Jan/Feb 2004

Welcome to issue #39 of Tape Op.

 

I've been working my ass off in the studio recently, after a mostly slow summer and moderately busy fall. The slow times are difficult — I even thought about taking some other writing jobs to get by — but when it gets busy after being slow the danger is that you'll say, "Yes" to everything and then end up completely slammed with work. It's been doubly hard for me to pull this issue together — many thanks to John and Liz for helping me along! There's nothing like recording for ten hours and then coming home to do editing and writing for another four hours. But I won't complain — I'm enjoying the projects I'm working on and it looks like this issue of the magazine will be chock full of more articles than ever. Hard work, but rewarding results.

I hope everyone survived the holidays intact!

PS. Just days before we went to press, Tape Op won our first award from the people we care about the most, our readers! Some of our readers sent us the trophy at right which is inscribed "Thank you for the creativity and passion Tape Op has inspired in all of us. The Tape Op Community 2003." Wow! Thanks right back at you. Despite all the hard work, we really enjoy doing the magazine and we're glad you enjoy reading it.

— Larry Crane, editor

In This Issue See more →

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End Rant

My Confession

by Larry Crane

Here's my ultimate confession: I'm finally getting knee deep in the world of digital recording. Yeah, I put it off for years, not wanting to have to learn about different platforms, hardware,...

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Gear Reviews See more →

Holier Grail digital reverb pedal

by Electro-Harmonix  |  reviewed by Pete Weiss

I had tried a friend's EH Holy Grail pedal and was surprised at how realistic the spring reverb setting sounded through a guitar amp. Great pedal to have, especially if you're using a reverb-less amp....

ATR 700 2-track recorder

by Ampex  |  reviewed by John Baccigaluppi

I've had this deck for over 15 years, but it was only after hearing the archiving panel and Steve Albini at TapeOpCon2002 along with reading the article on IEC alignment in Tape Op # 29, did I drag it...

Mercury 1-12 Class-A guitar amplifier

by Carr Amplifiers  |  reviewed by Geoff Farina

The most noticeable aspect of the Mercury's pristine AC30-like tone is its focused low-end. This Deluxe-sized amplifier delivers a uniquely powerful and clear bottom even at low volumes. When run...

Cables, connectors, etc.

by Planet Waves  |  reviewed by Pete Weiss

It's a nice story. A few years ago Planet Waves was a modestly successful company that made good-looking guitar straps. Then the J. D'Addario string company acquired it. Instead of being chewed up and...

NT1-A

by RØDE  |  reviewed by David Barbe

The Rode NT1-A is another entry into the ever-growing field of affordable large-diaphragm condenser mics. It lists for $349, but I found $199 to be the common street price on the internet. Like others...

Bass PODxt

by Line 6  |  reviewed by John Baccigaluppi

I have to state right off the bat that I really like the Line 6 effects modelers and use them all the time in the studio, but I don't really like their flagship product, the POD, for guitar tones. The...

Classic Console EQs

by URS Plug-Ins  |  reviewed by John Baccigaluppi

As digital audio gets more affordable and more people enter the world of digital recording, more and more people will never know the world of analog audio and only experience it through software...

Debrox Earwax Removal Aid

by GlaxoSmithKline  |  reviewed by Steve Silverstein

A doctor informed me that my ears had an unusual build-up of earwax. I have no idea if frequently wearing earplugs or even allergies might have contributed to this problem, and my doctor did not...

NYS-SPP-L 1/4?? patchbay

by Neutrik  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

Because I started my studio on a tiny budget and without much professional experience, I never considered installing a TT (tiny telephone) patchbay, though sometimes I wish I had! Instead, I have 14...

M1290 microphone, M1244 microphone

by Audix  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

The Micros series from Audix are billed as the "world's smallest condenser microphones with integrated preamp and detachable cable." There are several variations on these small-diaphragm electret...

Music Reviews See more →

Music Reviews

Letting Go of Strings

by Gina Noëll | reviewed by Larry Crane

Gina's pal, Michael Cubbon, recorded this self-released dreamy pop record at their Dithering Heights home studio on Cubase VST32 v5.1 on a P4- 2.4 desktop computer loaded with two UAD-1 cards. Drum...

Music Reviews

Let It Be ...Naked

by The Beatles | reviewed by Larry Crane

An unfortunate title, this isn't the fabled Glyn Johns' version of Let It Be, but instead it is a new beast, mixed and produced at Abbey Road by Paul Hicks, Guy Massey and Allan Rouse. Songs were...

Music Reviews

Never Trust a Hippy

by Adrian Sherwood | reviewed by Larry Crane

Adrian, for years, has been the brains behind the Dub Syndicate "band" and On-U Sound label in the UK, but here is his first "solo" record. Are you looking for the future of rhythms, dub and studio...

Music Reviews

Foundation Rockers

by Twilight Circus Dub Sound System | reviewed by Larry Crane

You might remember Ryan Moore (the genius behind TCDSS) from issue #26. Here he breaks his formula of instrumental dub by building up tracks then bringing a portable recording rig around to some major...

Music Reviews

Rocket Redux

by Rocket From The Tombs | reviewed by Larry Crane

RFTT were a seminal Cleveland band that spawned Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys. Now they have (maybe briefly) banded back together for some touring and such, with Television's Richard Lloyd replacing the...

Music Reviews

Whale Rider

by Lisa Gerrard | reviewed by Larry Crane

This is the soundtrack to the movie of the same name, which I haven't yet seen. I have to admit I've been a fan of Lisa's since I first heard her in Dead Can Dance 20 years ago. Her music is dreamy...

Music Reviews

Liberation

by Trans Am | reviewed by Larry Crane

We interviewed these crazy boys in issue #25 about their National Recording Studio. In the world of Trans Am robots rock and New Order could have been a punk band. Political snippets get blended into...

Music Reviews

Sixteen Ssongs

by Don Zientara | reviewed by Larry Crane

Don is better known as the man behind Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, VA, and the guy that's produced many cool records for Fugazi, their Dischord Label, and many others (see interview in the Tape Op...

Music Reviews

Stumble Into Grace

by Emmylou Harris | reviewed by Larry Crane

Emmylou continues her collaborations with producer Malcolm Burn while delving further into her own songwriting. The record is sparse where it needs to be and is a beautiful listen. Dueling left/right...

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