9 Best Books on Sound and Sound Recording

“Sound and Recording: Applications and Theory” Book Review: This book gives you a strong foundation in both the theory and real-world practices of audio, sound, and recording. It covers topics like immersive audio systems (like Dolby Atmos, Auro 3D, and WFS) and the latest advancements in audio object coding. The book also discusses digital radio microphones, problems with loudspeaker sensitivity, and the development of highly focused loudspeaker systems. It includes new sections on recent advances in audio network device discovery and control, as well as the Open Control Architecture. This book is great for students studying audio and aspiring engineers in the field.

“Sound Recording Practice” Book Review: The book provides a comprehensive coverage of sound recording, encompassing both technological and operational techniques. It delves into a range of subjects, from the studio to the final product, making it a practical and up-to-date resource. Moreover, the book accounts for many recent advances in recording techniques, computer-controlled equipment, new digital recording formats, and the growing popularity of consumer audio/video media. Notably, the book also covers the sound recording aspects of various mediums, including radio, film, video, and T.V. broadcasting. As such, it serves as a valuable tool for anyone seeking to learn the practicalities of sound recording.

“Prohibiting Piracy of Sound Recordings: Hearings Before Subcommittee No” Book Reviews: This book contains a selection of hearings held by Subcommittee No. 3 of the Committee on the Judiciary regarding the prohibition of piracy of sound recordings. The hearings focused on proposing an amendment to title 17 of the United States Code that would establish a limited copyright in sound recordings. The purpose of this amendment is to combat unauthorized duplication and piracy of sound recordings and to address the issue of record piracy, which is claimed to have resulted in a loss of legitimate sales amounting to $100 million in 1970. The proposed amendment aims to provide authors of sound recordings with a limited copyright for the purpose of protecting their works.

“Sound Recording for Films – The History and Development of Sound Recording” Book Review: This book presents a comprehensive overview of the captivating field of recording, editing, mixing, and showcasing audio for film and television. It achieves a delicate equilibrium between artistic and technical elements, merging theoretical and practical aspects to explore sound as both an artistic expression and a scientific endeavor. Additionally, the book delves into the historical origins of sound recording in film, providing an in-depth background on its development. It covers all aspects of the sound process and offers a solid foundation in its principles, utilizing vivid illustrations to demonstrate how they influence day-to-day activities on film and TV sets, in editing rooms, and in mixing rooms. The book also features practical, real-world examples that illustrate key concepts.

“Production Sound Mixing: The Art and Craft of Sound Recording for the Moving Image (The CineTech Guides to the Film Crafts)” Book Review: This book takes you on a collaborative journey, teaching you about the basic science of sound in an easy-to-follow way. It then provides a practical guide to the latest techniques and equipment available. Each chapter presents a sound-related problem to solve, and by the end of the chapter, you’ll have the solution based on what you’ve learned so far. The book even includes suggestions of movie scenes that demonstrate the audio techniques being discussed. It’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in using the best audio for their projects.

“Records Ruin the Landscape: John Cage, the Sixties, and Sound Recording” Book Review: This book says that after Cage, there were new types of experimental and avant-garde music in the 1960s that didn’t work well when recorded. These included different kinds of music like indeterminate music, long-duration minimalism, text scores, happenings, live electronic music, free jazz, and free improvisation. The book talks about how people today are learning about this music from that time through recordings, even though many of the composers and musicians who made the music didn’t really like recordings.

“Sound Recording – The Life Story of a Technology” Book Review: This book talks about how sound recording has influenced the growth of the music industry and brought about a cultural revolution since Edison’s invention. Recorded sound has become a part of our daily lives, not just in popular music, but also in things like office dictation machines, radio and TV programs, and even answering machines. Just like music styles have changed, the way we capture sound has also evolved, from 78s to LPs, LPs to cassette tapes, tapes to CDs, and now electronic formats. The book uses real-life examples to help students understand the topic in a practical way. It’s a useful resource for anyone interested in learning about the history of sound recording technology.

“Traditional Anglo-American Folk Music: An Annotated Discography of Published Sound Recordings (Routledge Library Editions: Folk Music)” Book Review: This book addresses a missing part in the sound recordings of traditional Anglo-American folk music. It includes both singing and instrumental pieces from the 1920s to the 1990s. The focus is on performers who are part of the tradition, rather than those who revived it. The albums are categorized as field recordings or commercial recordings (pre-1942), and they are further divided into individual recordings or collections. The book gives a detailed understanding of the historical evolution of Anglo-American folk music. It’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about traditional Anglo-American folk music.

“Sound Check: The Basics of Sound and Sound Systems” Book Review: This book is a beginner’s guide that explains simple techniques and tips for achieving good sound. It starts by providing an easy-to-understand explanation of sound principles and Sound Check. Then, it covers topics like amplifiers, connecting speakers, finding the right match between speakers and amps, sound reinforcement, mixers, monitor systems, grounding, and more. The book includes helpful diagrams and illustrations to explain the topics visually. It also includes a glossary of audio terms. This book is great for those who want to grasp the fundamentals of sound and sound systems.