Got mine today. Bought both the CD box set and the vinyl. The CDs are stunning!
Can't wait to get into the LP probably tomorrow or later on in the weekend.
No complaints about the packaging. Really beautiful. OK, just one complaint: the CDs don't stay put in their slots. Mine were dislodged when I unpacked the box for the first time but none had any damage.
On another note, I went to my local record store today and picked up the variety of swag items for the release party. The tapers patch is pretty cool.
Release parties/events like this should happen more often IMO. It makes it a lot of fun, which is what music should be. |
@rhyno The Help>Slip>Franks was my first choice too.
Just can't beat that stuff!
I like the package, only because it's different.. as a whole, but yes, I agree, the CD holding is awful and not very kind to the disc's themselves.
I kinda like the magnetic closures (like iPad).
I got the Hi Rez FLACs too but wanted the "other goodies"
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Just getting around to this set. I bought the 1st deluxe set prior to it selling out. A beautiful package all around. I will start listening tonight through the rest of the week in proper fashion.
Happy Listening!
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Living in ithaca and being a Dead Head, I went to the State Theater for the 40th anniversary show. The city has dubbed 5/8 Grateful Dead day and many friends and fans showed up for the event.
It was kinda cool, with a combination of book release, "Cornell 77", fundraiser for the Theater, and celebration of the day. I was a bit disappointed that Rhino did not attend, although they were invited. Instead they had their record release the same night but in NJ, at the Capitol Theater. WHAT'S WITH THAT? Therefore, my plans to by the vinyl there was thwarted.
The event opened with a cover act, "Terrapin Station", doing 2 short acoustic sets. Nicely played and done. Followed by Peter, the author of " Cornell 77" introducing his book and a few thoughts. Prior to the playing of the show, Dan, legislator gave a proclamation and the show pursued, starting with "Dancin".
I had to leave a but early, my 8 year old daughter call and wanted me home, but in all is was a well attended event. The show being played back through a concert PA was loud and appeared to have a different sonic signature than my prior dbx decoded, reference. Either the sound system was highly eq'ed or the mastering deviants from the reel to reel. Not that it is bad thing.
I'm in process of waiting on my ebay order to come through so I can compare at home on a more civilized system. I could have compared tonight if only Rhino would have joined the party and released the show in the city the show actually happened in. Again, what's up with that?
Anyway, I'm interested in hearing what others think of the release. For now I'll have to wait until my copies make their way to my listening den to form a real judgement. |
Well, I stand corrected as, apparently, Rhino did sponsor the event in Ithaca. You would have never known, as I did not see any of their CDS being sold. Neither was there a mention of them and nor did they give out prizes, as they promoted they were doing in NJ. Not that free stuff mattered to me. I just wanted to by the recording but since they didn't make them available, I was shut out.
We'll, my personal struggles with that should distract from a great event and we'll deserved celebration. Thank you Grateful Dead, ithaca and Cornell for making history and doing it right!
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Should not distract.......sorry! |
This Box Set is a cleaner transfer of the Master tapes, clarity all around (IMO). The bass region is much cleaner and tighter with really nice extension through the subwoofer. Middle range has tremendous depth and phase accuracy, and the top end shines! Probably would guess the Plangent Processing helped, big time. I'm listening to the New Haven Surgaree over and over again... can't get enough.... and the Lazy Lightning>Supplication from that set is really going out there... ...and Row Jimmy (Cornell) check it out. Yummy. I was under the impression that the Minglewood opener from Cornell was un-patched. But after catching something my 2nd or 3rd time through, I can hear a slight "sound change" at the 10-11 second mark. Anyone else hear that? I tried it on my ATH-M50 headphones too, and I can definitely hear "some sort of change" (to me... IMO), Maybe a patch from another show? Loving this Box so far |
I believe the Cornell show sounds better than the other shows in the box set. Has anyone else noticed this?
This is not to say the other shows don't sound really good, but Cornell sounds a lot better to me. This makes sense considering its significance. I'm sure they went to great lengths to clean it up and make it perfect.
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I obtained my copy of the show in around 1995 and it came from the master reel (DBX decoded) to PCM Beta. I personally transfered the PCM Beta to DAT, along with many others I did on a 24 hour transfer binge.
To date that has always been my reference and, to my knowledge came from the first DBX decoded transfers of the show. All priors were not decoded and had more tape noise, as well as, unbalanced frequency response.
It will be interesting to compare the two and hear directly what the plangent processing did to improve the prior transfers.
One thing of note is that there has always been an intermittent low rumble for a few songs earlier in the first set. It was low in level but there for anyone who listened closely. It will be interesting to see how the handled that. I'm sure cutting out anything below 40hz could manage it but at what expense?
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I just pulled the trigger on the vinyl, which came up as a BIN of $90.00 with free shipping. Saved myself a good $30.00-40.00.
I know that this did not come from the analog masters directly but given the processing that went into the restoration and mastering, that seems like a null point given that digital was used for all the work. Anyway, I guess I can compare for myself when I get all copies.
I do know that the vinyl of Hartford 83 sounds significantly better than the CD, They are not even close, with the cymbals having natural timbre qualities on the vinyl and hashy on the CD. I don't imagine there to be that much difference in these since, I assume, they were cut from the same master. Where as, Hartford was years apart from the CD and vinyl release.
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Wow @raymonda never even knew there was and LP release of 10-14-83? I always felt it could sound better. (missing some life) Will need to check into that. Thanks for the info and happy LP listening! |
Anyone get a chance to spin the vinyl? I haven't had a chance. Tomorrow most likely. How does it sound? (-:
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I had that DBX copy of Cornell as well and was for sure the "go-to" source. That 1st tape/show that made me say "WOW" ...like so many others can say, I'm sure. I musta made (literally) 100 copies of that on my NAK's (if not more) Be very curious as well to hear comments about the Vinyl 5/8/77 |
Will report back about the 5/8/77 Vinyl after I give it a spin.
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I played the vinyl last night. Got through sides one and two. Sounds really good as expected. What else can I say? I gotta spin it a few more times to really compare the sound to the excellent sounding digital release. |
Of note on the vinyl release... It's limited to only 7,700 copies. These will dry up fast given that this is the holy grail of shows. By comparison, most of the RSD releases of the Dead had similar print runs and are now very hard to find without paying a premium. I got mine from Music Direct and I see that they no longer have them. Might be a good time to get one if you are thinking about it, before they shoot up in price. Less than 1,500 left on dead.net. |
Nice! otherone-
how do your previous versions of the material compare to the "new" boxed set? The Plangent Process is an amazing technology. I own various CDs that were manufactured utilizing this tool.
Happy Listening!
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@jafant The Box set kills it all over. The Cornell is superior to all sources I had previously. I also had great copies also of 5/5 - 5/7 & 5/9 and the Box Set for those is far superior (IMO). Couldn’t agree more about Plangent Processing. Really enjoying it all and looking forward to the next goodies to be released. I know Cornell is what everyone talks about but the 5/9 is really an amazing Grateful Dead time stamp as well. |
I have spun sides 1 and 2. I admit I'm one of those who try to go for all analog throughout the chain. This of course is not, but I feel darned lucky to have bought this. It has an up front perspective, like I'm sitting in the 8th row or so. It has great presence, and an intimate feel. I was up late and started to fall out, but I can't wait to listen to the rest of it. Love the Jack Straw, and the Jerry solo material especially so far. Looking forward the St. Stephen, which I think is LP 3 or 4.
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I own #11408. Really a beautiful package overall. Book is excellent as well.
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Right On! otherone.
some experts cannot decide between the Cornell and Buffalo show(s)?
I say it is all good!
Happy Listening!
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Confirmation on the Minglewoood patch on 5/8/77.
The ONLY new patch is for 5/7/77 and is from Matt Smith.
Man, this Cornell 24/196 is crazy good. Falling in love with all these 1st sets from this box all over again... |
Agreed-
the CD set is outstanding. Nicely packaged as well. Happy Listening! |
Listened to the whole Cornell show last night streamed from TIDAL. Sound quality is really, really good. The overall level is not high and thusasks you to goose your volume knob, and that lack of level compression allows a lot of space in the recording and great punch from kick drum and Phil's bass.
Very impressed. |
I'm curious which releases have the Plangent Process used? Any of Dave's Picks, or when? |
I’m pretty sure EVERY Dave’s Pick release has Plangent Processing along with... - Europe ’72 release - Winterland ’73 Complete Recordings - Grateful Dead: Complete Studio Albums Collection Remastered in HD
- Cow Palace ’76 Release - July ’78 release - The Spring ’90 (Other One release, not for the first Spring ’90 release) - 50th Anniversary GD Album Release - Get Shown The Light release |
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Way off topic but 7-2-89 Healy Ultra Mix SBD just came around and being 1st SBD source circulated, I must say it's MUSIC to my ears.
What a great fun show
Peace |
