One of the coolest, and least promoted (and previously difficult to find) books I've come across is Too Hot to Handle: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Recording Studios of the 20th Century. Author Randy McNutt is a huge fan of classic American music and the regional studios that used to record the hits (and misses) of yesteryear. I recently stumbled across his Home of the Hits blog, and wanted to let others know that it's well worth visiting. Randy is dedicated to preserving the memories and history of the music biz, and importantly understands that it was the people and their vision that makes all of this so fascinating.
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How Tape Op Works
by Geoff Stanfield
Every few years it seems time to give a brief explanation of how Tape Op Magazine "works." We constantly get letters from folks who are amazed that this magazine arrives to them for free. Well, it's actually very simple: you pay for...
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NAMM 2004 Report
by Larry Crane
Part One - by Larry Crane 1/13/04It's been snowing and frozen here in Portland for a week - not something this town is used to. Many businesses were shut down and traffic wasn't moving, even though it wasn't that much snow. I feel dumb as my town...
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King Gizzard Strikes Again
by Geoff Stanfield
For their eighth (!!!) release in three years, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard give the world Butterfly 3000. It is hard to know what to expect from this band of Aussies. They have spanned the genre spectrum with metal, garage-psychedelia,...
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Tape Op Bumper Stickers?
by Larry Crane
We're thinking of printing some bumper stickers to help promote the Tape Op brand name. Our ideas have included: "My Other Car is a Tape Op" "My Child is an Honor Student at Tape Op" "Honk if You're Tape Op" "I'd rather be reading Tape...
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In defense, unsuccessfully, of Auto-Tune
by Vijith Assar
Simultaneously making apparent the depths of both my dorkiness and my loyalty, I steadfastly stood by Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek" all through its various tribulations over the last couple years -- first with its questionable placement on the OC,...
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John Baccigaluppi's 2008 AES Surf Report
by Larry Crane
I'm posting this for John as he's finishing up the next issue of Tape Op. -LC John Baccigaluppi's 2008 AES Surf Report This year's AES show in San Francisco was a lot of fun. The day before the show, I drove with our UK publisher Al Lawson and his...
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"A Recording Studio is No Place For Democracy"
by Larry Crane
I couldn't have said it better myself. In fact, I say this all the time. Drop by Jim Powers' Music Shrink website and read his articulate post on the subject.
Blog
RIP Hal Willner 1956-2020
by Geoff Stanfield
Eric Liljestrand remembers his friend and working partner Hal Willner Hal and I spent countless hours, days, weeks, months in dark rooms all over creating some of the most original albums and film scores the world will ever hear. A solid third of...