mixing and mastering books

[mixaholic]

Does anyone know of any NEW good mixing or mastering books? i know alot of books from bob katz and bobby owsinski that deal with mixing and mastering but they are kind of old and i know technology change over the years so does anyone know of any books that are up to date? thanks

[wil]

[pingu]

I think Craig Anderton has a fairly new one that might be worth checking out.

Also the guy from Har-bal is in the process of writing a book.

[mixaholic]

thanks pingu. if anyone knows of any others please let me know

[SouthSIDE Glen]

I'm not sure of "new" books, but I gotta say that the standrd set that I see on the shelves at Borders, like the "Handbook" series, for example, are not really out-of-date.

While the toys constantly evolve, bandwidths increase, etc, there has not been a really major paradigm shift in technology since the onslaught of PC-based engineering, and most of the books are newer than that.

The thing is, though the toys might evolve a bit each year, the basic techniques that really make the difference remain the same. What was true and good info for how to make a good mix and how to master in 1999 is just as true in 2006.

G.

[gummblefish]

"The Art of mixing" by David Gibson is a pretty good book. Uses pictures to try and emphasis The mix as a soundscape and 3d environment. Really good book. Another is "The Mixing Engineer's handbook" by Bob Owsinski

[Massive Master]

I'm with Glen - Not a big surprise...

The tools always change - From one room to another in most cases. But the techniques employed in capturing sound really don't.

Most everything that's changed in the past 20 years can be summed up in "0dBVU = around -18dBFS" and some other general theories on the difference between analog and digital (Full-Scale, headroom, not having to record with hot levels, wordlength, etc.).

Books that lay claim to certain specifics ("presets" for lack of a better term) aren't going to be any more valid today than when they were written anyway.

[LeeRosario]

Originally Posted by SouthSIDE Glen

The thing is, though the toys might evolve a bit each year, the basic techniques that really make the difference remain the same.

G.

With that said, I would like to suggest to mixoholicus of any Peter Frampton live DVDs. Extra credit if you will.


Expert use of the bao-cheekee-bao-bao will ensure that your engineering skills will go up ten fold after one sitting.





One day I was on my way to being an airline pilot, then after the Peter Frampton Live experience...I became an expert engineer overnight.

True story.

[Massive Master]

bao-cheekee-bao-bao

I never knew how to spell that...

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Originally Posted by LeeRosario

bao-cheekee-bao-bao

Sounds like the soundtrack from a bad porno movie.

Thanks for getting that sound into my head, Lee. Now I cant get it out Somebody, quick...10cc's of Warren Zevon, stat!

G.

[mixaholic]

i'm about to go purchase the "Mastering Audio" by bob katz today. Before i do i need to know if there is any other book that is better than that one that can help me in the mastering field? If you read the "Mastering Audio" book by katz, was it good and did it help you? thanks

[SouthSIDE Glen]

The two books that everybody allways mentions are the two you have already alluded to, the Katz book and the Owsinski "Handbook". They are different books with different approaches to the subject. If you only have the budget for one book, I suggest when you go to buy it, you grab both books, sit down in the cafe (if the bookstore has one), get yourself a coffee or Italian soda, leaf through them for a while and decide which one speaks to you better.

And if you see any other books on the shelf that seem related and interesting, grab those too. There have been a number of times I have gone to my local Borders and done just that and wound up walking out with a different title than the ones I originally had my eyes on.

It's just like buying monitors, you never know what you'll like until you hear them. Same with books and reading them, IMHO.

G.

[mixaholic]

Yeah theres one problem with that though, my book store doesnt have them physically in the store. it's only available for you to order it.

[RedStone]

Here's what I did ... it wasn't necessarily "right" but it worked because I was in the same place you are in.
I downloaded both books (I know ... bad me) and read through a couple of chapters of each
I decided that the Katz book was way better
I bought the katz book (35 bucks - can't go wrong)
that's it.

[NDL]

Why just one? I have learned over the years that I dont know everything and could always learn more ...therefore I usually buy a book at least once a month --and I have also found that a book 22 pages long can have 3 things I didnt know and a book 220 pages long doesnt have a thing.......

[pingu]

Originally Posted by mixaholic

Yeah theres one problem with that though, my book store doesnt have them physically in the store. it's only available for you to order it.

I don't recommend Mastering Audio at all.

Yes i have it, and have read it.

I got nothing against Bob, he is a great guy.

Takes the time out to be very helpful on forums.

But the book is over rated.

You will learn more about mastering in the DIY mastering clinic.

[tourettes5139]

Originally Posted by pingu

But the book is over rated.

Why do you say that? I have it as well, and I found it to be a great and helpful read. Just curious.

[LeeRosario]

Originally Posted by pingu

But the book is over rated.

You will learn more about mastering in the DIY mastering clinic.

well for someone who's looking for direct answers, then Bob's book is not for them. More conceptual than it is pratical. There are plenty of other books out there for practical techniques in mixing and mastering.

So you see, this isn't the "end all" of mastering information, just another specialized book for a good collection. So it's at least worth checking out.

Bob's book is great theory, which if decoded properly, can do incredible things for your work.


If you don't like books that make you think, then Katz is not the guy for you.

[pingu]

Originally Posted by LeeRosario

well for someone who's looking for direct answers, then Bob's book is not for them. More conceptual than it is pratical. There are plenty of other books out there for practical techniques in mixing and mastering.

So you see, this isn't the "end all" of mastering information, just another specialized book for a good collection. So it's at least worth checking out.

Bob's book is great theory, which if decoded properly, can do incredible things for your work.


If you don't like books that make you think, then Katz is not the guy for you.

Thanks for implying i do not like to think and am incapable of decoding.

[LeeRosario]

Originally Posted by SouthSIDE Glen

Sounds like the soundtrack from a bad porno movie.

Thanks for getting that sound into my head, Lee. Now I cant get it out Somebody, quick...10cc's of Warren Zevon, stat!

G.

ahaha! yeah, now you know what kind of dreams (eventually nightmares) I was having after the peter frampton experience.



Sorry for not mentioning that part!

Thanks for implying i do not like to think and am incapable of decoding.

cheer up. I wasn't trying to make it personal. I was just trying to keep the lines open on that specific book. For the record, I respect your opinion.

I got a little too foward on that closing statement.


I'm just honestly a little disapointed with myself for not being able to think of a good book that cuts straight to the chase.

I guess really thinking about it now, mixing is such an art, that I don't see how somebody can really write a word-for-word book on mixing.

Just the luck of meeting seasoned veterans to teach the young (those who diserve it). Either that or we can wait until an Andy Wallace or a David Botrill goes crazy and decides to spill the beans on mixing.

[pingu]

Originally Posted by LeeRosario

ahaha! yeah, now you know what kind of dreams (eventually nightmares) I was having after the peter frampton experience.



Sorry for not mentioning that part!





cheer up. I wasn't trying to make it personal. I was just trying to keep the lines open on that specific book. For the record, I respect your opinion.

I got a little too foward on that closing statement.


I'm just honestly a little disapointed with myself for not being able to think of a good book that cuts straight to the chase.

I guess really thinking about it now, mixing is such an art, that I don't see how somebody can really write a word-for-word book on mixing.

Just the luck of meeting seasoned veterans to teach the young (those who diserve it). Either that or we can wait until an Andy Wallace or a David Botrill goes crazy and decides to spill the beans on mixing.

Dont mind me, im just the forum loser.



But really the book is useful.

It just stunk of that elitist gear feel.

But when you are at the level of BK you have a right to demand the highest when it comes to mastering.

[Bierman]

I cant admit ot owning many mastering/mixing books so I dont have a lot to compare to but....

Mixing with Your Mind by Michael Stavrou (google for it I cant be arsed to find the link now :P) blew me away and INSTANTLY improved my abilities as an engineer by a very significant amount.

Its a bit 'home made' and theres some dodgy grammar and spelling going on in places, but for a REALLY fresh take on engineering techniques, you cant go wrong, honestly.

[pingu]

Originally Posted by Bierman

I cant admit ot owning many mastering/mixing books so I dont have a lot to compare to but....

Mixing with Your Mind by Michael Stavrou (google for it I cant be arsed to find the link now :P) blew me away and INSTANTLY improved my abilities as an engineer by a very significant amount.

Its a bit 'home made' and theres some dodgy grammar and spelling going on in places, but for a REALLY fresh take on engineering techniques, you cant go wrong, honestly.

Dont let Southside see that.




Yes i got to agree with you.

I have
Mastering audio
Mastering engineers HB
Mixing engineers HB
The art of mixing
just about any other mixing/mastering book that is reputedly worth owning, and by far the best book of the lot is Mike Stavrous book.

[Bierman]

Originally Posted by pingu

Dont let Southside see that.




Yes i got to agree with you.

I have
Mastering audio
Mastering engineers HB
Mixing engineers HB
The art of mixing
just about any other mixing/mastering book that is reputedly worth owning, and by far the best book of the lot is Mike Stavrous book.

who is Southside?

If Stavrou's book is the best, whats the next best (or more accurately which one is going to teach me something Stavrou's didn't?)

[pingu]

To be honest with you.

None of them.

But the art of mixing is worth a read.

But the others are just primarily a gear fest wank, that make you feel inferior, unless you are switching on Sonic Solution and B & W Nautilus speakers.

Sontec, but im sure ill get wanked on by Southside with Fletcher Jizz.