Collective Unconscious.org

05.17.2006

Source B: Core Sound Binaurals/120> Nomad Jukebox 3 @ 48 kHz
Transfer: NJB3 > Firewire > .wav > Steinberg Wavelab w/Waves Master’s Tools ( levels / eq / tracking / resample to 44.1kHz) > Flac Frontend > .flac (level 8)
Location: Upper Balcony - 2nd to last row from the top
Taper:      t4oo6l
Trade:      Contact taper by clicking here
Gen:         1st from Master
MP3 Sample: Right Click & Save

Notes - by taper: First and foremost, a huge thanks to Distortion for the lone of the njb3, as mine broke a few weeks before the show. This was recorded from the upper balcony in the next to the last row. It’s amazing that the sound quality is as good as it is considering I used binaural mics and I was basically as far from the stacks as I could possibly be; CSB's never cease to amaze me. There's a bit of hall echo at times and a low end boominess which the waves masters helped control. Conversely, the highs are sharp and crisp. Maynard's vocals are pretty clear but can be distant and muddy at times. Minimal crowd noise with a few yells and whistle’s here and there, nothing too bothersome. I split the interlude intros from 46&2, Sober, and Vicarious because I've seen The Mars Volta too many times and I'm impatient for songs to begin. A funny story: Upon trying to enter the Tower I had this little cylinder shaped device, about the size of a cigarette lighter that I clip to the outside of my belt. It's supposed to ward off mosquitos: turn the head clockwise and it's on, counter, and it's off. It always boggles security that such a device exists so they never pat me down and usually spend most of their time asking me about it. The front end head security said I couldn't bring it in so I insighted a small argument between the few security guards near me as to who could have it since I couldn't bring it in. I sure wasn't taking it all the way back to my car and getting in line again. I asked each gaurd who wanted it more, how much they'd be willing to pay for it, and they were like "oh, cmon man, you can't bring it in let me have it, etc." and the other chick was like "no, why should you get it." This went on for a bit, and then I just unclipped it and slid it down a long table in between the 2 of them and while they were going after it i just walked in, no pat down at all. Pretty amusing, had most of the other security laughing that were watching this. Funny, this was exactly what I DID NOT expect of tool security, or venue security possibly trained by tool's security. I also thought it was amusing to see and to have talked to so many people at the show that were only there because they liked the new album so much or because it was the in place to be and the cool thing to do. This was extremely evident right before the breakdown during stinkfist. Anyone who's seen Tool before would know what happens, but on the recording you can hear half the damn crowd (including the dumbass next to me) start screaming "I'll...Keep...Digging," only to realize that's not where the song's going. Ah, I could go on and on, but just one more: some kid had contacted a guy on tdn (kabir's page) about meeting up at the show so he could get a ticket from him, but he didn't ask the guy what he looked like, when or where they should meet or any other important info. He just kept going up and down the entrance line asking people if they were ever on the tool page before, haha.
Notes - by Galen: All in all, a relatively accurate & decent capture of this performance. I do not by any stretch of the imagination think it should sound as clean as it does. There are instances of the crowd being in your ear but overall this source really soars. When you mix in the rather basic set up as far as equipment it is hard not to close your eyes & imagine you are there; at the top of the theatre, 2 rows from the very top. That said, this does not sound like it was recorded from such a distance but sounds much closer, surprisingly as it is. I believe that this is one of the better if not the best CSB recording that I have heard from this mini tour. Not said lightly, by the way.