DSO streams or lack thereof

[Terrapin_Sedation]

As a certifiable couch tour junkie I am always puzzled and disappointed that more DSO concerts are not streamed live. There seem to be plenty of kind tapers out there.

Am I missing something? Perhaps it is frowned upon by the band. Wouldn't blame them or any band, if it cost them ticket sales.

Maybe I'm just not hooked in to the right place.

[Mango]

I don't think it's frowned upon by the band, streams increase popularity. I would only ever stream a show if I couldn't make it in person, bc being there is better!!

I'm stumped too

Maybe people/tapers think that since DSO is a 'cover band' that no one is going to want to hear recordings. wrong. I see tapers all the time but rarely do you seem shows posted to the archive. what are they doing with these tapes? hording them for themselves?

SHARE!!!

Please.

[Dr. Vapor]

I have asked about this before and it has nothing to do with band.....streaming starts withe the venue. The venue needs to allow it and they need very good Internet set up. So the problem is DSO plays a lot venues just not set up for it mechanically. The bigger venues that are then have restrictive policies that prohibit streaming. I am sure it will improve as time goes on. Dr V

[nwnj steve]

I have asked about this before and it has nothing to do with band.....streaming starts withe the venue. The venue needs to allow it and they need very good Internet set up. So the problem is DSO plays a lot venues just not set up for it mechanically. The bigger venues that are then have restrictive policies that prohibit streaming. I am sure it will improve as time goes on. Dr V

I actually talked to Nicky around the fall about streaming videos and Prescott hit it on the head ,alot of times they don t even know what type of internet service is aviable ,It would cost me quit a bit to have a portable router and enough internet time to do live videos,hopefully the near future something will able to be done,

[Island Bro]

More DSO live streaming would be a true pleasure,,,there's plenty of us who can only get to so many shows a year and it would be sweet to be able to fill in the gaps more from home...

There's also probably plenty of us who would be willing to contribute a few bucks to help make it happen if there are tapers who need to acquire the right equipment and pay access fees or whatever...it's really providing such a benefit for the rest of us who cant be there...just a thought...

(this is reminding me that I'm due to donate to TR for keeping these forums rolling!)

DSO is on firm enough ground to not have to worry about lost ticket sales even if every show was streamed....people know it's still 100 times better to be there live in person...

The few times I've had the opportunity to catch a live dso stream have been VERY inspiring and the next best thing to being there....I would just love more of that!!

[Mango]

Yea i'm pretty sure a portable wireless card would be the key.

[Rude]

I dont think a stream would stop anyone from going to a show. Listening at home is not even close to live.

[Tea]

I dont think a stream would stop anyone from going to a show. Listening at home is not even close to live.

Agreed. I think I would tune in to hear a show or 2 via stream. I've listened two a few UStreams of Furthur by taperrob and enjoyed what I heard even if the quality leaves much to be desired. There would be absolutely no debate on whether to go or take in a stream even if it was SBD qulaity.

[GoingBackTo Where....]

I dont think a stream would stop anyone from going to a show. Listening at home is not even close to live.

A stream would never in a million years stop me from going to a intended or planned show!!! No way no how. Try dancing to a stream, yea sure, its fun, but its not electric:}

Would be nice to see some streams though!! And in all honesty, IT would not be that hard at all.

As long as the venue has either internet service, or someone is close enough to a cell tower. You could stream using wireless technology, perhaps a large buffer, but it would be just as simple as the streaming video I get of my house when I am away on biz!!

[Island Bro]

Maybe it would be cool if it was something offered internally from the band/crew? You coul log onto the dso website, pay 5 bucks, and catch their live show from across the country. Could end up being a smart business move by the band. If it takes special tech equipment and time and energy to set it up, monitor it, and make it come through at a high quality, and do it consistently for most shows, then paying a few bucks per show to be able to watch and/or listen is well worth it. And if people are doing that here and there throughout the country, then the band/crew would make a few extra bucks which is a good thing since they work so hard to keep this music flowing for us...

Just brainstorming....

[GoingBackTo Where....]

Maybe it would be cool if it was something offered internally from the band/crew? You coul log onto the dso website, pay 5 bucks, and catch their live show from across the country. Could end up being a smart business move by the band. If it takes special tech equipment and time and energy to set it up, monitor it, and make it come through at a high quality, and do it consistently for most shows, then paying a few bucks per show to be able to watch and/or listen is well worth it. And if people are doing that here and there throughout the country, then the band/crew would make a few extra bucks which is a good thing since they work so hard to keep this music flowing for us...

Just brainstorming....

You are right on-------but to be honest. And quality is the issue----HD video/sound-----yea a bit more---but overall, it would be CHEAP to stream videos.

Like I said, I am no techie, and I could work this out. The charge fee---Hell ya. I would pay 10 buck to see the Crystal show in NW this comming Tour. I can not make it, but would love to be a part of it!!!!

Yea----thats good brainstorming, and in all honesty, The technology is here, its cheap (comparably), and does not take a $100,000 a year techie to keep it going!!!

My guess---and I do not know, as I am just as new to you all as you are to me------ But Taper Ron should be able to figure that stuff out pretty quick---no?

[GoingBackTo Where....]

I know my wife would smack me silly for posting this!!! I would drop out of life, and set this up for you guys if you let me hang for just one tour!!! My expense and would leave all equipment behind for further use!! I just want to get in ur VIP boxes s i have more room to dance!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vortex]

We were actually one of the first bands to offer this service and did so for about a half a year back in 2007 (I think... Maybe 2006). We ran into man hour problems as well as technical problems with the Internet quality venues had at the time. We basically discovered that the idea was before its time. Perhaps time has caught up technically but we still lack man power.

As I stated here before, no one is stopping anyone from streaming DSO shows (at this point or the foreseeable future). Have at it.

[Tea]

Thanks for weighing in Vort! I can understand the mapower issue - resources should be dedicated to make sure that those in attendance are hearing and seeing the best DSO has to offer.

I suppose as the technology becomes more and more pervasive, and increasingly user-friendly that the resource outlay could get to a point where it is worthy of more consideration. Until/if that day comes, we are at the mercy of those who choose to take the time to share it with those who are relagated to the couch tour. I will say, the streams that taperob have set up with Furthur and a DSO show here and there have gotten much better when compared to what they sounded like a year ago. Hopefully this bodes well for the future

[Cosmic Mike]

If there is someone out there who can go show-to-show taping and streaming, or at least uploading to archive I'd gladly give all financial support for it. I know taping rigs can cost a few grand, and would buy one myself, but I'm too irresponsible to properly monitor taping equipment. I don't know much of anyone in the taping community, but I imagine Steve and Ron do. But like Mango says there are often tapers at DSO shows, but not that many recordings on archive or available streams. Can anyone elucidate on why that is so?

As someone who was "born too late," I am thankful for all the taping that has been done by people of the past, for I truly believe Archive was a major component in propelling my Grateful Dead obsession.

[John A]

For an amateur taper, already making a recording and wanting to put up an audio stream, very little extra would be involved. He or she could simply subscribe to a product such as Verizon’s Mi-Fi , which entails a small black box the size of a cell phone and costs as little as $20 a month. It allows connections to the Net of 512k and higher. Set up an account at a site such as ustream, and voila, you’re off to the races.

Now on a show by show basis throughout a tour, however, venues may or may not get good reception from wherever the taper happened to be set up. That could be a major stumbling block.

As for professional streams, the quality at this stage of the game can be stunning. The recent Furthur shows from Sweetwater, for example, came through in jaw dropping HD. We’re not just talking about CD quality audio here – HD video as well. According to Sweetwater, 10 to 15 thousand folks were tuning into the streams on a nightly basis.

[Island Bro]

Thanks John for the tech clarification,,,this conversation gets me excited about the possibilities,,,when you say that "venues may or may not get good reception" ,,what is it that influences that? The quality or efficiency of the wi-fi connection in the space? Just curious and trying to understand the technology better,,,

I only caught a small amount of those sweet water streams and I was very struck by the phenomenal quality...who was responsible for creating that and how did they do it, and when/how can we start getting that quality of experience with DSO? I agree with Mike, that I am willing to pay for the experience,,,and if even a fraction of the numbers who were supposedly watching the sweet water gigs were watching a dso stream (say even, a couple hundred people??) and paying 5 bucks per show to whomever is making it happen, then maybe they have incentive to stay on tour with the right gear and focus to produce consistent high quality streams for those who can't be at the live show...it just doesn't seem all that far fetched that something of this nature could come together...it would be a heck of a service to humanity to be providing. I'd still like to see the band benefit from it, of it took off, though,,,,,,,,however, it would only generate more interest in seeing the band live if it was done well and that in turn would benefit the band I suppose...

Thanks vort for chiming in with your perspective....even if there isn't currently enough manpower within the crew to manage this, it still makes me curious if there was a $component that viewers/listeners contributed to straight through the dso website that maybe it would generate sufficient fundage to support another person on the crew who had this role and did a really professional job producing the streams,,,

Time will tell...

[Mango]

I remember back in 06/07(it was both I believe, but maybe more in 06) when the streaming was happening. It was incredible!! i watched almost every one, and they came with a download after the fact. Sure there were problems occasionally but worth it in my mind. The video is cool but i'm good with just audio any day.

Give me free tickets to every show and gas money and I'll do it.

[nwnj steve]

For an amateur taper, already making a recording and wanting to put up an audio stream, very little extra would be involved. He or she could simply subscribe to a product such as Verizon’s Mi-Fi , which entails a small black box the size of a cell phone and costs as little as $20 a month. It allows connections to the Net of 512k and higher. Set up an account at a site such as ustream, and voila, you’re off to the races.

Now on a show by show basis throughout a tour, however, venues may or may not get good reception from wherever the taper happened to be set up. That could be a major stumbling block.

As for professional streams, the quality at this stage of the game can be stunning. The recent Furthur shows from Sweetwater, for example, came through in jaw dropping HD. We’re not just talking about CD quality audio here – HD video as well. According to Sweetwater, 10 to 15 thousand folks were tuning into the streams on a nightly basis.

john,I do alot of videos as you can most likely see ,could you maybe walk me thru this process ,I m alittle older and it takes some time for this techi stuff to settle in there ,I get one of these boxes ,I do have a ustream account just haven t tried it yet.Does the box have to be hooked up to a laptop at all?this box is the internet connection?is it powered by a cord?camera hooked into box ,box hooked into laptop?do you think 2 cameras can be used?does the box rely on the venues internet services?any info would help ,thanks

[John A]

Steve,

The box is akin to a home wi-fi device, except that rather than plug into your DSL or cable modem it connects to the internet via a 3G or 4G network. It creates a local area wireless network, which you would configure the wi-fi on your laptop to look for.

Here is more info: http://www.verizonwi...e=products_mifi

FWIW, you can also have an iphone set up as a "mobile hotspot", wherein it works in the same capacity. That is also an extra monthly charge from your provider. I set it up for a month last summer when traveling to visit my mother (who has no internet) and it worked great.

Of course, if you're looking to stream video then bandwidth demands go up in a hurry. And as I alluded to previously, there can be reception issues deep inside buildings. For example, my cell phone (Verizon) works great in my office, but those with AT&T service need to be closer to an outside window or they risk interruption.

If a Deadicated soul were to be on tour and doing this right, a sound board patch would perhaps be in order. Certainly the band wouldn't want anything but the best sounding stream possible!

[Evangeline]

We need about 100 Taperrobs!

[Cosmic Mike]

Ahhh...that makes sense with different venues having different reception. Depending on the construction of the building the less metal the building is made out of the better reception you will get. Hence, why if you wrap a cellphone in aluminum foil it gets no reception. As for the bandwidth issue, since it would be streamed through ustream would you still have to worry about bandwidth?

Steve, here is an example of a set-up you would have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B004J16XB6/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_0?ie=UTF8&index=0&isremote=0

These two links may also help answer questions: http://www.ehow.com/how_2278117_get-high-speed-internet-anywhere.html

http://www.macworld.com/article/1144012/makeyourownhotspot.html

[GoingBackTo Where....]

There are wireless extenders as well. This would help with getting good access no matter the venue. Even if in a metal building, You could move the extender/ basicalyantena to a area of the strutcure that would allow for a strong signal. The only limiting factor is that these devices are hard wired.

[chuckvegas]

Sounds as if, ultimately, it might simply be easier to just go to the show. Or strategically place the 100 well-equipped taperrobs about the country.

[comesatime]

I have to say that I'm OK with going to the shows that I can get to and an occasional stream by some kind person is very nice ( I wish I could get to more shows , but thats life ) ... seeing the videos that Steve and Gary post here , on FB and youtube of shows I can't attend is awesome , I really appreciate what Steve and Gary do for us ... if you decide to take it to the next level , Steve , and invest the money and time to stream the shows you attend , I hope the good folks here show you some gratitude ... IMHO the gratitude is kinda thin for what you guys already do ...

those that want to support someones efforts in a financial way to stream shows or post recordings to the archive is a beautiful thing , but also remember that charity begins at home , The DSO Forums ...