Amanda Shires & Lawrence Rothman

Interviews

Amanda Shires & Lawrence Rothman

By Lawrence Rothman, Geoff Stanfield

The pairing of Amanda Shires and producer Lawrence Rothman is an unlikely one. On paper, Amanda's Americana-leaning solo records (including her work with The Highwomen), and Lawrence's art rock production style make almost no sense, but that's the beauty of it. The two partnered during...

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Hill Kourkoutis

Interviews

Hill Kourkoutis: Thriving & Growing

By Laura Photography, Lisa Machac

A songwriter, producer, mixer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, director, and actress, Hill Kourkoutis is based in Barrie, a small town...

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Tony Hoffer

Interviews

Tony Hoffer: Stirring it Up

By John Dougherty, Larry Crane

For years I had seen the name Tony Hoffer on album credits. In addition to producing Belle & Sebastian albums, he's also mixed hits for M83, co-produced Beck's ...

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Kenny Siegal

Interviews

Kenny Siegal: A Sense of Balance

By Rayon Richards, Larry Crane
In his well-equipped and comfortable Old Soul Studios in Catskill, New York, where artists...
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Morton Subotnick

Interviews

Morton Subotnick: We Are Who We Invent

By Elliott Sharp, Waveshaper Media
A pioneer of modern electronic music, Morton Subotnick initiated technical innovations and...
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MORE FROM THIS ISSUE

AUGUST 18, 2025 INTERVIEWS
Tunde Adebimpe

Tunde Adebimpe: Sketching the Panorama

BY TUNDE , IAN BRENNAN

Tunde Adebimpe is the co-lead singer and co-founder of the critically acclaimed TV On The Radio, a group who helped reshape rock music as well as the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York in 2001. In 2008, TV On The Radio's Dear Science, was named Album of the Year by many music magazines. He's collaborated with artists such as Massive Attack, David Bowie, Lee "Scratch" Perry [Tape Op #136], Run The Jewels, Amadou & Mariam, Mike Patton [#53], and Trent Reznor.

AUGUST 18, 2025 INTERVIEWS
Next Big Thing In Music Production?

Next Big Thing In Music Production?

BY LARRY CRANE

We recently received a query from a curious reader, Tzuriel Kastel. Tzuriel wanted to know, "What do you see as the next big thing in music production?" I passed this on to various Tape Op contributors and people we've interviewed to see what they envision. Here are some thoughts about the future of recording music! -LC

AUGUST 18, 2025 INTERVIEWS
Not So Oblique Strategies

Not So Oblique Strategies

BY GARRETT HAINES, LARRY CRANE

In 1975, Brian Eno (Tape Op #85) and multimedia artist Peter Schmidt published their first set of Oblique Strategies: Over One Hundred Worthwhile Dilemmas. These cards work as creativity resets, prompting breaks in non- productive work patterns as well as inspiring new methods. As we've seen the tools of music recording become more affordable, and now in so many musicians' hands, I think there's also a need to examine the basics of music production. With that in mind, I present my version of their groundbreaking work. Let's call it the Not So Oblique Strategies. Use these suggestions wisely! Print out this PDF (download by clicking image below) to some card stock and then get to a paper cutter (most copy shops have them) and use the dotted lines on this page to cut these out. Have a nice session!

AUGUST 18, 2025 INTERVIEWS
Robert Schneider

Robert Schneider: A Live Interview

BY LARRY CRANE

On April 14, 2018, at Jackpot! Recording Studio, I interviewed Robert Schneider in front of a live audience. Afterwards, he did a short solo set, and then The Minders played – a band both of us had recorded albums for and are friends with. Robert and I first met in 1996, when I interviewed him and The Apples In Stereo for Tape Op #2. Alongside some classic Apples and The Minders albums and other projects he's in, he recorded and produced records for Neutral Milk Hotel [#11] and The Olivia Tremor Control [#17] and co-founded The Elephant 6 Recording Co. (See the wonderful The Elephant 6 Recording Co. documentary that we are both in). Now, with his recently attained Doctorate in mathematics, we sat down in front of a live audience to chat again! Check out the podcast of this conversation as well! Tape Op Podcast · Robert Schneider: A Live Interview

COLUMNS

Not So Oblique Strategies
END RANT
Gear Geeking w/ Andy...
GEAR GEEKING

GEAR REVIEWS

Gear Reviews

3122V Preamp

by 3122V Preamp  |  reviewed by Kirt Shearer

The API 3122V 2-channel mic preamp is certainly not a new and revolutionary design, but rather a new version of a tried and true classic, originating in consoles from the late-'60s. This preamp circuitry is also in the 3124V 4-channel preamp, the 500 Series 312 [Tape Op #141], and shares most of...

Gear Reviews

Active Mic Cable

by Active Mic Cable  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

Late last year, I received an awesome email from Takeo Yamamoto, who had stumbled across Tape Op #4 when he was living in NYC ages ago. He now owns the pro audio sales/distributor and development firm, Umbrella Company, in Japan. One of their products is the Active Mic Cable, an interesting new...

Gear Reviews

Cards for Creativity

by Cards for Creativity  |  reviewed by John Baccigaluppi

This fun deck of creativity-sparking cards – with inspiration from Brian Eno [Tape Op #85] and Peter Schmidt’s Oblique Strategies – was created by Isaac Karns of The Marble Garden studio in Cincinnati, Ohio. (See also: Larry’s End Rant this issue, his review of Laura Veirs' cards, and our front...

Gear Reviews

Claro EQ Plug-In

by Claro EQ Plug-In  |  reviewed by Geoff Stanfield

The Sonnox Claro equalizer (from their Toolbox range of plug-ins) is a fantastic sounding, intuitive EQ for professionals and beginners alike. Multiple interface options provide visual feedback in addition to traditional EQ functionality. I have never met a Sonnox product that I didn’t think was...

Gear Reviews

EC5B Limiter

by EC5B Limiter  |  reviewed by Scott Evans

I’ve been looking for a one channel, high-end tube compressor for a few years – mostly for vocals. When Austin, Texas', Electric & Company announced the EC5B, their take on Universal Audio’s legendary 175B, I was immediately interested. The 175B is a well-loved tube compressor, and Electric &...

Gear Reviews

Gemini Dock & RAID Enclosure

by Gemini Dock & RAID Enclosure  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

I've been using OWC RAID drives at my studio for around 15 years, and the Gemini is the latest version we purchased. Ostensibly simply used as an external hard drive to store data, this unit is described by OWC as a "Thunderbolt Dock and Dual-Bay RAID External Storage Enclosure." It can be...

Gear Reviews

Halo Vision Immersive Metering Plug-In

by Halo Vision Immersive Metering Plug-In  |  reviewed by Don Gunn

NUGEN Audio is back with a brand new metering plug-in, Halo Vision, that takes their stereo-based Visualizer and expands it into the surround and Dolby Atmos/immersive audio world. Halo Vision provides a customizable layout of up to six meter types (plus timecode display) ranging from stereo all...

Gear Reviews

Hitsville Reverb Chambers Plug-In

by Hitsville Reverb Chambers Plug-In  |  reviewed by Garrett Haines

In 1959, Motown Records' president, Berry Gordy, needed a first-class reverb for the label's studio. The EMT 140 plate reverb had just come out, but most studios built their own chambers in those days. Gordy and chief technical engineer Mike McLean converted the studio attic into an echo chamber,...

Gear Reviews

Kaleidoscope Creativity Cards

by Kaleidoscope Creativity Cards  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

Songwriter Laura Veirs has made a number of engaging albums over the years, including last year's Found Light, tracked at my Jackpot! Recording Studio where Veirs co-produced the album (with composer/instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily [Tape Op #151], Kendra Lynn engineering, and mixing by Phil...

Gear Reviews

LA-320 V2 Tube Condenser Mic

by LA-320 V2 Tube Condenser Mic  |  reviewed by Jacob Paul Nielsen, Ben Bernstein

Lauten Audio recently released a revision to their LA-320 [Tape Op #117] tube microphone. I’m a big Lauten fan and own several of their mics, including the original LA-320 and the Clarion FC-357. Everything they’ve created has a unique personality but fits multiple applications in a studio...

Gear Reviews

MDWDRC2-Native Plug-In

by MDWDRC2-Native Plug-In  |  reviewed by Adam Kagan

The MDWDRC2-Native represents a paradigm shift in dynamic processing for plug-ins. Rather than a traditional compressor or limiter, this is a comprehensive dynamic conditioning tool. Massenburg DesignWorks, headed by none other than engineer/producer/gear designer George Massenburg [Tape Op #54,...

Gear Reviews

Mulligan Plug-In Control App

by Mulligan Plug-In Control App  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

Touted as a "hands-on plug-in control for Pro Tools," this standalone application could be a frustration-killer for anyone who finds themselves tweaking the multitude of parameters within plug-ins via mouse or trackball. It also opens up the possibilities of two-handed (or more) control when...

Gear Reviews

RS660 Tube Compressor

by RS660 Tube Compressor  |  reviewed by Geoff Stanfield

What I didn’t need was another piece of gear to help drain my bank account, but what I always need is a compressor that helps me do my job while making me look good. On both fronts, the new Chandler RS660 compressor is that piece of gear. As the name suggests, the RS660 is based partly on the...

Gear Reviews

Sphere LX Modeling Mic

by Sphere LX Modeling Mic  |  reviewed by Don Gunn

In 2019, I reviewed the Townsend Labs L22 Sphere mic [Tape Op #133] and raved about its versatility and innovation. Universal Audio acquired Townsend Labs in 2021 and has rebadged the L22 as the Sphere DLX; this renamed model is nearly identical to the original L22 (the DLX has a single -20 dB pad...

Gear Reviews

SSL 12 Interface

by SSL 12 Interface  |  reviewed by Daniel Ryan Morse

Ever since I acquired a rack-mounted DAW interface, I didn’t think I had much need for a smaller, portable interface. However, when I recently had the opportunity to record a grand piano outside of my home studio, it struck me how much of a pain it would be to extricate my existing interface from...

Gear Reviews

Subotnick: Portrait of an Electronic Music Pioneer (film)

by Subotnick: Portrait of an Electronic Music Pioneer (film)  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

As a perfect companion to our interview this issue, director Robert Fantinatto and producer Jason Amm's 87-minute film on Morton Subotnick brings to the screen a portrait of where he is now and what he has accomplished. Interspersed with a journey into live performances in his 70s and 80s, where he...

Gear Reviews

The Inner Ear of Don Zientara (book)

by The Inner Ear of Don Zientara (book)  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

Subtitled, "A Half Century of Recording in One of America’s Most Innovative Studios, Through the Voices of Musicians," Antonia Tricarico's photo-filled (250!) book on Don Zientara [Tape Op #8] gives us a wonderful glimpse into who Don is, and what has made his Inner Ear Recording Studios one of the...

Gear Reviews

This Is What It Sounds Like (book)

by This Is What It Sounds Like (book)  |  reviewed by Ben Bernstein

This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You is a must read for any music producer, recording artist, audio engineer, or consumer of art in any form. Susan Rogers [Tape Op #117] doesn’t explain to us the technical aspects of how a song is written and gets recorded – that’s...

Gear Reviews

Twin 3 Virtual Analog Synth

by Twin 3 Virtual Analog Synth  |  reviewed by Dave Hidek

FabFilter’s Twin 3 is a sweeping update to their well-received virtual Twin 2 synth, originally released back in 2009. Fourteen years later, Twin 3 represents a massive overhaul to almost every aspect of the instrument, and it truly is a joy to use. FabFilter’s growth as a company is evident with...

Gear Reviews

Wellspring Stereo Spring Reverb

by Wellspring Stereo Spring Reverb  |  reviewed by Geoff Stanfield

Oh, I remember… outboard gear can be fun! I am fortunate to have 31 flavors of compressors, EQs, tone-makers, and boneshakers. I even own a few studio spring reverbs, but nothing quite like the Wellspring, an "analogue stereo spring reverb system" from Wales-based Teaching Machines. With two...