Ready or not, tape is nearly history. Tape is well on its way to being a novelty. Granted, even analog tape is still being used on some film productions, being as reliable as it ever was and sounding as good as it ever did, but it is more and more [...]

In the world of portable timecode DAT recorders (OK, the very small world), there was first the Fostex PD-2. This was soon followed by the StellaDAT which was soon followed by the HHB Portadat which was fairly soon followed by this article’s hero, the Fostex PD-4. To be fair, I [...]

People in business have to be conscious of changing trends and adapt to them. Location sound mixers are certainly no exception, and in this case we have to be aware of the effects trends have on our equipment. While Music Videos can no longer be considered a new trend, it [...]

(Originally published in Audio Media Magazine USA) Two oxymorons: Jumbo Shrimp. Perfect DAT. Well, oxymorons or not, I love jumbo shrimp and the Stelladat II is the closest thing to a perfect DAT recorder that we may ever see. The Stelladat II is the new evolution of the original Stelladat [...]

(As appeared in Audio Media Magazine September 1999 Issue) Location sound recordists are bound to fall into one of three categories: (1) Hanging on to their love affair with their Nagra. (2) Using a DAT until something really better comes along. (3) Like me, both. Guess what? The wait may [...]