2013 Bootleg sound quality is exceptionally good

vaggar99 · November 2013

I just sat down to listen to the first bootleg from this tour and couldn't help but instantly feel like their is an obvious improvement in quality. At first I thought well maybe i'm just excited since I hadn't listened to a live PJ show in some time. But, it is true, the sound is WAY better.

To benchmark, I found versions of Given to Fly, Animal and Elderly Women from the 2009 tour. And sure enough, my suspicion was confirmed. Those sound like audience recordings compared to this one.

I'd honestly started to lose interest in PJ's bootlegs because it was starting to feel like they weren't being recorded and mixed professionally. Not anymore. Anyone know if they are doing something different this time around?

vaggar99 · December 2013

sorry, hate to bump my own thread. still curious to find out if anyone else has noticed the improved sound quality on pittsburgh boot.

Sane Mary · December 2013

Which type of recording did u buy?

dimitrispearljam · December 2013

i heard the first 2 shows only..need to listen to more..
sounfs really great..i feel 2012 was a bit better,but im not sure

vaggar99 · December 2013

Sane Mary wrote:

Which type of recording did u buy?

just basic mp3

dimitrispearljam · December 2013

and you are right..2013 are 10 times better than 2009 boots,no question

vaggar99 · December 2013

dimitrispearljam wrote:

i heard the first 2 shows only..need to listen to more..
sounfs really great..i feel 2012 was a bit better,but im not sure

i hadn't listend to any of 2012, but perhaps the improvement started at the tail end of the Backspacer tour. I really only have 2009 to compare to

Mike D88 · December 2013

They really do sound great. 2008 was a low point for bootlegs, and they improved steadily from there.

deftones · December 2013

dimitrispearljam wrote:

and you are right..2013 are 10 times better than 2009 boots,no question

2013 boots are much better than 2009 for sure but I still prefer 2012 boots

dimitrispearljam · December 2013

deftones wrote:

dimitrispearljam wrote:

and you are right..2013 are 10 times better than 2009 boots,no question

2013 boots are much better than 2009 for sure but I still prefer 2012 boots

yesah,same feeling here..ill wait to listen more official 2013

MayDay10 · December 2013

Just started Pittsburgh Flac HD boot.

:shock:

jumbojet · December 2013

I listened to basic mp3 downloads of the first 2 and I agree. THe mixing is good. I just wish I could hear the bass a little more but overall, I am quite content.

DewieCox · December 2013

The reason the 09 boot sounds like an audience recording is b/c all 09 boots sound like audience recordings, with or without your frame of reference.

vaggar99 · December 2013

DewieCox wrote:

The reason the 09 boot sounds like an audience recording is b/c all 09 boots sound like audience recordings, with or without your frame of reference.

I wasn't referring to one particular boot from 2009. I was referring
to the whole. Not sure what the 'frame of reference' thing is about.

DewieCox · December 2013

vaggar99 wrote:

DewieCox wrote:

The reason the 09 boot sounds like an audience recording is b/c all 09 boots sound like audience recordings, with or without your frame of reference.

I wasn't referring to one particular boot from 2009. I was referring
to the whole. Not sure what the 'frame of reference' thing is about.

The 09 bootlegs are not good, whether you're comparing them to this years' or any other years. You get more clarity and there's a better balance with about any soundboard boots, but the bad ones lack all the fullness and atmosphere that a good audience recording can have.

Gern Blansten · December 2013

agreed! Very happy with the sound so far

2-feign-reluctance · December 2013

I find the 09' shows in great form! Berlin 09' and Portland are highlights. Maybe its what you are listening to them through that is the culprit?

Veddernarian · December 2013

The 2000 boots are horrible sound and I think 100% using high quality mics from the audience. Last Exit, Tampa, was pure soundboard and sounded awesome. Otherwise the sound stunk.

I have the entire 2003 set and it is better than 2000 but the upper midrange is harsh, bass is lacking and it creates listening fatigue big-time. However, in the Southeast through Champaign, it is actually pretty good.

The 4 2009 LA Gibson shows sound amazing. Maybe due to the great sound in the Gibson.

Really glad to hear 2013 sounds good. Can't wait to get a few of them.

Spencer · December 2013

Veddernarian wrote:

The 2000 boots are horrible sound and I think 100% using high quality mics from the audience.

This is incorrect. They're professionally mixed multi-track recordings, just the same as all of the official bootleg series. 2000 is pretty much the 'gold standard' as far as I'm concerned: great sound combined with some of the band's best performances. I think they're easily the best series of shows the band has released.

The reason the 2008 to 2010 bootlegs sound appreciably worse is that they weren't mixed by long-time Pearl Jam live sound engineer Brett Eliason. Brett mixed the band's live sound from 1991 to the early 2000s and handled the mixing of the bootlegs on the 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006 tours before having a break.

He returned to mix the 2011 bootlegs and has continued doing so through 2012 and 2013 - thankfully, with Brett back on board, the boots sound great again.

dimitrispearljam · December 2013

Veddernarian wrote:

The 2000 boots are horrible sound

no

dimitrispearljam · December 2013

DewieCox wrote:

The reason the 09 boot sounds like an audience recording is b/c all 09 boots sound like audience recordings, with or without your frame of reference.

not all
Berlin 09,London 09 and LA 3-4 have great sound

CharlieP · December 2013

2008 was not up to standard.
2009 boots were either hit or miss. Some good ones but especially the OZ shows don't sound too good. Oddly enough since those were outdoor shows, if my memory serves me right.
2010 was good with a few bad ones. I attended the Hyde Park gig but unfortunately the boot is weak.
The 2012 euro boots were great IMO.
Can't wait to receive the first couple of 2013 ones

jumbojet · December 2013

Spencer wrote:

Veddernarian wrote:

The 2000 boots are horrible sound and I think 100% using high quality mics from the audience.

This is incorrect. They're professionally mixed multi-track recordings, just the same as all of the official bootleg series. 2000 is pretty much the 'gold standard' as far as I'm concerned: great sound combined with some of the band's best performances. I think they're easily the best series of shows the band has released.

The reason the 2008 to 2010 bootlegs sound appreciably worse is that they weren't mixed by long-time Pearl Jam live sound engineer Brett Eliason. Brett mixed the band's live sound from 1991 to the early 2000s and handled the mixing of the bootlegs on the 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006 tours before having a break.

He returned to mix the 2011 bootlegs and has continued doing so through 2012 and 2013 - thankfully, with Brett back on board, the boots sound great again.

This sounds like a good explanation.
Personally, I havent had problems with 2000 or 2003 or 2006 boots.
2008 - 2010 period, there were a few where I felt like questioning the quality of the bootleg. Example: 2008 MSG, 2009 Brisbane.
On the other hand, London-2009 show sounds good to me.
I havent personally experienced dissatisfaction from 2010 boots, but I've seen a lot of people express dissatisfaction with some of the top-2010 boots like 2010 MSG or 2010 Boston.

2013 Bootleg sound quality is exceptionally good

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