U.S. Blues | 1978-05-07 | Grateful Dead

3:14:06
Rating:
8.86 / 7 ratings
Transferrer:
Roger Eichorn
SHNID:
gd1978-05-07.130513.mtx.eichorn.sbeok.t-flac16
Source:
Fresh Legs Matrix using shnid=80126 and shnid=91347
Taper Notes:
View NotesFRESH LEGS, VOL. 10  (Matrix)
freshdeadlegs.wordpress.com/
www.facebook.com/freshdeadlegs/

GENERAL NOTES

- Thanks go to everyone who worked on and made available the sources used in this matrix.  Obviously, this project would have been impossible without their efforts.

- This release represents a substantial upgrade over the SBD in circulation (see Source Notes, below).  More than any other matrix I've done, this one felt like an exercise in audio restoration.  As a result, it's probably my most important contribution to the catalog even though it is far from the best show I've done.

- Ever wonder what the Dead were up to exactly a year after their legendary 5/7-5/9 run in 1977?  Well, so did I -- and here it is!  Is this show as good as the ones from a year before?  No, of course not.  But it has a nice loose, casual feel to it, which leads to some interesting moments... though also to some sloppiness.  One stray observation: This show has some real great stage-banter.  Check out Jerry before "Estimated": "Shit, I can beat you with my nine aces!"


SOURCE NOTES

- Both sets are continuous.  Source 2 is nearly continous in itself; but it is missing (a) the opening of "Jack Straw" and (b) part of "Drums," both of which I patched with Source 3.

- The SBD source is riddled with serious problems.
	* It has numerous drop-outs, both long and short
	* It is 2-4% fast, which borders on Chipmunk territory
	* The channels are reversed
	* The first set has a loud 60Hz hum throughout
	* Both sets are overlaid with white-noise
	* Once in both sets, the volume radically drops off
	* It has all sorts of channel problems (esp. during Mexicali)
	* It has all manner of pops, clicks, crackling, etc.

The drop-outs include:
	* The first half of the "Finiculi, Finicula" bit
	* The end of "FOTD"
	* Several short drop-outs during "Scarlet"
	* The very last beat of "Fire"!
	* The end of "He's Gone"
	* A couple drop-outs during "Drums"
	* A couple short drop-outs during "Iko Iko"
	* A short drop-out during "Black Peter"
	* Then the SBD cuts off entirely near the end of "Peter"

I did all new patching for these drop-outs.

I pitch- and speed-corrected the SBD with the iZotope Radius algorithm; I used Source 2 as my reference, as it appears to be at the correct speed/pitch.  Set 1 is 3-4% fast; Set 2 is 2-3% fast.  (Fine-tune syncing was done in Logic Pro 9.)

I swapped the channels and widened the stereo image a bit.

I did my best to tame the 60Hz hum in Set 1.  Traces remain.  I also did my best to tame the white-noise without compromising the music.  I did what I could with the various pops, clicks, thumps, and channel problems.  Some are now undetectable; many remain audible, though they are (I hope) less obtrusive now.

- I used Source 3 both as a patch (to fill in drop-outs in Source 2) and, in a few cases, as a second AUD source to fill out the sound of Source 2 during SBD drop-outs.


TECHNICAL NOTES

- The sources were remastered and mixed in Logic Pro 9.  Clean-up was done using iZotope RX 3 Advanced.  SBE's were fixed using Trader's Little Helper.


Roger Eichorn
freshdeadlegs.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/freshdeadlegs/
July 6, 2014