Art of Digital Audio, Third Edition [Hardcover]

John Watkinson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240515870 | ISBN-13: 978-0240515878 | Publication Date: January 11, 2001 | Edition: 3

Described as "the most comprehensive book on digital audio to date", it is widely acclaimed as an industry "bible". Covering the very latest developments in digital audio technology, it provides an thorough introduction to the theory as well as acting as an authoritative and comprehensive professional reference source. Everything you need is here from the fundamental principles to the latest applications, written in an award-winning style with clear explanations from first principles.



New material covered includes internet audio, PC audio technology, DVD, MPEG audio compression, digital audio broadcasting and audio networks.

Whether you are in the field of audio engineering, sound recording, music technology, broadcasting and communications media or audio design and installation, this book has it all. Written by a leading international audio specialist, who conducts professional seminars and workshops around the world, the book has been road tested for many years by professional seminar attendees and students to ensure their needs are taken into account, and all the right information is covered.

This new edition now includes:

Internet audio
PC Audio technology
DVD
MPEG Audio compression
Digital Audio Broadcasting
Audio networks

Digital audio professionals will find everything they need here, from the fundamental principles to the latest applications, written in an award-winning style with clear explanations from first principles.

John Watkinson is an international consultant in audio, video and data recording. He is a Fellow of the AES, a member of the British Computer Society and a chartered information systems practitioner. He presents lectures, seminars, conference papers and training courses worldwide. He is the author of many other Focal Press books, including: the Kraszna-Krausz award winning MPEG-2; The Art of Digital Audio; An Introduction to Digital Video; The Art of Sound Reproduction; An Introduction to Digital Audio; TV Fundamentals and Audio for Television. He is also co-author, with Francis Rumsey, of The Digital Interface Handbook, and contributor to the Loudspeaker and Headphone Handbook, 3rd edition.

· The 'Bible' of Digital Audio
· Get everything you need on digital audio in just one book
· Gain a thorough understanding of all the latest technology

Editorial Reviews

Review

'It's hugely informative, well illustrated and an essential source of reference.'
Malcolm Nelson in Line Up magazine

'...a full dissection of all things digital... accessibility is one of this book's strong points.'
Future Music magazine

Reviews of previous editions

'Once in a while, someone writes a technical book which becomes the definitive work or industry bible. John Watkinson has done that with The Art of Digital Audio'.
New Scientist

' As a bridge between introductory text and technical dissertations or papers, The Art of Digital Audio remains highly recommended.' Studio Sound

' Watkinson writes clearly and makes frequent use of diagrams, what he has produced here is an authoritative text book. As a reference work, this book is superb. In short, an essential reference work for any modern recording facility. Sound Engineer & Producer

'Since digital audio has become a commercial reality there has been a need for a comprehensive textbook on the subject; a need fulfilled by John Watkinson. ... The Art of Digital Audio is highly informative but approachable and refreshing at the same time, hence widening its appeal outside the university campus to DIY-ers and enthusiasts alike. Highly recommended. Paul Miller, Hi-Fi News

'Mr Watkinson's work commands pride of place amongst the publications on digital audio techniques.' EBU Review (European Broadcasting Union journal)

Selected by Choice - the magazine of the American College Libraries Association - as one of their OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC BOOKS.
'For some time there has been a need for a comprehensive book on this subject. This book covers both the essential theory of all aspects of audio reproduction and a good deal of its practice. Highly recommended as an acquisition for libraries serving either technical groups or the public who require an authoritative overview of digital audio reproduction.'

'The Art of Digital Audio by John Watkinson remains the best in its field.'
David Josephson, Sound & Communications

'It's a must for all audio engineers interested in complete digital fluency. ' Radio World

From the Publisher

Following feedback from delegates to the author's very successful series of seminars and training courses, a completely new chapter has been added which introduces readers to basic audio principles - before leading them into essential digital principles and the more complex material covered in later chapters.

A completely new chapter on Sound Quality Considerations has also been added. More has been included on: audio in PCs; internet audio; DVD; compression/MPEG. What has not changed is the approach. Every subject is explained from first principles, because if the mechanism is understood it can be applied to many problems. This is an introductory book, a theory book, an applications book and a reference book all in one.

John Watkinson is an international consultant in audio, video and data recording. He is a Fellow of the AES, a member of the British Computer Society and a chartered information systems practitioner. He presents lectures, seminars, conference papers and training courses worldwide. He is the author of many other Focal Press books, including: the Kraszna-Krausz award winning MPEG-2; The Art of Digital Audio; An Introduction to Digital Video; The Art of Sound Reproduction; An Introduction to Digital Audio; TV Fundamentals and Audio for Television. He is also co-author, with Francis Rumsey, of The Digital Interface Handbook, and contributor to the Loudspeaker and Headphone Handbook, 3rd edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 752 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 3 edition (January 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240515870
• ISBN-13: 978-0240515878
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,769,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars copyright 1894^H^H^H994., July 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Art of Digital Audio, Second Edition (Hardcover)

This book has all the details of doing digital audio, starting with banging two rocks together to start a fire, and quickly progressing to the development of western civilization. ... ok, it's not *quite* that bad. But there is precious little relevant information to any modern project. When your car's mp3 player is running Linux, who cares that Gray codes are the way to go for digital tape positioning? Who needs to be told that you might want to think about doing a calculation in RAM instead of with discrete digital components? There's a good chapter on "advanced digital audio processing". And it explains basic things about dithering, mixing, gain control, etc. But on the whole this book is very geared toward antiquated hardware, rather than presenting theories or algorithms that are relevant to all digital systems. I guess that's why it's the "art" and not the principles of digital audio. In the index you will find "cylinder transducer", but not "pitch" or "tempo".

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written technical overview, short of the computer age, May 25, 2000

By 

joe_n_bloe (Ester AK USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Art of Digital Audio, Second Edition (Hardcover)

The Art of Digital Audio is well written and informative technical overview of digital audio, except that being a mid 1990s book, it almost completely omits detailed coverage of some topics (like MPEG audio compression) that would nowadays have to be considered critical. It is nonetheless an essential component of the well informed digital audio engineer's library. There is a *lot* of stuff in this compendium that you would otherwise have to find scattered over a dozen other books. One hopes a revision for the twenty-first century is in the works.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where's the beef?, July 20, 2006

By 

S. Cole - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art of Digital Audio, Second Edition (Hardcover)

Too much outdated irrelevant information. Watkinson IS extremely knowledgable on the subject of digital audio. I guess I expected something different. Too much esoteric (and much outdated) theory and very little if any practical information, unless maybe your job is to service 1980's digital audio systems.

Want to know about revectoring, soft sectoring, and rotary positioners as they pertain to magnetic disk drives? How about DASH-M and DASH-S interleaving in stationary head recorders? If so then BUY THIS BOOK. Interesting reading to be sure, but don't expect your "art" to benefit. This review is based on the second edition.