Product Description
Whatever your level of experience, the Dance Music Manual is packed with sound advice, techniques and practical examples to help you achieve professional results. Written by a professional producer and remixer, this book offers a comprehensive approach to music production, including knowledge of the tools, equipment and different dance genres.
Get more advice and resources from the books official website, www.dancemusicproduction.com.

* Included in the new edition are sections on recording instruments alongside new chapters covering more dance music genres.
* Examines all aspects of music production, from sound design, compression & effect to mixing & mastering to publishing & promoting, to help you become a better producer.
* The companion CD provides sample and example tracks, demonstrating the techniques used in the book.

Customer Reviews (15)

Good Book
I haven't had enough time to fully delve into this book, but on first inspection, it seems like a winner.It breaks down for you the skeleton of each genre of electronic music and shows you how to program the beats into a sequencer.I'll come back and comment on this after I've had more time to read into this work.

A Great Introduction to EDM Music Production
The Dance Music Manual is required reading for anyone who wants start producing dance music and doesn't know where to start.Snoman attempts to cover several genres and many overarching techniques that could be applied to several genres, so anyone looking for particulars of their genre or specific advanced techniques would probably have better luck elsewhere.

Invaluable informaiton for the serious electronic musician
Being a producer and DJ I'm always trying to keep my skills sharp and competitive. This and the first edition are on my studio desk at all times. If not for accurate and reliable reference material just to flip through and gain a little inspiration from. Thank you Rick. You have no doubt had an effect on my music career.

Must have
I have been producing electronic dance music for over 20 years and this is the best book ever written on the topic. It's comprehensive, well written, well illustrated, and well thought out.

This is a great book for the beginner thru expert, though I think those with intermediate to advanced knowledge will benefit the most. I bought volume 1, 2 and the ebook of this.

Highly highly recommend it.

very helpful
i've read only 2 sections and i must say, this is VERY helpful! i believe everything you need to know is here. its pretty much organized like a textbook but you dont need to read everything to learn what ur looking for. so start with the chapter that most interests you. ... Read more

Product Description

Handmade Electronic Music: The Art of Hardware Hacking provides a long-needed, practical, and engaging introduction to the craft of making - as well as creatively cannibalizing - electronic circuits for artistic purposes. With a sense of adventure and no prior knowledge, the reader can subvert the intentions designed into devices such as radios and toys to discover a new sonic world. At a time when computers dominate music production, this book offers a rare glimpse into the core technology of early live electronic music, as well as more recent developments at the hands of emerging artists. In addition to advice on hacking found electronics, the reader learns how to make contact microphones, pickups for electromagnetic fields, oscillators, distortion boxes, and unusual signal processors cheaply and quickly.

This revised and expanded second edition is extensively illustrated and includes a DVD featuring eighty-seven video clips and twenty audio tracks by over one hundred hackers, benders, musicians, artists, and inventors from around the world, as well as thirteen video tutorials demonstrating projects in the book. Further enhancements include additional projects, photographs, diagrams, and illustrations.

Customer Reviews (11)

the bese book ever.
This book is what every IC Bender needs it goes from the simple project to various experimental projects and the vidoes are a huge help. A must have for those who want some new ideas in beding.

Great way to get your hands charged for the first time
This book is, apparently, compiled from course materials for what must be a very fun class.It mostly covers two broad topics.First, producing unexpected sounds from radios and the circuit boards in toys, and modifying those devices in simple ways, such as adding photoresistors or new circuit board connections.Second, building simple synthesizers from scratch.The skills taught are basic, and form the building blocks for infinite exploration.The tools and parts needed are all inexpensive (often costing mere pennies).The included CD is great fun, but best saved for later listening, since it contains "spoilers" of what some of the projects might sound like.

Because of the book's origination in a class situation, the explanations and pictures are not always ideally clear.There are a lot of typos. However, the writing is so engaging and the book is so much fun that it still deserves 5 stars.Where the book is incomplete ("how to I de-solder something?"), the Web is there.

The book is clearly aimed at musicians without any electronics experience.Nonmusicians might still enjoy it, but a joy in playing with sound is absolutely required.I suspect the book would be way too basic for people with any significant experience in electronics.

As sidebars, the book includes a considerable amount of history of electronic music -- who's who and what they've been up to.

If you can't crack it open, it doesn't really belong to you.
A great guide to taking apart old electronic noisemakers and turning them into something new. Also includes simple DIY electronic circuits with all the steps. The projects are compelling and workable. Give this to a young person and change their whole outlook on DIY.

Excellent Book, Great For Novices & Experienced Alike
This is a really fun book, with lots of projects for budding electronic musicians. But it goes beyond that: It's a solid intro to electronics and CMOS components. I went into this book thinking it might be too basic, yet I walked away with a lot of ideas, and some interesting new techniquess.

I wish that more electronics writers would cover the material with this author's style and accuracy. Also, kudos for providing parts sources and for using easy to find and inexpensive components. (I've seen many people, myself included, become frustrated by hard-to-find parts lists or the use of discontinued items. These projects suffer from neither of those problems.)

In the end, you'll be left wanting to know more about the components and techniques you've picked up. (You'll probably want to add Don Lancaster's classic CMOS Cookbook to your shopping cart. It will give you the details about many of these components.) Highly recommended. I'm looking forward to other books by this author.

so good for electronic musicians and composers
Ah ! this book is one of the best i bought.
I just love it !! ... Read more

Product Description
A treasured collection of more than 60 songs: Blue Christmas * The Christmas Song * Frosty the Snow Man * Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer * A Holly Jolly Christmas * I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus * I'll Be Home for Christmas * Jingle-Bell Rock * Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! * Nuttin' for Christmas * Please Come Home for Christmas * Pretty Paper * more!Amazon.com Review
The range of styles here is wide enough to include the old religious chestnut "He" alongside John and Yoko's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)." There is only one instrumental ("The March of the Toys"). The keys are generally chosen for the convenience of the pianist, but you will find some examples of four sharps or four flats. In this collection, the guitar chord names always come with fingering diagrams. Margins are helpfully large, though sometimes the print is light. There are 72 selections. --William R. Braun ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Christmas Songbook!
I use this book every year.I improvise, so having the melody/lead and the chords is just what I need.I do add more advanced or different chords here and there, but the chord selections are great as they are for beginner or intermediate pianists.The melody notes are large enough for me to see, now that I'm old enough to have to wear bifocals.It has a great selection of songs.One of my adult piano students requested a copy after I showed her my copy.

The Best Christmas Songs Ever
Very disappointed.First of all, this book is very small, 6"x9". Secondly, the notes all have the letters inside the note and there is only one staff with the chord name written above the staff.Not what I expected at all.By "easy" I thought it would have both staves and a simple arrangement.

The Best Christmas Songs Ever
Excellent choice of all time favorites.Good size music score.Only recomendation is that it be published with spiral binding.Difficult to keep open on the piano - I have been using a big plastic bag clip but then when pages need to be turned you need to stop and reposition.I would have been willing to pay another five for this convenience.

Christmas songs from the "Best Christmas Songs Ever"
This "The Best Christmas Songs Ever" has a lot of nice Christmas music.It is an easy arrangement and would do nicely for a student of piano in about grade two.It did not quite reach my expectations but I have played piano for fifty-five years and have a lot of music.This book did have some songs that I did not have and I enjoy playing from it.It is sold at a bargain price and well worth the money .

A solid collection of 72 traditional Christmas songs
A solid collection of 72 traditional Christmas songs, most songs for grade two or three level, with some growing room. A nice bonus with this collection are the guitar chord fingering diagrams, shown along with the chord names. CleverJoe gives it a big three thumbs up! ... Read more

Product Description

Electronic and Experimental Music: Technology, Music, and Culture provides a thorough treatment of the relevant history behind the marriage of technology and music that has led to the state of electronic music today. Beginning with an early history of electronic music before 1945, the book outlines key composers, inventions, and concepts, ranging from Edgard Varèse to Brian Eno; musique concrète to turntablism; and compositional techniques used in both analog and digital synthesis.

The third edition’s reader-friendly writing style, logical organization, and features provide easy access to key ideas, milestones, and concepts.

Features:

• Reader’s guides and summaries at the beginning and end of each chapter
• Innovations boxes providing a unique profile of an influential individual in the field of electronic music
• Listen playlists recommending key recordings in each musical genre mentioned in each chapter
• Milestones timelines summarizing the major technological and musical innovations discussed in each chapter.

Product Description
A cultural history of global electronic dance music countercultures, Technomad charts a course through an emerging network of techno-tribes, exploring their pleasure principles and cultural politics. Documenting sound systems, secret sonic societies, intentional parties, revitalisation movements and counter-colonial interventions, Technomad illustrates how the dance party has been harnessed for transgressive and progressive ends. Using extensive ethnographic, netographic and documentary research, the book covers local sites and global scenes: e.g. Spiral Tribe, teknivals, psytrance, Burning Man, Reclaim the Streets, Earthdream. This cultural history will interest students of cultural, performance, music, media, and new social movement studies, along with enthusiasts of dance culture and popular politics. ... Read more

Product Description
This updated and expanded third edition of Peter Manning's classic text, Electronic and Computer Music, deals with the development of the medium from its birth to the 21st century. The first section of the book, which remains essentially unchanged in this edition, covers electroacoustic music from its beginning at the turn of the century to 1945, the development of post-1945 'classical' studios, development of voltage-controlled technology, and its commercial exploitation in tape works, live electronic music, and the early use of electronics in rock and pop music. Section two, Computer Music, is heavily revised and significantly expanded and treats the digital revolution from the early experiments during the late 1950s and early 1960s to the advanced systems of today. Emphasizing the functional characteristics of emerging digital technologies and their influence on the creative development of the medium, Manning covers key developments in both commercial and the non-commercial sectors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Complete and Detailed
This book is a must have in addition with the Chadabe's Electric Sound, and Holmes's Electronic and Experimental Music.Manning gets more specific about the qualities and characteristics of electronic music. A must have for those actively involved in the production, recording, technical, compositional, or performance aspects of computer music.

Technical but digestable
This book is a nice overview of electronic and computer music (as one might gather from the title.)It's great to sit near a computer and research some of the composers and pieces discussed, as many of them are on youtube and at least sound clips are available somewhere online.You're not going to learn how to program or compose from this book, but it's great for getting a decent background of what went on from 1890-1990. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A unique old book on the electronics behind synthesizers
This is one of those old TAB electronic books that cost only eight dollars when it was first published in 1975. This book has detailed circuit diagrams for percussion generators, voltage-controlled oscillators, ring modulators, envelope shapers, and quite a few other peripheral items. Apparently the material in this book was borrowed extensively from PAIA Electronics and the material supplied with their Gnome and 2700 synthesizer kits back in the day. Here is a description of the book from the context of its table of contents:

1. An Introduction to Electronic Sound - Contains a basic treatment of what sound means quantitatively and introduces you to the instruments and devices that are detailed in the rest of this book.

2. Experimenter's Circuits - Develops a large number of sound source and sound treatment circuits that you can build in breadboard form. Detailed circuit diagrams are shown along with theory of operation as well as the waveform you can expect to see emitted from each device.

3. Understanding Audio Synthesis - Goes into detail on more complex devices, including devices within the Gnome synthesizer. It does a good job of joining the electronics of each part with the actual music produced.

4. Operation and Patching Setup - This has to do with the Gnome control panel, what all of the controls do, and what kind of sound you can expect by specific adjustments.

5. Synthesizer Design and Operational Considerations - Discusses the voltage controlled amplifier, the voltage controlled oscillator, filters, function generators, the control oscillator and noise source, power supply, envelope follower/trigger, and the sine converter/pulse width modulator in detail. In the case of each device there is a design analysis, schematic, testing procedure, and how to use each device. All of these discussions are on the transistor level, and yes, there are lots of transistors in these circuits.

6. Electronic Piano - This chapter has complete details on the construction and operation of an electronic piano from basic electronic parts that you can easily find.

7. Sequencers - The final chapter discusses the electronic and operational details of the random-tune sequencer and the programmed-sequence rhythm generator.

The appendix contains details on the old 2720 synthesizer keyboard.

All in all, this is a great and unique little book. You need to already know music and electronics in order to really get anything out of it. Even if you don't intend to build any of the devices mentioned, it gives a great and detailed explanation on the operation of electronic music devices. Highly recommended if you can find a copy.

ExcellentTechnical book with many circuit diagrams
This is an excellent book. Hard to come by as no one wants to give up their copy. Many excellent schematics, easily updated and modified as new devices have become available. An excellent guide for the person designing their first audio effects box. Most basic audio effects theory and applications are discussed with at least one schematic for every type of effect. Explanations are very complete, making the book good for novices to experts ... Read more

Product Description
Drawing on recent ideas that explore new environments and the changing situations of composition and performance, Simon Emmerson provides a significant contribution to the study of contemporary music, bridging history, aesthetics and the ideas behind evolving performance practices. Whether created in a studio or performed on stage, how does electronic music reflect what is live and living? What is it to perform 'live' in the age of the laptop? Many performer-composers draw upon a 'library' of materials, some created beforehand in a studio, some coded 'on the fly', others 'plundered' from the widest possible range of sources. But others refuse to abandon traditionally 'created and structured' electroacoustic work. Lying behind this maelstrom of activity is the perennial relationship to 'theory', that is, ideas, principles and practices that somehow lie behind composers' and performers' actions. Some composers claim they just 'respond' to sound and compose 'with their ears', while others use models and analogies of previously 'nonmusical' processes. It is evident that in such new musical practices the human body has a new relationship to the sound.There is a historical dimension to this, for since the earliest electroacoustic experiments in 1948 the body has been celebrated or sublimated in a strange 'dance' of forces in which it has never quite gone away but rarely been overtly present. The relationship of the body performing to the spaces around has also undergone a revolution as the source of sound production has shifted to the loudspeaker. Emmerson considers these issues in the framework of our increasingly 'acousmatic' world in which we cannot see the source of the sounds we hear. ... Read more

Product Description
Yes, you can turn those great melodies and smokin’ grooves in your head into stunning digital music! And you don’t have to be a musical genius or a computer geek to do it! Composing Digital Music For Dummies shows you everything you need to know to compose great tunes using the hottest digital tools.

This friendly, plain-English guide explains all of the digital music basics, including how to work with the latest hardware and software, use templates from the companion CD-ROM to make a quick start, build your first tune, and save it in different formats. You’ll also find out how to add instruments to your score, set tempos and keys, create chord symbols and show fretboards, add lyrics to your tune, and much more. Discover how to:

• Write and arrange digital music
• Determine what — if any — equipment you need
• Create your own ringtones and mp3s
• Compose with a MIDI controller, or a mouse
• Work with notation software
• Use keyboard shortcuts
• Publish your creations on the Internet
• Build your own tune from scratch
• Extract parts from your score for each instrument

The companion CD-Rom also includes a demo of Sebelius 5, the most popular music notation software, as well as audio files for all music examples in the book. With this step-by-step guide and your computer, you’ll have everything you need to start writing, arranging, and publishing your own digital music — immediately! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

eeeeeh
I got this book thinking it would help me compose digital music.The problem is that it is based mainly off of the software that comes with the book, which isn't very good or up to date.I did recieve some useful information about electronic (made with computer) music and the history of it, but I'm officially still a dummy when it comes to composing it myself, therefore I would say the book did not achieve it's objective, or maybe it did depending on how you argue.Either way, I ended up ordering Dance Music Manual 2nd edition after reading this book because from what research I've done, it seems to be the most comprehensive book on actually producing something.I would also suggest buying a book for the specific software that you plan on using because the software that comes with "For Dummies" is shite and you won't use it anyways.

This guy is on the take from Sibelius
I bought this thinking it was going to provide some shortcuts for my DAW and software.I own a lot of the software recommended in this book, but more than half of it is dedicated to Sibelius, a music notation software, mainly for orchestra or large bands, or vocal ensembles.I read this book in one sitting.I'm wondering how much in kickbacks the author receives for sucking up to Sibelius...

The Book Teaches You How To Run A Software Program Not How To Compose Music
If you intend to buy this book to learn how to use Sibelius software as an aid to composing any kind of music, this is your book. The use of Sibelius software is what 90 percent of the book is devoted to. Sibelius software is expensive and its manuals are superior to Composing Digital Music For Dummies but the Dummies book does simplify the use of Sibelius software.

If your intention is to learn how to use digital instruments or software programs to lay down a drum track, to get a bedrock of bass accompaniment, to layer background music, to use your digital instrument to generate arpeggios, to learn which timbres work together, and finally how to compose melody and harmony, this is the wrong book for you. I can't point you to an alternative but Backbeat and Berklee songwriting titles cover some of this turf.

Looks good to me!
I just read some sections from a friend's copy, it looks good to me, and I am about to buy my own copy.It appears to be exactly what I am looking for - a thoughtfull complete introduction for someone who is new to digital composing.

Vines keeps it conversational...
Like the techie friend you call to set up your TiVo, Vines keeps it conversational but focused. The best way to familiarize yourself with something new to is read something that covers a lot of bases, and this book touches on a big variety of subjects. If you are a musician already, but not technically savvy (my Dad) the first half is for you. If you are more of a DJ at heart (me) there's some theory in the second part can go a long way with minimal application. A good read standalone, but also a friendly companion to the dozens of dry manuals and articles you'll inevitably read along the way. ... Read more

Product Description
Starting with the guerrilla media tactics of Industrial music in the late 1970s, the author charts an ongoing trend in electronic music: an increasing amount of sonic quality, recorded output and international contact, accomplished with a decreasing amount of tools, personnel, and capital investment. From the use of laptop computers to create massive avalanches of noise, to the establishment of micro-nations populated largely by sound artists, 21st century sound culture is expanding in its scope and popularity even as it shrinks in other respects. Numerous exclusive interviews with leading lights of the field were also conducted for this book: William Bennett (Whitehouse), Peter Christopherson (Throbbing Gristle / Coil), Peter Rehberg (Mego), John Duncan, Francisco López, Carl Michael von Hausswolff, Bob Ostertag and many others weigh in with a diversity of thoughts and opinions that underscores the incredible diversity to be found within new electronic music itself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Incredible read
Microbionic is a truly fascinating book.The insights and wealth of information provided on the one hand make it read like a text book charting the history of electronic music and sound art, but on the other hand it seems to be written mostly from personal first hand knowledge. Although critical at times, it shares multiple perspectives and view points and appears to have no agenda other than to inform the reader about the subjects and artists on hand.It gives profound insights into the artists covered, as well as their works, intentions and progression of ideas over the course of their careers.I would say Microbionic is and will remain the quintessential authority on the subject. A must have for any musician, sound artist, or professor.Furthermore, I am none of the above and found this book to be extremely fascinating.I had little if any knowledge at all about many of the artists covered and found the book to be incredibly fascinating and inspiring!

Massive
The book from what I've read so far is massive. I'm really, really into it. It reads a bit like a good RE:search publication from the 90's. Not to lower it to the level of a pop phenomenon -- Bailey really covers the bases here, in an accessible, educational style that doesn't just speak to a limited critical theory audience.

... Read more

Product Description
Musicians are always quick to adopt and explore new technologies. The fast-paced changes wrought by electrification, from the microphone via the analogue synthesiser to the laptop computer, have led to a wide diversity of new musical styles and techniques. Electronic music has grown to a broad field of investigation, taking in historical movements such as musique concrète and elektronische musik, and contemporary trends such as electronic dance music and electronica. A fascinating array of composers and inventors have contributed to a diverse set of technologies, practices and music. This book brings together some novel threads through this scene, from the viewpoint of researchers at the forefront of the sonic explorations empowered by electronic technology. The chapters provide accessible and insightful overviews of core topic areas and uncover some hitherto less publicised corners of worldwide movements. Recent areas of intense activity such as audiovisuals, live electronic music, interactivity and network music are actively promoted. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first book to develop both the theory and the practice of synthesizing musical sounds using computers. Each chapter starts with a theoretical description of one technique or problem area and ends with a series of working examples (over 100 in all), covering a wide range of applications. A unifying approach is taken throughout; chapter two, for example, treats both sampling and wavetable synthesis as special cases of one underlying technique. Although the theory is presented quantitatively, the mathematics used goes no further than trigonometry and complex numbers. The examples and supported software along with a machine-readable version of the text are available on the web and maintained by a large online community.The Theory and Techniques of Electronic Music is valuable both as a textbook and as professional reading for electronic musicians and computer music researchers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great for exploring the junction of programming, math, and music
This is a book about using a computer to record, process, create, and analyze audio signals, and in particular, musical signals. It is one of several books that discuss this subject, but I find it to be more mathematically accessible than some of the other books on the same topic such as the series on Musimathics that came out a couple of years ago. It is quite hands on, and to get the most out of it you really need to work through the various examples and exercises. The book is expensive but worth it. You'll seldom see it marked down because of its clarity and usefulness.

To get the most from this book the reader should be competent in mathematics through algebra and trigonometry. Using math no more complicated than this the author manages to explain electronic music concepts that involve Bessel functions, Chebyshev polynomials and Fourier analysis. You don't need to understand written music notation, although the author does use the tempered scale and the A-B-C naming convention for pitch. It is also assumed you understand the language of musical acoustics. Here I mean simple terms such as sinusoids, amplitude, frequency, and the overtone series.

Every chapter begins with a theoretical discussionof a particular topic. This is followed by examples in PureData (the author's own open source programming language) and many clear illustrations. As the other reviewer mentioned, you could buy this book for the examples alone if you are already familiar with the theory.

The author has graciously provided a copy of his book online so that you can sample it in its entirety. Just type the book's title into google and you should easily find it. Like the author of "The Scientist and Engineer's Guide to DSP", the author of this book knows that if you find the book useful you'll want to buy a bound copy for yourself since it is the type you'll want to write on in the margins. Highly recommended.

Good Book but Not for Beginners!
This is an awesome book for those who have taken acoustics and computer music classes. I had the author (Miller Puckett)for an acoustics class at UCSD, and he's a true genius in every form of the word. But like I said this is not for a beginner. Puckett goes heavily into the theory and math, and uses his own free app called PureData for the technique. If you're interested in learning PureData (or Max/MSP) and have a Comp Music background, buy this book for the examples. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Out of Print since 84. Republished by Author on his own website
This is a good book. But it should be noted that the author has self published, and corrected mistakes on his new editions available on his website (google his name and this book and you'll find him)
He's selling his own books for $30. Support the author directly instead of adding to the price gouging that sellers seem to engage on out of print books.

nice book but loaded with obsolete information
Inside this book are many circuits relevant to analog modular synthesizers.Voltage controlled oscillators, filters, and amplifiers are discussed in detail.However, the reader won't be able to build many of the VCO, VCF, and VCA circuits because obsolete integrated circuits, i.e. the SSM20xx and CEM 33xx series, are called for throughout the book.These parts are no longer manufactured, but can sometimes be procured for high prices if one searches dilligently.

Nevertheless, chapter three describes a handful of useful circuits involving non-obsolete parts - CV processors, envelope generators, slew limiters, etc.Later in the book, there are a few discrete VCO and VCA designs that could be built today with off-the-shelf components.

Published in 1982, this book can be regarded as a retrospective of the heyday of DIY analog synthesizers.The information may be useful for someone who is troubleshooting a vintage synth, but present-day builders should be wary of the obsolete components throughout. ... Read more

Product Description
This comprehensive introduction to software synthesis techniques and programming is intended for students, researchers, musicians, sound artists and enthusiasts in the field of music technology.

The art of sound synthesis is as important for the electronic musician as the art of orchestration is important for symphonic music composers. Those who wish to create their own virtual orchestra of electronic instruments and produce original sounds will find this book invaluable. It examines a variety of synthesis techniques and illustrates how to turn a personal computer into a powerful and flexible sound synthesiser. The book also discusses a number of ongoing developments that may play an important role in the future of electronic music making.

Previously published as Computer Sound Synthesis for the Electronic Musician, this second edition features a foreword by Jean-Claude Risset and provides new information on:

· the latest directions in digital sound representation
· advances in physical modelling techniques
· granular and pulsar synthesis
· PSOLA technique
· humanoid voice synthesis
· artificial intelligence
· evolutionary computing

The accompanying CD-ROM contains examples, complementary tutorials and a number of synthesis systems for PC and Macintosh platforms, ranging from low level synthesis programming languages to graphic front-ends for instrument and sound design. These include fully working packages, demonstration versions of commercial software and experimental programs from top research centres in Europe, North and South America.

* Increase your understanding of the major computer synthesis techniques with this accessibly written introduction

* Discover the latest developments and future direction of the field

* Try out a range of synthesis software for free - available on the accompanying CD-ROM ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Fantastic introduction to sound synthesis
As a musician with no experience of computer programming I found this book an ideal introductory text. It encouraged me to try out synthesis programming for myself and create new sounds beyond the presets that come with commercial products. Highly recommended.

Too broad, some misconceptions
I was first impressed with Eduardo Miranda's book "Computer Sound Design" but as I read more, I realized that this ambitious survey of sound synthesis over-generalizes and even criticizes mature well-accepted techniques.Admittedly, the scope of the book is vast, but I can't help feel that the approach to most topics is far too cursory for the book to be more than a reference to other works.

I was very disappointed with chapter 3, "Spectrum Modelling Approaches" as it not only was a terse white-wash of spectral synthesis techniques, there were multiple instances of unfounded criticism for the rich field of spectral signal processing and its growing constituency of pracitioners.It would have been much more effective for Miranda to simply admit his lack of expertise in the area without providing false unfounded judgements.

Most welcome and very helpful
The book is designed to be very practical. It can serve as an introduction, but also as a clarification and reminder for the already experienced reader. The author provides the support necessary for finding one's own path in an extremely clear fashion, so that every step appears simple. The choice of topics includes important and neatly classified methods for sound modelling. At the end, the book ventures towards "the cutting edge" - applying artificial intelligence techniques and evolutionary computing for sound design, and taking into account the implications of parallel computing for sound synthesis: the author is himself conducting research in these promising fields, at the new frontier of computer music. The CD-ROM provides useful software as well as tutorials and examples.

Doing one's own thing with digital sound technology requires some effort indeed: but this effort is necessary to take advantage of vast potential resources in an original, personal and musical fashion, and this book should help in this worthwhile endeavor. I believe that Computer Sound Design - Synthesis Techniques and Programming" will play a useful role in the diffusion of knowledge and know-how on software synthesis, and greatly facilitate the approach of digital sound design.

Good source of new ideas
This is a great book. As a student of music technology, I found it most useful to support my course work. It is great for taking a more in-depth look at specific techniques and systems thatare not covered in class. I particularly like the granular synthesis section and the variety of software provided on the CD-ROM.

Excellent book!
This is an excellent book and I found it ideal as a text book for sound synthesis courses. It covers a wide range of different synthesis techniques and the concepts are clearly explained with examples and useful diagrams. What I found most positive in this book is that it does not focus on any one system in particular (ie, it's not a user guide for a specific software). Rather, it surveys of a number of systems - commercial and public domain - including unusual ones for physical modelling such as Praat and CORDIS. Also there is a chapter of more advanced synthesis techniques using genetic algorithms and artificial intelligence, which makes it a nice addition to the norm. I only wished the book was longer, with more in-depth discussion on some of the many interesting examples. The CD-ROM has useful additional materials and tutorials. ... Read more

Product Description
"The Music Tech Dictionary" provides the definitive glossary of music technology and pro audio topics and terms.It focuses on the terminology, techniques, and formats that are common in the audio and music technology field, and offers concise, pithy explanations of what each term represents.Users will be able to look up any music software, music technology, or audio related term they run across in their software, in articles, or in studios, for a short, complete overview. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Offers a glossary of audio-related terms and technologies for audio pros
THE MUSIC TECH DIRECTORY should be in any serious music library: it offers a glossary of audio-related terms and technologies for audio pros, focusing on techniques, formats and terms common in the audio and music technology field. Look up music software or related terms and you'll find definitions often linked to diagrams, screen shots, and more. A top pick for any serious music library - and many a software reference collection. ... Read more

Product Description
Technology revolutionized the ways that music was produced in the 20th century. As that century drew to a close and a new century began a new revolution in roles was underway. The separate categories of composer, performer, distributor and listener are being challenged, while the sounds of the world itself become available for musical use. All kinds of sounds are now brought into the remit of composition, enabling the music of others to be sampled (or plundered), including that of unwitting musicians from non-western cultures. This sound world may appear contradictory - stimulating and invigorating as well as exploitative and destructive. This book addresses some of the issues now posed by the brave new world of music produced with technology. ... Read more

Product Description
Electronic $ Experimental Musicis a second edition of a well-known text on the history of electronic music.Holmes'original book, first published in 1985, was a good beginner's introduction both to the theories of electronic sound and sound production and to the history of some of the earliest experiments in instrument building and composition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Fantastic, but, where is Bowie?
This is a fantastic book about the origins and development of electronic music, covering both artists and engineers. The author begins with a brief survey of late-19th/early-20th century modernist and avant-garde European and American composers. He then follows the long lineage of artists, engineers, and tinkerers who, over the course of a century, contributed to the development and artistic use of such technologies as the telephone, the phonograph, the tape recorder, and the synthesizer - to name just a few. The book is well written, well researched, and informative. That being said, this book is essentially a history of elite, institutional music, meaning that it focuses on university professors, classically-trained rebels (Cage, Stockhausen, Carlos, etc.), engineers (Bob Moog, etc.), mathematicians, and large entertainment corporations (RCA, MGM, Warner Bros., etc.). Those individuals looking for information on so-called rock pioneers such as Kraftwerk, Bowie, Devo, and the many, many others will be disappointed. This is the one shortcoming of the book: it fails to acknowledge the fact that by the 1960s electronic and experimental music was embraced and advanced by the rock community. How could you leave out Kraftwerk or Bowie? The author makes no significant mention of Krautrock, Disco, New Wave, Synthpop, Hip Hop, or the various types of electronic dance music - much less Throbbing Gristle/Psychic TV, Coil, NIN, KMFDM, et al! In addition, the author does not even mention technologies such as Pro Tools, Reason, Logic, Live, etc. - all of which have their roots in the productions of "rock" oriented music. Nevertheless, the book is useful and informative, and despite these limitations, it stands highly recommended.

Broad approach
This book covers a large scope of musicians and technicians who were involved in electronic and electric music from the early 1900's to the present day. It is written in a fairly comprihensive style and centres upon the impacts that technology has had upon c20 music. A facinating read. Highly recommended for broad insights into the intentions of most electronic composers. I was rather happy to see a brief section on DJ Olive actually - this shows that Homles does not merely wish to stick to mentioning composers that the masses often only know by name. Splendid stuff. Couldn't find much wrong with it really. Take a preview of the contents page for yourself for a general idea.

this book is great
this book is an incredible study of electronic music.holmes discusses the history of electronic instruments, from the beginning, including the pre-theramin era, and finishing with some information regarding current electronic and experimental music.

although some sections of this book are a little dry, i feel the author did an acceptable job of conveying the excitement and freshness of the early electronic era.the section which discusses the creation of the soundtrack for the movie "forbidden planet" is just excellent.in fact, i purchased the movie (from amazon), so that i could hear the "strange" electronic tones which constitute the soundtrack.

being primarily interested in analog synthesizers, this book opened my eyes to an entirely new world of unpitched music experiments and compositions.in fact, a section is included on stockhausen, who was a heavy inspiration for the german band kraftwerk.

yes, i recommend this book, as a great amount of information is contained therein.in addition to mere data, this book really got me thinking about electronics and electronic music; specifically, the impact of analog synthesis on modern musical society. ... Read more

Product Description
How hearing works and how the brain processes sounds entering the ear to provide the listener with useful information are of great interest to psychologists, cognitive scientists, and musicians. However, while a number of books have concentrated on individual aspects of this field, known as psychoacoustics, there has been no comprehensive introductory coverage of the multiple topics encompassed under the term. Music, Cognition, and Computerized Sound is the first book to provide that coverage.The book begins with introductory chapters on the basic physiology and functions of the ear and auditory sections of the brain, then proceeds to discuss numerous topics associated with the study of psychoacoustics, including cognitive psychology and the physics of sound. The book has a particular emphasis on music and computerized sound. An accompanying CD-ROM includes many sound examples to help explicate the text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Everything I'd wanted to know
The book assumes a bit of understanding of DSP: basically, that sound is vibrations and that you can think of it as a sum of many frequencies. The early articles pick up from there, explaining how those vibrations are picked up by the ear, and tries to explain the results we've studied so far on how the brain interprets it. Lots of inspirational bits to spur your own exploration, and there are suggested labs/mini-labs in the back.

Superficial and dangerously incomplete
This book has not had a sufficient editorial vision of the whole book, nor control of the content of the individual chapters.The timbre chapter is among the most incomplete and superficial in existence.This could be said of many entries here.

There is absolutely no doubt these are people of authority, but the whole is far, far less than the sum of the parts.

Most importantly, almost no chapter explains how the entire set of concepts connects specifically to *computerized* sound.

Howard and Angus "Acoustics and Psychoacoustics" is a far more cogently structured, complete, yet introductory, approach to these topics.

Great intro to the subjective human perception of sound
Developed from a series of lectures at the Stanford Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), this book offers a coherent panorama of the field of psychoacoustics as it pertains to music and computerized sound. The authors-among them Max Mathews, Roger Shepard, John Chowning, and John Pierce-are recognized authorities in the field of computer synthesized sound and the nature of acoustical and musical perception. The CD-ROM contains audio samples for each chapter, plus source code for all the samples.

Although it is specifically intended as a course book for psychoacoustics, with a closing chapter on the effective design of experiments and an appendix of exercises, this book should prove valuable to a wide audience. Computers provide what seems the ultimate level of control over sound synthesis, but it is often hard to know where to begin. Anyone who has ever confronted the problem of determining which parameters of a synthesized sound are acoustically perceptible or meaningful will appreciate the clarity with which the introductory chapters distinguish the physical parameters of sound from the perception of sound. Building on established research into the fundamentals of acoustic perception, the book proceeds to more complex issues of voice articulation and synthesis, perceptual streaming, musical memory, and the haptics of sound production. Computer musicians will find material to suggest diverse directions for experimentation. Multimedia artists working with sound will discover new methods for generating sounds, with the potential for weaning themselves from straight playback of sampled sound and working with real time synthesis. Some of the perceptual effects documented in the text and audible on the CD are remarkable in themselves, such as Shepard and Risset tones, or the complex effects of perceptual streaming. The level of detail of many of the chapters is sufficient, particularly when supplemented by the source code, to get you started in a variety of sound synthesis techniques. The brief list of bibliographic references at the end of each chapter will lead you onwards.

While this book is most valuable as a guide to the uses of state-of-the-art technology for acoustic research, it also sheds light on how human cognitive abilities shape musical structures. Choices of rhythm, melodic variation, chord structure, timbre, orchestration, and even the evolution of musical styles over time have some of their reasons in the nature of the human auditory system. A welcome result of reading this book may be that the reader learns to hear natural and musical sounds with a new appreciation of the complex dynamics of sound production, sound perception, and the inner logic of music.

If you are interested in the signal processing end of psychoacoustics, I recommend you read "Signals, Sound, and Sensation" by Hartmann after you finish this book.

keep it clear, simple and efficient!
If you are interested in the filed of psychoacoustic, this book provides great informations and is written in a easy comprehensible manner. We used that book in my psychoacoustic class at university and even if I was not familiar with this subject, I learned a lot and enjoyed reading it. The book comes with a cd of audio exemples that follows the book.

Fantastic
Very enjoyable, very entertaining and an interesting reading. The opening chapter by Max Mathews is a lovely opener puts he reader at ease immeadiately. My first book on physco-acoustics and to be honest I am glad. I have read other books on the subject since then but this is still my favourite. Well worth the money. ... Read more

Product Description
Digital technology has changed everything. Here's your backstage pass.

The Art of Digital Music gathers the wisdom and groundbreaking techniques of 56 visionary artists, producers, programmers, provocateurs, instrument designers, label executives, and industry insiders into one inspiring volume.

Hear firsthand how the masters wield technology to create their amazing music--the included DVD features highlights from all 56 interviews. You'll learn studio setup tips, secrets of sampling, creative quantization, ringtone tricks, production strategies, insights from video game composers, insane distortion recipes, how to squeeze expression from loops, how to overcome software option anxiety, how to exploit happy accidents, and much more.

Derived from a year's worth of in-depth interviews, The Art of Digital Music is a richly detailed journey into the heart of computer-aided creativity. Contributors include Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette), Jack Blades, BT, LTJ Bukem, Joe Chiccarelli (Beck, Zappa), Ted Cohen, the Crystal Method, Chuck D,Thomas Dolby, Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd), The Fat Man, Dr. Fiorella Terenzi, Albhy Galuten (18 No. 1 hits), Dr. Patrick Gleeson, Peter Gotcher (founder, Digidesign), Jim Griffin, Herbie Hancock, Mark Isham, Jimmy Jam, Leslie Ann Jones (Skywalker Sound), Ikutaro Kakehashi (founder, Roland), Stephen Kay (Korg Karma), Ray Kurzweil, Roger Linn, Alan Parsons, Eric Persing (Spectrasonics), Roger Powell, Phil Ramone, Steve Reich, Bob Rock (Metallica), Nile Rodgers,Todd Rundgren, Dave Smith (Prophet-5, MIDI), David Torn, Don Was (Rolling Stones), David Zicarelli (Cycling '74), and 20 more. Ingeniously organized by both personality and topic, The Art of Digital Music combines entertainment, social commentary, and how-to information with surprising warmth and humor. Crank it up to "1"--the digital revolution is starting.

Bonus DVD (Mac/Win/video) Includes: Sound bites from all 56 interviews; Over 25 complete songs (including live recordings from a private Thomas Dolby concert, unreleased demos, and out-of-print classics); Live-performance videos; Interactive Flash movies; Royalty-free samples and loops by the artists; Behind-the-scenes photos; Web links galore. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Food for Digital Thought
I purchased the 'The Art Of Digital Music' after some email contact with the author and the realization of several shared interests that are addressed on a certain level in the book.

It's not an encyclopedic tome - more a skim of the mindsets of many, many artists, technicians and producers. Two pages per person. It's a great read in the sense of broadening your working methods or notions about things, breaking out of ruts or certain pre-conceived notions about the creative process. Some very simple (but very profound) words of wisdom are contained within.

I recommend it for anyone who feels they've perhaps become too structured and wants some fresh perspective.

The one thing that may bother some is the extensive discussion in the interviews about selling music online and DRM. I mention this because the book was published before the ubiquitous iPod, iTunes Music Store and all that followed had come on the scene. So there's a lot of speculation about what shape things could, should or would take but, for the most part, it's already happened. Just a heads up to those who would strain their patience reading about foregone conclusions. I personally still found it interesting.

Great way to learn from the pros how they're making music
This was a valuable primer for me even long after I started producing my own records with digital technology. It always helps beginning and mid-level musicians and producers to get real-world insights into how the pros are using the tools, and this book is dedicated to providing those "snapshots." A great addition to any home recordists' library.

Creative Insights are the Big Value
I liked this book quite a bit; not because it gave me step-by-step instructions on how to create music using digital technology, but more to the point because it didn't. Any book on music technology can become dated quite quickly, but when one concentrates instead on hearing a very wide variety of artists, producers, technologists and industry executives talk about how they *think*, then you have something that if not timeless is at least fresh and interesting for some time. Knowing how Todd Rundgren approaches producing or songwriting is way more valuable than knowing which button in ProTools does pitch correction.

Feels "dated" an no longer relevant to me....
Honestly I'm surprised by most of the reviews I see here giving this book 5 stars. Most of the people in the book, I personally don't hold in the highest regard. They all seem "past their prime" and many sound like they are remeniscing on how it used to be. In terms of the books title "Insider reveal their creative secrets." .. I find this laughable. I've read through the entire book, and there are very few concrete, CLEAR ideas on how to improve your musical craft. If you're a person that likes to learn through explicit instruction, then this book is definitely not for you. If you simply want to read interviews from some semi-relevant people that were in the music biz at one time, then this book may be for you. I would highly recommend going to your local bookstore and scanning through a few pages before spending your money.

Timely Insights in the bold, brave digital music space.
Kelli Richards and David Battino have done a tremendous job bringing in the masters of this space to reveal where we are and we are going in this revoloutionary time.
On a personal level, and as an artist/producer in this space, I found great take aways from people I have studied, admired and in some cases, worked directly with over the years including Herbie Hancock, Todd Rundgren, Don Was, Thomas Dolby and Brian Eno.
I highly recommend this insightful and inspired writing. 5 stars!! ... Read more