Book Description
This best-selling book introduces you to the principles of sound, perception, audio technology and systems. Whilst offering vital reading for audio students and trainee engineers, this guide is ideal for anyone concerned with audio, sound and recording, beginners and professionals alike.
This new edition is bang up to date, with a new chapter on sound quality, expanded information on sequecing, rewire and digital audio synchonisation, pitch correction and blue ray disk.
Table of Contents
- Cover
- Halftitle
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Fact File Directory
- Preface to the Second Edition
- Preface to the Third Edition
- Preface to the Fourth Edition
- Preface to the Fifth Edition
- Preface to the Sixth Edition
- Chapter 1 What is Sound?
- A Vibrating Source
- Characteristics of a Sound Wave
- How Sound Travels in Air
- Simple and Complex Sounds
- Frequency Spectra of Repetitive Sounds
- Frequency Spectra of Non-repetitive Sounds
- Phase
- Sound in Electrical Form
- Displaying the Characteristics of a Sound Wave
- The Decibel
- Sound Power and Sound Pressure
- Free and Reverberant Fields
- Standing Waves
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 2 Auditory Perception
- The Hearing Mechanism
- Frequency Perception
- Loudness Perception
- Practical Implications of Equal-loudness Contours
- Spatial Perception
- Recommended Further Reading
- Recommended Listening
- Chapter 3 Microphones
- The Moving-coil or Dynamic Microphone
- The Ribbon Microphone
- The Capacitor or Condenser Microphone
- Directional Responses and Polar Diagrams
- Specialized Microphone Types
- Switchable Polar Patterns
- Stereo Microphones
- Microphone Performance
- Microphone Powering Options
- Radio Microphones
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 4 Loudspeakers
- The Moving-coil Loudspeaker
- Other Loudspeaker Types
- Mounting and Loading Drive Units
- Complete Loudspeaker Systems
- Active Loudspeakers
- Subwoofers
- Loudspeaker Performance
- Setting up Loudspeakers
- Thiele–Small Parameters and Enclosure Volume Calculations
- Digital Signal Processing in Loudspeakers
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 5 Mixers
- A Simple Six-channel Analog Mixer
- A Multitrack Mixer
- Channel Grouping
- An Overview of Typical Mixer Facilities
- EQ Explained
- Stereo Line Input Modules
- Dedicated Monitor Mixer
- Technical Specifications
- Metering Systems
- Automation
- Digital Mixers
- Mixers with Integrated Control of Digital Workstations
- Introduction to Mixing Approaches
- Basic Operational Techniques
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 6 Analog Recording
- A Short History of Analog Recording
- Magnetic Tape
- The Magnetic Recording Process
- The Tape Recorder
- Magnetic Recording Levels
- What are Test Tapes For?
- Tape Machine Alignment
- Mechanical Transport Functions
- The Compact Cassette
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 7 Noise Reduction
- Why is Noise Reduction Required?
- Methods of Reducing Noise
- Line-up of Noise Reduction Systems
- Single-ended Noise Reduction
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 8 Digital Audio Principles
- Digital and Analog Recording Contrasted
- Binary for Beginners
- The Digital Audio Signal Chain
- Analog-to-Digital Conversion
- D/A Conversion
- Direct Stream Digital (DSD)
- Changing the Resolution of an Audio Signal (Requantization)
- Introduction to Digital Signal Processing
- Pitch Shifting and Time Stretching
- Audio Data Reduction
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 9 Digital Recording, Editing and Mastering Systems
- Digital Tape Recording
- Mass Storage-based Systems
- Audio Processing for Computer Workstations
- Mass Storage-based Editing System Principles
- Editing Software
- Mastering and Restoration
- Preparing for and Understanding Release Media
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 10 Digital Audio Formats and Interchange
- Audio File Formats for Digital Workstations
- Consumer Optical Disk Formats
- Interconnecting Digital Audio Devices
- Recommended Further Reading
- Websites
- Chapter 11 Power Amplifiers
- Domestic Power Amplifiers
- Professional Amplifier Facilities
- Specifications
- Coupling
- Chapter 12 Lines and Interconnection
- Transformers
- Unbalanced Lines
- Cable Effects with Unbalanced Lines
- Balanced Lines
- Working with Balanced Lines
- Star-quad Cable
- Electronic Balancing
- 100 Volt Lines
- 600 Ohms
- DI Boxes
- Splitter Boxes
- Jackfields (Patchbays)
- Distribution Amplifiers
- Chapter 13 Plug-ins and Outboard Equipment
- Plug-ins
- Outboard Equipment
- Connection of Outboard Devices
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 14 MIDI and Synthetic Audio Control
- Background
- What is MIDI?
- MIDI and Digital Audio Contrasted
- Basic Principles
- Interfacing a Computer to a MIDI System
- How MIDI Control Works
- MIDI Control of Sound Generators
- General MIDI
- Scalable Polyphonic MIDI (SPMIDI)
- RMID and XMF Files
- SAOL and SASL in MPEG 4 Structured Audio
- MIDI over USB
- MIDI over IEEE 1394
- After MIDI?
- Sequencing Software
- Recommended Further Reading
- Websites
- Chapter 15 Synchronization
- SMPTE/EBU Timecode
- Recording Timecode
- Machine Synchronizers
- Digital Audio Synchronization
- MIDI and Synchronization
- Synchronizing Audio/MIDI Computer Applications
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 16 Two-Channel Stereo
- Principles of Loudspeaker Stereo
- Principles of Binaural or Headphone Stereo
- Loudspeaker Stereo Over Headphones and Vice Versa
- Two-Channel Signal Formats
- Two-Channel Microphone Techniques
- Binaural Recording and ‘Dummy Head’ Techniques
- Spot microphones and Two-Channel Panning Laws
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 17 Surround Sound
- Three-Channel (3-0) Stereo
- Four-Channel Surround (3-1 Stereo)
- 5.1-Channel Surround (3-2 Stereo)
- Other Multichannel Configurations
- Surround Sound Systems
- Matrixed Surround Sound Systems
- Digital Surround Sound Formats
- Ambisonics
- Surround Sound Monitoring
- Surround Sound Recording Techniques
- Multichannel Panning Techniques
- Recommended Further Reading
- Chapter 18 Sound Quality
- What is Sound Quality?
- Methods of Sound Quality Evaluation
- Aspects of Audio System Performance Affecting Sound Quality
- Recommended Further Reading
- Appendix Record Players
- Pickup Mechanics
- RIAA Equalization
- Cartridge Types
- Connecting Leads
- Arm Considerations
- Laser Pickups
- Recommended Further Reading
- Glossary of Terms
- General Further Reading
- Index