Welcome to issue #103 of Tape Op.

From the moment I first heard Joy Division's two studio albums, Unknown Pleasures and Closer, I was affected. Initially I returned the LPs to my friend Steve, saying, "These are too gloomy. I don't wa...

Legendary record producer Bill Szymczyk helped dial in sounds for The Eagles, Joe Walsh, The James Gang, The Who, Elvin Bishop, and The J. Geils Band. Many have argued that AOR [Album-Orientated Rock]...

Indigo Ranch, nestled on 60-acres in the hills of Malibu, California, operated from 1974 until 2006, under the guidance and obsessions of Richard Kaplan. Clients took advantage of his meticulously built studio, 400 guitar amps, and rare Aengus console. Artists as diverse as Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Olivia Newton John, Jeff Lorber, Korn, Sepultura, and Limp Bizkit all made albums at Indigo Ranch. We tracked down a "retired" Richard in Venice Beach, for a long chat. [ gallery ]

In 1985, when I was 15 years old, my best friend's older brother gave me a cassette tape that said "Throwing Muses Demo" on the label. The first time I played it I was completely blown away — it was l...

Giles Martin certainly comes from an enviable musical pedigree. His father, the legendary producer Sir George Martin, had more number one hit records, and broke down more barriers in the recording stu...

ADK Microphones began in 1997 as the dream of Larry Villella — recording engineer, piano expert, and vintage mic collector — to build quality microphones for his friends. ADK's extensive line of micro...