Well, we did it… this Hallowe’en weekend, The Reel-to-Reel Rambler went from being an online webzine to a collaborative live event at Hi-Fi Show Live 2019 – and what a show it was! If there was any doubt about the growing interest in reel-to-reel, then this weekend must surely have put it to rest. The … More Hi-Fi Show Live 2019: “a pivotal moment for tape”!
Not long to go now till the folks at the R2R rambler make our debut at the UK’s Hi-Fi Show Live in Ascot on 26th & 27th October! We’ve got a stellar line-up of open reel treats planned for you – from vintage and brand new decks, to international audiophile record labels, to Ken Kessler … More Stop press… international jazz artist Lyn Stanley to join the Rambler at Hi-Fi Show Live this October!
The Rambler has some very exciting news to announce…. this October we’re celebrating all things reel-to-reel at the UK’s biggest high-end hi-fi show and we’d love you to come along and join us! The show: Hi-Fi Show Live, Ascot, UK, 26th-27th October 2019 Hi-Fi Show Live, now in its 7thyear, is run by AVTech Media, … More R2R live! The Rambler will be at the UK’s Hi-Fi Show Live this October – with tape decks both vintage and brand new, tape labels, tape manufacturers, tech tape advice and more (oh and Ken Kessler!)
In mid-July (perfectly timed for Bastille Day) Dave Denyer headed over to the Avranches in northern France to meet the team at RecordingTheMasters and learn all about the tape manufacturing process. RecordingTheMasters is a leading manufacturer of professional and semi-professional analogue audio tapes. Their tapes are used worldwide in major recording studios and, if you’re … More So, how do you make an analogue audio tape? Dave Denyer visits RecordingTheMasters in France to find out how it’s done
If you read my report of attending Chasing The Dragon’s audiophile recordings at London’s Air Studios, you’ll know I’ve now become a fan of internationally renowned jazz trumpet player Quentin Collins, whose recording (as the Quentin Collins All Star Quintet) with Chasing The Dragon will be released on master tape and in various other formats later this year. … More Catch Quentin Collins live in London on 3rd September
A week after a wonderful trip to visit Recording the Masters in France (write-up coming soon), I found myself heading to London’s iconic Air Studios. Have I mentioned how much love my job? Just the once or twice perhaps… Since this was my second visit to Hampstead’s hallowed ground, I had some idea of what … More Going live: in which Dave Denyer spends two fascinating days at London’s Air Studios witnessing Chasing The Dragon’s audiophile recordings
UK-based audiophile label Chasing The Dragon’s latest addition to their reassuringly-expanding catalogue is the classical equivalent of the full English breakfast: music that’s been performed and recorded countless times, that extends far beyond the usual reach of classical music and that’s sure to be immensely popular. (Okay so the breakfast analogy may be stretching it … More The full English breakfast: Dave Denyer listens to Chasing the Dragon’s Live Beethoven Series on master tape
Reel-to-reel master tapes have the ability to convey the ambience of a venue like no other recording medium. Hi-fi journalist Neville Roberts looks into some of the techniques used in modern recordings that can really help capture the atmosphere of the performance venue. Making a modern recording is a bit more complex than simply switching … More Capturing ambience: Neville Roberts explores the art of making a masterful live recording
If you’re a collector of vintage commercially-released tapes, here’s something that might interest you. A short while ago I received an email from US-based music lover Kabir Bhatia, who had just discovered the reel-to-reel rambler and who kindly offered to share with readers a listing he’d compiled of the tapes that were released by the … More One for collectors of vintage commercially-released tapes: the Columbia House Record Club
You know that irksome feeling when you really want to hate something but you can’t help loving it? Worse still, have you ever waxed lyrical in the public domain about how terrible something is, and then found yourself being blown away by it? Then you’ll understand how poor Ken Kessler feels, as this self-confessed cassette … More Still reeling: Ken Kessler discovers audiophile cassettes
Dave Denyer: The Reel-to-Reel Rambler 