Hannover Recorder 1

This is a really nice copy of an inspired performance.
You may recall my explanation of the date for this concert when I transferred the Recorder 2 ‘Hoka tape’ in February 2012. Back then I explained how ‘T136' and all the other tapes collectors have listed as 1970-11-14 should be re-labelled Recorder 1, Hannover 1970-11-27.
The 'T136' reel to reel transfer is probably the source of most people's copies of Recorder 1 from the late 1970's onwards. Tapes back then were typically labelled as Hamburg or Germany 1970. The latter was the most common listing for the date. Stratcat58’s source labelled his tapes as ‘Hannover 7/70’ so was half right. There was a time when no date for a show from Hamburg at the end of 1970 was known. It was speculated that the tape was from Hannover instead but this did not stick when in the 1990s newspaper reviews, adverts, posters and ticket stubs from the Hamburg show were discovered. A number of old tapers agreed that Hamburg was the most likely source of the recording and everybody fell into line. It transpired that a Deep Purple fan was Recorder 1 and he was able to confirm the correct date and venue.
The ’T136’ version has more content than Stracat58’s tape, commencing with the opening second or two which is missing from the introduction to Astronomy Domime. However, the T recording is NR’d and/or EQ’d, presumably to reduce hiss. My transfer has the trademark openness and presence I get from my deck, along with really nice levels of detail. Having said this, there are points where T136 is equally good. There’s little doubt in my mind that the T version is lower gen and it would be superior to Stratcat58’s tapes if it was freshly transferred.
You may notice the sound of a reel-to-reel starting from time to time on my transfer. The noises have been retained to demonstrate its presence in the lineage and how the source is different to ‘T136’.
I made various analogue domain adjustments to the levels to prevent clipping and bring the channels into harmony. The right channel is stronger for most of the recording but I resisted the temptation to drop the left because it contributes. At various points Stratcat’s tape is recorded well into the red - I observed +8dB during AHM for example. The tapes were marked as Dolby On and I left it off for playback.
The songs are split across four sides (90 minute cassette followed by 60 minute) as follows: A 01-03, B 04-06, C 07-09 and D 10. There is a small repeat between 09 & 10 which I have left in.
Sides A & B averaged at about 1.16% slow (there may be slight variations) and sides C & D are 0.58% fast. My thanks to goldenband for his speed correction advice. Often with such small changes a speed correction is not merited but on testing the results I found it does make a positive difference.
Our last lines go to Roger: “My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen. On my right, in the all red kit, The Massed Gadgets of Hercules. In the right corner in the all black kit, The Knights Of The Teutonic Order!” After listening to this concert, I recommend following it with the next night, Saarbrucken 1970-11-28, when the band were on similar form.
Stratcat58 cassette / Neonknight tape transfer and speed adjustments, April 2014

Dodano:  5.2.2017