Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Music    3. Recording & Reproduction    4. Stereo & Audio Equipment    5. Technology & Industrial Arts    6. Music / Recording & Reproduction   

Reviews (9)

Too technical for and audio "engineer"?!? LOL
This book is an update of Everest's classic "Acoustic Design for Home and Studio". It is great for what it is. For more capable types, Everest's "Master" book is more complete. This one has the basics. For those who thought this is too technical, I wonder how they expect to deal with the other aspects of audio engineering. Just knowing how to twist a knob is not a path to excellence.
too technical
if you are on a financial budget, you are likely on a time budget, and this book can be a time sucker.it reminded my of my high school trigonometry book.I didn't spend much time with that, either.To the defense of the writer, my friends in the business who actually know what they are doing, swear by this guy and his books.I, however, am just trying to make a room in my house sound a little better, and could care less to know about the science behind it any more than I care about the science behind a combustion engine while I'm driving.I recommend 'basic home studio design' by paul white.simple, small, easy, the minimum that you need to know- but as much as i think 90% would need.

WAAAAY TOO TECHNICAL
Too much time spent on the mathematics of sound transfer and acoustics.Not enough on how to build the studio.Could not find a "complete parts list" for any of the plans.This is not for someone looking to build a simple studio.Very technical and boring. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Architectural Acoustics    3. Design and construction    4. Electronics - General    5. Reference    6. Sound studios    7. Stereo & Audio Equipment    8. Technology    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Television & Video    11. Music recording & reproduction    12. Technology / Electronics / General   

Reviews (17)

If you want to code your own software
I came across with this book in my search of free loudspeaker design code. If you are planning to code a simple program which will help you in your everyday work, like finding the right size of a box (vented or sealed) depending on the alignment tables or finding the values of a n th order filter, there is a BASIC code at the end of this book which can ease your work. Although the code belongs to an ancient BASIC compiler, the algorithm is quite useful and easy to follow. I have converted the code into C++ and ported it to HP 49G+ with HP-GCC easily. The rest of the book covers some details about building enclosures and the basics of designing a successful multi-way loudspeaker system.

This is a very good reference
Like some of the others I started with the first edition of this book it is the single best guide I have found for getting started. While now dated it is still as valid as ever since design concepts have not changed. As for those that say one no longer needs to measure driver parameters because the are now published with the drivers, think again. I have found it common that measured parameters will vary as much as 30% from those published. I personally took the formulae and created Excel spreadsheets to automate things. BTW I own several editions of Vance Dickenson's book and still consider this a better reference especially for the beginner.

Good for some, not so good for others.....
This book may be a little complicated for begginers into the audio world.Also don't be fooled by the name of the book, this book does NOT tell you how to design and make speakers, rather, speaker systems.As in, 4-5 speakers and a subwoofer.Although, this book does touch on why speakers do certain things, along with distortions, and all those little goodies that rob you of true quatlity!It will also help you on designing different types of enclosures for all audio. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Amateurs' manuals    3. Design and construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Loudspeakers    6. Stereo & Audio Equipment    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Television & Video    10. DIY    11. Electronics & Communications Engineering    12. Technology / Television & Video   

Reviews (11)

A Must havefor success w/o being a genius
I bought this book in Austin about 5 years ago.read it back to cover several times and acyually had a few questions.I emailed Mr. White a few years back & he kindly got back to me in a pinch with some helpful advice.I have just finished my second solo CD ("Barstool Blues", on London-Based OCHRE RECORDS, due out late June 2004) and apllied many of the things i learned from his book to my record.I even gave him AND HIS BOOK props in the CD booklet. One of the best (and cheapest) investments i ever made, by far.And i'd recommend it to anyone, be it a novice or George Martin.(ok, maybe not Geroge Martin, but you know what i mean.)

A darn good book.
I've run sound at church and play in a Christian rock band, but I never quite grasped the concepts of sound design and how the equipment works until I read this book. I may not be able to walk into Carnegie hall and EQ the room as well as a seasoned pro, but I understand the basics: how Ohm's law works and why it's important, what channel inserts do, and why sometimes there's a fourth dial on a 3-band EQ. White has a good sense of humor and kept me laughing through most of the book. That's more than I can say about most technical manuals.

Wrong Approach for Beginners
It seems that "made easy" in the title refers to how brief and shallow the author has covered much of the topics in this book.There are a few gems but not enough to justify using it to teach beginners about sound systems.The author also bumps into some very technical topics after just a few pages of introduction (which has too much tongue-in-cheek humor).Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Equipment and supplies    3. Music    4. Music/Songbooks    5. Recording & Reproduction    6. Recording and reproducing    7. Reference    8. Sound    9. Stereo & Audio Equipment    10. Music / Reference    11. Music recording & reproduction   

Subjects:  1. Instruction & Study - Techniques    2. Music    3. Reference    4. Songbooks - General    5. Stereo & Audio Equipment    6. Technology & Industrial Arts    7. Computers / General    8. Music / Reference    9. Music recording & reproduction   

Reviews (5)

Glad it was cheap
This book is nothing like I expected. It's more about actually building a studio in your home as opposed to modifying things to coexist with a studio. It's from the UK, so some of the terminology is a little different, and parts are very technical.I guess I was looking for "Home Studios for Idiots", and this ain't it! This might be good if you have more room-time-money, than I do.

simple, perfect
...just enough information.I'm busy, man, so are you - you are a project musician trying to build a project studio, probably wondering to yourself how in the world owens corning 703 can be so difficult to find...you need a book with simple diagrams, simple language to tell you what you need to know.If you are building a room for bob clearmountain, then this ain't for you- if you are like the rest of the 99% of us just trying to fit a studio into your exisiting space on a budget- I think that this is the way to go....

no nonsense
People tend to criticize this book because it's too small and basic. Big deal! It's priced accordingly and the title clearly says"Basic". That aside, the information is as clear and concise and no-nonsense as you can get for this subject. I've read several more "complete" and technical books on the subject, and it was only until I read this book that things actually came into perspective. Believe me, there is no better book to get a clear overview on how to build a small, efficient studio. After that, and armed with foreknowlege, you can get the technical stuff. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design and construction    2. General    3. Music    4. Music/Songbooks    5. Recording & Reproduction    6. Sound studios    7. Stereo & Audio Equipment    8. Electronics & Communications Engineering    9. Music recording & reproduction   

Reviews (2)

Not yet recieved
I have for a couple of months tried get the product Sound Advice on Compressors, Limiters, Expanders, & Gates (Instantpro Series)
'Limited' information, even for a small book like this
I always start reading 'tutorial' books by examining the table of contents. This looked promising. But An hour and a half or so later I finished the last page feeling disappointed. Expanders and Gates are mentioned only briefly, while the rest of the book deals with compressors and limiters. What can you tell? Most of the material is repeated 4 times or more. I think this whole book could easiliy be rewritten in 40 pages. As for the CD examples: some are helpfull, but they are most of the time not very convincing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Instruction & Study - Techniques    2. Instruction & Study - Theory    3. Music    4. Reference    5. Songbooks - General    6. Stereo & Audio Equipment    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Computers / General    9. Music / Reference    10. Music recording & reproduction   

Reviews (1)

Excellent survey of past and current audio amp designs
Very clearly written survey of the art of audio amplifier design over the last 50 years.Covers early tube amps, including classic McIntosh, Quad, Williamson, Ultralinear examples as well as OTL designs.Superb review ofevolution of transistor amps from early efforts evolved from tube designs,60s quasi-complementary designs, 70s differential amps with fullcomplementary output, 80s MOSFET applications.Many examples dissected,and plenty of theory but not a cookbook for making amps.Does overlap someof his earlier books, so if you have them you may not find a lot of newcontent.Overall, best current survey on this topic around, clearlywritten by an expert, a pleasure to read cover to cover if you arefascinated by audio amplifier design. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Amplifiers, Vacuum-tube    3. Audio amplifiers    4. Counseling - Vocational Guidance    5. Electronic Apparatus And Devices    6. Electronic Circuits    7. Electronics - Transistors    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Stereo & Audio Equipment    10. Technology    11. Technology & Industrial Arts    12. Transistor audio amplifiers    13. Circuits & components    14. Communications engineering / telecommunications    15. Electrician skills    16. Technology / Acoustics & Sound   

Reviews (3)

A must have reference
References of that sort are seldom found. Perhaps not really suited for direct design application, it however provides extremely diverse information and insight into the different technologiesfor making loudspeakers and ways other components in the audio path interact with them. The bass-reflex principles and passive baffle for example are explained quite precisely and concisely. Surprisingly though, I didn't see a mention of the semi-active baffle, where a short circuited loudspeaker is used as the secondary vibrating body. The chapter on headphones however is unique. I don't know of a better presentation in a book reference format, than this one.

useful
1.will help in speaker selection for those interested in selecting decent speakers. Difficult to get through
Symbols and nomenclature used for mathematical equations is often non-standard. The organization of information is somewhat disoriented. Often symbology is not explained. Though the information contained is plentiful and probably complete, it was difficult to discern what formulae applied to what. The book appears to have been written for one who didn't need the book to begin with. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Recording & Reproduction    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Sound Systems Engineering    5. Stereo & Audio Equipment    6. Technology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Communications engineering / telecommunications    9. Music / Recording & Reproduction   

Reviews (4)

A Great BookFor what It Was Intended
Sometimes I see people give this series of books "so so" reviews. This book, and others in the Pual White "Basic" series are made to be a small reference book. These books are about the size of a pocket dictionary, plus it only cost 8 bucks. If you are looking for something that has every detail on the subject just keep looking. If you need something that gives a good overview and makes a good book to throw in a gig bag, this is the book you are looking for.

Great Read
This book is a great read, and a bargain at 8 bucks. It gave me a great overall understanding about how effects and processors work in the studio. I had some previous knowledge on the subject, but had many questions answered by the book. I would recomend this book to anyone who wants to clarify their knowlege on the subject. Some topics included are: insert points, aux sends, eq for certain instruments, gates, compressors, and more. You can't afford to not buy this book.

Basic Effects & Processors
Another great book from Paul White! Well written and valuable for the practising musician as well as the home studio recording entusiasts. A must to your pocket sized collection series. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Music    3. Music/Songbooks    4. Recording & Reproduction    5. Stereo & Audio Equipment    6. Electronics & Communications Engineering    7. Music recording & reproduction   

Reviews (3)

Everything I my mixer manual didn't tell me.
This book is great.I am a home recordist.I have just recorded myself alone even though I have this big 48 track recording console.I had a few questions about the way stuff worked.How do you use the monitoring/auxiler channels to set up a headphone mix?This book answered that question and many more.It didn't seem boring, it was a 2-3 hour read, going from interesting topic to interestic topic.The book just seemed to explain everything I wanted to know, and touch up on it enough times to drill it into my ADD-injungled (is that a word?) brain.Like it had a little bitty live section that explained what engineers are doing when they ring out a PA, explained pink noise, and just about everything you could expect to see on any console.This isn't a book for those "wanting" to buy a console, or people who "think" they know the basics, you'll be lost and bash it.But if you already know quite a lot about signal flow, and CARE to learn more, you will absolutly love this book.I plan on reading again in a few weeks, there are a bazillion little tips that I am happy knowing before going into my first session with a band.This little-bitty book is supurb.NOTE:I found a lot of the material in this book at...The author is the leading writer for that magazine.For [$$$], you have no excuse why not to give this book a shot though!

Look Elsewhere
Paul White has a nice little earner going with these titles. They actually tell you very little specific, practical information about each subject. They do however contain a lot ofgeneralisations which anyone with a slight understanding of audio engineering could come up with. The book on digital audio didn't even include a means of calculating how much disk space is required for digital audio files, something that is very important as well as fundamental to the subject. Every book also contains between 50 and 70 pages of the same glossary.

A must-have for the budding home studio owner
Paul White has written a small format, straightforward, up to date, no-nonsense book about mixing audio signals either in a studio environment or for live sound. Despite its diminutive size (this book will actually fitin any pocket), there is a lot of information presented in a logical andconcise manner, with illustrations, a table of contents and a helpful44-page glossary section at the end. It feels decidedly British in sentencestructure and spelling ("equaliser" instead of"equalizer" etc.) The lack of an index is almost unnoticed,because of the logical flow of information; the table of contents helps inzeroing in on the precise location of the information being sought out.Being a part-time home recording hobbyist, this book has clarified severalconcepts in mixing for me. For just a little more than the price of amagazine, I wholeheartedly recommend this 207 page book to anyoneinterested in mixing live or studio sounds. By the way 1) the title of thebook is actually "basic mixers" and 2) this is only one of aseries of books from the same author on several topics in modern audiorecording and production techniques (published in 1999-2000 by the BritishSound on sound magazine). I am seriously thinking about getting a couplemore of these guides... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Music    3. Music/Songbooks    4. Recording & Reproduction    5. Stereo & Audio Equipment    6. Audio processing: music & sound effects    7. Music recording & reproduction   

Reviews (9)

Guide to Guitar and Amp Maintenance
It's not bad for the price... I've referred to it a couple of times for simple stuff... really this book is ideal for a beginer who know nothing of working on guitars..... as for amps its a little more detailed but still novice at best..... mostly contains how to clean do very minor repair (removing scratches)how to intonate your guitar, etc etc etc....... all in all I felt it was worth the nine bucks......

OK for starts
This book has helped me start to understand my guitar and amp and how they interact. That alone could justify the price of the book.
A good book for the basics
Most of "The Complete guide to guitar and amp maintence"is devoted to guitar while a smaller section is for amps.This is a guide for basic MAINTENANCE!!!!!It will not help you do a refret or a complete amp overhaul. This book concentrates on how to setup your guitar for playing comfort and tone and how to troubleshoot your amp and possibly set the bias.A good book for the guitarist who doesn't want to drag his guitar and amp to the shop for a set up every year. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Genres & Styles - Electronic    2. Music    3. Music/Songbooks    4. Musical Instruments - Guitar    5. Reference    6. Stereo & Audio Equipment    7. Music / Reference   

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Counseling - Vocational Guidance    3. Electronic Equipment Maintenance And Repair    4. Electronic circuits    5. Electronics - Circuits - General    6. Equipment and supplies    7. Equipment, Appliances & Supplies    8. Household electronics    9. Maintenance and repair    10. Recording and reproducing    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Sound    13. Sound Systems Engineering    14. Stereo & Audio Equipment    15. Technology    16. Technology & Industrial Arts    17. Circuits & components    18. Electronic devices & materials    19. Technology / Engineering / Electrical   

Reviews (1)

Title is a bit misleading!
This book DOES NOT teach you audio basics such as audio theory. Nor is it aimed at "seasoned" audiophiles with an interest in recording or "Live" sound. None of that is in this book. "Well, what's it good for"? you may ask. While this book is not intended to be a Reference book this book is great if you're a service technician that works on consumer audio equipment. It does a GREAT JOB on giving you troubleshhoting tips and procedures and a little bit of theory on the operation and servicing of CD players, DATs, AM/FM receivers(the audio sections only,not RF) and VHS HI-FI VCR's (Remember those?).
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Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Electronics - Circuits - General    3. Equipment and supplies    4. Maintenance and repair    5. Recording and reproducing    6. Reference    7. Sound    8. Sound Systems Engineering    9. Stereo & Audio Equipment    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Communications engineering / telecommunications    12. Technology / Acoustics & Sound   

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Music    3. Music/Songbooks    4. Musical Instruments - Percussion    5. Stereo & Audio Equipment    6. Percussion instruments   

Reviews (1)

A very comprehensive book...
This book gives a very good insight as to the different aspects of sound engineering in a semi technical albeit basic approach. The various theories like microphones, stereo, mixing, PA, basic acoustics and the like are covered here. It is a more practical approach to engineering, where many of the details wouldn't help in a real recording session. Geeks would be better looking for some other title as the details aren't very technical in a numbers and facts sort of way, it is more of a descriptive style.
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Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Recording & Reproduction    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Stereo & Audio Equipment    5. Technology    6. Technology & Industrial Arts    7. Audio processing: music & sound effects    8. Electronics & Communications Engineering    9. Music / Recording & Reproduction   

Reviews (21)

Expansive review!
I have been keeping up with AV via periodicals and product pamphlets. This was to me not a lot of new information but for folks who are just starting out, this would be a GREAT place to begin. Not too tech-y, tech-y enough when it needs to be. A decent overall offering that does what it says.

NOT for Everyone
I purchased this book as a requirement for a new job.I recently left the practice of law and went to work for a company that designs, sells and installs home theaters.Having graduated from law school, one would think I could understand just about everything.Wrong.This book touts itself as one that is for the masses - the everyday schmo who is looking to do this themselves.While extraordinarily well written, it is NOT for everyone.It is overly complex and technical for the everyday guy and is more apropos for electrical engineers or experts in the field.finally, the issue I received was supposed to be a recent edition and, if it was, it's already painfully out of date and needs revamped.

Some good stuff here - Some is total nonsense!
Robert Harley is a "high-end audiophile" and you need to keep that in mind when reading thru any of his books. In "Home Theater For Everyone", he provides a lot of useful information.But he also supplies a lot of "hokum" as well. That is, there is much in this books that he states as fact when infact it is nothing more than his own (often erroneous) opinion.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computers    3. Home entertainment systems    4. Home video systems    5. Interactive & Multimedia    6. Stereo & Audio Equipment    7. Stereophonic sound systems    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Computers / Multimedia    10. Consumer guides & advice    11. DIY   

Reviews (12)

The best car audio book I have purchased
This is the best book on car audio I have purchased or even read. I highly recommend it to anyone building a system or just replacing a head unit. It is well written, yes it does get rather detailed about things, but that is what I was looking for. Thanks Mr Yoder, Cliff "Cyclops" Bryant

No stars for auto audio
I would rate this book at 0 stars if I could, but 1 star is the minimum. Just think about the fact that this book has an infinite number of pages which narrate the history of car audio, the first amplifiers and how they worked, the first transistors,bla bla bla. - All of this without explaining some usefull information such as wire connections, amp channel manipulation, etc. I bought this book but I was very disappointed. I read a lot of books about auto audio, and I must say that this book is not usefull at all, especially to beginners. Dont repeat my mistake by buying this book.

Definitely worth its money... and more!
Believe me when I tell you I was a complete novice where auto audio is concerned. While I have setup several home systems, I have always got all of my cars' systems professionally installed, with the shop providing recommendations on what to buy, etc. I had no real understanding of amps, pre-amps, cross-vers, impedance, etc.I didn't even know what speaker specifications to look for.Read more

Subjects:  1. Automobiles    2. Automotive    3. Automotive - Customizing    4. Automotive Electronics    5. Engineering - Automotive    6. Radio    7. Radio equipment    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Stereo & Audio Equipment    10. Technology    11. Automotive technology    12. Communications engineering / telecommunications    13. DIY    14. Electrician skills    15. Road & motor vehicles: general interest    16. Technology / Acoustics & Sound   

Reviews (4)

Good help for Amateurs and up. Also....
This book may be a little complicated for begginers into the audio world.Also don't be fooled by the name of the book, this book does NOT tell you how to design and make speakers, rather, speaker systems.As in, 4-5 speakers and a subwoofer.Although, this book does touch on why speakers do certain things, along with distortions, and all those little goodies that rob you of true quatlity!It will also help you on designing different types of enclosures for all audio.

I had a lot of fun this book and it has not stoped
I like this book. It has a unique SUBWOOFER BIAMP FILTERED CROSSOVER project (It's easy to build, works very well) And it has a really cool Jeep CJ box, And you keep the back seat. Nice if your a Dad with little ones. Covers speakers from Madisound, Kicker and MTX. Note front and back speaker projects. Not just Subs. The people from Madisound I found to bevery nice too. This BIAMP FILTERED CROSSOVER is not the same one as from his first book. (Killer Car Stereo on a Budget.)

No fuss, no hassle, straight to the point.
A very good book with detailed custom-made speaker projects for the front, rear (flush and surface mount) speakers and boxed woofers explained in clear and simple terms. The tips on making and cutting your own mount boards are especially useful.Read more

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Audio equipment    3. Automobiles    4. Automotive    5. Automotive - Customizing    6. Automotive Electronics    7. Electronics - General    8. Engineering - Automotive    9. Loudspeakers    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Sound Systems Engineering    12. Stereo & Audio Equipment    13. Technology    14. Automotive technology    15. Electronic devices & materials    16. Technology / Electronics / General   

Subjects:  1. Acoustics & Sound    2. Design and construction    3. General    4. Music    5. Music/Songbooks    6. Recording & Reproduction    7. Sound studios    8. Stereo & Audio Equipment    9. Audio processing: music & sound effects    10. Building construction & materials    11. Music / Recording & Reproduction    12. Music recording & reproduction    13. Technical design