CK

Chris Koltay

26 Total
1 Interviews
1 Columns
24 Reviews
V1 dynamic microphone

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...

Ohma World: ribbon & condenser mics

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...

Modularity

Column

Modularity

May 28, 2025

Lakeside Mic Preamp

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...

H44 Ribbon Mic

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...

Blackhole Reverb Pedal

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...

H9000 Multi-Channel Effects Processor

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...

023 Bomblet FET Mic

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...

KU5A Ribbon Microphone

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...

MP500A 500 Series Mic Pre

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...

Rose Modulated Delay Pedal

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...

EuroDDL Eurorack Delay

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...

KSM8 Dualdyne Dynamic Mic

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...

Aeon & Klasik Active Monitors

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...

CrushStation Distortion Algorithm for H9

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...

Pure2 master AD/DA converter & clock

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...

N8 active ribbon mic

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...

ADR Compex F760X-RS dynamics processor

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...

Colour Box preamp/EQ pedal

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...

Two-V dual mic preamp (500-series)

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...

Sweet Ten 500-series rack

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...

500-series Analog Delay

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...

Orion32 AD/DA converter & USB interface

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...