Recently there have been a couple of letters complaining or worried about the direction Tape Op is, or could be, going in. Others have written in to correct us on technical topics. The reason I bring this up is because it sheds some light on who and what Tape Op the magazine is. It is a thirst for knowledge. I started it in the first place because I felt there were no forums to read about how people made the kind of records I wanted to make. As the editor I'm still learning - about gear, about techniques, about music, about recording history, about editing even... I didn't go to school to learn recording or to learn to edit a magazine - I taught myself by watching, reading and listening. And I still do. When I get an interview sent to me for possible publication I'm excited, because I will usually learn something new. And that's what we're about - learning and the desire to learn. If we don't catch a technical error or use the wrong model number when referring to a piece of gear, write in and tell us. I'm willing to learn and admit I don't know everything - and I'm also willing to pass this knowledge on to others. If it seems Tape Op isn't covering topics you want to read about then tell us. You may also be surprised at what we already have waiting in the wings for future issues.

One thing I do ask is that you, my dear reader, never assume that anything about Tape Op is set in stone or that we have specific agendas. I have heard that we are a home recording mag, a DIY 'zine, a bible for budding engineers, an analog tape only mag - I don't think those are true to our vision or that there's one simple way to describe what it is, and that's good in my book. We may set a rough course but Tape Op will continue to travel some interesting paths!