Gear Reviews

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 modeled after any specific piece of hardware, old or new, and they all feature minimal controls. Verve...

Gone are the days when a handful of record company executives controlled the means of mass distribution to the general public. Recording tools are now offered at entry-level prices, and there is more than enough information (some excellent, and some terrible!) available on the internet to get you...

I always have a need for good headphones, and I am fortunate enough to own several different types from various manufacturers. Like reference monitors, they each have a different sonic profile, and provide a unique perspective on program material. I have some high-end models from Audeze that I use...

It can be particularly challenging to capture the full nuance and resonance of the cello in recordings. For someone who plays an instrument designed for un-mic'd classical music, I spend a lot of time doing the exact opposite. My music relies on treating my cello as if it is a guitar – lots of...

We need to talk about the elephant in the room: the room itself. Many of us work in acoustically compromised spaces. From the card table in the corner for a remote session to the spare bedroom project studio, we can all relate. Even if you operate out of a professional facility, a voice in your...

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 Postdoctoral Researcher at the Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands). What stands out...

I've been a long-time user of GIK Acoustic's studio acoustic treatments, employing their 244 FlexRange [Tape Op #113] and Tri-Trap corner [#113] bass traps in my many studios over the years. They install easily, have a clean aesthetic, are made with sustainability in mind, and are...

There has been so much talk about AI and its uses, but I haven't come across many products that are practically useful within the scope of my daily work. There are many fun products out there for generating audio, lyrics, images, and more, but they all feel more like entertaining toys and less...

The Nuance Select is Radial Engineering's new desktop stereo monitor controller from the bench of their lead designer, W.C. “Hutch” Hutchison (formerly of Manley Labs and Rupert Neve Designs). Radial supplies engineers and performers with utility products that fill a market gap left by other...

Ever since reading Thom Monahan's informative and gushing review of the Soyuz SU-017 tube mic [Tape Op #117], I've been curious about the company's products. JB and Robert Cheek's writeup of the transformer-coupled 013 FET [#139] only solidified my interest. Chris Koltay's...

LEWITT is one of the most innovative and thoughtful microphone designers right now. In a sea of manufacturers churning out knock-off mics, they stand out for releasing fresh, exciting designs. I recently enjoyed recording with their PURE TUBE mic [Tape Op #156] and was excited to try their latest...

At Panoramic House, more and more sessions primarily take place in our fairly large control room. It seems that the studio paradigm has shifted a bit from the days of large studio spaces and smaller control rooms, and now it's not uncommon to have five or six people in the control room with...

Previously, we discussed instrument-related essentials that every studio should have on hand. With "Part 2," we're looking at items that keep the humans in your studio more comfortable, creative, and productive. Look for "Part 3, Studio Supplies," in a future issue of Tape...

Cat 5, aka Ethernet cable, has been a powerful way to pass digital audio around your studio or live venue for quite a while now. The various formats (Dante, AVB, and many other proprietary protocols) have changed the way we think about studio installs, stage box runs, etc. Personally, I've...

I've found both the Lindell Audio LiN76 [Tape Op #153] and LiN2A [#156] compressors to be extremely useful in my studio, so I jumped at the chance to check out the new, one channel LiNTEC Vintage Program Equalizer. I use their compressors primarily for tracking purposes, but I mix in the box...

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Some 24 years ago, my pal Craig Alvin [Tape Op #137] found out that one of Tchad Blake's [#133, #16] ubiquitous mix distortion devices was the Shure Level-Loc. Level-Locs were Shure's attempt at a dummy-proof limiter for podium speakers, even featuring a Distance Selector switch for how...

I’m an EQ guy and always have been. When I began working in studios, the debate was whether or not to EQ to tape or wait to EQ when mixing. Fuck that; get the sound the way you want it when hitting the tape! Nowadays, the debate is about whether hardware EQs sound better than plug-in EQs. If you’ve...