Chris Koltay
Gear Review
V1 dynamic microphone
Jan 9, 2026
The folks at Soyuz have been making noise for the last decade or so and releasing top-quality and extremely functional gear, presenting audio in a...
Gear Review
Ohma World: ribbon & condenser mics
Jun 13, 2025
One of my favorite things about doing this work are the relationships we establish. I first met Charlene Gibbs, Sammy Rothman, and Nathan Bowers in...
Gear Review
Lakeside Mic Preamp
Nov 15, 2024
In a climate where it sometimes seems like a race to the bottom, with companies trying to build the cheapest audio outboard equipment they can, it’s...
Gear Review
H44 Ribbon Mic
Mar 15, 2024
The first thing you see when encountering Alder Audio’s H44 online is their slogan: A Better Ribbon For Less. This statement may seem underwhelming...
Gear Review
Blackhole Reverb Pedal
May 15, 2021
Reverb can be a divisive and personal issue among engineers and musicians. Everyone has a favorite, and people are absurdly particular and become...
Gear Review
H9000 Multi-Channel Effects Processor
Jan 15, 2021
We’re huge fans of Eventide over here at High Bias Recordings. Eventide units have been an integral part of the sonic fabric here both on the front...
Gear Review
023 Bomblet FET Mic
Nov 15, 2020
Russian-made mics have been a healthy part of my recording life since the mid-'90s. Back in the days when the local six-string retail chain had...
Gear Review
KU5A Ribbon Microphone
Sep 15, 2019
It's no secret I'm a big fan of AEA microphones. When my studio High Bias Recordings first opened the Michigan Ave. location, I bought a...
Gear Review
MP500A 500 Series Mic Pre
Sep 15, 2019
When I asked a handful of reviewers to consider writing about Hamptone's 500 Series JFET microphone preamp, the prolific Don Gunn from Seattle...
Gear Review
Rose Modulated Delay Pedal
Sep 15, 2019
It's no real secret how I feel about Eventide. As I'm writing this, I'm fresh off of an insane 36-hour road trip to and from...
Gear Review
EuroDDL Eurorack Delay
Mar 15, 2019
As an engineer in my mid-40s, Eventide is one of those iconic companies I grew up with. First seeing gear ads in magazines and studio shots, and then...
Gear Review
KSM8 Dualdyne Dynamic Mic
May 15, 2017
My original plan was to write a typical Andy Hong review of the new Shure KSM8 mic, with measurements and thoughts from empirical testing...
Gear Review
Aeon & Klasik Active Monitors
Nov 15, 2016
Speakers are hugely important to what we do as engineers. I can hear the collective "Duh!" — as you all read this. This has only recently...
Gear Review
CrushStation Distortion Algorithm for H9
Nov 15, 2016
It was nearly three years ago that this curious white stompbox, with the Harmonizer trademark name on it, showed up at a Deerhunter gig. One big...
Gear Review
Pure2 master AD/DA converter & clock
Nov 17, 2015
Here's another multi-opinion review from three of our contributing writers. Mastering and restoration engineer Jessica Thompson recently joined...
Gear Review
N8 active ribbon mic
Sep 16, 2015
One of the many things I love about owning a studio and making records is the bonding we do with our clients during the intense collaborations we...
Gear Review
ADR Compex F760X-RS dynamics processor
Jul 15, 2015
I've been thinking a lot lately about how we evolve as engineers, and in a way, it's my favorite part of the job. You wake up one day and...
Gear Review
Colour Box preamp/EQ pedal
May 16, 2015
The use of effect pedals at the mixing board is by no means a new thing. I remember studio owners thinking I was crazy in the '90s when I...
Gear Review
Two-V dual mic preamp (500-series)
Jul 15, 2014
The Two-V is a double-wide, two-channel preamp module for the 500-series format. It comes painted battleship grey with minimal markings denoting the...
Gear Review
Sweet Ten 500-series rack
Mar 15, 2014
The 500-series market has seen a flood of new products, to say the least. I keep waiting for Dyson to come out with a 500-series vacuum. Or maybe...
Gear Review
500-series Analog Delay
Mar 15, 2014
I tend to think of things in reference to a chronology of gear purchases. Like, "Oh yeah, we had just gotten that mic when we tracked those...
Gear Review
Orion32 AD/DA converter & USB interface
Jan 10, 2014
Every now and then, a product comes along that sets a new bar for sound quality, features, and price. The Orion32 is a prime example. When...