*Matrix*
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SBD:
PCM > DAT > Sonic Solutions > CD
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AUD:
Recorded by the Oade Brothers
Transferred by Doug Oade, tracked by Darrin Sacks (dsacks@pcisys.net)
Field:
Schoeps CMC441s (90deg, 17cm) > Oade M118 > Oade mod SONY PCM-F1
Transfer:
Master PCM > DAW (via SEKD Prodif) > Wav > cdwav > Flac
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Thank you to Alan Fink and Mark Ferguson for the SBD transfer,
and to the Oade Brothers and Darrin Sacks for the AUD transfer.
Matrix by Hunter Seamons using Soundtrack/Final Cut Pro (SHN & FLAC>AIFF>Soundtrack>Final Cut>WAV>FLAC)
September 15, 2008
Set I
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d1t01 Tuning
d1t02 Truckin' ->
d1t03 Smokestack Lightning* ->
d1t04 High Time
d1t05 El Paso
d1t06 Peggy-O
d1t07 Cassidy
d1t08 China Cat Sunflower ->
d1t09 I Know You Rider
* with Matthew Kelly on harp
Notes:
The reason I did not initially use the PCM SBD source for the original full-length matrix - a source I was fully aware of - was due to somewhat misleading information, but ultimately my lack of full investigation.
So here's the whole story:
I first came across PLS's matrix of this show at shnflac.net, which included a fixed version and a DTS version. Scarfire, one of my matrix heroes, commented how awful the matrix was and that it should be redone. I heartily took up the task. The reasons I did not use the PCM initially are:
1) The PCM source had an "OCD" category icon next to it (although I don't think it should), which lead me to believe there was a "better" source out there.
2) Since PLS used the Griesman SBD, a source that came after the PCM, I assumed that that was the better version, despite a previous PCM being available. I thought there must have been problems with the PCM.
3) The preview button for the PCM source at shnflac.net had "vbr" listed in the streaming info, so I assumed it was the Hi-Fi vbr streaming sound. In spite of this, I think it is actually a straight 64Kbps Lo-Fi sound - which lead me to believe the source was poor sounding, for whatever reason.
4) For the PCM source at db.etree.org, it states there is an "upgrade" in circulation, referring to the Griesman SBD (which I think is not the best descriptor). However, I think the term "upgrade" is used to refer to the SBD source that has the whole show, not just set 1. But it is NOT an "upgrade" in terms of sound.
All these things naturally threw me off - and I did not have the actual PCM on hand at the time to verify, so this was ultimately my oversight.
Coincidentally, I recently downloaded the DVD bootleg of this show on shnflac.net and noticed the music used for the audio was awesome. I gathered that it must have been the PCM source that I never got to fully consult. Luckily, some good folk were still seeding the PCM at shnflac.net (via project '85), so I got it and realized it was really all good and not a "downgrade," as it were.
IN COMPARING THIS TO THE OTHER SBD SOURCE THEN:
1) This sounds MUCH better and is SIGNIFICANTLY less harsh on the ears.
2) Coincidentally, while I initially thought set 2 from the Griesman SBD was worse than set 1 because of some higher hiss, greater scrutiny has revealed that set 1 actually sounds worse in that it is harsher on the ears (sharper sounding, like knives digging in my ears). Luckily, the PCM was available for set 1, so now these files can essentially replace set 1 in the other matrix I did. So now a nice, smooth sounding matrix is available via two sources, as inconvenient - yet convenient - that is.
My suggestion to future seeders of this matrix as a whole, if so desired, is to seed a torrent with these "replacement" tracks along with set 2 from the other matrix source. Then it will be ALL GOOD in the end.
Peace.
-Hunter