# Alligator > Caution > | 1968-11-01 | Grateful Dead

1:06:28
SBD
Rating:
5.00 / 2 ratings
Transferrer:
droncit
SHNID:
gd1968-11-01.131661.sbd.restore.droncit.flac16
Source:
This is a restoration/rework using shnid 18100 (Cotsman) and 09580 (Axelrod); Diamond Cut Forensics versions 8.5 and Alpha 9 for the editing.
Taper Notes:
View NotesDroncit notes:
I used Diamond Cut Forensics versions 8.5 and Alpha 9 for the editing.  
Thanks to original seeders.

1. For the high quality portion, I primarily relied on a spectral difference filter and 
   sometimes used very light noise reduction.  

2. For the "messy" portion, I used the spectral difference, band pass, notch and noise 
   reduction filters. 

3. I used 68-03-30 (ShnID 108994)for the sound profile for all the songs.
  
4. This set of music is listed as set 2, but it is introduced as the "last set" which may 
   imply more than one prior set.
  
5. The first 2:33 or so of Dark Star is mono in the shnid 18100. In 09580 that portion of 
   the right track is very noisy. I ran a very aggressive noise filter on it,and found it 
   was in mono, so apparently there was a problem with the soundboard and it pops into 
   stereo at 2:33. So I kept the 18100 version, but raised gain at the cutpoint and added 
   some of the left channel back into the right for a couple of seconds to make a smoother
   transition.  It's still very noticeable, but maybe not as jarring. It is hissy for the 
   first minute or so, less so after.

6. SHnID 18100 had the drums intro to The Other One as a separate track.  I combined them 
   into one track.

7. ShnID 18100 had New Potato Caboose as one track (combining decent quality and messy 
   sections).  I split them into two track to make it easier to skip if you desire 
   (just skip tracks 6-9).

8. Different sources and/or different paths provided different levels of hiss and different 
   levels of quality.  I tried to give them all the same overall sound.
 
9. There is print-through throughout the set, as well as an annoying motor noise at parts, 
   and a motor clunk evident in certain spots (mostly the 14 minute "messy" portion), 
   although it is most noticeable on the opening notes of Dark Star and on the pauses in 
   And We Bid You Good Night.  I corrected it in those two spots, but there is still a bit 
   of a "smeary" quality to the music at other spots in the tape because of the generations 
   and the print-through.

10. And We Bid You Good Night is in mono in this version.  In 18100, it is stereo, but 
    there is nothing but noise and stage echo in the right channel, so I used the left 
    channel (with all the vocals and the cymbal).  I increased the gain, used the spectral 
    difference filter, and used a light noise reduction.  There is still a little stage 
    feedback in this version, but it's not too bad to my ears.

11. The songs are listed as one long uninterrupted set, but there are a number of cuts in 
    the material, so it's difficult to tell for certain. 
 
12. The Caution portion that comes from 09580 is tracked with the section from 18100. They 
    sound similar, but the 09580 has some clicky sections that I couldnot eliminate.  I did 
    minimize them through a median filter and an impulse noise filter, but they're still 
    evident. 

12. The 14-minute extremely low quality material was a challenge.  I left it in stereo and 
    tried to get rid of some of the hiss and the annoying tape recorder motor noise, but 
    the noise is at the same frequency as the music and vocals, so there was little I could 
    do.  I think it now sounds about as good as the worst cassettes that were being traded 
    in the early 70s.  We listened to them then; you can listen now if you want.  If you do 
    listen, there is some interesting vocal and nice guitar work.

13. Thanks to BCE for providing the playground.