Audio Textbook

[newzhack]

I have started teaching at Rose State College, a two-year college in Dell City, Oklahoma.

 

I am creating a sound class for their new film and digital media department for next fall semester. I am looking for a proper textbook for my 18-week class. We will meet once a week for two and one-half hours. I have some limited sound equipment to teach with. 

 

I aim to instill respect for sound in students who want to enter the film business, something that is very lacking in many of the professionals I have worked with over my career as a sound mixer. This will be a core class that all students will take to graduate from the program. 

I picked up an old textbook called Audio Basics by Stanley Alten. Unfortunately, the book is out of print, and he passed away in 2018. 

Does anyone have suggestions for a textbook covering audio production and post-production? 

[JesseF]

For production sound I highly recommend Patrushkha Mierzwa's two books.  There's no more comprehensive resource I think:

 

Behind the Sound Cart: A Veteran's Guide to Sound on the Set (All Art is Technical: Sound for Motion Pictures and Television): Mierzwa, Patrushkha: 9781736290002: Amazon.com: Books

 

Beneath the Boom Pole: The Art & Science of Boom Operating for Movies & TV (All Art is Technical: Sound for Motion Pictures and Television): Mierzwa, Patrushkha: 9781736290040: Amazon.com: Books

[Jim Feeley]

This book by Jay Rose, who passed away four years ago, is really good. Starts with a clear description of how sound works and builds from there. However, this edition is ten years old and has a street price of $55, and last I knew the publishers were still trying to get ahold of the online files that go with the book (Jay maintained the website for that, and that site is gone). Ask the publisher to send you an inspection copy (Routledge, the publisher, will do that). Feels to me that this book can still provide a solid foundation for all students, those focusing on audio and those focusing on other areas. 

Producing Great Sound for Film and Video

Expert Tips from Preproduction to Final Mix

 

In Producing Great Sound for Film and Video, Fourth Edition audio guru Jay Rose revises his popular text for a new generation of filmmakers. You’ll learn practical, time-saving ways to get better recordings, solve problems with existing audio, create compelling tracks, and boost your filmmaking to the next level!

Here you’ll find real-world advice and practical guidelines for every aspect of your soundtrack: planning and budgeting, field and studio recording, editing, sound effects and music, audio repair, processing, and mixing. Rose’s combination of solid technical information and a clear, step-by-step approach has made this the go-to book for producers and film students for over a decade.

 

New in this edition: 

• Insights and from-the-trenches tips from top professionals
• Instructions for getting the best results from new DSLRs and digital recorders
• What you need to know about new regulations for wireless mics and broadcast loudness
• An expanded "How Do I Fix This?" section to help you solve problems quickly

Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker who wants better tracks, or an experienced professional looking for a reference, Producing Great Sound for Film and Video, Fourth Edition has the information you need.

https://www.routledge.com/Producing-Great-Sound-for-Film-and-Video-Expert-Tips-from-Preproduction-to-Final-Mix/Rose/p/book/9780415722070

[rmac]

On 3/19/2024 at 9:12 PM, Jesse Flaitz said:

For production sound I highly recommend Patrushkha Mierzwa's two books.  There's no more comprehensive resource I think:

 

Behind the Sound Cart: A Veteran's Guide to Sound on the Set (All Art is Technical: Sound for Motion Pictures and Television): Mierzwa, Patrushkha: 9781736290002: Amazon.com: Books

 

Beneath the Boom Pole: The Art & Science of Boom Operating for Movies & TV (All Art is Technical: Sound for Motion Pictures and Television): Mierzwa, Patrushkha: 9781736290040: Amazon.com: Books

 

Curtis Judd interviewed her for an hour today. I think that the people who joined the stream would have been happier with at least a couple of hours. Here’s the link:

 

 

[rmac]

On 3/19/2024 at 8:53 PM, newzhack said:

I picked up an old textbook called Audio Basics by Stanley Alten. Unfortunately, the book is out of print, and he passed away in 2018.

 

Alten’s book deals with audio production more broadly than books focused on film and television. If that’s what you want, maybe this book, which is now in its 9th edition: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Production-Worktext-Techniques-Equipment-ebook/dp/B07J6N247Y/ref=sr_1_24?

[Ty Ford]

I have a small book written for location audio called Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide. 

What's your address?

Regards,

 

Ty Ford

tyford@tyford.com

[sounddguy]

http://sounddguy.com/readings.html

[Conor]

I know it's not specifically production audio, but the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook is an invaluable learning resource for all things audio.

[newzhack]

Thanks for the suggestions. The decision was made for me and the book is Sound Design for Moving Image by Kahra Scott. Not my first choice but I will try to make the most of it. 

[newzhack]

On 3/19/2024 at 10:28 PM, Jim Feeley said:

This book by Jay Rose, who passed away four years ago, is really good. Starts with a clear description of how sound works and builds from there. However, this edition is ten years old and has a street price of $55, and last I knew the publishers were still trying to get ahold of the online files that go with the book (Jay maintained the website for that, and that site is gone). Ask the publisher to send you an inspection copy (Routledge, the publisher, will do that). Feels to me that this book can still provide a solid foundation for all students, those focusing on audio and those focusing on other areas. 

Producing Great Sound for Film and Video

Expert Tips from Preproduction to Final Mix

 

In Producing Great Sound for Film and Video, Fourth Edition audio guru Jay Rose revises his popular text for a new generation of filmmakers. You’ll learn practical, time-saving ways to get better recordings, solve problems with existing audio, create compelling tracks, and boost your filmmaking to the next level!

Here you’ll find real-world advice and practical guidelines for every aspect of your soundtrack: planning and budgeting, field and studio recording, editing, sound effects and music, audio repair, processing, and mixing. Rose’s combination of solid technical information and a clear, step-by-step approach has made this the go-to book for producers and film students for over a decade.

 

New in this edition: 

• Insights and from-the-trenches tips from top professionals
• Instructions for getting the best results from new DSLRs and digital recorders
• What you need to know about new regulations for wireless mics and broadcast loudness
• An expanded "How Do I Fix This?" section to help you solve problems quickly

Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker who wants better tracks, or an experienced professional looking for a reference, Producing Great Sound for Film and Video, Fourth Edition has the information you need.

https://www.routledge.com/Producing-Great-Sound-for-Film-and-Video-Expert-Tips-from-Preproduction-to-Final-Mix/Rose/p/book/9780415722070

 

Of the current offerings, I found this book to be by far the best. If anyone knows where to obtain the sample audio files, I would love to. I was able to get an online version of the book through Vital Source.