There are two officially mixed and released Grateful Dead studio records in surround:
Workingman's Dead in DVD Audio
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/index.php?threads/grateful-dead-workingmans-dead-dvd-a.4069/
American Beauty in DVD Audio & DualDisc
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...ful-dead-american-beauty-dvd-a-dualdisc.3995/
There are a number of other Grateful Dead releases in surround, and not much has been written about them on QQ. Here is what I have found:
Releases featuring live video:
Sunshine Daydream -
The famous Veneta Oregon show from August 27, 1972, with a better than ambient mix. Released in DVD & Blu-ray versions. It includes some video. See:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...ine-daydream-bd-dvd-5-1-mix.18066/post-188206https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...ine-daydream-deluxe-incl-bd.17978/post-186150https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...not-know-are-true-5-1-mixes.18301/post-194710
Crimson, White & Indigo -
John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, PA from July 7, 1989. A sticker on the shrink wrap promises "Mixed from multitrack master tapes, DVD includes stereo and 5.1 mixes." This hopeful promotion does not "pan out" as the DVD is a weak ambient mix. I would characterize this as a 3.03 mix, as the rears are very weak ambient, there is nothing in the center that is not in the fronts, but the sub does fill in a little low end (even that is a little weak at my nominal setting). Released in a CD sized format with three CDs and one DVD. Not recommended for surround.
Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978 -
Gizah Sound and Light Theater in Giza, near Cairo, Egypt on September 15 and 16, 1978
I just opened this to check it for this post, and I was pleasantly surprised. The performances are not renowned as being the best the Dead had to offer in this era, and in fact I just heard one train wreck during Good Lovin', but there is plenty to like here. The mix is not fully discrete, but much like the Veneta show there is some spreading of elements and the rears are all music, some of it not identical to what is happening in the fronts. The lead vocal is nearly alone in the center channel, with some spill into the other four channels. The piano is nearly isolated in the left rear.
This is a Rhino release in a CD format package with two CDs and one DVD, and there is a DTS surround option. Recommended for surround, but be aware that some of the video (and playing) is shaky and unstable.
The Grateful Dead Movie -
Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA - Edited from five-nights in October 1974 . Released on DVD & Blu-ray from the original theatrical release. It contains three different soundtracks — the original multi-channel theatrical mix which was overseen by Jerry Garcia, a new 5.1 multi-channel mix created for the DVD, and a stereo mix. In checking these I find the original quad mix to be less discrete and subject to phasing issues. The modern 5.1 mix fares better, and while there is much crowd in the rears there is also strong rhythm guitar in the right rear and strong piano in the left rear, with some drums also in the rears. There is vocal reverb in the rears. Lead vocals are spread across the fronts with lead guitar, drums and bass. There is some piano and rhythm guitar in the fronts. So maybe not as discrete as one might like, but far better than ambient/audience. There is also a very cool optional commentary track from the production team. Recommended.
The Closing of Winterland -
Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, December 31, 1978 Released on DVD in 2003. Mixes in DTS, Dolby Surround and stereo. In listening to the DTS without front channels I can hear the lead guitar biased to the right rear with some weaker elements - drums are weakest here. The rhythm guitar is biased to the left rear, with strong drums and bass, and vocal reverb. Vocals, piano, drum reverb and bass are in the center channel. Lead guitar is nearly absent from the center. The fronts have stronger harmony vocals and drums along with bass and lead guitar. Piano and rhythm guitar are weaker in the fronts. In essence very little is fully discrete, but there are definite biases of sound around the field. The Dolby and DTS tracks don't sound that different. Recommended.
There are quite a few other Grateful Dead video releases which I do not have, so I cannot comment on them. Perhaps other members would like to fill out this list.
Radio Broadcasts:
Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA 10/4/70
One show simulcast in quad on two radio stations: fronts over KSAN FM and rears over KQED FM. Video was also broadcast live.
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...vailable-on-wolfgangs-vault.15782/post-144644
"This was touted as the world's first quadraphonic broadcast and ... I remember it was a fabulous success. The audio was from two FM stations and the video was supplied by KQED Channel 9, who still owns the tapes and keeps them in their vault. Supposedly they are not of high enough resolution and quality to package by GD Prods/Rhino, and that is a shame because the Dead really shine. I would love to see a 5.1 surround sound DVD of this entire show, but it would be a monstrous restoration project. Maybe some day..."
Quoted from: https://archive.org/details/gd70-10-04.sbd.cotsman.4942.sbeok.shnf
Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA, July 18, 1976
Broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour in SQ on 11/28/76
A great show, but I do not know of a circulating quad version. Read here:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...ing-biscuit-flower-hour-in-sq.3027/post-18592
Vinyl Era Quad:
Grateful Dead - Steal Your Face
Vinyl release of which all editions are said to be QS encoded. I have never heard a decode of this.
So that is what I know about that!
Workingman's Dead in DVD Audio
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/index.php?threads/grateful-dead-workingmans-dead-dvd-a.4069/
American Beauty in DVD Audio & DualDisc
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...ful-dead-american-beauty-dvd-a-dualdisc.3995/
There are a number of other Grateful Dead releases in surround, and not much has been written about them on QQ. Here is what I have found:
Releases featuring live video:
Sunshine Daydream -
The famous Veneta Oregon show from August 27, 1972, with a better than ambient mix. Released in DVD & Blu-ray versions. It includes some video. See:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...ine-daydream-bd-dvd-5-1-mix.18066/post-188206https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...ine-daydream-deluxe-incl-bd.17978/post-186150https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...not-know-are-true-5-1-mixes.18301/post-194710
Crimson, White & Indigo -
John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, PA from July 7, 1989. A sticker on the shrink wrap promises "Mixed from multitrack master tapes, DVD includes stereo and 5.1 mixes." This hopeful promotion does not "pan out" as the DVD is a weak ambient mix. I would characterize this as a 3.03 mix, as the rears are very weak ambient, there is nothing in the center that is not in the fronts, but the sub does fill in a little low end (even that is a little weak at my nominal setting). Released in a CD sized format with three CDs and one DVD. Not recommended for surround.
Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978 -
Gizah Sound and Light Theater in Giza, near Cairo, Egypt on September 15 and 16, 1978
I just opened this to check it for this post, and I was pleasantly surprised. The performances are not renowned as being the best the Dead had to offer in this era, and in fact I just heard one train wreck during Good Lovin', but there is plenty to like here. The mix is not fully discrete, but much like the Veneta show there is some spreading of elements and the rears are all music, some of it not identical to what is happening in the fronts. The lead vocal is nearly alone in the center channel, with some spill into the other four channels. The piano is nearly isolated in the left rear.
This is a Rhino release in a CD format package with two CDs and one DVD, and there is a DTS surround option. Recommended for surround, but be aware that some of the video (and playing) is shaky and unstable.
The Grateful Dead Movie -
Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA - Edited from five-nights in October 1974 . Released on DVD & Blu-ray from the original theatrical release. It contains three different soundtracks — the original multi-channel theatrical mix which was overseen by Jerry Garcia, a new 5.1 multi-channel mix created for the DVD, and a stereo mix. In checking these I find the original quad mix to be less discrete and subject to phasing issues. The modern 5.1 mix fares better, and while there is much crowd in the rears there is also strong rhythm guitar in the right rear and strong piano in the left rear, with some drums also in the rears. There is vocal reverb in the rears. Lead vocals are spread across the fronts with lead guitar, drums and bass. There is some piano and rhythm guitar in the fronts. So maybe not as discrete as one might like, but far better than ambient/audience. There is also a very cool optional commentary track from the production team. Recommended.
The Closing of Winterland -
Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, December 31, 1978 Released on DVD in 2003. Mixes in DTS, Dolby Surround and stereo. In listening to the DTS without front channels I can hear the lead guitar biased to the right rear with some weaker elements - drums are weakest here. The rhythm guitar is biased to the left rear, with strong drums and bass, and vocal reverb. Vocals, piano, drum reverb and bass are in the center channel. Lead guitar is nearly absent from the center. The fronts have stronger harmony vocals and drums along with bass and lead guitar. Piano and rhythm guitar are weaker in the fronts. In essence very little is fully discrete, but there are definite biases of sound around the field. The Dolby and DTS tracks don't sound that different. Recommended.
There are quite a few other Grateful Dead video releases which I do not have, so I cannot comment on them. Perhaps other members would like to fill out this list.
Radio Broadcasts:
Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA 10/4/70
One show simulcast in quad on two radio stations: fronts over KSAN FM and rears over KQED FM. Video was also broadcast live.
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...vailable-on-wolfgangs-vault.15782/post-144644
"This was touted as the world's first quadraphonic broadcast and ... I remember it was a fabulous success. The audio was from two FM stations and the video was supplied by KQED Channel 9, who still owns the tapes and keeps them in their vault. Supposedly they are not of high enough resolution and quality to package by GD Prods/Rhino, and that is a shame because the Dead really shine. I would love to see a 5.1 surround sound DVD of this entire show, but it would be a monstrous restoration project. Maybe some day..."
Quoted from: https://archive.org/details/gd70-10-04.sbd.cotsman.4942.sbeok.shnf
Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, CA, July 18, 1976
Broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour in SQ on 11/28/76
A great show, but I do not know of a circulating quad version. Read here:
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...ing-biscuit-flower-hour-in-sq.3027/post-18592
Vinyl Era Quad:
Grateful Dead - Steal Your Face
Vinyl release of which all editions are said to be QS encoded. I have never heard a decode of this.
So that is what I know about that!
Last edited:
