Rating: 
Summary: Tweak-it. You'll like it...
Review: It has always been Rush's attention to ochestration, timing and sound quality that has made them RUSH. So when I watched the DVD for the first time I was heavily disappointed with the audio. Try this; Leave it on 5.1, DO NOT use CONCERT mode, used Dolby surround, turn off the rear channels, turn down the bass, crank the front left and right and adjust the center. It's still not the best sounding DVD, but watching these guys play make up for any short commings you may find...
(I would buy a re-release with corrected audio. It's that good.)
Rating: 
Summary: 5.1 SOUND MIX
Review: This is my second review for whatever it's worth. I have listened to and watched this Rio dvd many times now. With the 5.1 mix try lowering your surounds a bit and increase your center channel 1 or 2 db. And most important, LOWER the BASS on your receiver or processor to -1 or -2. This helps dramatically and will improve the sound. This is now my favoriate dvd of all time.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME RUSH CONCERT
Review: I HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR RUSH TO MAKE A LIVE CONCERT DVD,FINALLY AFTER WATCHING RUSH IN RIO,I WAS NOT DISSAPOINTED.GEDDY ALEX AND NEIL WERE RIGHT ON KEY, AND MORE POWERFUL THAN I EVER HEARD THEM BEFORE.I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CROUD OF 60,000 PEOPLE THAT WERE SO MUCH INTO THE MUSIC AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON WAS FOCUSED ON THE BAND.IN MY OPINION RUSH IS SIMPLY AWESOME,GEDDY'S VOICE WAS BETTER THAN EVER,HIS BASS RUNS WERE FLAWLESS,ALEX'S SPACEY GUITAR RIFFS WERE FANTASTIC AND I COULD FEEL THE POWER OF NEIL'S DRUMS WITH EVERY BEAT.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND RUSH IN RIO.... JTF
Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing
Review: I played this DVD and went straight to "The Pass" and was simply in tears during much of the song. This song has always spoken to me, as it reminds me of a dear friend who died a tragic death in college. This DVD was worth it just for that song, for me. So, buy the DVD and find the song that speaks to you the most. Regardless of the mix, you'll enjoy hearing the music and seeing this class act, Rush, perform. Yes, the mix gets rough at times, but this DVD delivers such a great performance from Rush and shows what an awesome fan base Rush has in Brazil! The documentary included on the 2nd disc, by the way, is wonderful; and it's great to see Neil, Alex, and Geddy share their experiences and a joke or two! I think Rush's 2002 Vapor Trails tour and the release of this DVD (and CD) was a job well-done! These guys are my heros!
Rating:
Summary: Unbeleivable
Review: This DVD shows the talent of rush in concert. I picked this DVD up about 2 days ago and i have watched it countless times. This concert really shows how awesome Rush is. I recommend this DVD for anyone who likes (to generalize it) Rock music. A must have for your collection!
Rating:
Summary: Worth the Wait!
Review: When Different Stages was released, it was rumored that a DVD would also be released. I was disappointed when I found out this was not to happen because I thought Different Stages was a great live CD. Rush in Rio blew me away and the wait has been worth it. It captures the energy of the band at the top of their game along with the energy of the audience. The songs rock! The documentary was also done well, showing the band warming up in ways never seen before. The easter eggs are a nice touch too. Buy it, turn it up and enjoy. Thank you Rush!!
Rating:
Summary: IF YOUR HAVING MIX PROBLEMS - PLEASE READ!!
Review: I have solved the issue with the so-called 5.1 mix problem... solution will follow below. First, let me say THANK YOU to the boys, their crew, and the incredible FANS in Brazil. For the first time in my limited existence, I have finally experienced a true catharsis after viewing this performance. It truly KILLS me to say this, but I could die a happy human if Rush were to never release new material or tour again. There is something to be said for going out on top, and this performance is THE exquisite depiction of the band's body of work to date. If this performance does not get Rush into that place in Cleveland, unfortunately...nothing ever will. Perhaps the boys are just too humble to belong in a place where egomaniacs (oops, I mean "music critics") decide who is allowed in. Special thanks to Neil for the strength and courage he has shown... very few people can relate to that kind of pain and hopelessness he has endured. In the immortal words of Bill Murray, "I want to party with you cowboy!!" OK... now for the solution for those few complaining about 5.1 problems: 1. Do some basic homework... PLEASE!! King Lerxst himself had a heavy hand in the final mix. In my opinion, His Majesty has (along with "Jimbo") captured the ESSENCE of this LIVE show PERFECTLY.
2. Side note: If you are only experiencing problems with excessive crowd noise, then please, just lose the jealousy over how hard Brazilian FANS ROCK!! That is what you are supposed to do at a RUSH show. Are you the same guy who sitting three rows back from me in Vegas screaming for everyone to sit down?
3. To obtain the PERFECT mix, you need to set up your grossly expensive home entertainment system in a way to replicate the conditions experienced in Brazil:
a. Please unplug all components and all cabling.
b. Get your hose.
c. Thoroughly soak with said hose for at least three (3) hours.
d. Ship it a few thousand miles and back again.
e. Have your teenage son unpack and set up your system in under 23 minutes while watching nubile young Brazilian women walk by in thongs.
f. Put in Rush in Rio... press PLAY for the perfect mix!! Some people have way too much time on their hands... I'm going back to watch the MUST BUY MUSIC DVD OF ALL TIME!!
Rating:
Summary: The Elder Statesmen Rock!
Review: Those reviewing this DVD set seem to be divided on the quality of the 5.1 mix. Love it or hate it. To be honest, I too thought the mix was a bit dicey at first. But then I considered the venue, and the fact that this WAS recorded live with the participation of 40,000 fans. Those used to the quality of a studio album may dislike the mix. But if you have seen Rush in concert, I feel that the mix captures the energy and feel of the best of their concerts. As has been noted in other reviews, the 5.1 mix can be adjusted to suit individual tastes. I personally turn up the center channel and turn down the rear to -5. But even leaving the mix at default settings, the sound has the live quality that I think the engineers were striving for. This DVD is everything Rush fans have been wishing for: an ENTIRE concert, Neil Peart's ENTIRE drum solo plus a documentary, and a couple of kickin' Easter Eggs. The doc alone is worth the purchase price! Don't let negative reviews stop you from purchasing this one!
Rating:
Summary: Hello Alex...why sabotage your own guitar sound?
Review: Rush in Rio is fine in terms of picture quality and band performance. But what in the world happened to Alex's guitar sound? He mixed this? On this tour at the show I saw in New Jersey Alex's mix cut through the amphitheatre like a buzzsaw. Just like on the 1997 live CD release, again he does the band a disservice by taking a back seat. All guitar lovers and Alex fans will not be pleased with his decision to put himself down in the mix. Geez I've heard bootlegs from this tour with more Alex firepower! Truly disappointing after the agonizing 8 month delay for this puppy to be released. Thought this would be the best sounding DVD I'd ever own, but it turned out to be average. Alex, maybe next time let someone ELSE do the mixing honors, OK?
Rating:
Summary: RUSH - Raising the bar for live DVD's.
Review: To all of those negative reviewers all I can say is either get a new audio system, or TV, because this DVD is an amazing accomplishment. No live recording can be "perfect". If you expect better than what this DVD delivers then you expect too much... in my own humble opinion. This DVD is one of the few concert DVDs that actually give me the same goosebumps that I get at the live show. What other band has released a near 3 hour DVD show, along with some really cool extra behind the scenes footage for a price less than that of a ticket to an actual show? NONE If you take the time to watch the second disc you become aware of all the technical snafus that the band and technicians had to deal with during the recording process. If you like RUSH then you absolutely must get this DVD. From Tom Sawyer to Cygnus X-1, the band pulls off every little glint of studio magic during their live shows.... all of the cool stereo phonic swooshes and such that happen on the original studio releases of the songs. Truly amazing. For all of the naysayers about sound quality... Have you taken a listen to the Vapor Trails CD mix? Whoever allowed that mix to hit the shelves for sale should be arrested. I have never heard so much clipping and digital distortion on one CD. I hope that they re-release it someday. That is another highlight of this DVD.... being able to hear songs from Vapor Trails without the overdriven mess added in by the studio. That being said... THANK YOU RUSH for coming back!! Anyway.... enjoy :) Hank - fan since "RUSH THROUGH TIME".
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