Gear Reviews

Plug-Ins  |  No. 143

Roger Mayer: 456 HD 500 Analog Tape Simulator

reviewed by Pete Weiss

With the era of analog tape slipping ever further into the past, growing numbers of newer-generation music recordists have had precious little experience with actual tape. Analog tape, though still...

Books, Tools, Tutorials  |  No. 143

Eilon Paz: Stompbox (book)

reviewed by Pete Weiss

As a longtime electric guitarist, studio operator, and fan of well-done coffee table books, I must admit to having a somewhat embarrassingly sprawling collection of the latter. There’s no...

Effects, Pedals  |  No. 130

Sioux Guitars: Dakota County Analog Delay Pedal

reviewed by Pete Weiss

Iowa-based Sioux Guitars has been making very cool, very colorful, and very rock ‘n’ roll guitars, amps, and pedals since 2007. I have long admired their stuff from a distance –...

Plug-Ins, Reverbs  |  No. 129

Rare Signals: Transatlantic Plate Reverb Plug-In

reviewed by Pete Weiss

Plug-in reverbs sure are handy at times, but most mix engineers will admit that the majority of these plug-ins are more convenient than actually good-sounding. I find myself using certain plug-in...

Pedals  |  No. 127

API: TranZformer GT & LX Pedals

reviewed by Pete Weiss

Designed around the celebrated 2520 discrete op-amp that has kept Automated Processes Inc. gear in hot demand since the early '70s, the legendary company's new "channel-strip-in-a-pedal" series...

Dynamics, Effects  |  No. 126

Meris: Polymoon Super-Modulated Delay Pedal

reviewed by Pete Weiss

I had a blast reviewing Meris' Ottobit Jr. Bitcrusher and Mercury7 Reverb pedals [Tape Op #123]. The three-person company (steered by inventive folks formerly of Line 6 and Strymon) has been turning...

Microphones, Wiring  |  No. 126

Fjord Audio: Classic Microphone Cables

reviewed by Pete Weiss

Recently, while pondering the anonymous-yet-crucial role of the lowly microphone cable in studio and on stage, Fjord Audio owner Spencer Tweedy found himself in a quandary: could there be high quality...

Tools  |  No. 124

CruzTOOLS: GrooveTech Guitar/Bass Multi-Tool (2018)

reviewed by Pete Weiss

Yes, I'm a bit biased. I'm a fan of CruzTOOLS' solid line of problem-solving musical instrument tools. I own and use one of their Guitar Player Tech Kits [Tape Op #69] (awesome for general guitar tech...

Effects, Pedals  |  No. 123

Meris: Ottobit Jr. & Mercury7 Effects Pedals

reviewed by Pete Weiss

Meris, the relatively new L.A.-origin company founded by hardware and software engineers formerly of Strymon and Line 6, has jumped into the world of floor pedals with what may very well be "The...

Pedals  |  No. 122

Peterson: VSS-C StroboStomp Classic Tuner Pedal

reviewed by Pete Weiss

Earlier this year, I reviewed a combination digital tuner and DI in a floor pedal format — the Sonic Nuance TDI [Tape Op #118]. It’s a very nice device that solves some stage and...

Headphones  |  No. 120

Fostex: T40RPmk3 Headphones, T50RPmk3 Headphones

reviewed by Pete Weiss

Having worked (and played) in various recording studios since the mid-’80s, I’ve seen (and worn) my share of Fostex headphones. Along with AKG K240 and Sony MDR series models, Fostex cans...

Direct Boxes, Pedals  |  No. 118

Sonic Nuance: TDI Tuner & DI Stompbox

reviewed by Pete Weiss

It's rare these days for a truly unique piece of gear to rear its head. What is surprising about the Sonic Nuance TDI is that it is such a simple combination of two familiar, somewhat mundane tools...