If you are planning on making these downloads available in a lossless format, $9.99 seems incredibly reasonable to me for these gems (except for short sets).

I appreciate all your efforts.

Blooby

What we're witnessing here is almost an entire generation weaned on .mp3 and without a clue as to how horrible it is.  mp3 is tin can and string technology, period.

Signed,
mp3 Still Sucks aka Back in FLAC

Thanks for streaming these great shows!!! It's apparent that you've put a huge amount of effort into this project, and it's obvious (to me ) that you're not doing this to cash in.

Please don't let these lowballers get you down. I've done a lot of trading in the past, and have met some great people that loved to share the music. I've also encountered a few that couldn't care less about the music and just wanted something for free (or trade for some worthless low bitrate MP-3's with gaps...) I personaly normally avoid purchasing commercial bootlegs (and the few I have bought cost way more than $10), but this situation is a bit different since you own the recordings, and even pay the license fees.

I'll definitely end up buying more than a few shows when they become available. I'd also consider some sort of subscription / multiple deal if one were offered. I'm confident that you would use much of the proceeds to directly improve the site- and I can't imagine how much you must already have invested in this! Thanks again for the great site!!

Oso Rojo wrote the following post at 04-13-2007 2:04 PM

"I won't be buying any downloads, I'll just wait tio get copies from the folks that do.

and I would like to know more about the royalties to the artists for the music and the art/merch. seems like there is still some dust that has not settled with the Dead, Santana and others...."

Wow, just friggin wow. Not even sure where to begin with this one.

So what you're saying is "I am concerned that the bands get their money from these Vault shows while I'm copying all them from friends who actually paid for and DL'd them because I'm too fuggin' cheap to buy them myself."

Good ole dirtbag self-prescribed hippy morals at work there. Have another hit, d00d.

Metal:

What we're witnessing here is almost an entire generation weaned on .mp3 and without a clue as to how horrible it is.  mp3 is tin can and string technology, period.

Signed,
mp3 Still Sucks aka Back in FLAC

This one is funny too esp. when talking about live shows recorded on 2 track machines from the 60's and 70's. "Boy I'm gonna miss the amazing hi-fi quality used from the rigs they recorded with if I don't have these recordings in FLAC."

I bet if we sat you in a room with state of the art equipment you'd go at least 50/50 between picking the mp3 and the FLAC esp. with these recordings. get over it people these are old unmastered shows that were recorded on decent equipment at best. Yeah, 8-16 track mastered recordings a FLAC request is understood, but all this griping here, Good lord.

btw Metal have you actually taken a transparent sound test between a HQ mp3 rip and the full CD files?

augustwest:

[btw Metal have you actually taken a transparent sound test between a HQ mp3 rip and the full CD files?

I'm not metal but yeah I've done a test and some average equipment before my current set up.  To be honest I could tell the diff between a very high bit rate file and a WAV file. 

Might be different on my new set up though (naim 5i cd player, Arcam Alpha 9/9p, B&W speakers).

Personally I would rather pay $10 for a FLAC file but if the bit rate is high enough I might go for it.  Besides with the exchage rate (UK/US) it won;t cost me much.  Although if i was being honest...if these become "free" elsewhere the temptation might be a bit too much.  I mean I'd love to have all the recordings I want but I can;t really afford them.

Anyway...

Eddie

Eddie, did you perform the test or did someone else in a controlled setting a la the real transparent tests that sound engineers performed.

that makes all the difference - if the person listening controls the playback switch it's not a test.

nonetheless remastered multitrack recordings for FLAC understood.

2 L/R tracks from soundboards forgettaboutit. It's snobbery.

I own quite a few radio broadcast recordings and I look forward to a lossless download setting for the shows here.  Quality aside, being able to burn them properly so that I may enjoy them as I do my others is my issue above all else.  I am honoured by the oppurtunity to own a piece of history from these artists.  Their music is what makes a place like this tick and having the chance to share in it with a high regard for quality is right up my alley.

I've been a trader myself for some time now and mp3 is great for portable media players but if you enjoy it in your home, your car, or while spending a fine summer day hanging out with friends and family I would prefer to have that lossless quality pumping through the speakers so I may enjoy the time the way I like to.  We all have our opinions and that is all they are...but their are our own. 

Please keep the lossless idea alive here.  I know I am not alone in saying that it will be most appreciated.

Keep music alive, share the spirit of the music, and never forget that without the artists we wouldn't have ALL these fine shows to choose from.

:)  :)

Shawn

I'm with you augustwest, most people and in most settings, wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

The whole stereophile concept that music has to be recorded and played back perfect is contrary to what these recorded concerts stand for. These are not studio perfect to begin with. They are raw and beautiful.
BTW, in reference to blind controlled testing of sound, I would refer interested parties to check out what James Randi has to say about the whole belief system involved in today's sound equipment market.
Go to randi.org and do a search on stereophile. James Randi has been trying to get those people to take his million dollar challenge for some time.
 IMHO, I will be happy to drop $10 and get a concert, no matter what format.

Yes,I too would drop $10 for any of the shows in the vault . I don't care about artwork,burning,etc..

Always baffled as to why anyone would complain,scream and holler about mp3 vs. flac when you're getting such classic,vintage,historical rock music which has never been made available before???? There is always the option of just recording the free stream on your own and don't puchase anything. Or just forget about this site and don't waste your time here.

I will be first in line to buy the downloads just to support this site . For  live music lovers,there is nothing better than this site.Raw live music that cam be listened to anytime,for free.

I'm sure all of this is not easy to produce,nor cheap to pull off . And with such a huge $$$$,it's wonderful that Wolfgang is sharing the shows. Everyone wants the best sound,but be patient,and let's see how the downloads play out before the threats of "I won't buy this" or "I won't support the site" causes Wolfgang to just say forget it,too much hassle.

Have to say thanks again to Wolfgang and all that contribute to this site.

Halwork

Hello there,
When I first heard about this site, in the back of my mind was "I hope they can make these shows available for downloads someday", and I'm so happy to hear this is going to happen! Soon, as well. I think the price sounds fair enough to me, ten dollars is a bargain. The only question now is, which show do I go for first!! It'll be a tough choice!

We'll, the anticipation is driving a lot of crazy! *Any* info at all would be appreciated. As far as the lossy vs. lossless question, a large part of us won't pay $10 for an mp3 concert. Certainly for lossless, but that kind of money deserves to be paid for the "real thing". You can put DRM in the files, that's fine with me, but lossless should at least be an option, if not from day 1. Impatiently waiting...!

Well, if I may beg to differ: Widespread Panic concerts blow out the door at 10.00 per mp3 concert; 15.00 per flac concert. Same Allman Bros., DMB, Dead, Ratdog, Black Crowes,etc etc.  I'm not saying I don't prefer the flac method, after an initial mistake in ordering an mp3 concert I buy nothing but flac.
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 I see it as if the flac is the muscle car of the download market, while mp3 is more of a Ford Pinto. When you hear that low racy growl from a 1968 Pontiac GTO just idling on the curb, you can hear the massive motor in the background. The Pinto? squeak squeak.

Another request for lossless. I just can't see paying for mp3.

quit yer bitchin and enjoy the music