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Title: Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science by Bob Katz ISBN: 0-240-80545-3 Publisher: Focal Press Pub. Date: 26 November, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $39.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (6 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Difficult to understand..
Comment: I relied upon the several positive reviews on this book but I was a bit disappointed. Yes, the book does have an incredible amount of information. It does explain very thoroughly all the concepts, acronyms and just about everything else. The only problem here is it's almost too much.
I purchased this book with the intention of learning how to master properly by using a compressor effectively, making my mix punchier, etc. This book talks about all of those things but in such a round-about way that it's far from a step-by-step guide to mastering. This is more of the history of mastering, how it has changed in the studio, and how you need to be extremely technically proficient to really even follow what he's saying half the time. For example, he breaks out into a long discussion comparing mastering on 24-bit versus 16-bit and how you need to account for differences mathematically, how changing the sampling rate from 48khz to 44.1Khz needs to be corrected,e tc. These are all very valid and useful things to know but I was not able to find any step-by-step tutorials. The reason why they don't exist here is because the author does not believe there is any one approach to mastering, and that there is no magical formula. I can understand that too, but I need something to point me in the right direction. For example, if he told me that cutting ##Hz frequencies and boosting ##Khz frequencies typically provide a "punchy" mix, at least I would have a reference point for what he's talking about. There is simply no such thing here. Maybe I'm asking too much but I really would have liked to have a CD-ROM with examples and explanations of the various tweaks he talks about.
Overall, this is a good book, but far from a "Mastering For Dummies" type of book.
Rating: 5
Summary: The mastering engineers bible.
Comment: Everyone will learn something from this book. People with childs tape recorders or $10,000 digital studios will learn something in this book that will make their mixes sound better. Bob Katz is a genious! This book is very well put together. I like the way its organized, and I love how detailed it can get. Of course, for you simple people, Bob does a great job of summing up the basics to. For the first time lately, I can listen to a mix of my band and say, wow, that actually sounds real! Rather than..ouch. I owe it all to Bob Katz. Dont even think about touching another fader until you read this book! It has many examples and graphs, and helpful tips. It covers many aspects of masterings and also the gear many engineers use. This book goes through many real life examples as well, which really come in handy. It also descirbes many things NOT to do, which I find very very helpful. Anyway, whether your running a Tascam tape deck, a yamaha 16G, own Wavelab, or nothing at all, this book will help you in many ways. Its worth more than I paid for it :-)!
Rating: 5
Summary: Quality, Quality, Quality
Comment: I've acquired many books about audio over the years, but this book is definitely in my top five list. I would recommend this book to any hobbyist or professional, without hesitation.
The author addresses his subject with enthusiasm, clarity, and balance. What strikes me the most about this book is its emphasis on quality. Everything, from the book's design, to the writing itself, to the principles engendered, is high quality.
Too many books are thrown together (it seems to me) using a combination of notes, spec sheets, opinions, and other miscellany, without proper regard for overall cohesiveness, comprehensiveness, and quality. The results are far too often mediocre.
This book, "Mastering Audio" by Bob Katz is an example of a high quality effort, attention to detail, and a passion for the subject matter. This author did not settle for writing a mediocre book. After I bought it and read, I felt I got more than my money's worth!
The book achieves a nice balance between theory and practice, though it is mostly about practice. The color plates, diagrams, pictures, etc, are very enjoyable and instructive. Again, quality seems to be at the heart of this work.
(I can't see this guy doing anything in a mediocre way, whether it is recording, mastering, or writing. I'd love to tour his recording studio and watch him at work work).
The other thing I like is the writing style, the sense of humor, and the straightforward manner the author has. He cuts through a lot of cruft and says things lucidly without pretention.
The book is peppered with interesting tidbits, facts, observations, and principles, called out in side-boxes, etc.
The author stresses the need for education (in this area and related areas). This is a welcome message, and something I agree with strongly, whether you're mainly a listener, a performer, or an engineer.
I have many books on my shelf, but there are a few that I consider "a cut above". This book is one of those books.
Highly recommended.
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Title: The Mixing Engineer's Handbook by Bobby Owsinski ISBN: 0872887235 Publisher: Hal Leonard Pub. Date: 01 November, 1999 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: Professional Microphone Techniques by David Miles Huber and Philip Williams ISBN: 0872886859 Publisher: Hal Leonard Pub. Date: 01 December, 1998 List Price(USD): $39.95 |
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Title: The Art of Mixing : Visual Guide to Recording, Engineering and Production by David Gibson ISBN: 0918371171 Publisher: MixBooks Pub. Date: 01 July, 1997 List Price(USD): $49.95 |
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Title: Behind the Glass: Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits by Howard Massey ISBN: 0879306149 Publisher: Backbeat Books Pub. Date: 30 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: The Mastering Engineer's Handbook by Bobby Owsinski ISBN: 0872887413 Publisher: Hal Leonard Pub. Date: 01 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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