Crank It Up: Live Sound Secrets of the Top Tour Engineers [Paperback]

Clive Young (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2004

The live concert business is exploding; hundreds of acts are hitting the road every year, and whatever style music they play, they need to sound great. How can you be at the controls for these show? Learn from this book! Meet 72 of the world's finest front-of-house and monitor engineers, and listen as they reveal what gear they use and how, how they make top acts always sound amazing, and what it takes to survive the climb to the big time. Get the inside scoop straight from concert engineers on the road with stars such as Aerosmith, KISS, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, U2, the Dixie Chicks, Blondie, Madonna, Norah Jones, Elton John, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and many others!

Editorial Reviews

Review

A must-read for any live sound mixer! -- Keith Hatscheck, chairman, Department of Music Management, University of the Pacific; author of

Anyone working in the music business needs to read this book; fans will find these tales accessible, informative, and entertaining. -- David McGee, author of

Crank It Up offers some illuminating insights into how the pros make live shows sound as good as they do. -- Billboard magazine, May 1, 2004

Without question, "Crank It Up" is mandatory reading for anyone who mixes live sound. -- Marvin Welkowitz, professor, live sound reinforcement, New York University.

From the Author

"Crank It Up" is kind of like having a chat in a bar with the world’s top live sound engineers (except you'll have to supply your own beer). Each chapter is an informal master class with master mixers, interviewed while they were on tour with specific big-name acts. You'll discover what gear they used, the ways they applied it, how they handled the biggest names in music, how they got started in the business, and lots more. In total, this book brings together some of the best road stories, tips, advice and insights engineers have told me over the last few years.

Even people who are just fans of the artists won't be disappointed--there's lots of interesting backstage stories, showing what it takes to put on a great show. If you're a fan who’s curious about the world backstage, after reading "Crank It Up," you'll never watch a concert the same way again.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879307781
• ISBN-13: 978-0879307783
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,021,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good facts and history book, July 5, 2006

By 

Steve Foreman III "Technology Child" (Glen Allen, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crank It Up: Live Sound Secrets of the Top Tour Engineers (Paperback)

I was looking to a "how to" book, I book which deal with techniques and method and style. I though this book would show me what they actually do. Not just explain the philosophy and list their gear. (Which most people can't afford unless they has huge client like those listed in this book. This aint it.

This book does show you who the big boy are, and how their careers has developed. So much is changing in Pro Audio right now, this book let you know where state of the art was, and perhaps where it is going. I'll keep it as a history and philosophy book , not a technique, skills and knowledge book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IT CRANKS and IT ROCKS!, July 21, 2005

By 

D. I. Streich "Amazonian" (Westchester, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crank It Up: Live Sound Secrets of the Top Tour Engineers (Paperback)

This is a great book that goes up to 11. If you're a music fan, and have ever shelled out big bucks for a show at the Garden, this is a valuable insider tool that lets you relive your favorite concert-going experiences, while introduces you to the technical aspects of how and why the show sounded so great.

The chapters about U2 and The Rolling Stones were compelling stories about finding problems from venue to venue on tours and the expert teams who come up with creative solutions that gel with these bands sounds that we've all been enjoying for years.

The audio experts interviewed and depicted in Crank It Up are the unsung heroes of the concert going experience, but Clive Young does in fact sing their praises, and he constructs a tale of intrigue and mystique about an entire profession that deserves to be noticed and recognized. No, I'm not in the business, but it's big business, it's show business, and this book is a wonderful read. I even found myself reading the chapters about the acts that I couldn't care less about (like Kid Rock and Creed), and have found very amusing anecdotes and useful information for when I decide to strap on a bass guitar and hit the road.

Bravo, Mr. Young! I'm looking forward to reading CRANK IT UP FURTHER!

18 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars ShowCo and Clair Brothers Promo Book, March 21, 2005

By 

FOH Engineer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crank It Up: Live Sound Secrets of the Top Tour Engineers (Paperback)

Please, Please do NOT buy this book! I bought it just as I was starting my first FOH sound engineering position. Don't be fooled, there are absolutely no tips in this book. It does not in any way help a new or longtime sound guy. The only suggestion in the entire book was that a tube compressor might sound good on drums and I just told you about that. The rest of the book is just promoting ShowCo and Clair Brothers sound companies. Put your money into anything but this. Honestly, this is the first book I have ever thrown away after reading it!!!!!