Digital Audio Workstation [Paperback]

Colby N. Leider (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2004

A digital audio workstation (DAW) is a PC or Macintosh equipped with sound cards and software for editing and processing digital audio. A properly outfitted computer can now function like a sophisticated recording studio, using plug-ins and special software to create recording-studio quality sound on the desktop, and then allowing users to edit and process that sound to perfection. DAWs are not only revolutionizing the way music is recorded, but allow new forms of electronic music, created entirely in the computer, to be written and recorded on the desktop. The Digital Audio Workstation Studio, by renowned digital music expert Colby Lieder, will be the first book to teach the complete DAW process, from outfitting your computer with the necessary hardware and software, recording with the proper microphones, using DAW power to create perfectly modulated mixes, to finally mastering down into a completely professional finished product. With this book, a computer, and a little imagination, any musician can create utterly professional music CDs, DVDs, or streamed audio.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Whether you are a musician, an engineer, or both, this book will transport you through the universe of digital audio workstations in the most entertaining and intellectual way possible. This is not another dull user's manual for mouse-jockets. Rather, Professor Leider offers insights and creative explanations that bring his subject to life, and will help you firmly grasp even the most complex technical squiggles. Theory of operation, pratical tipsm, and exotic details are all merged into one of the most readable technical books I have ever seen. Whether you know absolutely nothing, or think you already know almost everything about digital audio workstations, this book will make you a smarter and better user of this fascinating and important technology." -- Ken Pohlmann, Director of Music Engineering, Frost School of Music, University of Miami

Here's your personal DAW tutorial, from one of the world’s top instructors

Recognized as one of the world's top authorities on digital audio workstations, author-teacher-musician-composer Colby Leider teaches you everything you need to know to transform your computer into a top-tier recording studio, music composition workbench, and complete musical instrument! In fact, in these pages Colby Leider shows you how to create, record, and mix without ever leaving your computer—even music that would not be otherwise possible without the power of modern technology.

MAXIMIZE THE MUSICAL POWER OF YOUR MAC OR PC
With this book and a bit of inspiration, any musician or hobbyist can create professional music on a desktop or laptop. Written by an authority with the rare combination of knowledge of both music and digital technologies, this software-independent book teaches the complete digital audio workstation process, from outfitting a computer with necessary hardware and software, to recording with the proper microphones, using DAW power to create perfectly crafted mixes, and finally, to mastering a polished, professional, ready-to-market product. With this book, you can:

* Turn your computer into a digital audio workstation
* Record, mix, and master any type of music on a PC or Mac
* Choose key plug-ins and hardware
* Practice and hone your skills with the included exercises
* Find what you need to know about every major audio file format
* Learn about the history of the Digital Audio Workstation
* Compose, create, and mix new forms of music using your digital audio workstation alone
* Improve your project studio's acoustics inexpensively
* Much, much more

About the Author

Colby N. Leider is a noted composer, inventor of audio control equipment, instrument builder, and one of the world's leading authorities on digital audio workstations. With degrees in electroacoustic music and music composition from Princeton and Dartmouth, he currently teaches at the University of Miami, Florida, as an Assistant Professor of Music Engineering. Leider also holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. A leading figure in digital music, he has presented compositions throughout the world, written numerous articles and papers, and presented research on a variety of digital audio topics at leading professional gatherings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 1 edition (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071422862
• ISBN-13: 978-0071422864
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #588,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Records
  • #33 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Software Engineering > Multimedia Information Systems

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DAW Book, November 13, 2008

By 

R. Dietz (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Digital Audio Workstation (Paperback)

This is an informative book about audio basics and audio workstations. It help me, a first time user of audio and midi recording better understand the subject. I still have to master the technical details of cubase (DAW) and the hardware I have that connects all the audio signals together in the computer (Lexicon Lambda). I recommecd this book for those "in the dark", like I was.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book but not great, September 17, 2010

By 

J. Goldbach "jt1120" (Naples, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Digital Audio Workstation (Paperback)

Short and sweet, this was not quite what I was looking for. It's quite extensive in its study of the subject, but I wanted more of a "if this is what you want to do, this is what you'll need" type of book. This is more or less a text book.