Modern Recording Techniques (Audio library) (Paperback)

by Robert E. Runstein (Author), David Miles Huber (Author, Editor) "The world of modern music and sound production is multifaceted..." (more)
Key Phrases: audio production console, equivalent noise rating, analog audio tape recorder, Modern Recording Techniques Figure, Digital Audio Technology, Electronic Musical Instrument Technology (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Practical information on state-of-the-art audio topics! This successful book discusses effective recording techniques for better sound results. Includes digital audio and random access audio. Discusses the use of digital technology in audio production. Offers comprehensive coverage of recording techniques. Ideal for the practicing or aspiring recording engineer. -- H.W. Sams

Review
"Everybody reading a book like this will start from a different base of knowledge and experience. Having said that, there's always somthing new to learn or have clarified...there is some extremely effective use of a generous supply of illustrations in this book." - mightywight.net

"I would also recommend it highly to anyone getting into recording at the home or project-studio level as it will give you a really good grounding in the theory and industry practice which underpins the design of all that equipment and software you spend so much money on!" - mightywight.net

Praise for the previous edition:
"No worries when this handy reference is nearby. It covers the basics about everything, from room acoustics to running a session. If you're a beginner, grab it now. If you think you know it all, you might still learn a thing or two." - Keyboard, January 2001 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 643 pages
• Publisher: Financial Times Prentice Hall; 3rd edition (July 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0672226820
• ISBN-13: 978-0672226823
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,295,136 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Introduction guide, April 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Modern Recording Techniques (Paperback)

Modern? As a reprint this book is getting pretty old now and would really benefit from some new material. I'm also not sure who the audience is meant to be. It's too generalised to appeal to someone who understands the fundamentals of recording and yet would probably scare off someone who is relatively new to the subject.

The format is very text bookish and is let down by the lack of solid tips, techniques and examples that would have bought this otherwise ordinary book to life.

Unless you have the luxury of already owning all the other recording books advertised on Amazon I would shunt this one further down the list.

44 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A terrible textbook, December 19, 2005

By	Hans Kuder - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Modern Recording Techniques, Sixth Edition (Paperback)

This is the worst textbook I have ever read. The editing is terrible (typos, spelling mistakes, extremely unprofessional writing, unexplained jargon), the diagrams are hit-and-miss (some are useful and accurate, others are shoddily crafted, most are downright unnecessary), and the whole book has a vibe of amateur, slapdash work.

I would estimate that roughly 1/4 of the included figures are pictures of recording equipment taken straight from manufacturers' advertising literature. It's as if Huber did a Google Image search for "preamps" and included the first six results. Also, do I really need to see screenshot of Windows Media Player's visualization options?

The book does a good job at covering the basic concepts of recording, but goes too far in trying to encompass every little bit of information about the recording industry ("Tax Tips for Musicians"? A half-page table of Internet connection speeds?). Do yourself a favor and find a better, more professional book.

I've returned to this review months later because I finally figured out what was REALLY bothering me about this book. The Windows Media Player screenshots, the tables of useless information, the gee-wiz references to the "Information Superhighway", the useless, gear-lusty sprinklings of product promotion photos, the dumbed-down writing style, all suggest one thing: an underlying immaturity in dealing with the recording industry. Don't get me wrong - there's lots of helpful information here. But reading between the lines, I can't help but get the feeling that if someone wiser and more experienced had written (or at least edited) this book, all of Huber's ephemera would be boiled away and readers would be able to concentrate on the real meat of the recording profession.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for beginners, November 18, 2001

By	Brad Ediger (Naperville, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Modern Recording Techniques (Paperback)

This is a good overview if you are new to the industry. Lack of detailed information limits its usability if you already have some experience. I would recommend Yamaha's Sound Reinforcement Handbook and Bobby Owsinski's Mixing and Mastering Engineer's handbooks over this for more specific tips.