Tape Log

Blog posts by Larry Crane

Nov. 15, 2024

Happy Birthday, Mitch Easter

by Larry Crane

by Alex Maiolo One of our patron saints of recording, Mitch Easter [Tape Op #21], turns 70 today. That's almost irrelevant, as this treasure of a human should be celebrated every day, but it prompted me to write about his impact. Like anyone,...

Oct. 29, 2019

Ed Cherney - We Lost a Good One

by Larry Crane

Photo: Larry Crane The recent passing of Ed Cherney sent me to my archives. I'd interviewed Ed many years ago and he asked me not to run it. We went back and forth about it, and I never understood why he didn't want this interview in Tape Op....

Jan. 20, 2015

All In

by Larry Crane

I opened my commercial recording studio (Jackpot! Recording) in 1997, after years of simultaneously having a busy home studio while working day jobs to pay the rent. Making this leap to a full-time recording engineer/studio owner was terrifying. I...

Nov. 21, 2014

End Rant #104: Food for Thought

by Larry Crane

I've pulled together a collection of recent thoughts I've had about the recording process. You can agree or not agree. The important thing is to use your ears, mind, and creativity to make great recordings. Recording equipment...

Jan. 21, 2014

End Rant #99: It's the Little Things That Count

by Larry Crane

Years ago John Fischbach, a well-established and respected producer/engineer, came to my studio to record an album that our mutual friend, Luther Russell, was producing. [See Tape Op #21.] In those days my studio, Jackpot! Recording, was a diamond...

Dec. 2, 2013

"Evaluate My Recordings"

by Larry Crane

"I sent a package to you several months ago containing some music I asked you to evaluate for me. I respect your background and was hoping that you personally might allow for cutting out a spare hour to do me this favor. Since I never heard from you...

Nov. 15, 2013

End Rant #98: Welcome to the Service Industry

by Larry Crane

When I graduated from college, I dove headlong into restaurant work in order to survive. I had a degree in Visual Communications and a minor in Art from an un- prestigious college, but near the end of my studies I'd begun playing bass in a band...

Sept. 16, 2013

End Rant #97: Ease of Use

by Larry Crane

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...

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