Between this and the 7-1 show it would have been a fantastic weekend to be kicking it in Universal City. These shows are the epitome of 1973.

Great observations Chris. The problem you describe gets worse the older the show is for obvious reasons.

There are so many copies of some shows; one wonders if covering some of the more significant shows on a blog or BBS (on here perhaps??) as you have done so well here would be welcomed?

Thanks for your comments - right on target!

Happy to revise this comment at any time but ...

... there seems to be a tendency to clutter up this awesome Archive with extraneous "versions" of shows without any explanation by the people responsible for that "version" as to why they are putting the "version" up or what the difference is between the "new version" and (in many cases) the many already existing versions.

I like serendipity as much as anyone else but I don't want my time wasted figuring out whether something of significance has been uploaded or not. That would seem to be the responsibility of the person doing the uploading. Tell us the reason for uploading a "new" version, even it's not a good one. That description should appear in the notes.

In this particular instance, we now have ten versions of the show that are viewable on the Archive when you "check on other copies".

1) shnid=6019 copy of an audience recording dubbed by Will Boswell from Jerry's personal reel; seeded by Noah Weiner way back when. I agree with Noah that is a magnificent audience recording for this era, where you can really hear the hall.

2) shnid=100346 16 bit version of an alternate copy of the same master, also provided by Noah (Noah's notes say: "This is the same master recording that is heard on shnid=6019" but a "clear upgrade"; Noah implies this is a higher generation dub relative to 6019. I don't hear that much difference, frankly, but my ears or speakers may not be up to the task.

3) shnid=100345 audience; 24 bit version of 100346

4) shnid=99703 Another version of the same audience master as 6019, also provided by Noah Weiner, but with a different sound spectrum ("this low gen copy has a fantastic spectrum of high and low end, beautifully upgrading the one disappointment in the current circulating copy of the same recording - muted high end"). Although not without some noise reduction artefacts, this appears to be Noah Weiner's preferred recording of this show -- it certainly has its charms!

5) shnid=85816 audience; SirMick remaster of 6019 Nice descriptive Notes explaining what was done, why and what was achieved.

6) shnid=19903 Soundboard; JD Baker remaster of the soundboard with audience patches from shn=6019. Nice descriptive notes. Unless you're super keen on the audience tapes, this is arguably the nicest sounding and most complete document of this show presently on the Archive.

7) shnid=177 The "original" soundboard dub. Still very listenable and enjoyable.

8) shnid=128248 Soundboard remaster by Bill Guarneri. Descriptive notes state in part: "Vocals were attenuated resulting in better balance and less vocal distortion." I haven't confirmed but it sounds nice in theory. ;)

9) shnid=29753 Matrix by Chris Chappell; the Notes state that the source material was an audience provided by Noah Weiner (presumably the 6019 source tape?) and a soundboard provided by "A Jerugim" (presumably from same source as 177).

and last but not least the version on the present page:

10) 130577 24 bit audience transfer by Matt Smith. The "Source" description states: "Reel dubbed in 1979 by Will Boswell (3 3/4ips) from Jerry Garcia's personal collection. Original recording made by the sound crew at the soundboard; Transfer info: Akai GX636 direct tape head output > Bottlehead tube tape pre w/ a pair of Telefunken tubes circa 1960 > Apogee Mini Me 24/96 > Apogee Mini DAC monitoring and mastering > FLAC"

So is the only difference between 130577 and shnid=100346 the equipment used to digitize the recording? Any other differences, such as audible differences? Is it believed to be represent an upgrade for some reason? Please, please, please take the time to put that information in the Notes if it exists.