In a recent review of Lyn Stanley’s Moonlight Sessions, I mentioned (and was seriously impressed by) the fact that the albums were recorded and mixed by the legendary engineer and producer Al Schmitt. And then, the other day, I recalled that Analogy Records’ owner Roberto Vigo trained under the very same Al Schmitt. In fact … More Al Schmitt interview podcast on AudioStream
Intrepid R2R junkie Ken Kessler didn’t always have a bountiful stock of tapes. Everybody has to start somewhere, after all. Here, Ken casts his mind back to the early days of his open-reel tape habit and recounts how he got started building up a collection of pre-recorded reel-to-reels. When Tim de Paravicini demo’d a mint … More Kicking off the Kessler collection: in which tape junkie Ken Kessler recounts his early forays into the world of pre-recorded reel-to-reels
In 2018, hi-fi journalist Neville Roberts flew to Venice to attend the live recording of audiophile label Chasing the Dragon’s Vivaldi in Venice album. At home in the UK, Dave Denyer listens to the recording on copy master tape. Spoiler alert: “this is one of the most wonderfully captivating examples of the recording art I’ve ever … More Vivaldi in Venice part 2: a post-script from the rambler’s listening room
Making a high-quality audio recording in a recording studio is one thing, but making a similar recording at a live concert has its own particular challenges. Neville Roberts flies out to Venice to investigate. I’ve been fortunate to be able to attend a number of recording sessions in recent years. The aim at each session … More Vivaldi in Venice part 1: Neville Roberts discovers the joys and the challenges of making audiophile recordings of a live concert
Lyn Stanley: the audiophile artist Lyn Stanley is an American jazz singer with a difference. Well, several differences as it happens. The most noteworthy difference for me is that in her recording career, she focuses entirely on making audiophile quality albums. Other interesting snippets include the fact that she was previously an international standard ballroom dancer, … More ‘To the moon and back’: in which the rambler kicks back with Lyn Stanley’s ‘Moonlight Sessions’ and discovers a thing or two about CCIR vs. NAB equalization
When an addiction takes hold, there’s no knowing where it might lead. Here, hi-fi journalist Ken Kessler’s love of all things tape takes a turn for the surprising… My name is Ken Kessler and I’m an addict… and this disease – a new-found love of tape – manifested itself in a strange way at the … More “I always felt that cassettes were utter shite”: Ken Kessler treats us to a brief digression from the continuing saga of his reel-to-reel adventures
Some time ago, we came across China-based ABC Records, a label that issues music in a range of formats including studio master tape, and whose catalogue of almost a hundred titles spans an eclectic mix of vocal, instrumental and Chinese music. A fair old perusal of the company’s website gave the impression that the company is … More ABC Records: some concerns and a call for your views
About a month ago, we learnt that renowned hi-fi journalist Ken Kessler has harboured a life-long love of tape. Now, he comes clean about the full extent of his fondness for all things open reel. At this stage, it’s worth letting you know just how badly infected I am by the open-reel bug. Having just … More Six of the best: in which Ken Kessler atones for prior tape ‘sins’ by stocking up on vintage decks
In the latest issue (October 2018) of Hi-Fi Choice you’ll find the reel-to-reel rambler lurking among the ‘Opinion’ columns. “Self-confessed analogue addict Dave Denyer…” it says. I can’t argue with that. The piece charts my journey into tape, starting with a pivotal love-at-first-listen moment in September 2013 – which you can also read about in … More “The reel deal”: the rambler makes the case for tape in Hi-Fi Choice magazine
As a hi-fi journalist of international standing, Ken Kessler has a breadth and depth of experience in all things audio. In fact, there’s not much in the world of hi-fi that he hasn’t seen or heard and, as his readers know and appreciate, he isn’t afraid to be candid in sharing his opinions about it … More ‘Decked by tape’: for Ken Kessler, open reel tape has been with him all the way
Dave Denyer: The Reel-to-Reel Rambler 