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View Full Version : Books on recording... what's a great intro?


Moe45673
01-31-2010, 12:04 AM
I know about books like The Mixing Engineers Handbook, but what I want is a book (not a website, but something I can hold in my hand) that not only gives you tips and tricks (which I will need), but various other things for the blank slate that I am.

Generic things that any mixing person needs to know, regardless of console/DAW. For example, what steps do all of these need before you can hit the record button? I want checklists like "make sure to arm the track". I'd also like some tips as to why you'd record one guitar line amongst 3 separate tracks rather than do it all in one track.

And if anyone can answer me a slightly off-topic question.... I was doing some experimenting with autotune so I decided to sing the main "Boom boom boom" part of the Black Eyed Peas song "Boom Boom Pow". What I did was I recorded myself singing those words twice, then T-Pain'ed the hell outta them (I was experimenting, people, I'd never actually do that!). Then I copied that track to another track to start on tempo, but used autotune to pitch shift the vocals down 3 half-steps. Did the same thing again one more time, except 2 whole steps down.

Here's my attempt after about 20 minutes (I've learned way more about auto-tune since then and a newer attempt would be much cleaner), if you're curious
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt1juPwW2sU

Is this more or less what the producer did in the studio or did I make the whole thing needlessly complicated? Basically, what I ask is is it possible to have different plugin settings on different parts of a track (I use Reaper), or do you need a new track for any different knob twiddle in a plugin?

But yeah, book is way more important info and I'd appreciate it! The less obtuse and more engaging/fun to read, the better! I mainly want demystifying the console, not so much the hardware (like mic pres)

Orren
01-31-2010, 12:46 AM
I'm an editor for Course PTR, a publisher of media-related books, including music tech books (in fact, we publish The Mixing Engineer's Handbook). We've got a bunch of different recording-related books, for all skill levels.

I'd recommend you take a look here:
http://courseptr.cengage.com/Courses.aspx?q=recording&x=0&y=0

I'm guessing that you'll find something that fits what you're looking for. OTOH, if there's not something that you're looking for, let me know what you think we're missing, that's the sort of thing that I can use when helping draw up our pub plans for the future. :)

Hope that helps,
Orren

MichaelK
01-31-2010, 08:30 AM
Practical Recording Techniques by Bruce & Jenny Bartlett is very good, so is Modern Recording Techniques by David Huber.

I'm pretty sure that Black Eyed Peas riff was done with a vocorder or something like it. Some stuff that people think of as Autotune may actually be done with a vocorder, though it's probably auto-tuned anyway. It's a fad, like sampled orchestral "hits" in the 80s and huge digital reverbs in the 90s. Personally I f***ing hate it, I can't wait for it to die and become nostalgia: "the sound of the 00s."

Rocket Brother
01-31-2010, 08:47 AM
I'm an editor for Course PTR, a publisher of media-related books, including music tech books (in fact, we publish The Mixing Engineer's Handbook). We've got a bunch of different recording-related books, for all skill levels.

I'd recommend you take a look here:
http://courseptr.cengage.com/Courses.aspx?q=recording&x=0&y=0

I'm guessing that you'll find something that fits what you're looking for. OTOH, if there's not something that you're looking for, let me know what you think we're missing, that's the sort of thing that I can use when helping draw up our pub plans for the future. :)

Hope that helps,
Orren

Hi Orren
Any plans for a book on working with Logic 9 ?? If I remember correctly you co-authored a very highly praised book on working with Logic 8 book.
Regards
RB

Moe45673
01-31-2010, 10:36 AM
Orren, I appreciate you coming in here with your feedback. That book Home Recording for Beginners looks promising. It uses Reaper too! What are your thoughts on it?

MichaelK, I think I'll look at one of those books too. This is all to start and I may as well invest in some of these babies while I save up cash for hardware. Thanks for the help!

I know auto-tune is a fad (at least, unfortunately, the use of it as an effect) but I figure I may as well learn to use it in all its forms. I'm not a great singer and am anti-autotune in general and do not plan on using it on my main vocal lines. If Ringo could get by without it, dammit, I can too! Howevs, I do plan on using it for harmonies I put down so that it doesn't sound like a complete mess.

Orren
01-31-2010, 11:35 AM
Hi Orren
Any plans for a book on working with Logic 9 ?? If I remember correctly you co-authored a very highly praised book on working with Logic 8 book.
Regards
RB

You do remember correctly. And in fact, Kevin and I are almost finished with our book on Logic 9! :) It took a bit longer than we thought to cover the new stuff, remove the old stuff, etc. But it worked out, because now we can cover the 64-bit version of Logic 9.1 also.

At this point, assuming it's finished in a couple of weeks, that means it should be out in late March, is my guess.

Thanks!
Orren

Orren
01-31-2010, 11:37 AM
Orren, I appreciate you coming in here with your feedback. That book Home Recording for Beginners looks promising. It uses Reaper too! What are your thoughts on it?

I've never looked at Reaper, so I'm not qualified to say. People I respect really like it, so I'd guess it's got a lot going for it—not least of all the price, if you're just getting started!

Take care,
Orren