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 a great musician. 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.