It’s always exciting when a new reel‑to‑reel–focused label or studio appears on the scene. But here we have something that’s quite different from your typical audiophile pursuit. Reel to Reel Haven is a restoration and recording company combination that’s keeping tape culture alive – and giving back to wider society at the same time.
Reel to Reel Haven aims to be a complete marketplace for the open reel tape recorder, and the company’s desire to offer tape recordings alongside their deck restorations led to the creation of their recording company Stella Records. Stella sits alongside names like Lyn Stanley’s AT Music, Mike Valentine’s Chasing the Dragon, and Jerome Sabbagh’s Analog Tone Factory. But Stella takes a very different path: it’s analogue‑only. No CDs. No digital editions. No fallback formats. Just tape and vinyl, full stop.
And Stella Records isn’t just a label — it’s a fully analogue recording studio. The entire workflow stays in the analogue domain from the moment the first note hits the air. Recordings are captured on their Studer A827, mixed through a fully analogue desk, mixed/mastered to a ½ inch, ½ track Otari MTR‑10, and duplicated 1:1 on a fleet of Studer A80s, A807s and Otari MTR‑10s. For tape purists, this is the dream: no converters, no plug‑ins, no ‘we’ll fix it in the box’.
A studio with a rare philosophy
The way Stella Records works with artists is just as distinctive. Musicians are invited to record live, not merely as a band playing together, but in front of a live studio audience. The tape, the engineers, the mastering – all of it – is paid for by Stella Records. These straight‑to‑tape sessions are tracked to their Studer 827 and mixed down to two channels. The artist walks away with a ½‑inch, 15ips two‑track master they can use however they like — release a CD, license it to streaming, press vinyl, whatever suits them. I’m told that this provides an artist with approximately $35,000 in savings – as well as full ownership of their music.
Reel to Reel Haven, in turn, receives the license to release 1:1 tape copies of that same master. In some cases, they’re also granted permission to cut lacquers for a strictly AAA vinyl release.
And that’s only one part of what they do…
A hub for tape lovers
Spend a few minutes on the Reel to Reel Haven website and you’ll see just how broad their mission is. Beyond the label and studio, they offer:
- Tape accessories for sale
- Refurbished reel‑to‑reel machines
- Full engineering and servicing facilities.
So you could say that Reel to Reel Haven is positioning itself as a kind of analogue foundation, a hub or one-stop-shop: a place where machines, music and expertise are all kept alive and kicking.
The vision – and the visionary – behind it
As with many ambitious analogue ventures, this one is driven by a single, passionate individual: Ryan O’Connor. Ryan is one of the most enthusiastic tape evangelists I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting (frankly he should be available on prescription – his positivity is infectious!) and his motivation goes far deeper than nostalgia or audiophile obsession.
A significant part of the Reel to Reel Haven mission is philanthropic. Ryan gives as much as he can away from Reel to Reel Haven, and all proceeds from Stella Records, after covering costs, go to support cancer research.
This isn’t a marketing angle, it’s personal. Ryan is a cancer survivor. At just 40, he’s already faced a rare and aggressive form of the disease, and it’s only thanks to cutting‑edge research that he’s still here with us. As someone living with a rare cancer myself — one that’s caused osteoporosis, multiple vertebral fractures and even a trio of heart attacks — Ryan’s mission resonates with me deeply. It deserves applause. Hell, a stand-up ovation. I know from experience how hard it can be to find the energy just to get by day-to-day when you’re living with this level of health challenge, let alone launching and running a big, bold new venture.
Artists who believe in the mission
Ryan’s story has attracted support from some top flight musicians. His latest release is a live performance by none other than Andrea Bocelli. I have a copy — the sixth 1:1 first‑generation dub from the master — and it sounds sensational. I’ll be writing a full review soon – watch this space.
Other Stella releases include captivating 100% analogue live sessions from vocalist and guitarist Adam Levy (Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman) and jazz vocalist Catherine Russell (David Bowie, Steely Dan, Paul Simon). And there’s more on the way. When I last spoke with Ryan, he hinted at a queue of artists lined up for 2026, including some real surprises – my lips are sealed for now, but watch this space…
A significant moment for the tape community
Put all of this together — the analogue‑only label, the live‑to‑tape studio, the engineering services, the charitable mission, the calibre of artists involved — and it becomes clear that Reel to Reel Haven isn’t just another niche project. It’s one of the most significant developments in the reel‑to‑reel world in years.
And honestly, it’s marvellous to see and I can’t wait to see where it will go. Why? Because it’s genuinely different. Here, we’re not just talking about the analogue revival, but about the potential for a whole new analogue movement.
“Young people want analogue in general back in their lives,” says Ryan when I catch up with him over Zoom, and he’s not just talking about music. On the one hand, all things tech and digital, AI, social media and the like might be burgeoning and taking over our lives (no doubt far more than we even realise), yet at the same time, there’s growing evidence of a real fatigue kicking in already. We’re exhausted by it. And there are signs that some of us want out. I’m really encouraged to hear from Ryan that young people may even be leading the charge here.
“There’s an intense focus on wanting to return to being, feeling – not chasing followers,” he tells me. “And of course, that’s how and when the best music is made.”
I’ll tell you what else is different – and totally refreshing – this: “We don’t want ownership of anyone’s art and talent. What’s recorded here is paid for by us and then given to the artist. We just want to release pure analogue master tape copies and truly analog cut vinyl – while raising as much as we can for cancer research, specifically the Cancer AI Alliance,” Ryan explains.
As an aside, but one close to my own heart so I’m going to include it here, he tells me that the Cancer AI Alliance is accomplishing the sharing of hospital intellectual property, which means that instead of ring-fencing and protecting data for potential future profit, the data is being shared with those doctors and researchers who have the potential to cure cancers – which is both game-changing and life-saving, and one heck of a worthwhile cause to support.
I’ll leave you with another point that struck me here. As a guy who recently stared his own mortality in the face, you might think that Ryan would be a man in a hurry. Certainly he’s achieved an impressive amount in a short space of time. But he’s quick to correct me, saying “Instant gratification is one of the roots of evil to our music industry. Here (at Reel to Reel Haven / Stella Records), you can’t obtain instant gratification. And if you try, you’ll completely mess up your art and recording.”
That all sounds good to me… on which note, let’s hear from the man himself – here’s my recent video interview with Ryan.
Dave Denyer: The Reel-to-Reel Rambler 