Learning
Resources for Audio etc.
I have taught audio on and off
for decades; formal classwork, seminars and one on
one. Here are some places to go to learn for yourself.
Books
As texts I have used:
"Modern Recording Techniques"
by Robert E. Runstein
(OLD, I don't know if it has been updated - my copy is from 1975)
"Practical Recording Techniques"
By Bruce and Jenny Bartlett
(my copy dates from 1992 I believe that it has been updated)
Other possible texts:
"Producing in the Home Studio with Pro
Tools" by David Franz. This includes a CD with a copy of
ProTools Free (8 track limited function version of PT, but it is useful
for learning one's way around PT. There are also files used in
the book on the CD.
"User's Guide to Propellerhead Reason 2"
by Debbie Poyser and Derek johnson is quite good and includes some
tutorial elements.
"Principles of Digital Audio"
by Ken C. Polmann is a bit tough, but if you REALLY intend to dive into
digital audio, this is THE book. It is even possible for a guy
with an Arts degree (like me) to grasp this stuff.
Mac OSX books I have found helpful:
David Pogue's "Missing Manual"
This is how to become a power user without serious pain.
For Jaguar:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596004508/qid=1060023384/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-8084726-6849611
For Panther:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0596006152/qid=1091117923/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2102562-0882465?v=glance&s=books
"OSX Unleashed" This is
more of "geek eyes view" of the OS.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0672324652/qid=1060023437/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-8084726-6849611?v=glance&s=books
Additional materials for deeper study:
"The Master Handbook of Acoustics"
by F Alton Everest
This is not a light book, but is a great deal more accessible than
Beranek text (which is long out of print anyway). This book
addresses acoustics and sound equipment in acoustic spaces. It is
applicable to both the studio and live venues. One who masters
this book is well on his way to being a consultant in the field - once
the attendant real-world experience is obtained.
"Tonmeister Technology"
by Michael Dickreiter. This book is out of print, but there
was a fellow in NY who was selling from his stack of remaining
copies. It is a translation of German work on the their way of
recording (which is rather different from North American techniques)
and focuses mainly on acoustic instruments. A search on the web
for Temmer Enterprises Inc. might find it for you. This is
a small book, but it offers some different approaches not normally
used, taught or thought of here in the states.
"The New Stereo Soundbook"
By Ron Streicker and F. Alton Everest. This wonderful (and large
format!) book is for all who would look at stereo and the human
experience of audio in a serious manner. The book addresses
Binaural recording primarily. almost worth the price of the book
by itself is a copy of the A.D. Blumlein British Patent specification
in the back. The patent was granted in 1933. This fellow
was REALLY on top of it. If read carefully there are probably
area in his patent which are yet to be fully explored!
http://www.wesdooley.com/aea/The_New_Stereo_Soundbook.html
"The Audio Cyclopedia" by
Howard Tremaine. This has been out of print for many YEARS, but
can be found used and is priceless on the hardware side of audio (and
some acoustics too) for old stuff (toobes!) and circuit design.
This is definitely a "late on the list" purchase, but a great reference.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0672206757/qid=1060102819/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-8084726-6849611?v=glance&s=books
"Handbook for Sound Engineers: The New
Audio Cyclopedia" by Glen M. Ballou
I have not had my hands on this, but it has gotten good reviews and is
on my "short list" as an up-to-date reference
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0240803310/qid=1060102819/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-8084726-6849611?v=glance&s=books
CDROMS:
You may know of the Cool Breeze Stuff, but it may be worth a look if
you want to accelerate the class. The CD could be assigned
outside class time and free up time to teach DP (or whatever).
http://www.coolbreezesys.com/index.tmpl
Also:
This looks pretty good. One of my clients has been quite happy
with his copy.
http://www.macaudiolab.com/
Other materials and resources:
DP comes with its own set of tutorials. They may not apply to the
lab situation, because they include installation and configuration, but
it comes with DP.
Bob Katz is a famous (or is that infamous?) engineer. His web
site is LOADED with is highly opinionated but well thought out
article. If nothing else he will stir up some thinking.
There may be no better resource for understanding the issues in:
-Jitter (Word Clock Quality)
-Word length (the word which is clocked....)
-Sample rate (Word Clock rate)
http://www.digido.com/
Then of course there is his book.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0240805453/qid=1060104308/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/002-8084726-6849611
"Acoustics 101". A web site and a MUST read for anyone messing
about in the studio. Auralex is a sound treatment company, and of
course they want to sell you their products (which I like) but the
information is great and rather brief (compared to Beranek and Everest
- above). Very practical, not a lot of theory.
http://www.acoustics101.com/
The Berklee Digital Performer Club.
http://www.orangewaves.com/dpclub.html
This is an old resource... One fellow's idea of on-line training for
DP. I haven't walked through it, but the price is right.
http://www.rdideas.com/
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