Free subscription, pay if willing. Best HOME recording magazine out there for sure. And mindful of people who may not have the extra money to pay for a subscription. Great articles, great interviews, just awesome. It's more on the DIY side of things than a lot of the other magazines, which is something I think many of us are a part of.
TAPE OP all the way. ive never seen a magazine go so in depth about the side of recording and what the guys did to actually achieve that sound. plus its FREE!!!!!!!!!!
I like TapeOp because they have great interviews and great gear reviews. And REAL reviews. Most reviews in other magazines seem like a marketing ploy, but TapeOp gives actual reviews. They actually tell you bad stuff about the products. And it's not always gear reviews. The last issue had a review for an ear wax removal tool. Seriously. AND IT'S FREE!!!!!!!!