Tape Op is one of the best magazines going... and best of all, the subscription is free [if you live in the US... there is a nominal charge for postage outside of the US].

http://www.tapeop.com

Most of the rest of the books... MIX, EQ, etc. suck ass... "Resolution" out of England is a pretty good book... "Sound on Sound" has it's good issues and it's not so good issues.

Unfortunately it seems that the US books have turned into some kind of audio related version of People Magazine... lots of stuff to create lust for bad gear without anything to substaniate that lust.

Fletcher wrote: Most of the rest of the books... MIX, EQ, etc. suck ass... "Resolution" out of England is a pretty good book... "Sound on Sound" has it's good issues and it's not so good issues.
Unfortunately it seems that the US books have turned into some kind of audio related version of People Magazine...

You just hit my pet-peeve hot button, so now I have to vent some steam.

Its long been my opinion that American magazines are just really awfull.... and I'm not just talking about audio magazines either, its a whole unhealthy systemic trend which I cannot quite figure out....

It suppose we can chalk it up to "cultural differences" insofar as writing style and the whole marketing game where the publisher gives the customer what he thinks they want..... but whether your talking about audio and video magazines, hobbyist electronics and communications magazines, sometimes computer magazines, and even alot of sports magazines..... amaerican magazine are always at the bottom of the heap..

I find that British magazines are always far more intellectually stimulating. When you analogized American magazines to being like "People Magazine", your more on the mark than you realize I think.... American magazines are little more than "eye candy".... All appeal but with little meaty intellectual substance.

In short, american magazines are alot like american newspapers. Everyone knows... and nobody in the newspaper business denies this.... but newspapers are typically written at a 4th grade level (take Newsday in N.Y. for example as an example of a childlike newspaper devoured by the masses.... Theres rare exceptions like Wall Street Times and the NY Times, but even they are simplistically written).... thats sad.... thats REAL sad.... but its the truth.... and american magazines seem to follow this same culturally degenerate 4th grade writing style. The publishers think that that is what we want..... is it? Not me.... and I can probably do without the 300 color glossy photos of equipment in american magazines also... in place of some more substansive technical articles.

That being said.... as a consumer, I am grateful for the fact that American magazines are by far the most proliferous on the store bookshelves... and I'm glade I have such a wide variety of choices to pick from..... but that merely means I have more crappy magazines to sift through.... still... I'd rather have more consumer choices than less.

Hey, at least people are still READING, and at least there are some choices out there, good or bad.

And, are we talking about audio books or audio magazines? I don't have time for the published "books", personally - I usually find they're out of date almost as soon as they're published.

As for the magazines, it's a staggering amount of work for any of the majors to put out a monthly release, check their facts (such as they are) & stories, and make any sense at all out of it. Granted, much of it does indeed resemble the "McPaper" (USA Today), but there's enough material in the big three or four to sort it all out for yourself. I have learned to spot company-written "press releases" disguised as "articles" a long time ago, and take 'em for what they are.

There's a few gems out there (moreover, the actual WRITERS working within the confines of certain mags) and they can and do offer you some good info. Just gotta separate the BS from the good stuff, IMHO.

Many of these mags will send you "Free" subscriptions if you ask, (or get a fly-in card from someone who's alreaday getting 'em free...these are usually "invites" to sign up a friend....check the waiting room at your local friendly studio and see if you can score one that way.)

Most mags are supported almost entirely by advertisers (Gee, what a surprise!) so it's a bit of a myth to think they're making any money on paid subscriptions, or that they're always completely objective. They ain't, or course. Rarely these days will you read a "BAD" review about a product, at least not in the biggies. They don't want the potential legal hassle, they don't have the space, and (duh!) nobody wants to piss anybody off so much that they'll stop advertising.

And how most of them still stay in business surprises me most of all, it's as bad in their end of the industry as it is everwhere else.

Take 'em for what they are; get what you need and keep moving.

I get mix, recording, Electronic musician and tape op all for free and there is always something you can get out of them- My free subdcription to EM ran out and I didn't renew but they keep sending it anyway... go figure-

If they weren't free I still would buy one, probably recording or tape op- they all basically say the same thing, push the same products. Mix also pushes some higher end stuff- like recording consoles. Last month they had an articles on consoles between 50- 150K and it was interesting-

thanks guys, I just got a free subscription to Tape Op. Free - you sure can't beat that!