Gear Reviews

Plug-Ins  |  No. 85

Sonnox: Fraunhofer Pro-Codec plug-in

reviewed by Joe Chiccarelli, Garrett Haines

We had two writers test-drive the new plug-in from Sonnox that allows you to encode, decode — and audition in real-time — data-compressed audio using Fraunhofer codecs. Let’s start...

Plug-Ins, Signal Processors  |  No. 85

Universal Audio: Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb plug-in

reviewed by Neil Mclellan

I first became acquainted with the Lexicon 224X digital reverb in Studio One at the Strongroom around about 1989. It was the first time we had made that level of investment, and back then, Strongroom...

Direct Boxes  |  No. 85

Avenson Audio: IsoDI Direct Box

reviewed by Scott McChane

DI boxes are just not that sexy. However, the more sessions I record, the more I grow to really appreciate the simple pieces of gear that I can consistently rely upon. After repeated use, the Avenson...

Monitoring  |  No. 85

Shure: SRH940 headphones

reviewed by Andy Hong

When I initially donned these headphones, I was reminded of when I heard ADAM Audio S3-A active monitors (Tape Op #33) for the first time at the now defunct Bomb Factory Studios in Burbank. I was...

Plug-Ins, Signal Processors  |  No. 85

Massey Plugins: DRT Drum Replacement Tool

reviewed by Mike Jasper

Former Trillium Labs software engineer Steven Massey (Tape Op #68) - who worked on both TL Aggro and TL Space - now makes Pro Tools plug-ins for the rest of us. No dongles, affordably priced,...

Dynamics, Mic Preamps  |  No. 85

JLM Audio: Dual99v500 mic preamp & FC500 FET compressor

reviewed by Garrett Haines

Back when I reviewed the Eisen Audio DIY500 mic preamp kit (Tape Op #80), I bragged about the beefy monsters we brewed. But shortly after publication, the manufacturer discontinued the kits, leaving...

Mic Preamps  |  No. 85

Ingram Engineering: MPA685 mic preamp

reviewed by Kirt Shearer

I had seen the ads for a while in Tape Op. There were these preamps I had never heard of by a company I had never heard of — Ingram Engineering. They looked cool and somewhat retro. I had always...

Plug-Ins, Signal Processors  |  No. 85

Universal Audio: Studer A800 tape recorder plug-in

reviewed by Matt Boudreau

The Studer A800 Multichannel Tape Recorder plug-in from Universal Audio is one of the latest in a series of classic hardware emulations made for the UAD-2 series DSP Accelerators (Tape Op #57, #73,...

Signal Processors  |  No. 85

Sound Skulptor: Stereo Tape Simulator

reviewed by Garrett Haines

Sound Skulptor is a division of the Synchronia Company, which also runs a studio in southwest France. They offer a line of DIY audio kits. We jumped at the chance to review the Stereo Tape Simulator...

Acoustics  |  No. 85

RealTraps: MondoTraps, MiniTraps, Diffusor, and RFZ

reviewed by Allen Farmelo

Assuming that one of the goals in treating a mix room is to achieve flat frequency response at the mix position, one must simultaneously grapple with room dimensions; resonant and reflective surfaces;...

Dynamics  |  No. 85

Spectra Sonics: 611-B Complimiter

reviewed by Pete Weiss

These days, fans of the much-loved (and much-misunderstood) Spectra Sonics 610 compressor/limiter (dubbed “Complimiter” by the company) have much to be happy about. In addition to the...

Amplifiers, Microphones  |  No. 85

Cloud Microphones: Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator

reviewed by Mike Jasper

Cloud Microphones has intrigued me since I first heard about its JRS-34 and JRS-34-P ribbon mics (Tape Op #78), which utilize the same ribbons as those in the classic RCA 44-series mics. When asked...