TAPE GRADING POLICY Updated 6/27/98 Note : Please note, each tape is graded within its own class, that is, an "A" Audience tape will not be as "clear" as an "A" SBD. Some consideration is also made for the age/rarity of the show. Final grade is, beyond merely a measure of sonic "quality" (i.e. the amount or lack of hiss, distortion, etc.) a measure of the set list involved, the quality of the performance, etc. Setlist and performance factors figure in the A and B ranges only, as tapes below that grade are generally graded lowly due to sonic reasons and not performance reasons (after all, even a "bad" Dead show is, usually, better than about anyone else out there). Therefore, tapes with the same "grade" may or may not sound as "clear" as one another. Additionally, grading is done on my Nakamichi RX-505 for playback. It is NOT done on a Walkman (as many people do). The use of headphones, itself, introduces a small amount of hiss and lower volume, therefore, lowering a grade if that is used as the measure. Furthermore, if you do not have a Nakamichi, realize that some tape decks do not reproduce the tapes as well, so they may not sound their best played back on a non-Nakamichi deck. I have found that Sony's low end decks, for instance, tend to attentuate the low-end of the tape (that is, the bass registers), but the tapes are still VERY enjoyable, and sound somewhat fuller than the same show, a generation, recorded on a non-Nakamichi deck. In general, however, this is the grading system I use for my tapes : A+ = Strong signal; tape peaks from +1 to +3 with no saturation. Minimal tape hiss. Good stereo separation and well matched levels. Very clear mix, where all instruments are clearly discernible. Only the highest quality digital AUD's will achieve this grade in a very low generation (master or 1st gen.). Rarely will any pure analog earn this grade (notable exceptions are crisp SBD's). Tapes with this grade will also feature a set list that, to me is spectacular, either for its variety or quality, also for the lack of the song in the format (i.e. SBD's of a JGB "Shining Star") or for its rarity during a given time period. Note, however, that a rare song does not automatically make a tape an A+ tape. The bustout of Unbroken Chain, for instance, does not raise the 3/19/95 Philly show above a B+ rating, as the tape itself is not spectacular in other regards. "Surprises" by Mother Nature do NOT lower the quality of a tape overall (i.e. wind gusts that can be heard for brief periods during a song etc.) A = Strong signal; tape peaks from +1 to +3 with minimal saturation. Low tape hiss. Good stereo separation and well matched levels. The occasional short splice or dropout does NOT disqualify a tape from having an A rating. Setlist is more representative of the songs being played at that time. Songs are well played, with regard to how they are being performed in that time period. Lyrical flubs do NOT lower the grade of a tape, however. A- = The following problems may start to occur: Noticeable hiss during the 'quiet' moments. Slightly indistinct mix. Some saturation. Hiss and separation have not become obtrusive at this point. Most well made audience tapes will tend to peak at this level. Setlist is solid, songs can be more readily "called". Quality of overall performance is on a par with other shows during that time period. B+ = The following problems may start to occur: Tape hiss is starting to become obtrusive. Mix is becoming slightly less distinct. Some instruments may seem to get lost in the mix. Setlist is fairly solid, songs can be more readily "called". Quality of overall performance is on a par with most other shows during that time period. B+ shows can contain a rare song that can, in some instances, raise the grade of the overall tape above what it would otherwise achieve. B = The following problems may start to occur: Noticeable hiss, even during some of the 'loud' moments. One channel consistently +10db (or more) weaker than the other. A large number of splices or dropouts. "B" is typically the threshold of truly enjoyable listening. Setlist is fairly solid, songs can be more readily "called". Quality of overall performance is on a par with most other shows during that time period. B- = The following problems may start to occur: Noticeable hiss, loss of high frequencies, noticeably too-slow or too-fast dub, audience tape with microphone problems (jostling, muffling, or nonstop chatter from the person sitting next to the taper). Setlist is becoming a little shaky, songs can be more easily predicted, with no surprises, band seems to be going through the motions. C+ = At this point, the tape starts becoming less enjoyable. Sound clarity is seriously challenged by hiss or noise. Such tapes are, for the most part, listened to when a C = A tape that's rated C will usually be somewhat difficult to listen to. Such tapes may have almost no clarity of sound remaining and be characterized by exceedingly high levels of tape hiss. For the most part, C-rated tapes will be accepted in trades only when the date in question is extremely rare or impossible to find in a better condition. They are worth collecting for historical reasons but will probably not be very satisfying to listen to. < C = These tapes will not be offered for trade. Any tapes I obtain that fall into this category will immediately go into the scrap pile. Please, if your tape is of dubious quality, let me know before we arrange a trade. I'd rather trade for blanks + postage than low quality tapes. Peace, a