A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by Huntlabs » Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:05 pm

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by JGriffin » Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:10 pm

soundguy wrote:You guys know you can contribute to the mag, right?
Um, actually, no. Pray, elucidate.
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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by jmiller » Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:13 pm

I wasn't gonna bother contributing to this, but the one thing that came to my mind that I haven't seen mentioned yet is this: One magazine, be it TO or anything else, is by no means the ONLY source of reviews for you to read. There are reviews all over this board, all over other boards, all over harmony central's site, etc. There's no conspiracy to raise the average price of the reviewed gear out of our reach. I have noticed a lot of reviews for expensive gear I can't afford lately but I still think it's worth reading, IMO.

I'm sure Larry has moved on from this thread by now, but I still want to say that this is seriously an unbelievably great magazine and we're incredibly lucky to get it at all, let alone for free. Seen any other magazines lately that tell you to rip open your gear and snip wires, swap wires/transformers, etc? I sure haven't. Most other magazines I see are "this new compressor/mic/software is incredible and only a $XX. Buy it now and your tracks will sound warm, punchy and Pro."

Thanks for a great mag, Larry, and for all the hard work that goes into it.

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by nacho459 » Mon Feb 14, 2005 12:48 am

I'm glad TapeOp actually reviews stuff that you can't buy at GC. So many other "pro audio" magazines just try to convince you to buy new software, and that everyone loves the new $59 Nady mic. Prosumer is a big market. Mackie will sell more gear then Daking, so most mags want to promote Mackie so they'll keep buying adds. That's why I like reading reviews that let the reader know that a $3000 box sounds better then a $300 box. That said I wish they would write more negative reviews about $20 gear just cause I like to hear people talk shit. :lol:

Here's an idea. A best and worst issue voted on by the readers. Just like those other "recording" magazines that give reviews of the radical new $199 mic that's gonna change the industry. But these would be strictly categorized in weird but useful ways.

Best Chinese mic under $300

Worst Chinese mic over $300

Most overrated microphone

Best Neve rip off

Most Durable Direct Box, Mixer, Mic, etc (this could get expensive)

Worst circuit design

Cheapest components

Best ebay/pawn shop (readers would submit their best gear deals, IE: the guy who got the Gold Top at a yard sale for $200 would win)

Mixer with the worst built in effects

Features over quality

Worst "tube" mic pre

Best Mac - PC compatibility

Best monitors under $500

Worst monitors over $500

I think this would be a lot of fun, and may come in handy, we could nominate pieces of gear and then vote in an online poll.

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by joeysimms » Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:05 am

nacho459 wrote:... That's why I like reading reviews that let the reader know that a $3000 box sounds better then a $300 box.
Yeah but, is the $3k box $2700 better than the $300 box? NOPE.
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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by joelpatterson » Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:25 am

dwlb wrote:
soundguy wrote:You guys know you can contribute to the mag, right?
Um, actually, no. Pray, elucidate.
First things first--find out if the manufacturer has any outstanding debts for advertising in TapeOp.

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by nacho459 » Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:38 am

joeysimms wrote:Yeah but, is the $3k box $2700 better than the $300 box?
Yeah, If you can afford the $2700.

If quality wasn't worth the price nobody would buy Neve consoles / modules and everyone would just use ?bermixers to make albums.

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by percussion boy » Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:45 am

nacho459 wrote:Here's an idea. A best and worst issue voted on by the readers. Just like those other "recording" magazines that give reviews of the radical new $199 mic that's gonna change the industry. But these would be strictly categorized in weird but useful ways.

Best Chinese mic under $300

Worst Chinese mic over $300

Most overrated microphone

Best Neve rip off

Most Durable Direct Box, Mixer, Mic, etc (this could get expensive)

Worst circuit design

Cheapest components

Best ebay/pawn shop (readers would submit their best gear deals, IE: the guy who got the Gold Top at a yard sale for $200 would win)

Mixer with the worst built in effects

Features over quality

Worst "tube" mic pre

Best Mac - PC compatibility

Best monitors under $500

Worst monitors over $500

I think this would be a lot of fun, and may come in handy, we could nominate pieces of gear and then vote in an online poll.
That would be great. We could do it here (sticky up to a certain deadline?)and see if the mag picks it up, the way they sometimes publish posts from the board.
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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by bigtoe » Mon Feb 14, 2005 6:31 am

cgarges wrote:
percussion boy wrote:Um . . . don't you think it's valuable information if you don't dig it?
I do, but in terms of space in the mag, I think it's probably more valuable for Larry and the guys to publish positively-angled reviews than negative ones. Every review (and God knows this is true of TapeOp) is full of personal opinion. I think it's more valuable and less controversial or whatever if you publish a positive review than a negative one. Everyone is going to have their own opinions about what they like and don't like about a piece of gear. Personally, I'd rather hear more accounts of what certain people think is cool about something than what certain people think sucks about something. It's easier for me to make my own judgements about something that sucks.

The positive/negative review thing has been discussed a bunch. I don't think you're likely to change Larry or Andy's mind about this any time soon, but you're welcome to keep trying.
i love the mag - i respect the peeps - i'm not crying a retarded 'sell out' or questioning tape op's 'integrity' - but this reviewing policy is for the birds.

pick the reviewer - not the review - or don't call it a review - call it a special advertising section. there is a big difference in keeping it positive and fishing for it.

i personally respect garges' reviews...they're worth checking out because i trust him and a negative for him could be a positive to me. glossing it over is bad journalism no matter what name is on the cover.

no offense,
Mike

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by Marlowe » Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:35 am

I think Tape Op usually reviews gear that impresses the editors, despite it's price. I would imagine that exceptional, low-cost new gear is harder to come by than exceptional higher cost new gear. Sure, there are many examples of inexpensive, high-value gear we all use (sm57, RNC, etc.) but finding NEW really great products is more difficult. I think this may account for that the trend you mention.

I appreciate Tape Op reviews generally because I trust the editors at Tape Op not to sell me out and write wishy-washy, filler bullshit as I see in all the other audio mags. When I am looking for gear (especially really pricey stuff) I can really trust Tape Op reviews for a valid opinion. They have both affirmed my previous interest in a product as well as guided me toward a product I didn't know about.

The reviews are one of my most favorite parts of Tape Op.

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by MT » Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:40 am

Knights Who Say Neve wrote:It's a drag to receive my beloved magazine and have all the reviews be of things I just can't afford. Are the impovrished home recorders of the world being left behind?
Your username's "Knights Who Say Neve" - but you're bitching about the cost of gear that's reviewed.

I'm confused.

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by RefD » Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:43 am

MT wrote:
Knights Who Say Neve wrote:It's a drag to receive my beloved magazine and have all the reviews be of things I just can't afford. Are the impovrished home recorders of the world being left behind?
Your username's "Knights Who Say Neve" - but you're bitching about the cost of gear that's reviewed.

I'm confused.
it's probly just a simple audio-related pun on The Knights Who Say "NI!" and nothing more.

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by cgarges » Mon Feb 14, 2005 7:53 am

Marlowe wrote:I think Tape Op usually reviews gear that impresses the editors, despite it's price.
Trust me, TapeOp usually reviews gear by people who SUBMIT reviews.

Chris

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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by RefD » Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:05 am

cgarges wrote:
Marlowe wrote:I think Tape Op usually reviews gear that impresses the editors, despite it's price.
Trust me, TapeOp usually reviews gear by people who SUBMIT reviews.

Chris
i'd love to submit some reviews of middle to low end gear.

what style manual/conventions should submissions follow?
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Re: A Disturbing Trend in the Tape OP Reviews...

Post by goose » Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:10 am

Good question. Is there a style guide for TapeOp? (serious question)

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