Gear Reviews

This “matrix based modular synthesizer” softsynth, based on the EMS VCS 3, was an impulse purchase for me on AudioMIDI.com’s eBay store – one of their “No Brainer” plug-in deals. I figured at $20, what the heck! I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for old EMS synths, as I learned basic synthesis on an...

Do you love analog synthesis? Great, let’s nerd out on Control Voltage for a bit. CV is essentially the analog equivalent and predecessor to MIDI. It’s a tried and true method used to control and interact with analog synths, drum machines, and sequencers. CV has been around for quite some time...

Two opinions, the first from contributor Marc Alan Goodman, who is the owner/operator of Strange Weather in Brooklyn, and a second from publisher John Baccigaluppi, who owns The Hangar in Sacramento.  Both extol the flexibility afforded by the modular, 500-series design. Note that API...

Like it or not, bands view audio engineers as subject-matter experts when it comes to “the music industry.” And while you probably don’t mind providing pointers and suggestions, it’s simply not feasible to convey all of the things a new artist needs to know in a short amount of time. And to be fair...

Here I am, Tape Op’s Gear Geek, butting into an otherwise enthralling review from Joel Hamilton. After reading Joel’s draft of this review of the Yardstick, I asked him to send me the unit so I could take it for a spin, with a plan to add a brief second opinion as well as a bit of background to the...

A couple months before the official unveiling of Pro Tools 9, Avid shared with the press that it was implementing significant changes to its customer value proposition. We were given a few sparse details, and there were of course rumblings on the various audio forums and blogs, but for the most...

I’ve said it before; I really like being in audio production right now. There is a seemingly endless supply of small manufacturers that are bringing innovative products to the market. This is certainly true in the area of mic preamps, for example. As digital recording has increasingly become “the...