Brittany Davis

Interviews

Brittany Davis

By Lance Mercer and Lisa Machac

As a blind artist, Brittany Davis' music transcends traditional boundaries, weaving together a rich tapestry of genres and emotions in their debut solo album, Image Issues. From overcoming personal trauma to channeling divine inspiration, Brittany's honesty and fearlessness shines...

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Russ Titelman

Interviews

Russ Titelman: "There was no school for this."

By Gus Berry, Brian Silak, Brian T Silak

Few people in the music industry have been involved in as many influential records as Russ Titelman. As a teenager, he was making music and running around with the likes of Gerry Goffin, Carole King, and Phil Spector. As a staff producer for Warner Bros. Records, he made albums for artists such as...

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Alynda Segarra

Interviews

Alynda Segarra: Hurray for the Riff Raff

By Tommy Kha, Meredith Hobbs Coons

Now based in New Orleans but raised in the Bronx, Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff has crisscrossed the continental United States countless times since the age of 17 – they even spent two years in a hobo band, Dead Man Street Orchestra, touring by freight train. And they're no...

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Bruce Brubaker

Interviews

Bruce Brubaker: Eno Piano: Music for Studios

By Devin Doyle, Larry Crane
Pianist Bruce Brubaker straddles a world where the edge of classical music intersects with...
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Dan Reeder

Interviews

Dan Reeder: Building Everything He Needs

By Matt Ross-Spang, Flo Kohl
Primarily known as a visual artist, Dan Reeder – born in Louisiana but residing in...
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Point of Memory

Interviews

Point of Memory

By Jane “Pain” Chardiet, Dan Timlin, Jane Chardiet
Point of Memory's Void Pusher is self-described "acoustic computer music"...
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MORE FROM THIS ISSUE

FEBRUARY 28, 2026 INTERVIEWS
Steve Evetts

Steve Evetts: Remain Human

BY SAM RETZER

Belleville, New Jersey, is a deceptively quiet enclave up the river from Newark. A beautiful mural here, a grungy secondhand shop there – it's a collision of worlds. A bit like the mild-mannered Evetts himself, who politely offers coffee before dissecting the aggressive sounds he pioneered at the fabled Trax East Recording Studio in the '90s. Through his early work with Incantation, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Hatebreed, he virtually invented a new genre per album, yet he's also renowned for his emotionally driven pop punk productions with the likes of Lifetime, Saves the Day, and The Wonder Years. No matter the style of music, he stays true to his philosophy of committing to sounds and keeping a human level of excitement in his recordings. We chatted in his colossal live room as Steve was preparing to record Prong's recent album, State of Emergency. (Steve was also previously interviewed for Tape Op #56 online. -Ed) Steve in his new studio in Belleville, NJ.

FEBRUARY 28, 2026 INTERVIEWS
Lance Skiiiwalker

Lance Skiiiwalker: I Love the Sounds

BY LARRY CRANE

Born Lance Howard, Lance Skiiiwalker was "discovered" by Kendrick Lamar and signed to Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) a number of years back. Lance's first full release, Introverted Intuition, and his recent album, Audiodidactic, are excellent examples of studio experimentation and cool anything goes music, full of interesting time signatures, sounds flying around, and some crazy echoed beats. TDE's Keaton Smith joined in as Lance and I talked about recording in kitchens and the beauty of an old piano.

FEBRUARY 28, 2026 INTERVIEWS
Khruangbin

Khruangbin

BY GEOFF STANFIELD

This interview originally ran as a podcast in December of 2022. Since that time the band has released a new album, A La Sala. Texas trio Khruangbin have paired with Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré, son of the legendary Ali Farka Touré, for new release Ali. The result is an otherworldly, reverb soaked trance offering, perfect for a drive through the African desert or a stretch of Texas highway. Geoff Stanfield caught up with guitarist Mark Speer and engineer Steve Christensen to discuss the partnership and recording of the album. Enjoy!

COLUMNS

END RANT by Larry Crane
First Impressions
END RANT

First Impressions

by Larry Crane

For 25 years, I have owned and run a commercial business, Jackpot! Recording Studio, in Portland, Oregon. During this time, I have developed a set of particular ideas of how to present my studio (and myself) when meeting new clients for the first time, especially if our initial encounter is at the...

GEAR GEEKING by Andy Hong
Gear Geeking w/ Andy...
GEAR GEEKING

Gear Geeking w/ Andy...

by Andy Hong

I've suffered through half a dozen home and studio moves over the past eight years. The moves have been challenging, to say the least, and two sources of frustration have been ISPs and wireless LANs. Verizon 5G Home Internet and Google Fiber have been great. Meanwhile, Xfinity (Comcast), and COX...

GEAR REVIEWS

Gear Reviews

011 FET SDC Mic

BY 011 FET SDC Mic  |  reviewed by Scott McChane

Ever since reading Thom Monahan's informative and gushing review of the Soyuz SU-017 tube mic [Tape Op #117], I've been curious about the company's products. JB and Robert Cheek's writeup of the transformer-coupled 013 FET [#139] only solidified my interest. Chris Koltay's take on the 023 Bomblet...

Gear Reviews

4099 CORE Loud SPL Mic w/ Cello Clip

BY 4099 CORE Loud SPL Mic w/ Cello Clip  |  reviewed by Yi-Mei Templeman

It can be particularly challenging to capture the full nuance and resonance of the cello in recordings. For someone who plays an instrument designed for un-mic'd classical music, I spend a lot of time doing the exact opposite. My music relies on treating my cello as if it is a guitar – lots of...

Gear Reviews

Atoms Virtual Instrument

BY Atoms Virtual Instrument  |  reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

The Baby Audio Atoms Physical Modeling Synthesizer plug-in is a wild virtual instrument created in collaboration between Baby Audio (plug-in developers in Pasadena, California) and Silvin Willemsen, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands). What stands out...

Gear Reviews

Catapult Rack TX & RX Cat 5 Analog Snake

BY Catapult Rack TX & RX Cat 5 Analog Snake  |  reviewed by Eli Crews

Cat 5, aka Ethernet cable, has been a powerful way to pass digital audio around your studio or live venue for quite a while now. The various formats (Dante, AVB, and many other proprietary protocols) have changed the way we think about studio installs, stage box runs, etc. Personally, I've been...

Gear Reviews

Digital Distribution Platform

BY Digital Distribution Platform  |  reviewed by Geoff Stanfield

Gone are the days when a handful of record company executives controlled the means of mass distribution to the general public. Recording tools are now offered at entry-level prices, and there is more than enough information (some excellent, and some terrible!) available on the internet to get you...

Gear Reviews

Hi-Lo Filters 500 Series Filter

BY Hi-Lo Filters 500 Series Filter  |  reviewed by Brian Tarquin

Before delving into this review we should first clarify what is an EQ and what is a filter. EQ refers to tonal equalization with cuts or boosts of amplitude across the frequency spectrum. The most flexible form is parametric EQ, which provides frequency, bandwidth, and cut/boost controls. On the...

Gear Reviews

K371-BT Headphones

BY K371-BT Headphones  |  reviewed by Geoff Stanfield

I always have a need for good headphones, and I am fortunate enough to own several different types from various manufacturers. Like reference monitors, they each have a different sonic profile, and provide a unique perspective on program material. I have some high-end models from Audeze that I use...

Gear Reviews

LiNTEC Analog EQ

BY LiNTEC Analog EQ  |  reviewed by Mike Kosacek

I've found both the Lindell Audio LiN76 [Tape Op #153] and LiN2A [#156] compressors to be extremely useful in my studio, so I jumped at the chance to check out the new, one channel LiNTEC Vintage Program Equalizer. I use their compressors primarily for tracking purposes, but I mix in the box and I...

Gear Reviews

NOVA Speaker/Room Optimization System

BY NOVA Speaker/Room Optimization System  |  reviewed by Garrett Haines

We need to talk about the elephant in the room: the room itself. Many of us work in acoustically compromised spaces. From the card table in the corner for a remote session to the spare bedroom project studio, we can all relate. Even if you operate out of a professional facility, a voice in your...

Gear Reviews

Nuance Select Monitor Controller

BY Nuance Select Monitor Controller  |  reviewed by Scott McChane

The Nuance Select is Radial Engineering's new desktop stereo monitor controller from the bench of their lead designer, W.C. “Hutch” Hutchison (formerly of Manley Labs and Rupert Neve Designs). Radial supplies engineers and performers with utility products that fill a market gap left by other...

Gear Reviews

Part 2: Human-Related

BY Part 2: Human-Related  |  reviewed by Geoff Stanfield, Larry Crane

Previously, we discussed instrument-related essentials that every studio should have on hand. With "Part 2," we're looking at items that keep the humans in your studio more comfortable, creative, and productive. Look for "Part 3, Studio Supplies," in a future issue of Tape Op. Coffee Supplies: Get...

Gear Reviews

RAY Condenser Mic

BY RAY Condenser Mic  |  reviewed by Daniel Ryan Morse

LEWITT is one of the most innovative and thoughtful microphone designers right now. In a sea of manufacturers churning out knock-off mics, they stand out for releasing fresh, exciting designs. I recently enjoyed recording with their PURE TUBE mic [Tape Op #156] and was excited to try their latest...

Gear Reviews

RipX DAW PRO

BY RipX DAW PRO  |  reviewed by Geoffrey Knecht

There has been so much talk about AI and its uses, but I haven't come across many products that are practically useful within the scope of my daily work. There are many fun products out there for generating audio, lyrics, images, and more, but they all feel more like entertaining toys and less like...

Gear Reviews

SlatFusor PL Diffusor

BY SlatFusor PL Diffusor  |  reviewed by Geoff Stanfield

I've been a long-time user of GIK Acoustic's studio acoustic treatments, employing their 244 FlexRange [Tape Op #113] and Tri-Trap corner [#113] bass traps in my many studios over the years. They install easily, have a clean aesthetic, are made with sustainability in mind, and are affordable. Each...

Gear Reviews

Theata 8 ch DI & Summing

BY Theata 8 ch DI & Summing  |  reviewed by John Botch

At Panoramic House, more and more sessions primarily take place in our fairly large control room. It seems that the studio paradigm has shifted a bit from the days of large studio spaces and smaller control rooms, and now it's not uncommon to have five or six people in the control room with five to...