The Live Sound Manual |
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Ben Duncan
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Pages: 160 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0879306998
Pub: Backbeat Books
Pub date: 2002-03-21
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 189483
Editorial Review:
This book covers it allfrom choosing and buying the best PA equipment for tbe job (or just getting the most from what you have), to setting up and using microphones, DI boxes, splitters, mixers, outboard gear, EQ, compressors, limiters, reverb, crossovers, delay lines, system controllers, power amps, speakers, monitors, connectors and other vital PA accessories.It draws on years of hands-on, hard-won experience from those on the frontline of live sound workleading PA engineers, respected equipment designers, and other creative industry professionals.It's packed with expert advice on vital elements like mike placement, EQ'ing, eliminating feedback, soundchecking, mixing, monitoringand generally overcoming almost any technical difficulties to get the best sound possible, even in the most unlikely venues.A far-from-superficial look at PA gear and mixing, this is truly an owner's and user's manual, explaining in clear detail not just how the system works but how to identify and trace faults if something goes wrong. General troubleshooting advice and fixes are augmented by a thorough guide to PA equipment maintenance (so you can steer clear of future problems), as well as electrical safety, surviving life on the roadand avoiding long-term hearing damage while you're at it.There's plenty here for anyone who uses PA gearbe they sound engineers, musicians or DJs. If you need to be brought up to speed with the technical terminology, there's even an enormously comprehensive 15,000-word glossary explaining PA-related words and phrases.
Reader Reviews:
Felt a bit incomplete to me (0/0 people found this helpful)
I happen to agree with both of the existing reviews so far.
This book is written in a concise and simple manner, so it's actually not as daunting as it may seem.
Truth is most live sound professionals (from my experience, at least) are not the most theoretical folks you can find. So a few diagrams, some illustrations, and possibly some examples from known brands (keeping in mind the spirit of impartiality that every technical book should have) would have definitely been a plus. Instead, the only pictures/illustrations you get are the ones on the cover (and back cover).
Also, I think some chapters were a bit superficial, as I found them more generally descriptive than explaining. The amplifier classes, for example. Now I know that Class A is less effective that B or D. But I still don't know what that really means, as there was no serious attempt (or lack of space) to explain the subjects with a bit more substance.
I think this book would be best suited as an aid to someone who's taking a Live Sound course, working on some job on the field or someone who has more concise and detailed books about electronics, amplifiers, mics, etc. Think of it as a text-book with some general knowledge that you can refer back many times.
To me, I would probably have liked it more if it had a couple less chapters, but with the remaining chapters a bit more detailed and explaining (with diagrams).
Like an incredibly brilliant conversation with a sound man (4/4 people found this helpful)
This book is like an incredibly brilliant (and very long) conversation with a sound professional. It doesn't so much tell you what you want to know as tell you what you ought to know, especially on unexciting issues like equipment testing and safety.
I'm not sure that the term 'manual' is quite right for this book. I read it from cover to cover, but it's not the kind of thing I would recommend taking with you to a gig. As another reviewer pointed out, it doesn't contain any diagrams. This makes it less useful as something to stick in front of your face while you tell the other guys where to put speakers. But it is written in a memorable style which makes it easy to remember what it says when you do come to do it.
For myself, I forgive the lack of diagrams. This is the one book which taught me the most practical and useful stuff. And, more importantly, it opened my eyes to worlds of reliability and health and safety.
Good general Advice, lacks technical depth. (8/9 people found this helpful)
This book offers great advice on most areas involved with live sound production. Unfortunately it does not contain one single diagram, picture or graph. Some of the issues discussed would greatly benefit from diagrams as they are nearly impossible to describe without them. Therefore this book would be useful to someone who has no technical involvement in live sound production, good advice for someone who is looking to make a start in the business.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Music -> Business
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Music -> Learning to Play, Write & Record Music -> Bestsellers
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Music -> Learning to Play, Write & Record Music -> Recording Music
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Music -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Science & Nature -> Physics -> Applied Physics -> Sound & Waves
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Font Size (format_browse-bin) -> Regular Size
Electronics & Photo -> Categories -> Portable Sound & Vision