Though it is only one half rack width, the VTB-1 from manufacturer Studio Projects is not what you would call a minimalist’s design, for it includes a variety of features that is almost unmatched in the marketplace, much less at its price point. Like other Studio Projects equipment, it is built in China, though designed in the US of A.… Read more →
What makes a product good? Is it the box that it comes in, the features, the reputation of the manufacturer, the price? Maybe it’s just a great full color ad campaign, or some B.S. story by a celebrity that is connected to the product? Sometimes I think that at least half of everything that is made today is designed to… Read more →
Richard Alan Salz M-Audio Tampa Microphone/Instrument Preamp and Compressor www.m-audio.com Ah, Tampa! Just the word conjures up visions of sunny beaches, and (somewhat) surfable waves. M-Audio would prefer however, that the word Tampa should instead call to mind their newly designed preamp/compressor! Does this silicon and steel Tampa measure up to its eminently pleasurable namesake? Looking at the Tampa from… Read more →
Many recordists with personal-studio-level consoles are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to getting a signal to tape (or hard drive) unscathed because of the typically inferior quality of budget consoles’ microphone preamplifiers. Even the mic preamps found in some top-notch consoles leave a lot to be desired. Add to that the frequent need to equalize and provide dynamics… Read more →