Site Guide       In this section of my website you will find a map of the entire site, which will help you navigate and read the information included. I did my best to organize everything and describe it as clearly as possible, realizing that not every visitor is able to grasp everything immediately. This is especially true for those of you who are beginners or unfamiliar with more advanced descriptions. The following few links will familiarize you with the basic technical terms used in the individual sections of this site and explain at least the most prominent issues related to all the descriptions presented, as well as briefly explaining how to interpret them appropriately. I would also like to point out that none of the information provided here can be considered as complete, as it relates primarily to amateur recordings and as such may be subject to a margin of error. How to use this database?       This database is concentrating on low gen tapes as well as originally manufactured bootleg records. The individual and tour dates are in chronological order. Any additional detail such as support acts and additional information are also attributed there. The characteristics about the setlists is not always complete, because it is based on original recordings, which are sometimes more or less incomplete and married by several different issues. Also, because of occasional practice of misdating some tapes, there's still a chance of error on my part. All technical details of sources listed are based on low gen tapes at the first place, and completed by commercially released bootlegs when the original tape is not in circulation. It should also be remembered that the length of individual recordings is given based on their original durations, and not on versions subjected to more or less accurate speed correction.       Commercially pressed bootlegs are much more often prepared by the manufacturers to give more luxurious audio or visual aspect and many of the original issues are industriously obscured or removed from the media, so it means that commercially released recording can be superior sounding or intentionally enhanced when compared with the original tape, the case of adaptation of ultra-modern digital mastering equipment is the main key here. Knowing the differences comparing every tape from each show is very important. The two determining factors for an upgrade are the completeness of the source and its sound quality. While listening to two or more different tapes of the same show, I listen for and compare all the cuts/edits and audience talk/noises to determine if different source is used.       Upgrades can sound better due to two primary reasons. It can be a different tape entirely, or it can be a lower generation of the same tape. The secondary reasons would be that the tape had less of some of the controllable variables such as when copy of tape used was placed across multiple cassette tapes, creating more cuts or when some traders simply aren't or haven't been concerned with maintaining the integrity of the original bootleg tape and don't mind unnecessary errors. Cuts, gaps, drop-outs and stretches during or between songs can be explained due fact that if recording is turned off between songs to conserve tape, taper error, recording device malfunction, damaged tape due to natural deterioration or mistreatment, time missed while one tape ended and the next tape got loaded into the recorder, if the taper or trader "marking" the tape so he can identify it later, or if the taper does not want to release full tape. What is the meaning of underground tape (ROIO) and bootleg?       Underground tape is nothing more than a raw source from which all the bootlegs are made. The most common underground tapes are audience recordings made by audience members that have had the chance to witness and record the band. In contrast, soundboards are always professionally recorded two-channel, or more occasionally, multi-track tapes that were prepared for the group's own needs, either for archival purposes or future live releases. The last category are studio recordings. These are almost always superb sounding professional tapes made during album or both radio and TV sessions (except for cassette demos, which are made during rehearsals by the occasion).       A bootleg is defined as illegally manufactured vinyl, CD or DVD that includes unreleased live or studio recording. Similar to above category, it commonly features audience or soundboard source, and less often, sources that had leaked from numerous studio or radio and TV sessions. The main difference is that most of the bootlegs are made of at least basic artwork and physical media. What is the sound rating and how it works?       The sound rating system is nothing more than the scale made to describe the quality of any of the recording listed in this database. The rating used here is based on the sound quality of amateur recordings and not legitimate albums. To give you an idea of the quality of a potential source, I have given terms from Poor to Superb, beside each of the following descriptions. Please note that most of audience recordings may oscillate between two closely spaced categories, and in some cases transition smoothly from one to the next, and not necessarily one after the other (especially in the case of poorer sounding tapes). Add unexpected hiss, background hum or issues with any of the channels and we have a real mosaic in which it is difficult to recognize at first glance what category of sound we are dealing with exactly. Fortunately, those from audio recordings that fall between the Very good and Superb categories can satisfy the tastes of more sensitive listeners. And as if that wasn't enough, soundboards and multitracks constitute a true exception here, where apart from the last two categories there are basically no others, and where sound rating is closer to the officially released material. These recordings differs mostly only in details and clarity, and the audio recording level is always much better than any of audience sources. Superb top quality material with absolutely defined clarity and dynamics and without any issues Excellent great quality with no distortion/distance except for occasional audience noise Very good all instruments audible and good clarity but still may feature minor distortion/distance and audience noise Good most of the instruments are audible with some distortion/distance and audience noise Fair poor balance with at least one instrument inaudible and significant distortion/distance or audience noise Poor extreme distortion/distance or audience noise with bad hall ambience or virtually inaudible What are the types of recordings and how is the difference between them?       There is some confusion among collectors concerning the different types of recordings available, with audience and soundboard being the most common definitions. While accurate, the terms audience and soundboard don not adequately cover all the different ranges within those categories. Audience recording       Precisely what it sounds like, an audience recording is a tape done by an audience member sitting in the crowd. They can vary wildly in sound quality, from crystal clear and atmospheric, to distant, muffled, muddy, hissy, and everything in between. Some prefer them over soundboards because they give a better impression of what experiencing the show actually might have been like. Soundboard recording       A soundboard recording is a tape that was plugged directly into the mixing console at a show. They capture the signal that is being fed directly into the PA through the microphones on stage. As such, they are renowned for their incredible clarity. However, one drawback is that they are sometimes rather flat and dry sounding with little to no audience noise or reverb. They also can bring out mistakes that the band made and preserve them quite clearly, which can lead to cringeworthy moments. Multitrack recording       A multitrack recording records each instrument onto a separate track in order to allow for a better and more cohesive sound. Live albums almost exclusively use multitrack recordings, as the sound levels of individual instruments can be adjusted and balanced to give the best sound presentation. A good example of this would be “How the West Was Won” live album. Unfortunately, precious few multitrack recordings of Led Zeppelin are known to exist. Matrix recording       A matrix is when two or more recordings are layered on top of each other. Most often, they involve taking a soundboard and mixing an audience recording on top of it in order to, ideally, get the best of both worlds: clarity and atmosphere. When done right, they can sound almost as pristine as multitrack recordings. However, they are rare because it takes a lot of work and patience in order to do a matrix. There are also plenty of cases where a matrix can get botched and the sources get out of sync, making for an unpleasant listen. What is the "low" and "high" gen tape?       The "low" gen tape is a tape that stands very close to the master tape, while "high" gen tape means the tape stands far away from the master and was dubbed several times. For most cases, all the soundboard masters are in the hands of the group. The audience tapes almost always come from less or more "high" gen copies and only a small amount of them were sourced directly from the original masters, which, for the most cases, have been lost or destroyed/wiped accidentally. How to start my own bootleg collection and/or where to buy bootlegs?       As stated everywhere on this site, the author of this site has absolutely no information as to where to buy them or where they may be found. A big care must be taken after as many collectors received a sad trend in this hobby of selling homemade CD-R copies of original silver CDs for high dollar on the Internet auction sites. These auctions sometimes give not only any indication that it is a copy and for the prices they charge you would expect it is an original, but also offers stuff that is unavailable and the only thing you have is a waste of a large amount of money. However, collecting bootlegs can be quite a hobby, especially if you care about beautiful graphics and having something unique. Sentimental value is also important here, especially when it comes to vinyl records. Many of them are real pieces of history that today constitute evidence of the development of the underground market over several decades of popular music evolution. How can I help to this site?       The rules are simple. If you have any information that is not included here or if you have any confirmed information about any undiscovered tape/show/bootleg or related stuff, just contact me today. You can also try to browse each tour date and then - if you have new information or would like to send any correction - use the email update quick link posted below each date that is supplied with setlist or related reference. This site is dedicated to the Led Zeppelin Community and every new addition will be very appreciated not only by me but also by the thousands of fans.