Interviews
Guerilla Recording Tricks
by Colin Odden
Colin sent us these wacky and cool recording ideas. Try them out and have fun!
Interviews
Malcolm Toft: The Trident Legacy
by Bob Marshall, Walt Szalva
In terms of recognition, Malcolm Toft's name is not as familiar within the pro audio world as, say, Rupert Neve's. However, there is a rich history involving the man who is the co-designer of the...
Interviews
The “Brown Sugar” Sessions: Jimmy Johnson on Recording the Rolling Stones
by Bruce Borgerson
If you've seen the Rolling Stones' movie, Gimme Shelter, you might recall Jimmy Johnson's brief speaking role. He was the one coaching Keith Richards on the proper Alabama pronunciation of "Y'all...
Behind the Gear
My Bloody Valentine: Song-by-song with Kevin Shields
by Eric Tischler
"All I Need" from Isn't Anything by My Bloody Valentine There was a drum machine beat just going like a heartbeat effect. I played an acoustic guitar to it and then it's basically an...
Dub!
Twilight Circus: Dub in the Netherlands
by Scott Becker
You know those cathartic protests against globalization? How come they're so well co-ordinated in cities as far flung as Seattle and Genoa? Could it be that the disappearance of boundaries in...
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Phill Brown: Steve Winwood 31st October 1976
by Phill Brown
We interviewed Phill Brown in issue number [#12] of Tape Op. Over the years he's worked with some of the greatest artists ever, like Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, Traffic, Spooky Tooth, Jeff Beck, Led...
Rupert Neve: Pro Audio Guru
by Steve McAllister
There is a humble man who lives in the small town of Wimberley, Texas. His name is on recording consoles all over the world, and so many important works of music have run through his signal chains...
Rupert Neve on *Wonderful Recordings*
by Steve McAllister
In a way isn't this all an imperfect science, in that, no matter how good recording gets it will never match the original?We're getting reasonably close. Some of the film boys are doing some very...
My Bloody Valentine: Kevin Shields Tells All
by Eric Tischler
When the chance came to interview Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine, my hand shot up. The shadow of Kevin Shields looms large over my record collection, and the fanboy in me couldn't resist the...
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Gear Reviews See more →
Waveburner Pro Audio CD Mastering Software
by Emagic | reviewed by John Baccigaluppi
This is a beautifully useful and utilitarian piece of Macintosh software. It only does one thing, but it does it really well: assemble, sequence and tweak two track mixes into Red Book compliant CDR...
HEDD 192
by Crane Song | reviewed by Larry DeVivo
One of the more interesting signal processors to come along has to be the HEDD 192 from Crane Song. HEDD stands for Harmonically Enhanced Digital Device and is quite unlike any other processor on the...
Oxford R3-EQ TDM plug-in for Pro Tools
by Sony | reviewed by Julian Standen
Having tried all the available Pro Tools TDM EQ plug- ins out there I was looking forward to Digidesign's new hardware and software updates to get me the step up in sound quality I was craving but...
LeVeLAr Compressor/Limiter
by ART | reviewed by Jonathan Sterne
LeVeLAr is a single channel tube compressor/limiter designed for home recordists and small project studios. Some tube purists find ART devices to be gimmicky, but home recordists like myself find them...
B4 Tonewheel Sets software add-ons
by Native Instruments | reviewed by Rich Hardesty
As a very regular (and happy) user of Native Instruments simulated Hammond organ, the B4, it was nice to see them release a set of add-on sounds for this indispensable "virtual instrument". The new...
Reaktor 3.0 software
by Native Instruments | reviewed by Donald Bell, Chachi Jones
A year ago Reaktor 2.3 came into my life a like a software messiah (read my review in issue #21). The program has so many mind-blowing features and functions that despite how long I've owned version...
KSM27 condenser microphone
by Shure | reviewed by Larry Crane, Ezra Meredeth
Shure adds to its line of silver, curvy KSM- series mics with the affordable KSM27 (available as low as $299). It's a cardioid-patterned condenser with low end roll off and 15 dB pad switches built...
SCX-25 condenser microphone
by Audix | reviewed by Larry Crane, Ezra Meredeth
With its distinct lollipop look and precision machining, the SCX-25 draws attention to itself immediately. This cardioid-patterned mic is cool looking and streamlined, with no roll off or pad switches...
Model ASC EQ
by Speck Electronics | reviewed by Eric Tischler
The Speck is a four-band, one-channel EQ. The low end operates between 20 and 150 Hz with a peak/shelf switch. The low-mid is switchable, with a sweep of either 40 to 800 Hz or 400 Hz to 8 kHz, and...
560 graphic EQ
by API | reviewed by Mike McDonald
You have all heard the "professionals" rave about them but even as a "project-studio" recordist I'm way down with the API. I mean, what other company do you know that has built shit almost exactly the...
LA-2A Leveling Amplifier
by Universal Audio | reviewed by Larry Crane
As you probably know by now, especially after issue 24's feature interview, the Putnam brothers reactivated their dad's company and started building some of his old products again. And they are...
M-80 8 Channel Mic Pre
by PreSonus | reviewed by John Baccigaluppi
This is eight Class A FET mic pres with custom input transformers in a double space rack. The power supply is pretty heavy duty and is external to the unit with a multi- pin cable connector. Each pre...
ID-One condenser microphone
by PPA | reviewed by Larry Crane, Ezra Meredeth
Okay, you might have thought large-diaphragm condenser mics were getting cheap - but now PPA blows everything out of the water with the $99.95 ID-One. Of course it's another one of those inexpensive...
Demonstration CD
by Royer Labs | reviewed by Larry Crane
Ostensibly this is a promotional device (only $3.50, for shipping) for Royer ribbon mics, a product that we highly recommend here at Tape Op, but there's something that makes this CD a cut above....
MDR-NC10 Noise Canceling Fontopia Ear-Bud Headphones Foam Earplugs, QuietComfort Acoustic Noise Canceling Headset
by Sony | reviewed by Andy Hong
With all the traveling I do, I feel that airline flying without ear protection is akin to walking into a rock show without a set of earplugs. Obviously, I value my ears, so I'll do whatever is...
MDR-NC5 noise canceling headphones
by Sony | reviewed by Hilary Johnson
I bought a pair of MDR-NC5s for a recent airplane ride and they are the coolest thing in the world! You can use them with or without a Walkman or CD Walkman or whatever. They've got a built-in mic...
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Music Reviews
Not on the Menu
by Crowns on 45 | reviewed by Larry Crane
Hillary Johnson is Tape Op's website designer and an occasional writer, but she's also member (keyboards) and engineer/producer for the Crowns on 45. This NY five piece would sit well on a bill with a...
Music Reviews
Note Pad #38 and The Invisible Man
by Don Dixon | reviewed by Larry Crane
Many people consider Don Dixon a record producer, but if you've read his interview in the Tape Op book you'd know that he is first and foremost a musician and songwriter. The Invisible Man came out...
Music Reviews
The Argument
by Fugazi | reviewed by Larry Crane
How many albums have Fugazi recorded at Inner Ear with Don Zientara? Don't they ever get tired of each other? How come the records always sound so good? How come they always make an album that's a...
Music Reviews
Fear Not the Obvious
by The Yayhoos | reviewed by Larry Crane
With a name like the Yayhoos you wouldn't expect to take them seriously, and you don't need to. But they did make a seriously great record. You might remember our pal Eric "Roscoe" Ambel from many...
Music Reviews
Shadows on the Sun
by Zen Guerrilla | reviewed by Larry Crane
Jack Endino [Tape Op #13] is one of the nicest guys. He also makes the loudest fucking records. This is his second album producing Zen Guerilla, recorded at Studio Litho in Seattle, where they must...
Music Reviews
Traction
by Bugatti Type35 | reviewed by Larry Crane
A while back we interviewed Wendy Schnieder, who owns and runs Coney Island Studio in Madison, Wisconsin. This is her band, recorded at her studio, but here's the gist: You see, every time people get...
Music Reviews
Too Loud for the Snowman
by Sanford Arms | reviewed by Larry Crane
I confess - here's another occasional Tape Op contributor, Ben London from Seattle. He used to be in a flat-out rock band called Alcohol Funnycar, and here collaborates with his bandmates to create a...
Music Reviews
Closed Circuit
by Peter Jefferies | reviewed by Larry Crane
One time Peter Jefferies and I stayed up way too late, sitting on my front porch getting drunk. It was then that I realized why I loved this guy's music so much, because we were both big fans of some...
Music Reviews
Drawn From Life
by Brian Eno & J. Peter Schwalm | reviewed by Larry Crane
Eno is one of my favorite artists and producers, so I usually pony up for every new release. Sometimes I'm a little disappointed lately, like with The Drop, where it just feels a bit uninspired. Drawn...
Music Reviews
Antidote
by Jenny Toomey | reviewed by Larry Crane
Jenny is a occasional writer for Tape Op, former member of Tsunami, Grenadine and Licorice, and used to run Simple Machines Records (who put out a great booklet on how to release your own album years...
Music Reviews
Manic Expressive
by Her Space Holiday | reviewed by Larry Crane
Marc Bianchi, the man behind Her Space Holiday, was one of Tape Op's first subscribers, but he doesn't need that to persuade me into enjoying this record. This was recorded at home on 1/2" 8-track,...
Music Reviews
Grave Disorder
by The Damned | reviewed by Larry Crane
If the Damned called you to make a record you'd do it. Admit it, as much as you might consider them has-beens the chance to make a record with Dave Vanian's awesome voice or Captain Sensible's crazy...