One conversation that comes up occasionally in my life is the dichotomy of the two paths Iâve taken in audio. As a producer/engineer/mixer, is my doling out recording knowledge viaTape Op, my LinkedIn video courses, and Virtual Recording Workshops at odds with maintaining my recording career? Am I losing studio work because I give away recording knowledge? Are there mixing tricks that should be kept secret? Is there recording equipment I shouldnât tell people about because then âeveryone will have itâ? I donât think so, and I donât think thatâs what matters.Read producer and songwriter Linda Perryâs candid thoughts in this issue, where she discusses some important mentoring she received early on when producer Bill Bottrell [Tape Op#59] told her, âYou donât have my ears. You donât hear it like I do. And Iâm never going to be able to copy whatyoudo. Thatâs what will make you a unique producer.âBill Bottrell from our 2007 interview.John BaccigaluppiEvery person creating and capturing music brings a different set of skills and taste to this process.Learning as much as we can is important, but developing our own sound and styles is the real end goal. Go ahead and be yourself.
â Larry Crane, editor & Founder
PS: Thanks for dropping in for another issue ofTape Opand joining us in our 25th year! We couldnât do it without you, our wonderful readers, as well as the support of our advertisers. Weâre grateful for all of you.
Al Schmitt (April 17, 1930 â April 26, 2021)
Few recording engineer/producers made as much of a positive impact on our world as Al Schmitt. InTape Op#131we reviewed his book, co-written with Maureen Droney,On the Record: The Magic Behind the Music; itâs a must-read. Al and I met a few times, but the one moment I remember most is a post-Grammy event dinner in Seattle, where our group was divided up between several tables. I was sitting with some very young student engineers. Al came over to join us during the meal, and, for quite a while, he discussed mic choices and aspects of running sessions. Like many of the great producers I have met, I could see that his openness, honesty, and lack of ego came hand-in-hand with his obvious technical ability. Iâll never forget his generosity. Iâm missing him already. -LC