Product Description
THE AUDIOPHILE'S PROJECT SOURCEBOOK

Build audio projects that produce great sound for far less than they cost in the store, with audio hobbyists' favorite writer Randy Slone. In The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook, Slone gives you--

* Clear, illustrated schematics and instructions for high-quality, high-power electronic audio components that you can build at home

* Carefully constructed designs for virtually all standard high-end audio projects, backed by an author who answers his email

* 8 power-amp designs that suit virtually any need

* Instructions for making your own inexpensive testing equipment

* Comprehensible explanations of the electronics at work in the projects you want to construct, spiced with humor and insight into the electronics hobbyist's process

* Complete parts lists

"The Audiophile's Project Sourcebook" is devoid of the hype, superstition, myths, and expensive fanaticism often associated with 'high-end' audio systems. It provides straightforward help in building and understanding top quality audio electronic projects that are based on solid science and produce fantastic sound!

THE PROJECTS YOU WANT, FOR LESS

Balanced input driver/receiver circuits

Signal conditioning techniques

Voltage amplifiers

Preamps for home and stage

Tone controls

Passive and active filters

Parametric filters

Graphic equalizers

Bi-amping and tri-amping filters

Headphone amplifiers

Power amplifiers

Speaker protection systems

Clip detection circuits

Power supplies

Delay circuits

Level indicators

Homemade test equipment ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Excellent reference book.
It is an excellent reference book for the DIYaudio enthusiast. It has very nice and USEFUL projects. A must!

Amazing Book! Very Instructive!
I'm a bit busy, so I will be short on the reviews, like I show on the rating stars "I Love It", the book is very easy to read and understand!

Excellent Resource for All Types of Audio Circuits
This is an excellent resource for somewhat-experienced electronics hobbyists to make high-quality audio projects of all kinds. It's very readable, and all the required resources (such as schematics, PC board artwork, and basic explanations) are provided for all the projects.

Before going any further, I should clarify who this book is for. The reader will need good knowledge of intermediate circuit analysis (mesh-current analysis, node-voltage analysis, etc in large circuits), extensive knowledge of transistors and op-amps, extensive knowledge of capacitive circuits, some knowledge of inductors, a good grasp of the concepts of input and output impedance of circuits, and knowledge of circuit feedback (only if you plan on building an amplifier). Also, plenty of hands-on experience with circuit construction would really help. If you're unsure of your skill in any of those areas, I suggest not reading this book until you learn them because many things will go right over your head otherwise. If you're taking electrical engineering at university you'll probably be fine if you're in 3rd year, but I'd recommend waiting until 4th year so that you get a better grasp of everything. Note, however, that this book doesn't get into complicated math, the frequency domain, Laplace transforms, imaginary numbers, or any other complicated subjects like that, so don't worry if you're rusty in those areas.

Now on with the book. It starts out with a chapter discussing audio topics in general, such as how humans hear sound and the goals of a high-quality sound system, then discusses topics such as distortion, noise, frequency response, slew rate, and phase issues.

Chapter two is about balanced vs single ended audio signals, baluns, and volume control circuits (including digitally-controlled ones).

Chapter three is about preamplifiers. Several example schematics are provided, and circuits for RIAA equalization, loudness control, and audio balance are provided. Methods for power supply decoupling are also presented in this chapter.

The fourth chapter is about audio filters, and includes circuits for tone controls, active low-pass filters, equalizers (with one circuit having 24 bands), parametric equalizers, and phase-linear filters. This chapter also has a section with advice on what types of resistors and capacitors to use.

Chapter five is about headphone amplifiers. This chapter is very short and only includes two headphone amp circuits with minimal explanation. But, they are good amplifiers, and very little description is given because the next chapter is dedicated to amps.

The sixth chapter covers audio amplifiers. First I should note that I didn't fully read this chapter because I didn't know enough about transistors and circuit feedback at the time to be able to understand it well enough, so I don't know all the details about this chapter. However, upon skimming through it I found that there are several schematics for amplifiers ranging from about 10 watts up to 300. The explanations seem pretty good, but considering how complicated amplifier circuits can be I'm guessing that this chapter alone will not give the reader a very detailed knowledge of amplifiers. Rather, as Slone mentioned somewhere in the chapter, this chapter is only meant to give a brief description of amplifiers. For a better analysis, a dedicated book like Slone's "High-Power Audio Amplifier Construction Manual" should be read.

Chapter seven covers power supplies. The three main types of DC power supplies are discussed (linear regulated, switch-mode, and unregulated), as well as several topics surrounding power supplies, such as how big the power supply has to be for an amp of a given power level, methods of rectification, fusing, and capacitors. The chapter is split into two sections, one for amplifier power supplies and one for signal-processing circuit power supplies (aka, low power circuits), and schematics for several different power supplies are presented. Methods for making general-purpose bench-top power supplies are also discussed.

Chapter eight covers protection circuits, such as DC and transient speaker protection, soft-start, and clip-detection.

Chapter nine includes various miscellaneous audio circuits, such as display circuits (for example, an LED-based power level display), phase control circuits (mainly for subwoofer amplifiers), and delay circuits.

In chapter ten, Slone gives some very useful information for constructing circuits. The chapter starts with methods of dealing with hum and noise and how to ground everything properly. Slone then presents an excellent introduction to PC board fabrication, both by hand and by using software to print the circuit (which anyone with a printer can do). The next section is on heatsinks and how to choose one of a proper size, and the chapter finishes with a short discussion of project enclosures.

The book ends with a few appendices. Appendix A is a comprehensive glossary of pretty much every term used in the book; appendix B is an extremely useful list of suppliers for electronics parts, audio equipment, project enclosures, and pretty much anything you'll need for a DIY project; and appendix C is a compilation of the PC board artwork that didn't fit well in the other parts of the text.

The above lists pretty much every subject, circuit, and project in the book, except for a few minor ones that I may have missed. With the knowledge and circuits presented in this book, anybody with enough skill and previous knowledge should be able to build an entire high-powered, hi-fi audio system from scratch. I've only had the chance to build a few of the smaller projects presented in this book, but they worked quite well.

A fairly common complaint about this book is that some of the components that are used in the projects are hard to find (particularly because Seal Electronics, the author's company and the source of kits for many of these projects, has gone out of business). Although I haven't checked every project specifically, I do know that most of the time when searching for a semiconductor, where there's a will there's a way. If you can't find a specific transistor, op-amp, etc then there are many resources on the internet for finding an equivalent component. Even if you can't get an exact match, you can almost always come very close.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how audio systems work, particularly if you want to build your own systems. BUT, only buy this book if you are knowledgeable enough with all the concepts I listed in the second paragraph of this review.

First-rate resource for the budding DIY audio enthusiast
Slone covers a wide range of audio projects in this book: amplifiers, preamplifiers, filters, and protection circuits.The reader is assumed to understand basic electronics terminology, but everything else is explained point by point.An easy-to-read format supplies just enough theory for understanding the circuit, then goes right to the practical application.Slone even provides 1:1 scale artwork of numerous designs for those who want to etch their own circuit boards.For those wanting to go deeper into amplifier theory than what is presented here, this book is an execllent companion for Slone's in-depth treatment of the subject, the High-Power Audio Amplifier Construction Manual.

Meh-
I've seen better high end audio books. I'm certainly not a member of the aforementioned "Scientific School of Audio System Performance Analysis", the only instruments that can accurately measure sound quality are the ones on either side of your head. I listen to what my ears tell me sounds good, and generally, tubes sound good. Which is why this book is sort of a disappointment, you'd think that out of 80 projects there'd be at least one tube phono preamp, but unfortunately there are no tube amps, just a few rants about how tubes don't produce enough power. Who uses more than a watt anyway? Even the transistor amps presented aren't much better than what you could get from Rex or Circuit City, similar schematics could probably be found on the internet for free. Go ahead and buy it if that's the sort of thing you're into, but if its tubes you want, try Morgan Jones' "Building Valve Amplifiers", it doesn't have many schematics but it coversin great detail the layout and contruction of tube amps. Good schematics can be found on the intarnub. ... Read more

Product Description

Unlocking the Groove is a groundbreaking, award-winning, music-driven analysis of electronic dance music (EDM). Author Mark Butler interweaves traditional and non-traditional musical analysis with consideration of the genre's history and social significance, deconstructing several typical examples of electronic dance music and focusing on the interaction of beat and rhythmic structure in creating an overall musical design. Interviews with DJs, listeners, and producers flesh out the book, providing insight into the perceptions and performance world of EDM, and making a vivid case for the musical artistry of EDM disc jockeys. The CD included with the book illustrates the analysis with multiple musical examples, both in excerpts and full songs. Butler's work propels the study of popular music in exciting new directions, and will impact the range from popular music studies, music theory, ethnomusicology, and musicology.

Customer Reviews (1)

Required reading for any electronic music enthusiast!
If you want to come to a deeper understanding of techno and the world of electronic music, this is the book.Butler is a pioneer in an area of music that the academic world is just beginning to explore and understand. ... Read more

Product Description
How to build pre-amps, tone controls, ring modulators, mixers, and many other inexpensive electronic accessories. Written in simple language, with hundreds of clear illustrations and step-by-step instructions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Worth it
Ive just recently got into DIY guitar effects and read all different sorts of reviews by people about this book.
Ive managed to get quite alot out of this book from a musicians point of view.DIY Muso's generally are not interested in the maths behind electronics and just want to know the ins and outs of how things work when doing some diy work.

Definitely worth purchasing if you are interested in creating some of your own effects and learning how electronics can define your own sound.Pricewise, not too bad.

"Thee Book!"
The best book on guitar stomp boxes ever,good luck finding parts now,P.A.I.A still sells his boards and parts but not all.

Pass on this one
I picked up a copy of this book to get some creative ideas in my project studio, but this book is clearly for the do-it-yourself hobbyist who might have an interest in music, not for a musician. If you like playing around with circuits, building things from parts and such, this book might be of interest (although there are far better, more detailed electronic home project type books available), this book should probably not have "musician" in the title.

electronic projects
Wonderful book!I built about half the projects 25 years ago, and I am so glad it is still in print.The effects are wonderful, very high quality, and the instructions make the construction process very do-able.

know what your looking at
i'm in the electronics field but this book is still nice to have around for quick reference, also has some pedal mods in it to ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not worth the $1.50 it once did. Too old, extremely basic.
This little booklet, like most radio shack 'how to' electronic "books", seems a bit of a joke. However, I'm not joking about it being a little booklet. It's thinner (90+ pages) and smaller than a comic book (5x8").

If you want to learn how to make the equivalent of a doorbell ring, then this is the book for you. If you however want to make a synth from scratch, look somewhere else.
There are far more usable DIY schematics out there on the web. Google them, and skip this.
... Read more

Product Description
Special Sound traces the fascinating creation and legacy of the BBC's electronic music studio, the Radiophonic Workshop, in the context of other studios in Europe and America. The BBC built a studio to provide its own avant-garde dramatic productions with experimental sounds "neither music nor sound effect." Quickly, however, a popular kind of electronic music emerged in the form of quirky jingles, signature tunes such as Doctor Who, and incidental music for hundreds of programs. These influential sounds and styles, heard by millions of listeners over decades of operation on television and radio, have served as a primary inspiration for the use of electronic instruments in popular music.

Using in-depth research in the studio's archives and papers, this book tells the history of the many engineers, composers, directors, and producers behind the studio to trace the shifting perception towards electronic music in Britain. Combining historical discussion of the people and instruments in the workshop with analysis of specific works, Louis Niebur creates a new model for understanding how the Radiophonic Workshop fits into the larger history of electronic music. ... Read more

Product Description
A creative new approach for children (ages 7–12) featuring over 50 songs to play. Includes instruction on the different automatic features common to all keyboards: single and fingered chords, automatic rhythm, synchro start, fill-in, etc. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

excellent beginnger book
It is a good book for beginnger. It teaches music reading, basic music skill on electronic keyboard.It has lots of simple exercies and familar children's songs.Highly recommended for everyone who likes to start musiclearning. ... Read more

Product Description
Bob Moog invented the Moog synthesizer in 1964 and in so doing revolutionized the face of popular music. His creations subsequently touched thousands of lives as synthesizers gained acceptance in the music world and became the catalyst for new forms of sonic expression. Today, over 50 years later, Moog's instruments continue to be used by musicians of all ages working in genres that span the creative spectrum. Moog himself unwittingly became an icon not only in his industry but also to the larger music and engineering communities for his unique combination of technical brilliance, creative curiosity, and generosity of spirit. In this Tipbook Legends Series entry, the maverick inventor's life is examined though his work and the instruments he created. The book is enhanced by the participation of his daughter and executive director of the Bob Moog Foundation, Michelle Moog-Koussa, who provides a special intimate glimpse into the life of this electronic-music pioneer and icon. ... Read more

Product Description
109 songs, including: Alouette * Are You Sleeping? (Frere Jacques) * Aura Lee * Blue Danube * By the Light of the Silvery Moon * Clair De Lune * Down in the Valley * The Entertainer * Good Night Ladies * Greensleeves * I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now * La Paloma * Lullaby * Minuet * and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Big And Easy Songbook is really easy
Even if you have never touched a piano or keyboard in your life you will still be able to play all of the songs in this very easy songbook. It's a good beginner's book for children and adults who want to play the keyboard or the piano. I have never had lessons and don't know one note from another, but even I can play a tune using this book. ... Read more

Product Description
28 super hits: All My Loving * Eleanor Rigby * Hey Jude * Lady Madonna * Let it Be * Michelle * Norwegian Wood * Penny Lane * When I'm Sixty-Four * Yesterday * and more. ... Read more

Product Description
At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the Nor-tec phenomenon emerged from the border city of Tijuana and through the Internet, quickly conquered a global audience. Marketed as a kind of "ethnic" electronic dance music, Nor-tec samples sounds of traditional music from the north of Mexico, and transforms them through computer technology used in European and American techno music and electronica.

Tijuana has media links to both Mexico and the United States, with peoples, currencies, and cultural goods--perhaps especially music--from both sides circulating intensely within the city. Older residents and their more mobile, cosmopolitan-minded children thus engage in a constant struggle with identity and nationality, appropriation and authenticity. Nor-tec music in its very composition encapsulates this city's struggle, resonating with issues felt on the global level, while holding vastly different meanings to the variety of communities that embrace it.

With an impressive hybrid of musicology, ethnomusicology, cultural and performance studies, urbanism, and border studies, Nor-tec Rifa! offers compelling insights into the cultural production of Nor-tec as it stems from norteña, banda, and grupera traditions. The book is also among the first to offer detailed accounts of Nor-tec music's composition process. ... Read more

Product Description
Over 70 must-own classics, including: All I Ask Of You * Body And Soul * Crazy * Endless Love * Fly Me To The Moon * Here's That Rainy Day * In The Mood * Love Me Tender * Memory * Moonlight In Vermont * My Funny Valentine * People * Satin Doll * Save The Best For Last * Somewhere Out There * Strangers In The Night * Tears In Heaven * A Time For Us * The Way We Were * When I Fall In Love * You Needed Me * and more. ... Read more

Product Description
Whatever your level of experience, The Dance Music Manual is packed with sound advice, techniques and practical examples to help you achieve professional results. Written by a professional producer and remixer, the book is organised into three accessible sections:

Technology and theory
If you're relatively new to the technology and theory behind today's dance music, Rick Snoman discusses the basics of MIDI, synthesis and sampling, as well as music theory, effects, compression, microphone techniques and sound design.
Dance genres
This section covers techniques for producing different musical styles, including Trance, Trip Hop, Rap and House. Snoman takes a close look at the general programming principles behind drum loops, basses and leads for each genre, in addition to the programming and effects used to create the sounds.
Mixing and promotion
Snoman guides you through the art of mixing, mastering, remixing, pressing and publishing your latest masterpiece. This includes a look at how record companies operate, copyrighting your material, pressing your own records and the costs involved. Finally, guest contributors offer essential advice on DJ'ing and how to create your own website to promote your music.

The CD provides demo tracks showing what can be achieved when applying the advice contained in the book, including examples of the quality difference before and after mixing and mastering. The CD also contains free software demos for you to download.

For even more advice and resources, check out the book's official website www.dancemusicproduction.com

* Learn the art of creating original dance tracks and remixes using any music software
* Packed with examples and tips for achieving professional results and getting your music heard
* Includes a free CD-Rom with MIDI files, samples and example tracks ... Read more

Customer Reviews (39)

SUPERB
Superb reading! great info and a joy to read. Really indept info with lot's of suggestions
on how to mix your track. The writer really knows what he is talking about and doesn't mind to share.
Not everybody wants to share his knowledge now a days, so this is very nice.
The writer knows just about every detail to know on electronics, sounds and musicgenres.
If you can get it and if your interested in the subject and have your own homestudio make sure to get it. Even if you have lots of experience this book will help you even further. I just can't stop reading it. i guess i begin upfront again when i first finished the book. Includes a cd-rom with examples. The website and trainingcourse are, however, no longer available.

well worth the money
Don't pay attention to negative comments.
Most of these people just showing off because they may know a bit about music.
This book is worth more than twice it's price.

If you know what you're doing in music then you don't need it.... but I doubt it.
Everyone can learn from this book. Music explained in simple easy to understand way.
This is how a book should be written dealing with highly technical content.

Great Resource
This book is PACKED with information from a seasoned engineer and composer.I've nearly read this book from cover to cover.I especially appreciated the sections on sound design since I had recently acquired Massive from Native.The section on compression and using compression creatively in mixing was a great resource.He also gets into the nuances between the different styles of dance music, citing relevant sources.

The best thing that I liked about his book is that it felt like it was an edited version of his own personal notes.Things he discovered or documented as his own knowledge grew - like I was sitting along side him as he explained the information.He was explicit and clear in most cases and limited redundancy of information except when necessary to exemplify points.Happy composing and mixing!

Perfect
I like the systematic approach of the author explaining in a brief manner the different aspects of the electronic music creation. I love this book!

Great all around book for everyone!!!!
This book is a great source of information wether you are starting out to someone that has been making dance music for a while in they're home or computer. It goes into detail from midi studio setup to different styles of techno not just trance. This book also goes into a little theory, basic music chords, recording, hardware, sampling, editing, mixing, mastering, sound design, publishing, copyrighting and even making your own web page and promoting. It also goes into a little history of the different styles of techno. This book or any other for that matter is never going to be able to tell you the secret formula of creating the perfect lead or beat for that matter but this one will give you ideas and suggestion on how create one and push you in the right direction. Dance music changes so much and goes thru trends that if anyone could make that secret formula it would probably be out dated by the time they were able to document and publish it! This is a must have andI can't wait to see what he is going to have the second volume. If your a know it all and don't want to learn something new don't buy since you already know it all and your selling a million albums a year but those of us that are not this is a great source of knowledge and great advice!!!!!!Buy this one before you buy the remixer's bible cause that is geared for more advanced producers!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
34 all-time favorites, including:Are You Sleeping? * Auld Lang Syne * Clementine * For He's A Jolly Good Fellow * Good Night Ladies * Old Gray Mare * Twinkle Twinkle Little Star * and many more. ... Read more

Product Description
Over 75 big country hits suitable for all electronic keyboards. ... Read more

Product Description
7. Love Songs 23 titles, including: Can't Help Falling in Love * Can't Smile Without You * Endless Love * Feelings * For All We Know * The Hawaiian Wedding Song * My Funny Valentine * Sunrise, Sunset * Through the Years * True Love * When I Fall in Love * You Needed Me * Your Song. ... Read more

Product Description
With a truly global perspective, this vivid andreadable narrative provides a comprehensive overview of the history ofelectronic music.The author draws upon his combinedexperience as composer, performer, researcher, entrepreneur, and teacher toprovide insight into every aspect of electronic music, including the musicitself, the instruments, and the business. Based on more than 150 interviewswith leaders in the field, this book allows readers to understand how and whythe musicians, engineers and businessmen did what they did to develop themodern synthesizer to its current state. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent storytelling
After this book went up in price (I paid less than $20 for it) I decided to re-review it.It's a good book.You get a feel for the excitement people were feeling in the dawn of the information age via first hand interviews.A great read, but in general sometimes the technology takes precedence over the music making.Since electronic and computer music is still in it's infancy, that really didn't bother me.Well written, interesting, often humorous, unapologetically archival, but not worth $80. If/when the price goes down, snag a copy, if not, go to a library.

Pricey but worth it?
Yes, this is a steep price.But if you are deeply interested in the history of electronic music this book is essential.It covers the origins of electric music synthesis from the turn of the century experiments to fairly current commentary on the digital state of the art.Chadabe, also a fine composer and musician, writes with authority on the classical aspect of electronic music.If this book has a flaw it is that it fails to look at the influence of pop/rock culture on electronic music.But to be fair that is not his purpose and this material is covered well elsewhere.
I hesitated to purchase this book for some time due to the price but when I did get it I must say that I have no regrets.It is an extremely useful reference which I use regularly and it is well written and fun to read.In short, if you are a fanatic, get this book.

An Overpriced History of Electronic Music Technology
Although there was a spate of published historical surveys of electronic music during the early-to-mid 1970's, with the exception of Peter Manning's *Electronic & Computer Music*, there have been almost no synoptic overviews of the subject since then. Now comes Joel Chadabe's *Electric Sound*. One must admit that Chadabe's book does fill a void in the historical consideration of electronic music, and, for that reason alone, I wish that I could be more enthusiastic about it. The focus of this extremely overpriced paperbound book, however, is less on the significant achievements of composers of electronic music than it is on the technological means of creating it. One is hard pressed, indeed, to find references to more than a handful of significant compositions. Such an attitude is typical of the Post-Modern mentality (and, yes, there is such a thing, I'm sorry to say), in which artists of all stripes arrogantly offer over-intellectualized concepts and elaborate compositional and performance processes as justification for whatever results they achieve, no matter how nugatory these results may be. Here, one finds an inadvertent confirmation of that most basic critique of electronic music: That it is ultimately the soundtrack to a futuristic, technocratic nightmare in which the technology itself has become more vibrant and alive than those who create and ostensibly manipulate it. If one were to go by this book, then one would be justified in believing that, with perhaps the exception of Stockhausen's works, there have been no masterpieces of electronic music whatsoever. There has, however, been a lot of interesting hardware and software created for it. Could there be a more damning indictment of any artistic field of endeavor?

I should add that this book also suffers from the usual flaws that one might expect when a contemporary artist surveys his own field: in this case, aesthetic bias and cronyism. On the other hand, *Electric Sound* does at least cover the activities of most of the putative major figures in the field from the 1970's to the mid-1990's (although, again, it does this principally in terms of what technology they happen to be using). For this reason, I give it a provisional recommendation, simply because it is the only book I know, besides Peter Manning's also somewhat flawed, but generally far better effort, that covers this period at all. The definitive history of electronic and computer music, however, remains to be written.

A Promise Fulfilled
This reviewer considers "Electric Sound" to be an important text on the history of 'academic', 'art' or 'classical' electronic music.

The subtitle: 'The Past and Promise of Electronic Music' does indeed indicate the historicalnature of the work, but the 'promise' seems to refer more to a promise fulfilled, rather than what is described in the last chapter: 'Where Are WeGoing?' ( which consists of less than 20 pages ).

To give you an idea ofthe book's scope, consider the chapter titles: The Early Instruments, TheGreat Opening Up of Music to All Sounds, Expansion of the Tape Music Idea,Out of the Studios, Computer Music, Synthesizers, The MIDI World, Inputsand Controls, Making Sound, Automata, Interaction, Where Are WeGoing?

Each chapter illustrates its subject by describing the artists and the particular works that were created using that specific approach to sound realization. The style of writing in the book is conversational in tone, rather than academic.

If you love electronic music, then "Electric Sound" will become a welcome addition to your personal library. ... Read more

Product Description
TI:ME is a non-profit organization whose goals and objectives include the development of in-service teacher training and certification in the area of music technology. This upated edition is an essential resource for all K-12 music educators. It contains hundreds of ideas to assist teachers in integrating technology into the music curriculum, the areas of competency leading to TI:ME certification, and a description of the Technology Institute for Music Educators. These "strategies" are organized around seven essential areas of competency in music technology as they apply to the National Standards for Arts of Education. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A reasonable resource
This book would be ideal for a teacher that is not familiar with music and its associated technologies but now is required to teach on the subject. The author does state in the beginning that this is to be an overview of the topic. And that is honestly what it was. I misunderstood the title to mean that it was for a music instructor to take them to the next level in technology. Not the case. It is a good foundational book for those entering into the idea of teaching technology used in music. And because the technology has lapped several times since this pubication date of 2002, it is in my opinion out of date. For example, it speaks heavily on MIDI. Back in the early part of the decade MIDI was innovative. However, now with VSTi and digital music files, MIDI has become somewhat obsolete.

If you are not particular on the current technologies and would like a basic overview of the topics this would be a good purchase for you. That is why I gave it 3 stars. For those who are looking for more cutting edge and current, you definitely will need to look elsewhere.

School Studying...
This is a good book for studying at school.It is helpful and insightful.You can even read it if you're not at school it's still a great tool for you to dive into, if you're into that kind of thing. ... Read more

Product Description
23 songs: By the Time I Get to Phoenix * Could I Have this Dance * I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World * I.O.U. * It's a Heartache * Luckenbach, Texas * Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys * My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys * Personally * Smoky Mountain Rain * Somebody's Knockin' * Swingin' * and more. ... Read more

Product Description
John Cacavas has written an extensive book on the techniques of composing, orchestrating and arranging. Includes chapters on each section of the band and orchestra, voicing techniques as well as special chapters on concert band writing, choral writing, electronic applications and writing for film and television. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Careful: Requires an Extensive Knowledge of Theory
This book is an enjoyable read and its chock full of valuable hints and rules that a competent arranger or composer needs to know. Cacavas covers topics that a typical theory text would not venture into.

The author also drops in humorous anecdotes every few pages which, although largely irrelevant to the subject, do give one's mind a break to digest the information just presented.Some less kind readers might call this practice 'name dropping'as the stories invariably involve the author and some famous person.

Finally, Cacavas writes under the clear assumption that the reader has a very solid theoretic knowledge.Without this knowledge, I am sure a reader would get hopelessly confused.The author has pitched the book for the right audience but inexperienced theorists should be aware.

Overall, this is a rare 'textbook' which has me actually wanting more and wanting to learn more.However a potential reader is warned that the anecdotes might get a little annoying (though one can simply ignore them) and those with limited theoretical knowledge should look elsewhere.In the end though, this is money well spent.

Punctual book!
It is a wonderful book, then includes many examples of music, but muchplace give to scores of music for movie. Thanks for autor! ... Read more