Customer Reviews

Sound System Engineering, Second Edition

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book will help you to design a P.A. system correctly as well as solve problems with existing systems. It handles all aspects of almost any type of sound system. This book is a must for any person that is serious about sound systems and audio engineering. If you are serious and have no books on the topic, then this is the first one to buy.

This is THE BIBLE on sound system engineering. You'll find no better reference for sound system issues in an easy to understand book. This is not for the novice who knows nothing of sound or physics or math. It's for those that truely understand basic concepts and want to learn "how sound works".

Unfortunately, my English (I am Russian sound engineer living in Moscow) is not good enough to express how important is this book for me. Everything I know about sound systems (apart from my personal experience) I've learned from this book. I could only wish to see it some day to be published in Russian. I would translate it just for fun! There are so many myths in pro audio and sound system installation. This book helps to get rid of them. I read this book every day and every time learn something new. THANK YOU MR. DAVIS!!!

A clear installation guide for all sound engineers that covers all audio aspect and problems! Exellent.This is a "must" in sound engineers collection books!

> >
> This book is a treasure trove of knowledge about the design and
> implementation of sound systems, and can be strongly recommended to
> those readers, who having the requisite practical and/or academic
> background, are seeking to enlarge their understanding of a
> particular aspect of the subject.
>
> As stated in the preface, the authors have intentionally provided
> a "two-track" approach to their subject, interlacing everyday
> practicalities with theoretical concerns. Thus, you will find
> sections on units, wiring, and acoustic measurements alongside others
> on the physical characteristics that enter into designing
> microphones, loudspeakers and interfacing electrical and acoustic
> systems. To profit fully from the latter discussions, the reader
> should have had a good grounding in electromagnetism and acoustics.
> Clearly, the authors are aware of this problem and have provided the
> types of practical examples and illustrations throughout the volume
> that encourage "cross-over" and permit all serious users to derive
> benefit from even the more sophisticated sections.
>
> Personally, I expect that Sound System Engineering will become an
> invaluable resource for my own courses in the physics of music, and I
> thank my colleague, Gene Patronis, for joining with Don Davis to
> create this book. The authors and editors are to be commended for the
> clarity of the presentation and the production of a text that is
> relatively free from error.

I have collected and used books on sound system engineering for many years and this book has quickly become my favorite. Mine has been borrowed by other engineers so often that I have purchased a second copy. Don and Gene are among the most experienced in the field. They have also both tried to share thier knowledge with others throughout thier careers. This combination of knowledge and desire to share it has produced a book that explains complex ideas in a way that leaves the reader with few questions. It is clear and concise, and is supported by a great number of charts and diagrams. I can't imagine a better way to capture thier knowledge and share it with others. A great number of professionals are going to benefit from this book, and I expect it will be the industry standard for many years to come.

I owned 1st version before and the 3rd revision is a more complete version and gives more information on digital processing aspect.

Sound System Engineering, 3rd Edition contains a wealth of information on the design, implementation and testing of sound reinforcement systems. Don Davis' section on audio and acoustic measurements is a must read for anyone serious about performing such tasks. The concepts he discusses about signal delay/synchronization and room acoustics will help the reader to understand what is at the very basis of these topics.

Similarly, Eugene Patronis' section on loudspeakers and arrays is not to be missed. It will have you going back again and again to find that piece of information you need about horns, direct radiators, crossovers and arrays. His presentation of signal processing starts with basic sampling and progresses through system theory and digital audio.

Two of the latter chapters on equalization and "putting it all together" are true gems. They yield practical information that you'll be using the next time you're faced with the issues covered.

Sound System Engineering, 3rd Edition takes all of the knowledge contained in the 2nd edition and augments it with up-to-date interface methods and advances in the field of audio and acoustics since its last publication. This text is equally suited for both the novice and the veteran audio practitioner. It is written in such a manner that each time you read a portion of it, something new will come to light.


Charlie Hughes
President
Excelsior Audio Design & Services

One of the better books in my collection, and I have many on acoustics and audio from the highly technical to hands-on.

We've used this book as both a historical reference to get our folks up to speed, and the material is still pertinent to predictive analysis today. I've been using it since the first edition and find it a useful part of a complete acoustics library.