Welcome to issue #84 of Tape Op.

I was out at a club watching some bands play the other night, but in the back of my mind I was wondering what to write about for the intro of this issue. Then it hit me. I'd been telling some friends at the show what a pleasure working on a recent album was, as the musicians involved were really good players and it was fun to work on. I'd also been enjoying the show I was at as I marveled at the quality of the musicians onstage. I suddenly realized what I wanted to say.Sometimes we forget how or why we ventured off into this world of music recording. For myself, this path began with my interest in electronics and sound. Eventually I became more of a musician, playing in bands and such; but, in my opinion, I never became agreatmusician. Getting to work with players that intuitively understand and support a song with their abilities is a treat. At times I've felt privy to the best "private performances" I'll ever see from my favorite artists. For a kid that grew up obsessing over music and albums, being able to help capture these moments while working with great musicians and songwriters is certainly its own reward. I feel lucky.

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