Columns

Sporadic and regular articles from our contributors.

May/Jun 2012

TOC Intro  |  No. 89

TOC Intro #89

by Larry Crane

People often mistake what the art of recording music actually is. Learning how to choose and set up a microphone is simple. Gain structures should be obvious, once you learn the basics. Recording...

Mar/Apr 2012

TOC Intro  |  No. 88

TOC Intro #88

by Larry Crane

Tape Op gets a certain kind of letter frequently, and they all basically say the same thing: "I'm young. I really like recording. Where do I go from here?" Part of me can empathize with and...

Jan/Feb 2012

TOC Intro  |  No. 87

TOC Intro #87

by Larry Crane

I've been taking on a lot of recording and mixing sessions this year. In between these sessions I work on this magazine. That doesn't leave much room for the rest of my life. I'm lucky to have an...

Nov/Dec 2011

TOC Intro  |  No. 86

TOC Intro #86

by Larry Crane

While interviewing Bob Weston in 2000 for Tape Op #18, one of his comments took me by surprise. He told me, "Some bands just assume I won't record them. They assume I'm too busy, that I'm too...

Sep/Oct 2011

TOC Intro  |  No. 85

TOC Intro #85

by Larry Crane

As I was nearing the end of one of the bigger album projects I've done this year, I had this thought: "What is my job?" Now first off, don't get on my case about professional engineer/producer versus...

Jul/Aug 2011

TOC Intro  |  No. 84

TOC Intro #84

by Larry Crane

I was out at a club watching some bands play the other night, but in the back of my mind I was wondering what to write about for the intro of this issue. Then it hit me. I'd been telling some friends...

May/Jun 2011

TOC Intro  |  No. 83

TOC Intro #83

by Larry Crane

It's such a simple thing. Maybe some people don't think about it. Maybe others honestly don't hear it? But everyone needs to know about it. Most days I sit in front of a decent set of speakers and...

Mar/Apr 2011

TOC Intro  |  No. 82

TOC Intro #82

by Larry Crane

When an aspiring engineer/producer/musician asks me how they should get their start, I always tell them that the most important aspect for me early on was being part of a community, and not...

Jan/Feb 2011

TOC Intro  |  No. 81

TOC Intro #81

by Larry Crane

Fourteen years ago I opened up my first commercial studio space. I moved out of my home basement studio into a small, rented building down the road. Looking back, it's simply staggering to think about...

Nov/Dec 2010

TOC Intro  |  No. 80

TOC Intro #80

by Larry Crane

I recently did three one-day sessions in a row with three different artists whom I had minimal contact beforehand. I thought of these as "cold call" sessions, as we hadn't done preproduction or much...

Sep/Oct 2010

TOC Intro  |  No. 79

TOC Intro #79

by Larry Crane

Remember that first time you tried to record some actual live music? Do you remember it being difficult, confusing and eventually unsatisfying? I do. I remember thinking my $18 Radio Shack microphones...

Jul/Aug 2010

TOC Intro  |  No. 78

TOC Intro #78

by Larry Crane

I frequently get emails from friends, colleagues and readers asking for advice on recording equipment, in order for them to make a (hopefully) educated choice on some piece of gear they are planning...

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