Gear Reviews

Tools  |  No. 164

Ableton: Move

reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

Like a lot of Tape Op-ers, I started my recording expedition with a cassette 4-track. For a young songwriter, the 4-track was nothing less than a joy engine – a new way to capture ideas and...

Instruments, Plug-Ins  |  No. 162

Baby Audio: 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...

Effects, Plug-Ins  |  No. 162

Universal Audio: Verve Analog Machines Plug-In

reviewed by John Baccigaluppi, Larry Crane, Dana Gumbiner, Adam Kagan, Daniel Ryan Morse

Universal Audio recently released a saturation and coloration UAD Native plug-in named Verve Analog Machines. Verve is a bit of a departure and something new for UA, as none of these machines are...

Software  |  No. 160

Ableton: Live 12 Suite

reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

The importance of organization, functionality, and preparedness is central to the work we do when making music with/for others. From my perspective, DAWs are getting more comprehensive and less...

Pedals  |  No. 159

Universal Audio: UAFX Guitar Pedals

reviewed by John Baccigaluppi, Larry Crane, Dana Gumbiner, Scott McChane, Corey Reidy

Universal Audio introduced their first three UAFX Pedals in 2021, and with the release of 12 new pedals in 2023, the line now has 18 different pedal options available for a complete instrument...

Books  |  No. 157

Bjooks (publisher/author): Synth Gems 1 – Exploring Vintage Synthesizers, Inspire The Music – 50 Years of Roland History (book)

reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

I've been a fan of Kim Bjørn and co.'s "Bjooks" series of hardcover synth nerd bibles since the initial release of Push Turn Move in 2017. For those unfamiliar with the series, Bjooks publishes...

Synthesizers  |  No. 157

Erica Synths: Syntrx II Analog Synthesizer

reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

The first-generation Syntrx from Latvian synthesis maestros Erica Synths was a fantastic "reimagining" of the 1972 EMS Synthi AKS. The original Syntrx was a highly desirable analog synth with a...

Control Surfaces  |  No. 157

Ableton: Push 3

reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

The new Push 3 is finally here! I've been an Ableton Live DAW [Tape Op #143] user since version 1, and was an early adopter of both of the first two generations of Push hardware, so I was eager to...

Books  |  No. 156

Bjooks (publisher/author): Synth Gems 1 – Exploring Vintage Synthesizers, Inspire The Music – 50 Years of Roland History (book)

reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

I've been a fan of Kim Bjørn and Bjooks' series of hardcover synth nerd bibles since the initial release of Push Turn Move in 2017. For those unfamiliar with the series, Bjooks publishes a...

Interfaces, Software  |  No. 154

PreSonus: Studio One 6 Professional DAW

reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

Folks, let's chat about PreSonus Studio One Professional, now leveled up to version six. I tend to “DAW-jump” these days between Ableton Live [Tape Op #143], Universal Audio LUNA [#138],...

Accessories, Wiring  |  No. 153

Love My Switches: Control Knobs, Switches, & Parts

reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

I found this Love My Switches’ web store while searching for aluminum replacements for the sticky, degraded soft-touch rubber vulcanized knobs on my Arturia MicroBrute [Tape Op #106] synth. Many...

Interfaces  |  No. 152

Universal Audio: Volt 476P Interface

reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

The Volt 476P, Universal Audio’s latest in their line of low-cost-yet-high-quality USB-C audio interfaces, is the flagship of the Volt fleet. It has the same essential features as its little...