Tape op

For the magazine, see Tape Op.

A tape operator or tape op, also known as a second engineer, is a person who performs menial operations in a recording studio in a similar manner to a tea boy or gopher.[1] They may act as an apprentice or an assistant to a recording engineer and duties can consist of threading audio tape, setting up microphones and stands, configuring MIDI equipment and cables, and sometimes pressing the relevant transport controls on the recorder or digital audio workstation.[2] Abbey Road Studios always assigned at least one tape op to each recording session.[3]

  1. ^ Leyshon, Andrew (2014). Reformatted: Code, Networks, and the Transformation of the Music Industry. Oxford University Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-199-57241-0.
  2. ^ MacDonald 1997, p. 439.
  3. ^ Ryan, Kevin; Kehew, Brian (2006). Recording the Beatles: the studio equipment and techniques used to create their classic albums. Curvebender. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-978-52000-7.