Gear Reviews

When you're setting up for a recording session, do you automatically settle on the same mic and preamp that you've used in the past, or do you spend the time to audition and select the combination of components that best complements the performance? I think most of us strive for the...

AntiCable speaker wires are a high performance yet affordable alternative to boutique speaker cables. Created by Minnesota's Paul Speltz, the AntiCable design flies in the face of just about every high-end convention (hence the name). More about that in a moment. I don't tend to get drawn...

If you're in the market for sound treatment, then you've certainly come across the Auralex name. They've been a staple in the industry for ages, and their product range is vast. Their ELiTE line is relatively new, and ELiTE ProPanels are Class A fire-rated, rigid fiberglass...

Here's a rugged and eminently practical MIDI controller with a great form factor, surprisingly good "feel", and an adaptable DIY programming environment. Code is made by Livid out in Austin, Texas, and it features a 4x8 grid of high- quality endless encoders with LED feedback, plus...

Most MIDI-over-USB controllers follow a somewhat standard "keyboard and pots" design paradigm. There is often an attempt made to fuse the demands of performance or composition with those of software control. Many designs struggle at this crowded intersection with overly complex user...

MagREELS are precision auto-centering NAB adapters for the ATR-100 series tape machines. Machined from a solid block of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy, these hubs boast concentricity and axial run-out tolerances of less than 0.003''. They are designed to speed reel changes, improve tape packing...

As a fan of all things FabFilter, I jumped at the chance to check out Pro-DS, a new de-esser plug-in that claims both intelligent and transparent de-essing as well as high-frequency limiting. As luck would have it, I had just tracked arguably the most sibilant vocal performance of 2012, so Pro-DS...

AEA makes some of the world's finest ribbons mics, including their recreation of the RCA 44-BX (the AEA R44) and their groundbreaking active A440, which carry hefty price tags. Wes Dooley, the founder of AEA, wanted to create affordable alternatives for us "married guys" who have...

I have been a user and fan of Metric Halo's hardware and software for quite a few years now, having gotten my first Mobile I/O 2882 +DSP [Tape Op #34] almost a decade ago. My two 2d-upgraded 2882s are still the hub of my home studio setup and allow me to achieve superb sonics and complex...

When the original version of Alloy was released, Dave Hidek, Chief Recording Engineer of Treelady Studios, wrote an informative review [Tape Op #76] stating:

"Alloy, like its name suggests, is a conglomerate of several sound-shaping tools, many of which you probably already own, and several of...

During the process of setting up some new guitar amp rigs at NightBird Recording Studios, I was provided a Line 6 Relay G30 wireless guitar system. The system is comprised of a battery-powered belt-pack that plugs into a guitar, and a small wall-wart-powered receiver that plugs into the guitar amp...

Every now and then, I acquire a product that's so unbelievably awesome, that I have a difficult time penning a review of it. The FC-387 Atlantis - Lauten Audio's newest multi-pattern, large-diaphragm, FET condenser mic - is just such a product. Think of every superlative in the dictionary...

Many of you may be wondering who Moon Professional is and why you should pay any attention to another company making mic preamps. These too were my first questions when their first product was introduced to me, so I'll save you the research and give you the short story. Moon Professional...