A Bit of Tape Op History

The Tape Op Message Board (hereafter referred to by its self-designated nickname, TOMB) is an offshoot of the bi-monthly magazine, Tape Op. The magazine was launched in April 1996 by an enterprising young studio engineer and recording enthusiast named Larry Crane. Since then it has become the magazine of choice for both self-taught novices and professionally trained musicians, engineers, and producers interested in the art of recording. Its byline is "The Creative Music Recording Magazine," and its editorial tone, layout, and user-centered focus certainly appeal to a broad cross-section of creative types involved in making and recording all types of music.

Subscriptions to the magazine are free, thanks to the healthy advertising it brings in. The free subscription means you receive each issue via 3rd class mail, which sometimes results in slightly damaged (or missing) copies. If you prefer, you can pay for a subscription to receive the magazine via 1st class US mail. Anecdotal evidence--based in part on the editors comments themselves--suggests that while most readers choose the free option, readership is extremely dedicated and consistent. This is reflected in the letters column in every issue, where the same names appear frequently over time (yes, I've been a devoted subscriber for a few years now).

One question I wanted to explore going into this assignment was whether the online forums were dominated by the same "experts" that commonly replied to readers' letters in the published magazine. Or, as a possible alternative, did certain forum members themselves come to be seen as voices of authority?