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

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  • Oroborous
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    The sound

    Of thick air...

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    The sound

    Of thick air...

  • uncle_tripel
    Joined:
    always...

    ...avoided the NR on recording
    and found very early the highs just got too muted for my ear,

    returning to some more 1978 this week:
    june 4th 1978
    at Campus Stadium, UCSB in Santa Barbara, Ca

    some more friends of the devils? lol...
    ...= the "on stage" harley davidson acceleration into--->NFA

    make LOVE, not war!

    PEACE!
    uncle_tripel

    PS: new avatar = mickey & jerry on 7/4/86 @ Rich Stadium

  • JimInMD
    Joined:
    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!

  • Oroborous
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    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…

  • 1stshow70878
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    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

  • Oroborous
    Joined:
    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!

  • 1stshow70878
    Joined:
    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.

  • uncle_tripel
    Joined:
    "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!

  • Colin Gould
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    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

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17 years 5 months
New year, new update. Tell us of your musical adventures in real time!
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17 years 5 months

In reply to by Colin Gould

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On estimated, so far so good…

Yeah BC that stretch you mention on the 16 is definitely top shelf and show highlights!
Roses for lunch? Like as in vodka gimlets…

1stshow: yeah that one’s extra funny considering the whole damn world always had/has to wait on ADD Bobby to tinker on every song lol

Daverock: some of us don’t have anything else to do, for good or for ill…

Philadelphia Civic Center [2nd Set]

You are correct JoeyMC. I'm currently reformatting my entire collection by shows instead of individual releases. You gotta listen to them while you're doing that. Lol

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4 years 3 months

In reply to by TN John

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Nazareth Hair of the Dog on that toob

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9 years 1 month

In reply to by proudfoot

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The way I store my shows, in folders with the date.
Whether it’s DP, DaP, RT, FTV, VFTV, DS, or a Box is irrelevant.

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11 years 3 months

In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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Chick Evans Field House

That's the way I'm doing mine Cone Kid. With an image of the venue as a thumbnail for each show.

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11 years 7 months

In reply to by TN John

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Met old friends and made some new ones, superb grease bucket show last night in Deerfield at a relatively new outdoor venue, where they also happen to make a lot of beer, very well organized, lots of room, excellent sound. First set was the entire Cal Expo show from 11/21/69, second set more of the same with longer jams, Thats It For the Other One, St. Stephen, a fantastic Alligator, encore JA's Volunteers. This their final show of summer tour before a couple weeks off. Packed with primal and Workingmans Pig treats, heaven.

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...1970-05-02 harpur college ELECTRIC set...THE OTHER ONE...such a FANTASTIC wake-up call!
As Bart Simpson says, "Good Morning World"
and I really did need a kick-start this AM!!!

...his mind remained unbended...

Peace for All!
uncle_tripel

1STSHOW - agreed, a '78 Bear recording treat
DAVEROCK - - zipping along with headphones allows me to alleviate the mundaneness of the everyday chores whether indoors or outdoors, keep on rockin'

Uncle Tripel - sounds like a good plan ! I tend to wait until the day is done before I put The Dead on - although I did listen to the first cd of Veneta 8/27/72 while I was frigging about this morning. But I'll play the best bits later on, when I'm in a state of semi collapse on the sofa.

Needless to say 5/2/70 is incredible - however, whatever or whenever you listen to it.

Interesting. I used to love to save a good listen for nighttime, or at least later in the day when it was time to pa teh…if I did that now I’d fall asleep before the first set was over! Something about light versus dark?
BITD the idea of loud in the AM was unthinkable, but now as soon as I get home from my AM walk, the jute box gets fired up.
I’m not big on cans etc, so I just turn it up enough that I can hear it everywhere lol. Plus, I have four zones: Main stereo, Living/Kitchen, garage, and Theatre.
Keep meaning to get a speaker in 2 baths, but I’m getting old and lazy lol.
So if TOO is home, I can usually find a zone where it won’t bother her too much, or, I can fire em all up!
I’m with uncle T, nothing makes the routine manageable like strong coffee, a big bong rip, and a good Dead show!
BUT!
New releases always get a proper virginal sit down on the “stereo”, early, with coffee and before the weed takes over lol
BUT!!!
Doesn’t matter what you wear, just as long as you are there ; )
Onward!

Edit: when I was working I’d most often be in some huge empty mansion with many zones all over, so I’d just fire up a show and hear it everywhere!
Bit awkward when on occasion some super weird end of the world space, Dark Star, TOO etc be blastin and a property manager would show up unexpectedly lol.

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In reply to by Oroborous

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Harpur College

Guess I'll join y'all with this show. I had it on my soon to play list anyway.

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In reply to by TN John

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Ok twist my arm, but not hard lol
Hey, these floors aren’t gonna clean themselves ; )

Edit: just finished the fine MSG 90 run, Berry interesting.
Lots of cool jams, and JG is obviously digging Bruce etc, so the energy is big!
Perhaps a bit much from so many folks trying to go hard?
Only criticisms: personally sometimes don’t like so many folks as it gets a bit sonically crowded, think they dialed that in eventually, and hey, under the circumstances it’s understandable here.
Didn’t always like the mix, especially Vince OCCASIONALLY too loud, but you’d think that’s not his fault…I.e., Dicks from the 16…?

TN John, noticed you were at these fine shows, would love to hear your thoughts and/or any good stories! Do you have a fave?

And PF, thoughts/Fav?

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In reply to by Oroborous

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I simply love the entire run

Things that stay in my memory from my recent listenings are

9 14 The Weight to open 2nd set

9 16 Hes Gone > end of show
9 18 second set
9 19
9 20 Drums > end of show

Its hard to believe they could play so well after losing Brent 46 days earlier, as I went on about a while back

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4 years 3 months

In reply to by proudfoot

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Some decent stuff
It was a rainy day

Rain
Saint of Circumstance
ATTICS OF MY LIFE

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11 years 3 months

In reply to by Oroborous

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Hartford Civic Center

Oroborous,
I'll try to remember to sit down and type some notes on that '90 MSG run next week when I'm on vacation.

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...thanks for the nudge...1978-05-10 new haven diP #25 lookin' for
that BIG smile today,
got the car for the day, after I drop my better half off at work...
play dead,
play dead LOUD!

Peace for All!
uncle_tripel

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Springfield, MA
DiP 25 second show.
Can't just leave it hanging.
And it has a Werewolves.
Cheers
A little more laid back 1st set than 5-10.

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10 years 2 months

In reply to by 1stshow70878

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That's a great film of a Dead show - for me the best one out there. "China Cat-Rider" is the highlight of the film - although I have read that some find it a bit sexist.... with the camera lingering on naked women instead of the band. It doesn't come across that way to me - but then I ain't a woman.
"Playing", "Bird Song" and "Dark Star" are also among the best versions ever, I would say. I still don't like the way Dark Star goes into El Paso, though.

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In reply to by daverock

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Especially since you can hear Jerry flirting with the opening chords for Morning Dew just before Bobby takes the reigns and steers the ship towards the West Texas town of El Paso.

But hey.. if every Dark Star melted into a gorgeous Morning Dew, they wouldn't be so special. I'll take what we have and am a bit thankful it wasn't me making the calls. They clearly did a better job than I ever could.

Happy Labor Day to those in the US.. for those abroad there's no harm in giving thanks and taking a breather for all those who move the world and make it shake. From another angle this marks the end of summer, the days are getting shorter and fall is coming. Darkness falls and seasons change....

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In reply to by JimInMD

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I notice they made the same transition a few days earlier, on the 21st at Berkeley. Maybe it worked really well then, and Bob Weir had decided in advance that they would do the same thing on 27th. It looks a bit pre-meditated. For me it's the only false note of the whole show - but for others it might be a stroke of genius.

I might check out that Berkeley show later on. Worse things to do on a Friday night.

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In reply to by daverock

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8/21/72: Very clearly Jerry starts Morning Dew, but others indicate other ideas
8/27/72: Jerry tries again for Morning Dew, but El Paso it is

As I think deep thoughts about this, if they HAD done MD on 8/27, we might not have gotten the glorious Sing Me Back Home

Whatevs, I suppose. It was one afternoon (and evening) _long ago_, after all

I have the house to myself this weekend, so if you hear GD playing from afar, that's me.

happy happy joy joy

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In reply to by proudfoot

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Yes indeedy, I was surprised to hear Jerry leading the band towards Morning Dew towards the end of Dark Star only to be cut across by the rest of the band - led by Phil, I think - before Bob enters with El Paso. This sounded a bit more natural - but I was listening to just the music on this occasion. With 8/27/72 I was watching them play it in "Sunshine Daydream." When I am watching a film of a band play I am much less inclined to get carried away in spacier sections, as I find myself looking at what they are doing instead of just listening. "Oh..he's playing at the 12th fret" - "Oh she looks nice"....that kind of thing. When I am just listening I get catapulted into space.

This Dark Star is one wild and fascinating ride. It seemed wilder to me than 8/27 - going way out there. And that jazz type jam led by Keith towards the end is good.
I notice on the 8/24 Dark Star does go into Morning Dew. These shows would make a good release -although I am just listening to second set jams. Not a popular thought, but maybe they could release a comp of the jams - including both Dark Stars - without releasing the whole shows.

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In reply to by daverock

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Truly worth a listen

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In reply to by proudfoot

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9 26 91

Potent stuff

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In reply to by proudfoot

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4/17/84 eaton.miller aud, in between shows in the Winterland June 1977 box set.

I really like that 5/20/73. That might be my favorite from that box. It sounds like SoCal would...I think

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In reply to by JoeyMC

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Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Very nice

3 hours later...
mo' Pink Floyd BBC 1971

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In reply to by proudfoot

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9 25 91

From when that was first released until today, I was unreceptive to it and negatively snooty about it.

I am listening to my Dickus Pickus of it and am absolutely floored in joyful awe. Great stuff.

Edit: now listening to disc 3
Glorious
Then...
Throwing Stones bubbles up....ugh.

Oh Bobby, why?!?

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15 years 2 months
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‘No Name’ - Jack White. Remarkably good on first listen. Hopefully it will survive the test of time.

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9 years 1 month

In reply to by proudfoot

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Maybe they were distracted by naked pole guy.

6-26-73 in the car today.
Other One->Bobby McGee->Other One.
Should have put the BMG in a different time slot.
Why ruin a perfectly good O1.

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In reply to by icecrmcnkd

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One that does work for me is when they slotted Me and My Uncle in the middle of The Other One in 1971. 8/6/71 is a great example - there tucked away on cd4 on Dicks Picks 35.

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So it’s 1980 and I’m at Gainesville for my 362nd show, but last minute parking lot buy leaves me in the nose bleed seats. I wander down for a beer and meets a guy at the concession stand.

Guy says he has an extra ticket for the 3rd row and to follow him down.

Down we go and sure enough, 3rd row center!!!

I’m blown away (tripping balls at this point), but ask, “Don’t you need this seat?”

Guy says, “No,,, that’s my wife’s seat and she died.”

Great just what I don’t need to hear in my state, but ask “no friend or relative you could have asked?”

He says, “no they’re all at the funeral”

No.

My wife told me that joke the other day. Best joke she ever told me. She read it with a real feel for humor.

Generally, her funniest joke has been marrying me! (she's paying for that joke now!)

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In reply to by Dennis

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Never trust a Dennis, uh, I mean, a prankster

Mrs. Grumpkins would not be amused by the scenario

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I’m reminded of the, probably apocryphal, tale of a well known British birder who left his wedding reception when he heard news of a rare bird that had turned up. Needless to say the marriage didn’t last.

Currently listening to ‘Dresden’ by The Jan Garbarek Group. Takes me back to when we saw him with Eberhard Weber and Nana Vasconcelos at The Bluecoat Chambers in Liverpool.

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In reply to by Colin Gould

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Amazing

Ah may zing

Amazing

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In reply to by proudfoot

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9 7 90

Remarkably strong

PITB is on fire

The greatest band of all time

"The greatest band, Jerry! The greatest!"

Edit: the encore...

:_(((

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In reply to by proudfoot

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Anyone here attend 10/27/91?

Two days after Bill Graham's death....wow.