Here's a fluff for the DSD recorder and Panic...(from Doug Oade at the oade.com board)
#2789, "Tascam DV-RA1000 DSD Mode"
Thu Apr-28-05 12:23 PM by Doug
Hi All !
Well, Chris was kind enough to give me space and AC power so I could run the DV-RA1000 last night for my first DSD recording of WSP in Tallahassee Florida.
I ran the Schoeps MTSC-64 into an HHb Classic 80 Mic preamp into the DV-RA1000. I ran the DV-RA1000's input in the bypass mode and that requires a lot of gain. The HHb pre was set to 30 dB of gain and the drive controls set for a fair amount of tube saturation with the output level control at near max. The output stage was set to it's lower output level as I am not fond of the sound in the high output mode, too much noise. This gave me enough level to get near 0dB for the peaks. While I was too tired last night to haul in the gear to connect to my reference system, I have it playing now here at work into a Sony 5000ES driving the Tannoy Dual Concentric and it is a mighty sound. Almost as impressive as the kick ass, heart stopping, soul satisfying sound of the new Widespread Panic ! I am still waiting on another DSD recorder so I can make backups of the data but for now I am doing a transfer to 24/48 on the Warm MOD FR-2. The DSD recorder writes to DVD+RW disc, this made me nervous as I was running it on the risers with dancers creating a fair amount of vibration but so far, no errors or troubles. This thing is damn slow in changing disc. I was worried about chopping the encore so I put my 3rd disc in to be safe. It had to write data on the disc before ejecting and then initialize the new disc. It seemed to take an eternity to do this, I was pleased that upon start up, it jumped forward in record time, writing the data to disc that it had loaded into the memory buffer. I just did get the first note of the encore.
As much as I am impressed by the sound of DSD, that pales by comparison to the power of the new sound of WSP. They are a mighty force that is certain to drive even more deep emotion and heart felt energy into the depths of the souls of their fans for years to come. We are talking a total package here, the new sound system provided by 8th Day is impressive, the best clarity and detail I have heard out of WSP. Everyone was easy to hear at all times, JB's guitar was mixed at the perfect level and I could hear layers and textures in the work he does so easily with his having to be loud in the mix, I just loved it. Chris did a great job as did everyone, the new light rig is sweet. I used to think Chris would be able to equal John O' work, now I feel he is going to press John O to learn more just to keep up .
None of the HF nasties that plagued the older XL4 based system, just clean detailed sound. Possibly the new board, possibly the fact the mic pres were on stage and the phase problems that one gets when a mic pushes several hundred feet of cable , mic splits and various inputs disappeared. Maybe this is why the XL4 sounds merely average ( i.e. too much resolution), in every system with every engineer behind the controls, I just know I like the new rig.
I hope to add more as I am moved to rant on for some time, but sadly, must earn a living !
peace....Doug
BTW, GO SEE PANIC !
and get 100 times your monies worth
