Master Handbook of Acoustics Reviews

[brandondrury]

Master Handbook of Acoustics Description
The goal of this book is to apply the principles of acoustics to the audio arts. This involves serving as an interpreter of major trends and the literature for students and practitioners in the audio field. Along with covering the more theoretical aspects of acoustics, the book applies the theory to the design of specialized audio spaces such as the home listening room, the control room, and the multi-track-recording studio.

[brandondrury]

Quality: 10
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Reliability: 10
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Overall Rating: 10
Alton Everests's Master Handbook of Acoustic is definitely one of the best books on ANY recording topic I've ever read. It takes on an advanced topic and explains it in relatively laymen terms.

Some have said that this book reads like a text book, but I couldn't disagree more. I wouldn't say it's an exciting read and I wouldn't call the writing flamboyant, but I've seen acoustic books that were dramatically more complicated that offered less real world info and understanding of the concepts that make up acoustics.

I built my bass traps based on equations I found here.

Highly recommended!

[midKnight]

Quality: 0
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Reliability: 0
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Overall Rating: 0
Rarely would I disagree with Brandon, but I got a copy of this book with a companion book (critical listening skills for the audio engineer), and I must say while this book is incredibly factual, it's flat-out the most complicated thing I've ever read. (my college physics books were far easier by comparison.)

Please note, I consider myself an above average person of intelligence, and when it comes to techy stuff, I'm better than most.

I found nothing "exciting" about trying to fumble through the pages in this book, and after making 3 or 4 attempts to read it "cover-to-cover", I've pretty much given up on it. The only chapter I found of any real use was the chapter on room eq software, which I could have gotten by reading the docs on the room eq software itself.

However, the companion book it came with, has been excellent. That book is amazing for learning about frequencies as it gives real world examples (with an accompanying cd).

TMHOA now sits on my shelf, lifeless and unused. To borrow one of Brandon's favorite type of sayings, learning more about the origins of the guy who created the device to measure sound pressure levels isn't going to help me make music any better.

I still give it a 10 because if that's the kind of knowledge you need, there's probably no better source than this book.

[TonyB]

Quality: 10
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Reliability: 10
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Overall Rating: 10
I wouldn't say it's a great, entertaining read, but it is an excelletnt reference book that I find I go to for acoustics information. I've actually found myself reading a chapter at a time on occasion.

Just like the Handbooks on Mixing and Recording that are out there, this is the Handbook to have for pure acoustics reference. The art and science (it's both) of acoustics is typically put on the back burner to recording, mixing, and mastering because it seems to dry and difficult to comprehend, but it's a necessary evil.

Get it and read it; it's good for you.....as my Mom used to say.

[brandondrury]

To borrow one of Brandon's favorite type of sayings, learning more about the origins of the guy who created the device to measure sound pressure levels isn't going to help me make music any better.

True, but a better sounding room is one of the most important aspects of audio recording. If you don't get your rooms sounding good someone is gonna have to or you are out of luck.

As TonyB said, it's not an action packed thrill ride, but it's done more for me and my understanding of acoustics than any other book. It put it all together where other books have left off. Then again, there may be other books out there that are dramatically easier to read.

We all seem to have different tolerances on the level of nerdy boredom we can accept. Mine is probably higher than I'd like to admit.

Brandon

[Freddy G]

Quality: 10


Reliability: 10


Overall Rating: 10


This is a reference bible for me.
I'm also expecting KHR to be a reference bible