Acoustics

Critical Listening Skills for Audio Professionals

Audio productions are made or broken by the quality of the recording engineer's ears. The ability to properly discern sounds, identify subtle problems, and act accordingly to apply the necessary fix makes all the difference in the quality of the final tracks and master. The good news is that these crucial skills can be learned. The ability to instantly identify frequencies, hear hidden distortions, and instinctively reconcile conflicts in the EQ of instruments, audio elements, vocals and more are traits of those who have mastered the art of audio production. The best engineers have trained their ears to immediately recognize audio problems that the consumer and those new to recording arts would likely not hear, but that, if left unresolved, would result in an amateurish final product. For more than two decades, students of F. Alton Everest's Critical Listening and Auditory Perception courses have rapidly developed these skills by using the intense lessons found in this book and on the CD. Unfortunately the books and CDs included with the course were usually too expensive for aspiring engineers to purchase and were often available only in colleges, universities, or school libraries. Now for the first time these indispensable training sessions are available with this release of Critical Listening Skills for Audio Professionals. Through hundreds of illustrations and an accompanying disc containing high-resolution MP3 files with nearly five hours of narration of the entire course, you can acquire the audio discernment skills of a seasoned recording engineer by studying this course at your own pace, in your own home.

Master Handbook of Acoustics

The goal of this book is to apply the principles of acoustics to the audio arts. This involves serving as an interpreter of major trends and the literature for students and practitioners in the audio field. Along with covering the more theoretical aspects of acoustics, the book applies the theory to the design of specialized audio spaces such as the home listening room, the control room, and the multi-track-recording studio.

Architectural Acoustics (J. Ross Publishing Classics)

Authored by David Egan, one of the foremost authorities in the field of architectural acoustics, this architecture classic presents in a highly illustrated format the principles of design for good hearing and freedom from noise in and around buildings. The more than 540 illustrations are not merely supplements to the text but serve as the core of the basic principles of sound and hearing, sound absorption and noise reduction, sound isolation and criteria for noise, control of HVAC systems noise and vibrations, auditorium acoustics design, and electronic sound systems. Architectural Acoustics is a must have for architects, interior designers, engineers, consultants, students and all others concerned with the design and construction of buildings. An unabridged J. Ross Publishing republication of the edition published by McGraw-Hill, New York, 1988, 448pp. Key Features - Offers more than 540 illustrations to visually explain basic acoustic engineering principles with complete clarity and tables of engineering data that further enhance understanding and the usefulness of the text - Contains many valuable checklists of design aids, data tables of sound absorption and sound isolation properties for a wide variety of building materials - Presents case study examples of common problems and step-by-step practical solutions - Provides handy access to useful formulas, a metric system conversion table, a summary of common building acoustics terms, and extensive references

Sound Studio Construction on a Budget

From one of the world's leading acoustics experts, this nuts-and-bolts book offers complete instructions and guidance for building your own inexpensive sound studio. Anyone with a discerning ear and a modicum of electronics skills can follow the clear plans for 10 designs, which include a voice-over recording studio; recording studios for modern, classical, and rock music; a home theater; small announce booth; control room; and music listening room. All projects are fully illustrated and accompanied by complete part lists.

Concert Halls and Opera Houses: Music, Acoustics, and Architecture

This illustrated guide to 100 of the world's most important concert halls and opera houses examines their architecture and engineering and discusses their acoustical quality as judged by conductors and music critics. The descriptions and photographs will serve as a valuable guide for today's peripatetic performers and music lovers. With technical discussions relegated to appendices, the book can be read with pleasure by anyone interested in musical performance. The photographs (specially commissioned for this book) and architectural drawings (all to the same scale) together with modern acoustical data on each of the halls provide a rich and unmatched resource on the design of halls for presenting musical performances. Together with the technical appendices, the data and drawings will serve as an invaluable reference for architects and engineers involved in the design of spaces for the performance of music. Leo Beranek is an internationally recognized authority in acoustics who has consulted on the design of dozens of important auditoriums around the World. He has received the highest honors of the Acoustical Society of America and of the Audio Engineering Society and has just been awarded the US National Medal of Science at the White House (Oct. 2003).

Advance praise for Leo Beranek's "Concert Halls and Opera Houses: Music, Acoustics, and Architecture" 2^nd edition —

PHILIP GOSSETT, PROFESSOR OF MUSIC, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

Given the many controversies surrounding the acoustical properties of concert halls and opera houses, it is a relief to be guided by someone who is both a scientist and a devoted listener. Here, the mysteries of acoustics seem less intimidating: we come to understand why music sounds the way it does in various performance spaces, and what we can do about it. It's a terrific book!

I. M. PEI, ARCHITECT, NEW YORK[This book] provides an invaluable reference for the understanding and design of music facilities.

JOHN WILLIAMS, COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR, LOS ANGELESDr. Beranek has created a comprehensive and fascinating study of 100 of the world's halls for music. Visiting each of these venues would be a great delight and a marvelous adventure, but such being impractical, this great book is the next best thing. All lovers of music, acoustics, architecture, and travel will enjoy this unique work.

Understanding and Crafting the Mix, Second Edition: The Art of Recording

Understanding and Crafting the Mix gives you clear and systematic methods for identifying, evaluating, and shaping the artistic elements in music and audio recording. The exercises throughout help you to develop critical listening and evaluating skills and gain greater control over the quality of your recordings.
William Moylan takes an inside look into a range of popular music, including recordings by The Beatles, offering you insights into making meaningful sound judgements during recording. Sample production sequences and descriptions of the recordists roles as composer, conductor and performer provides you with a clear view of the entire recording process.
The foreword has graciously been provided by industry legend Rupert Neve.
The book also includes an audio CD featuring exercises, reference materials, examples of mixes and sound qualities, and tracks and instructions for setting up and evaluating playback systems.

* Unique in its focus on the aesthetics of recording and mixing and how to apply these to the mixing desk
* Improve your critical listening skills with the series of exercises
* Real life examples and popular music used throughout - also includes FREE CD-ROM with audio clips and demos

Foundations of Engineering Acoustics

Foundations of Engineering Acoustics takes the reader on a journey from a qualitative introduction to the physical nature of sound, explained in terms of common experience, to mathematical models and analytical results which underlie the techniques applied by the engineering industry to improve the acoustic performance of their products. The book is distinguished by extensive descriptions and explanations of audio-frequency acoustic phenomena and their relevance to engineering, supported by a wealth of diagrams, and by a guide for teachers of tried and tested class demonstrations and laboratory-based experiments.
Foundations of Engineering Acoustics is a textbook suitable for both senior undergraduate and postgraduate courses in mechanical, aerospace, marine, and possibly electrical and civil engineering schools at universities. It will be a valuable reference for academic teachers and researchers and will also assist Industrial Acoustic Group staff and Consultants.

Comprehensive and up-to-date: broad coverage, many illustrations, questions, elaborated answers, references and a bibliography
Introductory chapter on the importance of sound in technology and the role of the engineering acoustician
Deals with the fundamental concepts, principles, theories and forms of mathematical representation, rather than methodology
Frequent reference to practical applications and contemporary technology
Emphasizes qualitative, physical introductions to each principal as an entrée to mathematical analysis for the less theoretically oriented readers and courses
Provides a 'cook book' of demonstrations and laboratory-based experiments for teachers
Useful for discussing acoustical problems with non-expert clients/managers because the descriptive sections are couched in largely non-technical language and any jargon is explained
Draws on the vast pedagogic experience of the writer

Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, Third Edition

Acoustics and Psychoacoustics is ideal for students of music technology, sound recording, traditional music and acoustics, as well as engineers studying audio, multimedia and communications systems. Gain a practical understanding of how real musical sounds behave and are perceived in real spaces with this accessible and interesting read.

This third edition offers a CD of audio examples, crucial for a clear understanding of the concepts discussed.

Visit the book's supporting website at http://books.elsevier.com/0240519957 for additional resources such as:
* Questions and exercises to test your knowledge
* Web links for further resources and research
* Audio clips
* Calculation facilities (eg. adding decibel values and converting between frequency ratio and cents/semitones)
This website can also be reached via www.focalpress.com

* A broad-ranging introduction to acoustics and psychoacoustics
* Gain a practical understanding of the subject with this highly accessible guide
* For a clear understanding of the concepts discussed follow the accompanying CD of audio examples

Handbook for Sound Engineers, Third Edition

Handbook for Sound Engineers is the most comprehensive reference available for audio engineers. Written by many of the top professionals in the field, including Glen Ballou on interpretation systems, intercoms, assistive listening, and image projection; Ken Pohlmann on compact discs and DVDs; David Miles Huber on MIDI; Dr. Eugene Patronis on amplifier design and outdoor sound systems; Bill Whitlock on audio transformers and preamplifiers; Pat Brown on fundamentals and gain structures; Ray Rayburn on virtual systems and digital interfacing; and Dr. Wolfgang Ahnert on computer-aided sound system design and acoustics for concert halls.

* The most complete reference work on sound engineering on the market

* Contributors are the leading experts in their fields

* Explains MIDI, cinema sound, transformers, consoles, and more

Principles of Vibration and Sound

This book discusses the physics of mechanical vibrating systems, emphasizing normal modes of vibration. Beginning with the basics of free and forced motions of a simple harmonic oscillator (with electrical analogs indicated where appropriate), it goes on to discuss vibrations in one-dimensional systems, such as strings and bars, and two-dimensional systems, such as membranes and plates. The discussion of coupled systems includes strong as well as weak coupling and presents both mechanical and electrical examples. The treatment includes nonlinear systems and self-excited oscillators, as well as a brief explanation of modal analysis, including finite-element methods and modal testing. The concluding third of the book discusses the propagation of sound in air, including radiation, transmission, absorption, and diffraction. The treatment of radiation covers point, dipole, line, plane, and other sources, both with and without baffles. Propagation of sound in various kinds and shapes of pipes, horns and other acoustic components is discussed. Suitable as a text for advanced undergraduates, the book provides the foundations needed to understand the acoustics of rooms and musical instruments as well as the basics for scientists and engineers interested in noise and vibration. The new edition will have new chapters on: transducers, room acoustics, atmospheric propagation, and noise. The other chapters will be brought up to date (incorporating all revisions made in the latest edition of "The Physics of Musical Instruments").