Modern Recording Techniques, Sixth Edition [Paperback]

David Miles Huber (Author), Robert E. Runstein (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240806255 | ISBN-13: 978-0240806259 | Publication Date: February 16, 2005 | Edition: 6

As the most popular and authoritative guide to recording available, Modern Recording Techniques provides everything you need to master the tools and day-to-day practice of music recording and production. The sixth edition has been expanded to cover the latest digital audio technology and features a new section on surround sound. For those who are just starting out or are looking for their next job in the industry, this edition also provides essential advice on career options and networking.

David Miles Huber's approachable writing style, coupled with over 500 technical diagrams, screen shots and product illustrations, makes this an essential resource which you will want to refer to again and again.

* Learn from the resource that is used by more students, musicians and audio engineers than any other in the industry.
*International bestseller providing tips and techniques for getting the best results from both project and professional recording studios.
* The biggest edition yet - it is packed with new material, including surround sound and digital technology, as well as the latest career advice
* The companion website, www.modrec.com, provides even more resources and information.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you're serious about recording - whether you're an amateur enthusiast, a student, a musician or an audio professional - you'll find this book an informative, in-depth, cover-to-cover read and a useful reference manual...an excellent read and a must-have reference book." - Music Tech magazine

"Modern Recording Techniques is in its sixth edition, which fact is a testament to the quality of the material on offer here...it's presented in a very user friendly way, with a plethora of illustrations of everything connected with recording. This way, the theory is broken down into easily digestible chunks. One of the best things in an already terrfic book is the range of DIY tutorials, where you are presented with practical examples of principles and how they work...Modern Recording Techniques has become the bible of recording for many engineers, and it's not difficult to see why. Always helpful, clear and friendly, learning has never been so easy or so much fun. An essential buy for all studio owners." - Music Mart magazine


Published reviews of earlier edition:
"I would 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

"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 magazine

"This is quite a surfeit of riches. ...If I were going into the professional recording business...this volume would be my choice."
- John Sunier, Audiophile Audition Audiophile Audition, May 2000
"This book is a must if you plan on doing anything at home besides hooking up a DAT machine directly to the output of your sampler. It gives in-depth information on mic placement and techniques, and provides you with the know-how that you'll need the first time you go to a real recording studio. If you're going to jump in to the deep end of the pool right away, it makes sense to take water wings, just in case."
- SYNC: Resources for the Electronic Musician
"A comprehensive, readable, up-to-date guide to all facets of recording."
- MIDI Classics®
"Practical information on state-of-the-art audio topics. ...Ideal for the practicing or aspiring recording engineer."
- BarnesAndNoble.com
"The authors - both industry professionals - explore everything from microphone placement and studio design to desktop CD recorders and signal processing."
- Book News, Inc.
"This book is the best I have found so far. Similar books, such as the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook, read like instruction booklets that are so confusing that you are not sure if you are reading about a microphone or trying to put together a bookshelf. This book has stayed on my computer desk and by my side for the past year. Definitely worth the money! "
Customer review, Amazon.com

".I borrowed this book from my university library and decided to buy at as a result. I have found it invaluable as a reference guide for gaining a general understanding of various techniques. I would recommend it to people who perhaps have a general idea of the subject, and who are looking for something to introduce some of the technical aspects of Sound Recording. However, if you are looking for detailed explanations of anything in particular then this book is probably not the best solution. However, I am very happy with my purchase and often find myself reading it for my own interest rather than as a technical reference. Excellent introduction and reference, but not one for the more experienced professionals."
Customer review, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

Previous editions sold over 50k copies worldwide.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 6 edition (February 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240806255
• ISBN-13: 978-0240806259
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Recording & Sound

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 55 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.

51 of 59 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.

20 of 21 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, Fifth Edition (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.