What do you think: is this AUD or SBD?

[Sabbathomaniac]

Hi,
this recording has been circulating as a SBD recording for many years. However, a friend of mine claims it is clearly an AUD recording (a very good-sounding one indeed). Before I post it, I want to be sure what it is. Attached you find two MP3 samples. What do you think: SBD or AUD?
Thanks in advance for any help,
Linda

[zeptrade]

My opinion Audience but wait for another opinion.

[rspencer]

Yeah, I agree with your friend and zeptrade, it's an audience recording.
It's a very good one, likely a stack tape.
To me, it's most obvious with the drums and vocals.

[Sabbathomaniac]

My opinion Audience but wait for another opinion.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Sabbathomaniac]

Thanks for your response! Sorry, I am really an amateur, so I have to inquire further:
1.) What exactly is a 'stack tape'?
2.) And if you're willing to explain: what exactly is it about the drums and vocals that enables us to distinguish SBD from AUD?
3.) I first got the idea of this being an AUD recording because there is lots of noticeable crowd noise present here. However, I was not sure - maybe some soundboard recordings (other than the typical 'dry' ones) DO include crowd noise (e.g. when people from the crowd accidentally were very close to one of the microphones intended to record the band)?

Yeah, I agree with your friend and zeptrade, it's an audience recording.
It's a very good one, likely a stack tape.
To me, it's most obvious with the drums and vocals.

[DanielG]

1.) What exactly is a 'stack tape'?
A stack tape is when the taper positions the microphones very close to the speakers (the stacks) at the concert. This results in minimal crowd interference, hence why some people could believe it was a soundboard recording.

[mediaaddict]

Just based on listening to the two samples, I would say it's audience. Very good audience, but still audience.

[Sabbathomaniac]

A stack tape is when the taper positions the microphones very close to the speakers (the stacks) at the concert. This results in minimal crowd interference, hence why some people could believe it was a soundboard recording.

Many thanks for the explanation!

[Sabbathomaniac]

Just based on listening to the two samples, I would say it's audience. Very good audience, but still audience.

Many thanks for your feedback!

[rspencer]

2.) And if you're willing to explain: what exactly is it about the drums and vocals that enables us to distinguish SBD from AUD?


Drums and vocals on a board tape tend to be quite dry and "up front."

On an audience tape, they are more "airy," for lack of a better word. They
sound a little more distant than they would on a board tape. A little more, I
dunno, hollow, less solid. Guitar & bass suffer the same distance, of course,
but it tends to be less obvious due to their volume both from the stage and
from the PA. The difference is there, it's just not as obvious.

Best I can explain it, I think. I think once you hear that difference enough
(especially when you can be certain of the source), you can usually
determine which is which.

[Sabbathomaniac]

Drums and vocals on a board tape tend to be quite dry and "up front."

On an audience tape, they are more "airy," for lack of a better word. They
sound a little more distant than they would on a board tape. A little more, I
dunno, hollow, less solid. Guitar & bass suffer the same distance, of course,
but it tends to be less obvious due to their volume both from the stage and
from the PA. The difference is there, it's just not as obvious.

Best I can explain it, I think. I think once you hear that difference enough
(especially when you can be certain of the source), you can usually
determine which is which.

Thanks for explaining! :-)