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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DREAM THEATER (6:00 On A Christmas Morning!)

Started by Weymolith, December 25, 2013, 02:59:21 AM

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TheGreatPretender

Quote from: wolfking on December 26, 2013, 03:01:09 PM
Pitchy means his notes weren't in key or on pitch a lot of the times.  A lot of his passing notes in his vox were off.  His big notes and long notes were good but the notes getting to those a lot of the time were either sharp or flat.

I haven't noticed, so I wouldn't say it's too significant, unless your ear is very sensitive to that sort of thing, I guess. Either way, I wouldn't say that his performances on the Holiday CD were so much better than his LALP. Some songs were great, but others were just okay on both releases. I certainly wouldn't go as far as to say that the Holiday release is so much better than LALP.

Quote from: wolfking on December 26, 2013, 03:01:09 PMIn regards to UAGM, he's pretty much been singing it that way most of the time live, doesn't he?

I haven't watched too many bootleg videos from the last tour, but the couple I have seen, along with the show I went to, he just sang it normally, the way he did on Score, pretty much.

Shadow2222

I'm in the group that wasn't very blown away with his vocals on LALP, even though my friend insists its the best he has ever sounded. On this release, which I love very, very much, he still doesn't sound too great. Another Day particularly has what sounds like Chaos in Motion style tuning all over it (at least to me).

TheAtliator

Another Day was absolutely tuned and I mentioned that earlier too. You can hear it clearly if you're good enough at listening for it. In the real performance he hit some notes great and some notes flat. Here they're all in tune, but unnatural and CiMmy sounding much of the time.

I'm glad NONE of the other tracks were touched by auto tune. I mean, I guess I can't know that for sure, but given that in everything else theres a few flat notes and cracks here and there, everything matches previous bootlegs I've heard, and it all passes my quite good built in auto-tune detecter, I'd say it's safe to say only AD was touched.

Also, I forgot to add, this release has great stereo separation. That was another thing I like about it.  :tup

TheGreatPretender

Quote from: Shadow2222 on December 26, 2013, 03:24:19 PM
I'm in the group that wasn't very blown away with his vocals on LALP, even though my friend insists its the best he has ever sounded. On this release, which I love very, very much, he still doesn't sound too great. Another Day particularly has what sounds like Chaos in Motion style tuning all over it (at least to me).

Your friend might need a little refreshment. Put on Live at the Marquee, or Live In Tokyo DVD for him to remind him what JLB USED to sound like.

But of course, it would be incredibly unreasonable for us to expect him to sound like that after 25 years and a vocal cord injury. But would I say he sounds better than he did on the previous couple of live DVDs that he's done in the 2000s? Yeah, I'd say so. I mean, he sounded very solid in Score, but he also played it very safe for that entire show, never doing any improvised screams or varying the parts too much. On the recent releases, there's a lot more showmanship from him. He's being a better "front man" not just a better singer.

Quote from: TheAtliator on December 26, 2013, 03:34:07 PM
Another Day was absolutely tuned and I mentioned that earlier too. You can hear it clearly if you're good enough at listening for it. In the real performance he hit some notes great and some notes flat. Here they're all in tune, but unnatural and CiMmy sounding much of the time.

How many times did he do Another Day during this previous tour? Was it a regular part of the set at some point? I only remember one Youtube video I watched where he did Another Day during the encore, as an Images and Words anniversary celebration. And it sounded pretty bad. But of course, I think making him do a song like Another Day for the encore is kind of ridiculous. It's a tough song as it is, and at the end of the night when he's all worn out, it would be very tough.
But my point is, if that's the performance on the Holiday release, then I'm not surprised at all that they had to autotune it. And I actually don't mind how it sounds at all.

JayOctavarium

Quote from: TheGreatPretender on December 26, 2013, 03:38:51 PM
Quote from: Shadow2222 on December 26, 2013, 03:24:19 PM
I'm in the group that wasn't very blown away with his vocals on LALP, even though my friend insists its the best he has ever sounded. On this release, which I love very, very much, he still doesn't sound too great. Another Day particularly has what sounds like Chaos in Motion style tuning all over it (at least to me).


That was the only performance.

Your friend might need a little refreshment. Put on Live at the Marquee, or Live In Tokyo DVD for him to remind him what JLB USED to sound like.

But of course, it would be incredibly unreasonable for us to expect him to sound like that after 25 years and a vocal cord injury. But would I say he sounds better than he did on the previous couple of live DVDs that he's done in the 2000s? Yeah, I'd say so. I mean, he sounded very solid in Score, but he also played it very safe for that entire show, never doing any improvised screams or varying the parts too much. On the recent releases, there's a lot more showmanship from him. He's being a better "front man" not just a better singer.

Quote from: TheAtliator on December 26, 2013, 03:34:07 PM
Another Day was absolutely tuned and I mentioned that earlier too. You can hear it clearly if you're good enough at listening for it. In the real performance he hit some notes great and some notes flat. Here they're all in tune, but unnatural and CiMmy sounding much of the time.

How many times did he do Another Day during this previous tour? Was it a regular part of the set at some point? I only remember one Youtube video I watched where he did Another Day during the encore, as an Images and Words anniversary celebration. And it sounded pretty bad. But of course, I think making him do a song like Another Day for the encore is kind of ridiculous. It's a tough song as it is, and at the end of the night when he's all worn out, it would be very tough.
But my point is, if that's the performance on the Holiday release, then I'm not surprised at all that they had to autotune it. And I actually don't mind how it sounds at all.

TheAtliator

Quote from: TheGreatPretender on December 26, 2013, 03:38:51 PM
How many times did he do Another Day during this previous tour? Was it a regular part of the set at some point? I only remember one Youtube video I watched where he did Another Day during the encore, as an Images and Words anniversary celebration. And it sounded pretty bad. But of course, I think making him do a song like Another Day for the encore is kind of ridiculous. It's a tough song as it is, and at the end of the night when he's all worn out, it would be very tough.
But my point is, if that's the performance on the Holiday release, then I'm not surprised at all that they had to autotune it. And I actually don't mind how it sounds at all.

My point exactly. You'll notice, especially for some of the songs that were pulled out for the 2012 Europe leg in January, that the first few shows of a song is always the toughest for James. Another Day was played exactly once, and that was the first since 2007, and his voice is different since then. If they kept it in the set a while, he probably would have been AMAZING on it considering he nailed about half of the tough notes and flubbed half in just the first performance.

Podaar

On a positive note...(ahem)

I really like the performance of The Great Debate. I really think MM captured the energy of MP and it's a nice nod to the man who wrote those parts.

BlobVanDam

Quote from: Podaar on December 26, 2013, 07:16:21 PM
On a positive note...(ahem)

I really like the performance of The Great Debate. I really think MM captured the energy of MP and it's a nice nod to the man who wrote those parts.

MM did an excellent job on TGD! All of the intro hats and toms were spot on. I think he had the poly-rhythm hihats during the keyboard solo a bit different, but other than that, absolutely perfect throughout.

My only disappointment with the drumming was Another Day. I don't know how many times they performed that, or how much practice MM got for it, but he didn't do the hi-hat rhythms, and he didn't do the tom pattern during the bridge section, and some of the fills weren't right. But given that was his first tour with the band playing any of these songs, I don't expect him to play everything exactly.

TheGreatPretender

Quote from: Podaar on December 26, 2013, 07:16:21 PM
On a positive note...(ahem)

I really like the performance of The Great Debate. I really think MM captured the energy of MP and it's a nice nod to the man who wrote those parts.

He did a great job, but it still couldn't save the song. I'm so glad they dropped it from the set list right when I went to see them.

Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 26, 2013, 07:23:09 PM
My only disappointment with the drumming was Another Day. I don't know how many times they performed that, or how much practice MM got for it, but he didn't do the hi-hat rhythms, and he didn't do the tom pattern during the bridge section, and some of the fills weren't right. But given that was his first tour with the band playing any of these songs, I don't expect him to play everything exactly.

Considering how JLB sounded BEFORE the autotune, my guess is that they didn't practice it very much at all. If I had to guess, it was a very last minute decision.

mikeyd23

Well, it seems I'm a little behind you all, I am just getting around to downloading and converting now.  Can't wait to listen to this thing!!

ResultsMayVary

Very, very cool. Thanks to DT, Wey, and everyone else involved.

bosk1

Just a note for those who may not be familiar with proper etiquette, once you finish your download, as a courtesy to others who are downloading later, you should keep your downloader open for a couple of days and continue seeding until you have uploaded at least the same amount of data you have downloaded.  With this prearranged to have a certain number of seeders, it may not be an issue, but the more people who are seeding, the faster and more accessible the download will be for others.

gentaishinigami

Thanks to DT, Wey, and everyone else involved! :D  Great present to wake up to on Christmas morning.

JayOctavarium

Quote from: bosk1 on December 26, 2013, 09:11:29 PM
Just a note for those who may not be familiar with proper etiquette, once you finish your download, as a courtesy to others who are downloading later, you should keep your downloader open for a couple of days and continue seeding until you have uploaded at least the same amount of data you have downloaded.  With this prearranged to have a certain number of seeders, it may not be an issue, but the more people who are seeding, the faster and more accessible the download will be for others.


I'm usually the asshole who doesn't seed for long... but I'll do my best to keep this going for a while :tup

Orbert

Quote from: bosk1 on December 26, 2013, 09:11:29 PM
Just a note for those who may not be familiar with proper etiquette, once you finish your download, as a courtesy to others who are downloading later, you should keep your downloader open for a couple of days and continue seeding until you have uploaded at least the same amount of data you have downloaded.  With this prearranged to have a certain number of seeders, it may not be an issue, but the more people who are seeding, the faster and more accessible the download will be for others.

I'm new to torrents and have no idea what this means.

Okay, I actually have some idea.  It sounds like torrenting (if that's what you call it) is actually peer-to-peer, not site-to-peer?  I thought it was site-to-peer.  Download the file, close the connection.  What am I missing?  What is seeding?

Zook

Quote from: Orbert on December 26, 2013, 09:52:48 PM
Quote from: bosk1 on December 26, 2013, 09:11:29 PM
Just a note for those who may not be familiar with proper etiquette, once you finish your download, as a courtesy to others who are downloading later, you should keep your downloader open for a couple of days and continue seeding until you have uploaded at least the same amount of data you have downloaded.  With this prearranged to have a certain number of seeders, it may not be an issue, but the more people who are seeding, the faster and more accessible the download will be for others.

I'm new to torrents and have no idea what this means.

Okay, I actually have some idea.  It sounds like torrenting (if that's what you call it) is actually peer-to-peer, not site-to-peer?  I thought it was site-to-peer.  Download the file, close the connection.  What am I missing?  What is seeding?

If you leave utorrent open, you're seeding. It just means it's much easier for other people to get the files because there are more of them to go around.

I think.

TheAtliator

I'm assuming if my laptop is closed the program can't still be working right?  :P but if it's open and it falls asleep is it?

Zook

I've never owned a laptop, but closing it doesn't turn it off right? If the laptop is still on, and you haven't closed utorrent completely, it should still be seeding.

Bolsters

Quote from: Orbert on December 26, 2013, 09:52:48 PM
I'm new to torrents and have no idea what this means.

Okay, I actually have some idea.  It sounds like torrenting (if that's what you call it) is actually peer-to-peer, not site-to-peer?  I thought it was site-to-peer.  Download the file, close the connection.  What am I missing?  What is seeding?
Yes, it is peer-to-peer.

Seeding is you sending the data to other people once you have finished the download. The torrent client (doesn't matter what it is) will say "seeding" somewhere on the torrent when this is happening.

Also, you should also see a "ratio" somewhere. This is the ratio between what you've downloaded and what you've uploaded. Good etiquette is getting your ratio to at least 1 (meaning you've uploaded the same amount of data as you've downloaded), as this helps to sustain the health of the torrent (healthy meaning it's easy/fast for people to download).
Bolsters™

Bolsters

Quote from: TheAtliator on December 26, 2013, 09:59:58 PM
I'm assuming if my laptop is closed the program can't still be working right?  :P but if it's open and it falls asleep is it?
Unless your laptop is configured to go into sleep mode when it is closed, yes it will still work. Closing it just turns the screen off.

If the laptop is asleep, programs aren't running, so you won't seed while the laptop is in sleep.
Bolsters™

RodrigoAltaf

 I managed to download it properly and it plays just fine on my computer, but even though I can transfer the files to my mp3 player, they won´t show up on the playlist, so I can´t access them from the menu...is this how it´s supposed to be?  ??? :\ :\

Bolsters

Quote from: RodrigoAltaf on December 26, 2013, 10:19:34 PM
I managed to download it properly and it plays just fine on my computer, but even though I can transfer the files to my mp3 player, they won´t show up on the playlist, so I can´t access them from the menu...is this how it´s supposed to be?  ??? :\ :\
Your MP3 player likely doesn't suppot FLAC files. Scroll back through the thread a bit and you will find advice on how to convert the files to MP3.
Bolsters™

IronEarthTheater

OK, I realize that I am a complete idiot, but I downloaded the music via Torrent (I think).  How do I get it to play?  I tried clicking around on the FLAC files and I downloaded them - I think - but it won't play?  I am probably asking a very stupid question, but I've literally never acquired music online before.  I am old and use CD's... but I would love to hear this.  Will someone help?  Thanks!!!

The Letter M

Quote from: IronEarthTheater on December 26, 2013, 11:38:04 PM
OK, I realize that I am a complete idiot, but I downloaded the music via Torrent (I think).  How do I get it to play?  I tried clicking around on the FLAC files and I downloaded them - I think - but it won't play?  I am probably asking a very stupid question, but I've literally never acquired music online before.  I am old and use CD's... but I would love to hear this.  Will someone help?  Thanks!!!

Go back and read through the whole thread - there's a lot of posts explaining how to use/play/convert FLAC files, and more on how to burn them on to CD-R's if you desire to do so. Lots of helpful posts above yours have discussed this and many other topics related to downloading torrents, using FLAC, seeding/leeching, etc. etc.

-Marc.

TheGreatPretender

Gonna bump this for people's convenience.

This is for everyone who wants to convert their FLAC files to MP3:

Quote from: TheGreatPretender on December 25, 2013, 08:54:57 PM
The safest way, albeit a little slow, would probably be to use audio editing software like Audacity, as long as you install the MP3 plugin for it, you can open the flac files and convert them to MP3.

For something faster, I use this program. It's a part of ad-supported freeware suite of all sorts of converters:
https://www.dvdvideosoft.com/products/dvd/Free-YouTube-to-MP3-Converter.htm
You can just drag and drop all the flac files, choose your output quality and it'll convert everything in one go, whereas with Audacity, you'd have to import each sound file separately, export each one separately. Audacity is mainly for editing, so it's not the most efficient as a simple converter.

If you go with the dvdvideosoft converter, just make sure that when you install it, to unclick all the other stuff it's going to prompt you to install. It usually asks you if you'd like to install some toolbars on your browser, change your default search engine, etc. You probably don't want any of that crap. Otherwise, the program itself is solid and I haven't had any issues with it.

The Letter M

Thanks TGP for bumping that info! :tup

I would also HIGHLY suggest using Trader's Little Helper. The best conversion program I've ever had in over 10 years of audio trading and downloading.

It easily converts FLACs into WAVs, which can then be converted into MP3s of any bitrate you'd want (although I always set mine to CBR 320 kbps for best possible quality).

-Marc.


?

Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 26, 2013, 07:23:09 PM
My only disappointment with the drumming was Another Day. I don't know how many times they performed that, or how much practice MM got for it, but he didn't do the hi-hat rhythms, and he didn't do the tom pattern during the bridge section, and some of the fills weren't right. But given that was his first tour with the band playing any of these songs, I don't expect him to play everything exactly.
Yeah, I'm disappointed he didn't do the classic hi-hat pattern during the second "You won't find it here..." That was the only performance of AD during the whole tour and I think both he and James could've nailed the song if it had been performed more than once (and earlier on in the set).

BlobVanDam

Quote from: ? on December 27, 2013, 12:53:58 AM
Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 26, 2013, 07:23:09 PM
My only disappointment with the drumming was Another Day. I don't know how many times they performed that, or how much practice MM got for it, but he didn't do the hi-hat rhythms, and he didn't do the tom pattern during the bridge section, and some of the fills weren't right. But given that was his first tour with the band playing any of these songs, I don't expect him to play everything exactly.
Yeah, I'm disappointed he didn't do the classic hi-hat pattern during the second "You won't find it here..." That was the only performance of AD during the whole tour and I think both he and James could've nailed the song if it had been performed more than once (and earlier on in the set).

I actually had no problem with JLB's performance on the song. He did great on that bridge section. My only issue was the drumming, which I figured must have been due to lack of playing it, given that he breezes through more complex songs like TGD.
I'm still really glad to have a good quality recording of it though. I hope that every future tour can be as definitively documented in terms of representing every DT song they played.  :tup

?

Quote from: BlobVanDam on December 27, 2013, 01:06:24 AM
I actually had no problem with JLB's performance on the song. He did great on that bridge section.
I don't think James' performance was bad, but you can hear he was exhausted, which is natural considering the placement of the song in the setlist. I watched a fan-filmed video of that performance and as others pointed out, his voice has been touched up a little bit.
QuoteMy only issue was the drumming, which I figured must have been due to lack of playing it, given that he breezes through more complex songs like TGD.
I'm still really glad to have a good quality recording of it though. I hope that every future tour can be as definitely documented in terms of representing every DT song they played.  :tup
:iagree:

nikatapi

I think it was kind of a last minute desicion to play Another Day, and MM only knew the time signatures, he didn't learn the exact drum parts, otherwise i'm sure he would play them as they are.

Also, i think he changed the type of drum heads he used on the bass drums sometime during the tour, and it is audible on some songs, like Endless Sacrifice and the Drum Solo, the sound is more clear and punchy.

RaiseTheKnife

Is anyone else blown away by The Great Debate?  The keyboard mix (and sounds), the performance, everything.  This is an almighty aural experience.


wolfking

TGD was awesome, but Endless Sacrifice might be the pick of the bunch for me.

jingle.boy

Can't say I have a single complaint.  Best part for me is finally having a clean version of TCOT.  Every other track (save MM drum solo) already has a live release (official, or Ytse Jam).  I had a couple of PN2009 bootlegs, but this slays them all obviously.
Quote from: ReaperKK on July 28, 2018, 07:12:37 PMI didn't know I could handle another 10 inches and it was rough but in the end I'm glad I did it.
Quote from: Zydar on May 30, 2012, 03:56:46 AMI'll have to find something to blow
Quote from: Zydar on February 21, 2025, 02:29:56 AMI wish it was just the ball-sack.

Jinx

I likely wont listen to this until I find an easy way to convert to MP3. I'm not really one to sit at the computer to listen, I prefer to have it on my phone to have on while I'm out and about. I tried to download all of those programs but I have no idea what I'm doing with them. Nevermind  :blush