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Good Sound Engineering/Design books
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FluoSamsara (Oxygen)
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jan 28, 2005 18:54
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Hi all
I just finished a multimedia degree, but at the moment what i REALLY want to learn is sound, on a more theorical and engineering basis.
Having no spare time ($$$...) to take a sound engineering course, I´d like to know, from ppl taking such courses, wich books you recomend (with a little description of what they are about)
I feel my production knowledge is quite good, and I believe practice is the best way to learn.
But at this moment i´ve been practicing for about 4 years and I feel i need some theory also! hehehe I want to learn all the technic theory behind sound, its what i really love doing and so at this moment i want to take those skills and knowledge in sound as further as i can.
Thanks a lot in advance for your help
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Pavel
Troll
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Posted : Jan 28, 2005 19:54
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I studied with this one:
Modern Recording Techniques.
http://www.modrec.com/
Very much American book. Meaning that even if you are a complete idiot, by the end of the book you'll know a LOT about engineering.
Highly recommended. Simple and fluid studying.
 Everyone in the world is doing something without me |
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DJ Buju
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jan 29, 2005 00:25
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Quote:
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On 2005-01-28 19:54, Pavel wrote:
I studied with this one:
Modern Recording Techniques.
http://www.modrec.com/
Very much American book. Meaning that even if you are a complete idiot, by the end of the book you'll know a LOT about engineering.
Highly recommended. Simple and fluid studying.
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Best book ever! truely great!
gets you totally into the whole prospect of sound engineering...
Enjoy the read 
Bom BOm
BUju
www.domorecords.com
www.myspace.com/domorec
www.myspace.com/tupanrecords |
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NikC
BeatNik
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601
Posted : Jan 29, 2005 02:18
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That sounds really interesting!!!!
Could i get that in London? or would i have to order it online?
Peace |
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FluoSamsara (Oxygen)
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jan 29, 2005 07:12
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cool thanks pavel
i´ll definetelly will guive that a try!
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WAVELOGIX
Wavelogix
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136
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1214
Posted : Jan 29, 2005 10:20
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i got this book too ... very okay'ish imo ... just teaches u the basic concepts ... |
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Pavel
Troll
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Posted : Jan 29, 2005 11:37
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Quote:
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On 2005-01-29 02:18, NikC wrote:
That sounds really interesting!!!!
Could i get that in London? or would i have to order it online?
Peace
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If i can get this book in Israel you can surely get it in London. Just go to one of your super duper misuc stores
Everyone in the world is doing something without me |
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orik
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jan 29, 2005 13:29
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
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988
Posted : Jan 29, 2005 14:16
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
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988
Posted : Jan 31, 2005 12:42
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psykoactiv
IsraTrance Junior Member
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651
Posted : Mar 14, 2005 00:46
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there is the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook too ... i use that in my college occasionally... (``·.¸(``·.¸¸.·`´)¸.·`´)
>>>>>H Y D R A<<<<<
(¸.·`´(¸.·`´``·.¸)``·.¸) |
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br0d
IsraTrance Junior Member
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355
Posted : Mar 14, 2005 06:49
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Ok here's my view, albeit a tad cynical at times for comedy. 
The Yamaha book is decent and interesting but has more application to acoustics and live sound than it does to engineering and mixing. Worth the money tho, some interesting stuff in there.
"Home Recording Handbook" never comes off my shelf, no opinion. Can't totally remember what's in it, but not a standout, I think it's almost 100% redundant with about 5 other books I own.
Mastering Engineers Handbook is Owsinski's sophomore flop, it sucks hard, he spends like half the book discussing outdated, useless, high end snob gear and dead formats, and the parts on mastering I can't even recall as standout. Noone seems to want to write a book on how to SMASH tracks for clubs, everyone wants to be all prissy and pro and talk about the loudness wars and how the Rush album is clipped. Mastering engineers are generally an annoying lot.
Now Owsinski's FIRST book, Recording Engineer's Handbook, Along with "Behind The Glass" by Massey, are ESSENTIAL READING. This is one of the top 3 mixing books on the planet, IMO. It's split into an instructive half, and then an interview half. The interviews are good. The Massey book is all interviews with pro engineers. It's good stuff. Unfortunately it's heavily rock, r&b, and etc oriented as opposed to dance, but oh well. Still great.
"Mixing with your mind" is an EXPENSIVE book but ultimately worth the money if you have the other books. Stav is a weirdo, but he has a sort of Rainman thing going on where he makes distinctions not commonly found in other books. His treatise on compression is good, he's where I made my mono distinction, this one is on my toilet along with Owsinski #1. Stav requires rereading, he's like some sort of sound Yoda.
Katz's mastering book seems to me mostly obfuscated IEEE crap totally useless to the average home masterer. He's sharp as hell, but his info is lofty and useless, golden eared, tiresome, boring bit manipulation and minutiae. The guy obviously is a genius of media, but who is his audience? He is constantly guilty of failing to recognize his audience. He does, however, include a KILLER frequency and notation chart in this book, and its posted on the wall in my studio.
The revision of Modern Recording Techniques I have spends too much time talking about outdated gear and mics, IMO. But it's from 1992, the newer versions might be better. Not a bad book but I wouldn't buy it before the others.
Less instructive but conceptually interesting is David Gibson's Art of Mixing:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0918371171/103-6452402-5355806
This book is short, but it may help you perceive sound more visually, and it is worth the money. I'd put it in the #4 or #5 spot for mixing books. He is also a nice guy who responds to correspondence and feedback (I tried to get him to turn his models into analysis software, go nerdboy)
In review:
Massey: Must have
Owsinski #1: Must have
Stav: Must have last
I think Stav's book costs more because he published it himself?
The rest: you can live without them, but if you like to collect like I do, go for it, I have a slew of stupid books. Another one I like is this:
http://www.musiciansatlas.com/images/082561130x.jpg
because he tackles arranging moderately well.
Also, if you are interested in truly geek Acoustics (mine generally collects dust)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071360972/103-6452402-5355806
Other than that, this field is mostly short of good books, partly because writing about music is like dancing about architecture, and partly because most of the really good mixers are too busy mixing, and the rest are busy fighting for the scraps that fall from their tables.
After you have read the top three or four, rather than buying books my #1 recommendation would be to read the SOSpubs and Tapeop archives. The quality of "audio" books after those first 5 or 6 falls off drastically. Trust me, I have two shelves full of sleepers. Titles like "Build Your Home Studio!" etc etc
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Mar 14, 2005 13:52
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And then there are a few books you should NOT buy imo:
"Electronica Dance Music Programming Secrets" by Brown et al. Sucks big time because it is outdated and lacks all of the stuff you might be interested in, unless you still need to learn what a sequencer or MIDI really is.
The same goes for: "Rhythm Programming" by Mark Roberts.
If those books were about painting, 95% would be about the types of hair that can be on a brush and 5 % would be about the practical side of things.
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br0d
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Mar 14, 2005 17:31
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Quote:
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On 2005-03-14 13:52, Boobytrip wrote:
And then there are a few books you should NOT buy imo:
"Electronica Dance Music Programming Secrets" by Brown et al. Sucks big time because it is outdated and lacks all of the stuff you might be interested in, unless you still need to learn what a sequencer or MIDI really is.
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Man you took the words right out of my mouth, I have the rev called "Dance Music Programming Secrets" and it just all out SUCKS. I don't like to diss people's work that hard, but the only secret in that book is that the author is a profiteer and not a musician |
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Tryambaka
Tryambaka
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184
Posted : Mar 14, 2005 22:02
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"Acoustics and Psychoacoustics" by David M. Howard and James Angus
A really excelent book that will clear all your questions about acoustics 
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"The Secret of the Mastering Engeneer" (advanced use) by Bob Katz
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"MIDI Systems and Control" by Frrancis Rumsey
it's really a great book about midi.... all you'll ever need to know is inside
I hope it helps!
http://www.bhooteshwara-records.com
http://www.tryambaka.com
http://www.myspace.com/tryambaka
BHOOTCD003 Tryambaka - The Colour Of Time OUT NOW!!! |
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