Gear Reviews

With varying COVID-19 restrictions still in place across the world, home recording and podcasting products are in demand. Broadcast-quality dynamic microphones are many times at the center of these solutions. When I saw the new PreSonus PD-70, I couldn’t help but notice it looks a lot like another...

Recently, I was looking for something completely different in a microphone with $1200 of stimulus money burning a hole in my pocket. So, when I discovered the Austrian Audio OC818 – a multi-pattern large diaphragm condenser microphone with dual XLR outputs – I was intrigued. After I learned the...

For some time now, I’ve been on the hunt for a mastering-grade A/D converter to capture the summed stereo output of my Shadow Hills Industries Equinox [Tape Op#55] for printing final mixes back into Pro Tools. Lucky me, Rupert Neve Designs has just recently released their new Master Buss Converter...

A few years ago I reviewed Arturia’s Beatstep Pro [Tape Op#111] and was really impressed by the functionality of that unit. Their new MIDI/CV sequencer/controller KeyStep Pro takes things up several levels. BeatStep Pro was essentially Arturia’s take on older voltage-controlled step sequencers on...

Let’s get this out right up front: Waldorf’s Iridium is a deep, complex instrument and processor with tons of new technology under the hood, both in terms of its synthesis engine and its architecture. Yet despite all that complexity, navigating the Iridium is surprisingly easy and intuitive, thanks...

As gear reviews go, this is a pretty easy one to write, as the issue isn’t whether or not this is an excellent product. It most definitely is, which shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who already uses Radial DIs, nor to anyone familiar with HDI mastermind W.C. “Hutch” Hutchison: The reknowned gear...

At $199, the Aston Element is a very affordable mic, but by no means is it cheap gear. That is to say, the value at this price point is immeasurable. An expertly crafted microphone paired with a proprietary shock mount and magnetic pop filter makes the Element Bundle a great entry-level solution...

Four years ago, Black Lion Audio introduced the B173 [Tape Op#100], their single-channel take on a British-style preamp at a wallet-friendly price. Last year, their B173 Quad improved on the design and assembled four B173s into a two space rack unit. Now, Black Lion Audio is offering an updated...

I’ve always been a big fan of Chameleon Labs’ gear. They were one of the first companies to bring classic audio designs into the realm of affordability. I’ve owned a pair of their 7602 [Tape Op#51] mic pre/EQs plus one of their 7720 [#67] bus compressors for close to ten years now and have used...

Coming up in audio in the early 2000s, I was present for what was maybe not the most universally trustworthy or well-informed era of the online audio forum, but definitely the funnest. There were certain distinct concepts, mantras, and methods clung to by each different site’s hive-mind (some of us...

We’re huge fans of Eventide over here at High Bias Recordings. Eventide units have been an integral part of the sonic fabric here both on the front end with the Rose [Tape Op#133], Blackhole [review in progress!], and H9 Harmonizer [#107], then at mix with the H3000 [#95], Factor Series pedals, and...

With the current market for analog audio hardware crowded with clones of coveted pieces, the myriad of redundancies can be a drag once you tire of the usual suspects and begin to seek new tonal flavors for your sonic toolkit. Luckily, this creates opportunities where new companies can thrive by...

It’s time to open up about those empty spaces in our 500 Series racks – it feels like a sickness inside you, doesn’t it? Every time you see a shadowy gap or blank panel in your rack, it mirrors the emptiness inside of you. It was during a time when I was feeling particularly vulnerable about my own...

I first heard about JZ microphones years ago when my friend, singer Leah Siegel (Firehorse), gave me a BH-1 Black Hole [Tape Op#71] mic she’d received as partial payment for a session. She didn’t need it, and I am always into checking new mics. I fell in love with it. For a mic (and company) I’d...

When I was asked to review an Ear Trumpets Labs microphone, I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve always been attracted to their vintage-style designs and have had good experiences with their Edwina [Tape Op#91] and Nadine models. I chose their Myrtle because it’s advertised as “ideal for single-miking...

Subtitled “The People and Processes Behind Self-Recorded Music,” this is a beautiful, hardbound coffee-table-style tome about making recordings that matter. Featuring excellent photos by Daniel Topete highlighting artists in their own creative spaces, as well as a captivating layout and design by...

Recently, I read about the MorphVerb plug-in and thought, “Do I need another reverb?” If you are like me, you already have a bunch of reverb plug-ins. But I decided to check it out to see if there was anything special here. I found that MorphVerb is not just another reverb at all, but a bunch of...

This is the newly updated and keyboard-less version of the venerable Buchla Music Easel. The original Buchla Music Easel was one of the earliest analog synthesizers. Originally released in 1973, it defined the first era of commercial analog synthesis, along with the Minimoog and EMS VCS 3. Like...

There is maybe no easier font for satire in audio criticism than the floral superlatives assigned to hi-fi speakers and playback equipment. Reviewers write haikus in brown pencil, dithering about the big truths while Rudy Van Gelder [Tape Op#43] and Nikola Tesla nod from beyond with knowing...

When the folks at Benchmark suggested a review of their HPA4 for Tape Op, my first reaction was, “Isn’t this aimed more at the audiophile market?” Benchmark’s Rory Rall replied that I should consider its use as a reference-grade monitor controller, with a world-class headphone amp built-in. He...

Before I dive into a ton of information, let me start by saying I may have found my new “desert island” plug-in. In a matter of one week, this plug-in has made my mixes better and continues to show its flexibility when used on all styles of music. The MAGNUM-K is based on the hardware unit that...

I’d been curious about Marshall Terry’s passive/active EQ beast with hieroglyphic-looking markings since before the pandemic hit. He pulled me over to his booth a few years ago during the 2019 AES conference to have a look-see, and after months of coordinating, we were able to ship two units to...

The Useful Arts BF-S PRO DI is everything you’d expect in a high-quality, all-tube, single-channel studio DI. Besides the IEC power receptacle on the back, all connections are on the front panel. Audio I/O includes instrument-level 1/4-inch TS IN and a THRU jack. A 1/4-inch TS output is ideal for...