Focusrite: Red Range
reviewed by Andy Hong, Neil Mclellan
The Red Range is Focusrite’s latest series of audio interfaces, currently comprised of the Red 4Pre and Red 8Pre. The former has four built-in Red Evolution preamps, and a total I/O...
Gear Reviews
The means contribute to the end. Usually.
Vanguard Audio Labs: V13 Large-Diaphragm Tube Mic
reviewed by Adam Kagan
"Smooth like whiskey" — that's how Vanguard Audio Lab's main man, Derek Bargaehr, describes the sound of the V13 large-diaphragm condenser mic. Vanguard, a small company based in Upland,...
Novation: Launchpad Pro USB/MIDI Controller
reviewed by Dana Gumbiner
The Novation Launchpad series of USB pad controllers [Tape Op #82 online] has gone through a number of iterations since the first Launchpad came out back in 2009, and here we are with the latest, and...
Warm Audio: WA-87 Condenser Mic
reviewed by Alan Tubbs
Having conquered various classic preamps, EQs, and compressors, Warm Audio now takes on a different sort of hardware beast, the Neumann U 87 large-diaphragm condenser mic. And not the modern...
Audeze: iSine 20 In-Earphones, LCD-X Headphones, LCD-3 Headphones, Deckard Headphone Amp/DAC
reviewed by Geoff Stanfield
For jaded music listeners, the Audeze line of headphones may be the cure for reconnecting with music and audio. Audeze is not a new name to audiophiles. The company has been making high-quality...
Black Box Analog Design: HG-2 Tube Processor
reviewed by Scott Craggs
So, what we have here is a big (3RU-height), heavy (26 lb) black box filled with tubes and transformers, from a company called Black Box Analog Design. That's a lot to like already, and I haven't...
Q2 Audio: F765 Compex 500-Series Compressor
reviewed by Geoff Stanfield
You may already know the story behind the legendary ADR Compex dynamics processor, which for many of us, is noted mostly for the drum sound on Led Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks." Q2 Audio, the...
Universal Audio: API 2500 Bus Compressor Plug-In
reviewed by Dave Cerminara
The online audio community always cheers when Universal Audio announces a software update with new plug-in emulations. This happened again when the company announced UAD version 9 with the...
Lindell Audio: 510 Power MkII 500-Series Frame
reviewed by John Baccigaluppi
I would recommend the Lindell Audio 510 Power MkII ten-slot chassis and power supply to anyone looking for a rackmount 500-series frame. It has several features that make it very functional and...
Jesse Cannon: Processing Creativity: The Tools, Practices And Habits Used To Make Music You're Happy With (Book)
reviewed by Larry Crane
This is one of the best guides to making the best recordings out there, but in fact, it's not really about recording. Jesse Cannon, who has contributed to Tape Op in the past, has himself been the...
Placid Audio: Resonator A & B Dynamic Mics
reviewed by Joel Hamilton
When a piece of equipment comes along that challenges the norms of the day, I always take notice. "Normal" is an ever-shifting sandbar in the harbor of consensus, and it never holds still for long in...
PreSonus: FaderPort 8 Mixer Control Surface
reviewed by Scott McChane
Expanding on the popular single-fader FaderPort [Tape Op #59], PreSonus is now offering the FaderPort 8, which features eight 100 mm touch-sensitive motorized faders and 57 buttons. For...