Topic: Best Recordings Ever? (or ones that you've heard recently)

[chinariderstl]

Note: If this is in the wrong forum, please move it accordingly.

I know this might create a torrent of activity, and it's likely been posted and discussed before, but what are your favorite recordings?

I know this is an almost impossible task, as there are dozens of recordings I've forgotten and haven't listened to in ages, but can you name a few?  A few that stick out in my mind, mainly cause I've recently listened to them, are the following:

Jeff Tweedy Letters to Santa Benefit Living Room Concert April 8, 2006 (jtweedy2006-04-08.matrix.flacf)
My Morning Jacket Live at The Great Plaza at Penn's Landing on 2010-08-29 (mmj2010-08-29.m260.flac16)
Stealin Strings Live at Mitchell Park Domes on 2009-02-26 (SS2009-02-26.BSC1_K3)

I give kudos to the recorders, reminds me why I'm doing what I'm doing. (or trying to do)

Notes: (1) The Tweedy show is so intimate it is almost uncomfortable. (2) The MMJ show is the single greatest audience recording I've heard.  I heard that and decided I needed some Telefunken's yesterday! (3) The Stealin' Strings show makes me want a pair of Busman BSC1's something fierce! (4) The Tweedy show is on my site at edookie.com/downloads/tunes), the others are on the LMA.

[ashevillain]

Some that come to mind:

Phish - 8-14,15-1998 - Lemonwheel - B&K 4006
Phish - 12-30,31-1999 - Big Cypress - FOB Neumann U89
Phish - 8-2,3-2003 - IT - AT4051a (especially the Tower Jam set)
My Morning Jacket - 6-18-2008 - Bonnaroo - Neumann AK40

There are a few others that I don't know of the exact date/source off the top of my head. Lots of Bonnaroo sets (Jack Johnson, Pearl Jam, David Byrne, Sigur Ros, Superjam with Ben Harper, JPJ and ?uestlove). Almost all of my favorite recordings are outdoor festival sets.

I rarely download and listen to recordings by other tapers. Even rarer than that will someone else's recording make it into my permanent collection. Most of my favorites are my own recordings which I'm not going to fluff here.

[Chilly Brioschi]

Some that come to mind:

Phish - 8-14,15-1998 - Lemonwheel - B&K 4006
Phish - 12-30,31-1999 - Big Cypress - FOB Neumann U89
Phish - 8-2,3-2003 - IT - AT4051a (especially the Tower Jam set)
My Morning Jacket - 6-18-2008 - Bonnaroo - Neumann AK40

There are a few others that I don't know of the exact date/source off the top of my head. Lots of Bonnaroo sets (Jack Johnson, Pearl Jam, David Byrne, Sigur Ros, Superjam with Ben Harper, JPJ and ?uestlove). Almost all of my favorite recordings are outdoor festival sets.

I rarely download and listen to recordings by other tapers. Even rarer than that will someone else's recording make it into my permanent collection. Most of my favorites are my own recordings which I'm not going to fluff here.

It's OK to tell us when you felt very satisfied with your efforts. It isn't bragging.
Especially when you help us to understand what you did right to get the results.

[ashevillain]

Good point, but it's not that I'm not wanting to brag it's just that I'm not sure if I would nominate any of my recordings as "best ever." I've recorded hundreds of shows and probably less than 1% of them are really even worth a listen at all IMO.

Here's one that I do like: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=524171

[acidjack]

I forget the date, but yltfan did a Sigur Ros recording in PDX that was fucking incredible.
I felt compelled to send him a PM compliment it was so good.

Feel free to remind us of the date if you read this, Chris . Don't have the show info where I am.

I like a lot of my own, too, of course.  Like this http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=7910 A matrix is always sort of "cheating" I guess but I loved the nice dry sound I got from the 41s in this somewhat bad sounding room.

[scb]

onstage kimock

[slightlys]

Todd R's recording of Phil Lesh and Friends from 02-18-2012 with the Milab VM-44 links sounds fantastic! IMHO. That one is just fresh in my mind.

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=552925

[bhadella]

onstage kimock

Agreed! 

My favorite tapes fall into three categories:

1) onstage with instumental bands
2) smaller outdoor venues with attentive FOH engineers
3) way FOB at huge open air festivals

I'd add Charlie Hunter, JIM WEIDER'S ProJECT PERCoLAToR, New Mastersounds, Garaj Mahal/Fareed Haque,  and Jeff Coffin Mu'tet as other bands that lend themselves to great onstage tapes. 

[tedyun]

Because I still consider myself a novice (clocking in about 5-6 years at this now) I would say that most of the recordings I've made so far, after repeated listening, I will find some flaw with the recording/mastering process, so I would never nominate them for a "best ever" list.

However, I did a matrix recently, under the guidance of easyjim, that I have to say still blows me away. This is probably the best I've done, and I am pretty proud of this one.

I think it was the combination of the high end being supplied by the SBD, and the bottom end and instrument separation supplied by the omnis that made for a magic combo, like a lock and key. It was just something about the way Particle was mixed combined with the omnis. Even the matrix of the opening band using the same mastering settings doesn't sound as good.

I am going to go for a matrix again at this venue with Greensky Bluegrass at the end of Apr. I hope Jim can come out and recreate the special sauce!

http://www.archive.org/details/particle2011-12-17.matrix.flac16

[yltfan]

I forget the date, but yltfan did a Sigur Ros recording in PDX that was fucking incredible.
I felt compelled to send him a PM compliment it was so good.

Feel free to remind us of the date if you read this, Chris . Don't have the show info where I am.

2008-10-06
http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=219752
Thanks for the fluffage, but as you say, matrix is kind of cheating.

[rowjimmytour]

Because I still consider myself a novice (clocking in about 5-6 years at this now) I would say that most of the recordings I've made so far, after repeated listening, I will find some flaw with the recording/mastering process, so I would never nominate them for a "best ever" list.

However, I did a matrix recently, under the guidance of easyjim, that I have to say still blows me away. This is probably the best I've done, and I am pretty proud of this one.

I think it was the combination of the high end being supplied by the SBD, and the bottom end and instrument separation supplied by the omnis that made for a magic combo, like a lock and key. It was just something about the way Particle was mixed combined with the omnis. Even the matrix of the opening band using the same mastering settings doesn't sound as good.

I am going to go for a matrix again at this venue with Greensky Bluegrass at the end of Apr. I hope Jim can come out and recreate the special sauce!

http://www.archive.org/details/particle2011-12-17.matrix.flac16

Easyjim is the go to guy for all your four channel recordings and was a huge help when I got my R4  He was super patient w/ all my ?'s and knows a sh*t load of stuff for mastering a matrix

[Corporate hack]

onstage kimock

all those would be better if it wasn't kimock . *yawn*

[Fried Chicken Boy]

I like a lot of my own, too, of course.  Like this http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=7910 A matrix is always sort of "cheating" I guess but I loved the nice dry sound I got from the 41s in this somewhat bad sounding room.

Man, that was an awesome Sebadoh show!

[tedyun]

easyjim is one of the nicest guys I've met, and he's like an encyclopedia of taping, especially around the venues here in San Diego. If I've never been to a particular venue, I just shoot him an email, and he'll tell me the best spot to set up. He's semi-retired now, but hopefully he'll emerge soon.

I didn't mean to fluff my recording either. That show is not without its flaws, especially that extremely wasted dude who was screaming things at the band. Unfortunately, he was right under the left mic, so I picked up all his drunken bellowing.

Because I still consider myself a novice (clocking in about 5-6 years at this now) I would say that most of the recordings I've made so far, after repeated listening, I will find some flaw with the recording/mastering process, so I would never nominate them for a "best ever" list.

However, I did a matrix recently, under the guidance of easyjim, that I have to say still blows me away. This is probably the best I've done, and I am pretty proud of this one.

I think it was the combination of the high end being supplied by the SBD, and the bottom end and instrument separation supplied by the omnis that made for a magic combo, like a lock and key. It was just something about the way Particle was mixed combined with the omnis. Even the matrix of the opening band using the same mastering settings doesn't sound as good.

I am going to go for a matrix again at this venue with Greensky Bluegrass at the end of Apr. I hope Jim can come out and recreate the special sauce!

http://www.archive.org/details/particle2011-12-17.matrix.flac16

Easyjim is the go to guy for all your four channel recordings and was a huge help when I got my R4  He was super patient w/ all my ?'s and knows a sh*t load of stuff for mastering a matrix

[Jhurlbs81]

(2) The MMJ show is the single greatest audience recording I've heard.

thanks man! It's all about the location.