To...

New year, new update. Tell us of your musical adventures in real time!

7/9/77 JGB Early Show Asbury Park

Sitting in Limbo (Voodoonola2 video source) (with the Senns)

head across the pond today...1981-10-16 OOPS @ melkweg club Amsterdam NL
I can hear Garcia saying to Weir thru the thick cloud of hash smoke,
"Hey Weir, we don't have our guitars" and Weir says, "No worries Jer, we'll just rent some" lol

everyone enjoy your weekend, if you can

Peace for All!
uncle_tripel

Dave’s 34

6/23/74 I believe
PROPER!

Sing Out! - Kate Wolf set

Let's Get Together (just played) and now the jaybirds calling on Like a River

Fell in love with Kate's voice and music back in late '80s. Great to have this live set as part of a SEVA benefit concert that includes other favorite musicians of mine (thank you Bear).

And now - Electric on the Eel 1991

8/10/91 - a five-star-give-it-ten-if-i-could favorite from the tape days back in the mid 90s. Awesome that it got released in that box - beautiful sound and show. Shout out to Proudfoot for mentioning that box and steering me here.

7/13/84

Last night.
I’ve heard it before but not sit down listen.
Though didn’t get the best listen last night due to aaaa, “extra curricular” activities/noise in the world.
But it’s an interesting show that you just kind want for it to get released, especially because ya know…AND, it’s Pinkus first show, etc
But I’m not sure it’s good enough, orrrr, tight enough for a Dave’s.
Specifically, the beginning of the second set. Yeah it’s fun sneaking TOG in between S/F but the transitions are a bit sloppy etc, enough, along with other sorta normal what I call Cali laid back looseness lol to perhaps keep it getting “Daved”
As we know, he likes to try and pick the best representation or presentation of the band/music on a specific tour etc, and not necessarily what some might consider “the best show” of the tour.
BUT!
After this Reno show getting out, and as Jim often suggests, sometimes these kind of shows work well to round out box sets, so I could see it as part of a Greek box! Curious what others think of this show?
Think I need a redo, and gonna hit the rest of the 84 summer Cali shows asap.
Onward!

Don’t lend yer hand, to raise no flag, atop no ship of fools!

Sing Out/ Kate Wolf

Sing Out is a great Owsley release, but all the Owsley releases are worth picking up. I was at Sing Out it was a cool show. Kate Wolf was a favorite of mine, I used to go see her play all the time here in the Bay Area.

Currently

JGB

Warner Theatre
3 18 78

Nice

Currently

JGB

Bay Area 78

Good stuff

Currently

5 22 81

Acoustic benefit show

interesting

Were you there, BTK?

Just Finished

Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die (a favorite from way back in the formative years)

and now - David Gilmour - Live in Gdansk

BTK - very cool that you got to see Kate sing time and again including the Sing Out! Seva Benefit. I was introduced to her music right around the time she died (I was Midwesterner then). Guessing a dubbed cassette copy from a friend of the double LP Give Yourself To Love. I in turn shared her music with many others. Such a remarkable, beautiful voice. Streamed the video for her performance of Green Eyes from the Austin City Limits show (don't own that yet) and my goodness how amazing it is. (Edit - originally wrote that it was a performance of Give Yourself To Love when it was in fact Green Eyes.)

Further follow up - 8/10/91 JGB Electric on the Eel right up there with Warner Theatre 3/18/78 (Set II specifically) as an absolute favorite Jerry Band release. So good!!

Currently

JGB

Don't Let Go release
May '76

Very pleasant

7/15/84

"Many Thanks, and God Bless You All" from Phil before JB Goode,
of the 3 nights, I always for some reason return to the 15th, it might be the heavy Phil & Brent mix that clinches it for me...fun stuff; even a couple of nice Garcia teases during space...

Dave's Picks 17

7/19/74 Fresno

Again. :)

I like that JGB 5/21/76, that one is nice I thought.

On the boobtube..

Grateful Dead Manor Downs, Austin, TX 9/13/83 Complete Show

Fun too watch Jerry dancing on Fire On The Mt

Currently

JGB

2/22/80

7-08-78

I'll have mine "on the rocks" please.
Doing a tape of the mid-90s bootleg CD.
Got to run the tape deck now and again to keep everything running smoothly. It keeps the belts and the grease on the mechanism from getting stiff.
Cheers

1976...

...is real, and JGB is good, but...
5/21/76 orpheum is REAL GOOD!

2-19-71 vinyl

Spinning now!

7 7 89

Nice

Rum Runners

Great couple of discs in the new edition. Full of rustic charm. Who plays on what isn't too clear, but it all rolls along very nicely.

Time to walk the dogs...............

Not right now, but on my commute you all know----and expect---that I will be cranking Scranton this morning...........

Rock on rockers!

Doc
Woof

7/15/84

Soaring through Birdsong!

Disc 3 of 7 9 95

Emotional and eerie

3/18/71

I know 3/18/71 St. Louis was included in 30 Trips, but I didn't buy that box. However, in preparation for Dave's Vol 51 I figured I ought to give it a listen. To date I have only ever heard the tail end of the show, the NFA->GDTRFB->Caution etc. So I've just had a listen to the opener (Casey Jones) and am about to get into it properly, but decided I need a sangwich and some water first. Figured I'd make this short post first.

Side note: only Caution of 1971! It would be a full year until it was again played live - at the Academy of Music in March '72. After only 5 documented performances of Caution in 1970, that must have been exciting as heck for the crowd in St. Louis to hear them launch into it.

7/21/84

Finito bonito!

And

Onto 7/22/84…

Going for the DHB today!
Can I make before TOO gets home 🤞

5-9-77 vinyl

Spinning now.

7-13-85

And a cup of super dark roast Columbian Supremo.
Roasted the beans myself.

Summer ‘85 Box next year please Dave.

8/4/74

Never done the whole show….until now ; )
PITB, holy crap!, and an excellent Phil/Ned, and, Good Sheet!

Re: 7/13/85, awesome first set! You’ll need that D roast!

Ask me no questions

I’m streaming ‘Ask Me No Questions’ by Bridget St John at the moment. I own it on vinyl and cd but streaming was the easiest way to find it. This is a wonderful album and she deserves to be far better known. It originally came out on John Peel’s Dandelion label a very long time ago.

1 from the vault

8-13-75
Great American Music Hall S.F., CA
Some say in their top 10.
Cheers
Sage & Spirit has a Lost Sailor riff.

And onto 8/5/74

I mean WTHN!

The sound of thick air…

Shhhhh, it’s early still…

6/19/76

Capitol Theatre
Passaic, NJ

The High Time on this one always hits me in the feels.

Peace

And a one a and a two a…

8/6/74

Re: “ hits me in the feels”
Proper!

Supremo

wow, had a memory flash when I saw Columbian Supremo, reminded me of back in the 70's. That's what the guy called it, supremo. :)

8/4/74 - I think

I think I played some of this last night - the first cd of Dicks Picks 31. If so - I agree - the first track, Playing, doesn't just open the doors of perception, it blows them off the hinges.
It's a bit of of a hotch potch, though, Dicks Picks 31. 4 great cds, but it would have helped if they had said which show the songs came from. I should make my own notes really - every time I play it, I end up sitting here squinting at Deadbase, trying to work out what's what.

Phish, last night

The first taste of live Phish, excellent concert, seats down front right above the pit, direct sight lines, in front of Mike and Jon. Quite the venue, spin around to see 20,000 above us. With an old friend who has been to many Dead shows, we had fun checking out the scene. Loud and clean, Trey's voice lessons paid off, sang well. My 72nd birthday. Next up, John Jorgenson's J2B2 bluegrass band, then JRAD on Jerry's birthday. Looking forward to April, 71 #51, thanks Dave, love those fully packed discs.

9/21/82

Madison Square Garden

Excellent Looks Like Rain.

Peace

9/9/74

First time for complete show

Edit: interesting show.
Perhaps a tad uneven, plenty of moments.
Another cool 74 Playin though perhaps not quite in step with some previous?
Guessing this run gets even better as they settle in etc…?
Let’s find out…

Music Hall

Right now? Boston Music Hall April 8 1971..............

Couldn't help myself................

Rock on,

Doc
In the worst of times, music is a promise that times are meant to be better.....

9/10/74

Onward!

The Stones 1st album

Released as "England's Newest Hitmakers" in the States - with a few changed tracks. 60 years old, and the best of their pre freak beat/psych albums. Maybe the best of all their albums outside the classic 1968-1973 years.

7-25-74

152954.gems

Sounds pretty good.

We are bits of energy floating about in various guises.....

Morning, rockers!!!

Listening to right now? Why of course it's Bucknell, just because. This is one that truly requires no explanation. Unless it does, of course.............

All of the things I used to obsess over, I'm no longer as obsessed with, I have new concerns but they're a little more existential or cosmic......

Rock on my fellow rockers!!

Doc
Man can be understood only by ascending from physics, chemistry, biology, and geology, in other words, he is first of all a cosmic problem......

What a loss. The band must have been shocked. Or maybe not.

Stay away from that shyte, kids.

Glad I knew my limits and knew not to stick my hand into the path of the table saw.

Easy to love you

10/29/73

Kiel Auditorium
St. Louis

I'll check that one out Dennis. Thanks for the tip!

Peace