Alessandro “Asso” Stefana

BY GEOFF STANFIELD

We get a lot of email at Tape Op. It is typically from public relations firms, record labels, and gear manufacturers. I do my best to keep up with all of the interview pitches and requests for reviews. Earlier this year, I received an email from an artist directly. His name was Alessandro "Asso" Stefana, and he was sending along his new release, Alessandro "Asso" Stefana, for consideration. Being a fan of Mike Patton [Tape Op #53] and his label Ipecac Recordings, Alessandro's name was a familiar one I had seen on the label's website but had not yet checked out. With this gentle reminder of an email, detailing the album's origins, people involved, and Alessandro's history with his band Guano Padano, Patton's Mondo Cane project, and collaborations with Bill Frisell, Calexico, PJ Harvey, and more, I hit play and didn't move from the couch until I had listened top to bottom. I caught up with Alessandro to chat about his latest release, collaborations, and his love for creating the sound of a Western landscape.

Finneas O’Connell: The Song Comes First

BY IAN BRENNAN

Finneas O'Connell is the youngest person to ever win a Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. Rising to fame as the producer for, and collaborator with, his sister, Billie Eilish, he has also gone on to work with such artists as Nicki Minaj, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Kid Cudi, John Legend, and Ringo Starr. Only 27 years old, he's already won ten Grammys and been nominated 17 other times, while also winning two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. Having started out recording hits in his suburban bedroom, Finneas has proved that records can be made anywhere. His solo album, For Cryin' Out Loud!, came out in 2024.

Betty Bennett, Founder of Apogee Electronics: <i>Whenever you find your passion, it's not really work anymore.</i>

BY JOHN BACCIGALUPPI

I've been using Apogee converters in my studio since I bought my first AD 500 analog to digital converter in the early '90s. I've found all their gear to sound fantastic, work reliably, and inspire confidence in demanding studio clients. Via Tape Op I've come to know Betty Bennett, Apogee's founder; something I never expected to happen back when I bought that first AD 500. Betty is an incredibly smart and nice person, and I always enjoying chatting with her. As Apogee approaches a 40th anniversary in 2025, I thought it was a good time to learn more about Betty's journey into the audio industry, and how Apogee Electronics got started and evolved into the present day

A Practical Guide to Integrating Modular Synthesis in the Control Room

BY JOHN BACCIGALUPPI

Dan Johnson: Preserving the Past

BY LARRY CRANE

In a nondescript office building out in Burbank, California, you'll find Audio Archiving Services, Inc. Run by Dan Johnson, these rooms are full of all types of audio playback devices, and Dan specializes in transferring audio via all these crazy formats. I first met Dan when he was at United Recording Studios in Hollywood, running their archival room. I've sent a number of clients to him with tapes in formats I can't play back, and his work is stellar and meticulous. I decided it'd be fun to drop in and talk to him about this work.

Making 10cc’s “I’m Not in Love”

BY IAN BRENNAN

Malcolm Toft: Innovator & Audio Mogul

BY BRIAN TARQUIN

Malcolm Toft [Tape Op #26] has a career spanning over 50 years in the professional audio industry. He started at CBS Studios in London and went on to work at the iconic Trident Studios. There he began as an audio engineer, then moved to studio manager, working on records by The Beatles, David Bowie, T. Rex, James Taylor, Joe Cocker, and many others. As a designer, he founded Trident Audio and was responsible for the design of many of their iconic consoles, including the A Range, B Range, Series 80, and TSM. He eventually became the co-founder of Trident Audio Developments. Toft went on to form another console company, Malcolm Toft Associates, which eventually led to Toft Audio Designs and the founding of Ocean Audio. Currently he manufactures a range of professional audio products under his own name. In 2009, he was awarded a visiting professorship by Leeds College of Music, and The University of West London awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Science. I have always been an avid Trident console user, so it was pleasure to sit down with Malcolm and discuss his career in the audio industry.

Shel Talmy: Golden Ears

BY BRIAN TARQUIN

When we interviewed him at 86 years old, Shel Talmy had no intention of retiring. He had continued to look to produce new artists that excited him. In December 2024, Shel passed away, leaving behind a groundbreaking history of record making. As an American in Britain during the early '60s, Shel set a whole new bar for the explosive rock sound coming out of London. With his work with bands such as The Who and The Kinks, Talmy was free to experiment with recordings while still staying within the accepted margins of public taste. He also worked with other illustrious bands, such as Small Faces, Manfred Mann, and on David Bowie's early tracks. So, the next time you hear songs like "I Can't Explain" and "You Really Got Me," listen to the production as revolutionary compared to the normal "too polite" standards of the time. You can thank Shel Talmy for that great accomplishment!