This magazine started exactly seven years ago. I find that amazing, and I'm also pleasantly surprised by the world that has grown up around Tape Op. Sure, there's the magazine that you hold in your hands. It's now one of the top four audio recording magazines in America and has been growing steadily in circulation and advertising, not to mention the amount of editorial we churn out. (On the subject of circulation, please make sure you read the notice on page 44 to make sure your Tape Op subscription keeps coming) Initially what started with a tiny group of writers has now turned into over 200 people who do freelance articles, help answer letters and keep me informed of cool stuff to write about. John B has helped take the mag all this way — I swear I would have stopped at issue #10 if he hadn't stepped in with this vision to make it bigger. More recently adding Laura Thurmond to take on some of the ad sales and Andy Hong to cover the gear reviews has helped the mag grow even more.
But the printed magazine isn't all we do. The Tape Op website, www.tapeop.com, is hopping these days. Hillary Johnson joined years ago and keeps the site in line, and AJ Wilhelm helps out with the crazy tech stuff and subscriber database. On the website you'll find info on back issues, bonus articles that we didn't have space to run at the time (like Greg Sage and other really great shit), but the best resource has got to be the Tape Op Message Board. Here you can post questions about recording and get answers from all sorts of folks like us. It's a much more pleasant site than many online joints where folks are trashing each other all the time and indulging in dumb name-calling, and I've seen some great tips and advice doled out there.
And don't forget the Tape Op Conference. May 31st in Portland, Oregon. Craig Schumacher is the force and instigator behind this event. Last year's was too fun to miss again, and you'll be hob- nobbing with some of the worlds best recordists along with many of the best of an upcoming breed, as well as learning a lot and checking out some great live shows.
It looks like an empire but it's really people all over the country doing this in their spare time. (I'm typing this after 10 hours of recording.) Everyone has other jobs, but Tape Op is a labor of love with a purpose and reason to exist. Thanks for reading and being part of our little world!
Larry Crane