Fryette Amplification: PS-2 Power Station Reactive Load + Tube Amp
reviewed by Walt Szalva
Sometimes the simplest of tools can have a significant impact on one’s creative output. One such tool for me has been a guitar amp attenuator — a.k.a. a...
Gear Reviews
The means contribute to the end. Usually.
Stager: SR-1A & SR-2N Ribbon Microphones
reviewed by Adam Monk
There are certain criteria I look for in gear that I choose to use and write about. It has to have excellent value and be useful in a wide variety of situations. Let’s face it. Money is tight...
Advanced Audio: CM 48T Large-Diaphragm Tube Mic
reviewed by Kirt Shearer
It seems like the market has never been more saturated with various types of new recording equipment attempting to emulate vintage gear. Vintage microphone recreations are hot right now —...
iZotope: Neutron Intelligent Mixing Plug-In
reviewed by Andy Hong
If I had to choose a single channel-insert plug-in for mixing, iZotope Neutron would be at the top of my list. Neutron, at its heart, is a multi-module channel strip. It includes four...
Universal Audio: Pure Plate Reverb Plug-In
reviewed by Scott McChane
Plate reverb is undoubtedly my favorite choice for ambience. It’s the agent of antiquity and the steward of soul. Sound is driven into a metal plate, then recaptured as rich clangs and...
ProAudioDSP: Dynamic Spectrum Mapper V2
reviewed by Brad Allen Williams
For reasons that aren’t entirely logical, I find it easier to spend money on hardware than on software. Likewise, sexy products that excel at enhancement and color can often seem more exciting...
Audio-Technica: ATM350a Instrument Mic Systems
reviewed by Andy Hong
The ATM350a is a phantom-powered, small-diaphragm, electret condenser mic with a 12 mm × 38 mm cardioid capsule voiced for close-mic’ing instruments. In many recording...
U-He: Protoverb Room Simulator Plug-In
reviewed by John Baccigaluppi
I’m a reverb geek, and I’m always on the lookout for cool reverbs, both older hardware units and new plug-ins. I was poking around the web trying to find a plug-in version of the classic...
Johan Eriksson: Automatonism
reviewed by John Baccigaluppi
This is a very cool, free piece of software that implements a modular software synthesizer. If that’s all there was to it, I doubt I’d bother writing this review, as there are tons of...
Valhalla DSP: SpaceModulator Flanger Plug-In
reviewed by John Baccigaluppi
Ever since I reviewed the Valhalla reverbs [Tape Op #111], I’ve continued to use these plug-ins on every session, especially Shimmer and VintageVerb. I was recently poking around on the Valhalla...
Dynaudio: LYD 48 Active Monitors
reviewed by Don Gunn
Ah, monitors... I’ve gone through more than my fair share of them over the years in my pursuit to find ones that I feel comfortable working on for long days, and that also translate well so I...
Coil Audio: CA-70 PS2 Mic/Line Preamp
reviewed by Adam Kagan
Coil Audio is a company in Lawrence, Kansas, that manufacturers retro, vintage-styled, industrial-looking mic preamps, audio transformers, and accompanying power supplies and chassis. Coil’s...