We interviewed Mike Campbell for issue #150, right around the time he and his band, The Dirty Knobs released their second LP, External Combustion. A year on, the band has released a new collection of music, Vagabonds, Virgins and Misfits. The Dirty Knobs consists of Campbell, guitarist Chris Holt, bassist Lance Morrison, and drummer Matt Laug. Much of the album was co-produced by longtime Tom Petty studio collaborator, George Drakoulias.
Check out the video for "Dare to Dream" (feat. Graham Nash)
I just bought the crazy app for my iPhone by Brian Eno and Peter Chilvers called Bloom.
It creates, or allows you to create, ambient type music on your iPhone or iPod touch. It's well thought out and a blast to mess with. It's nice to see people...
Remember Henry Hirsch from issue ? He's moved locations yet again, and his new studio (in Hudson, NY) looks fabulous. Check it out here.
An unreal space and an amazing engineer/producer.
This may be the most indispensable tool in my studio. I hear people say that converters don't matter and that most cannot hear the difference. Bullsh*t!
If you cannot accurately hear what you are doing you are making uninformed choices. They call...
CASE ONE:
Many years ago I was sent a very complex piece of recording equipment to review. It basically performed one simple function; but its inherent design was the concept that every parameter could be adjusted. Some similar devices I already...
You know, when an email with a title like this shows up at Tape Op we just gotta laugh. And an email just did show up, and I hope I don't alienate a potential advertiser or supporter, but hey, please think of another way to promote your...
I recently wrote about Craft Recordings, a division of Concord Records, and their excellent vinyl (and CD) reissues. I have become a huge fan of their releases, especially the attention to detail and sonic quality of their pressings.
On December...
Guitarist Michael Belfer passed away March 20, 2022 from a series of compounding health issues. He was a friend and my bandmate in Black Lab back in the late ’90s. His unique playing and sound was an influence on players such as Sonic...
Studio Engineering and Recording – School of Music, Dance and TheatreHerberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University
The School of Music, Dance and Theatre at Arizona State University seeks an exceptional...
A Guided Tour of High Vis’ Guided Tour at Holy Mountain Studios.
By Sam Retzer
Engineer Stanley Gravett is retreating down the stairs to Holy Mountain Studio after being ‘bullied’ upstairs at the Crypt of the Wizard record...