Review of The Art Of Downloading Music (Paperback)

Beginners confused by the terminology yet lured by the promise of downloading now have a simple, user-friendly manual to the entire idea and process: Steve Levine's The Art Of Downloading Music. A small, truly pocket-sized paperback covers all the basics: how does downloading work, what kind of sound quality can be expected from a download, how to transfer downloaded music from computer to cd, and how to use an iPod. A big 'plus' in The Art Of Downloading Music is the illustrations - charts and screen shots - plus the easy question-and-answer format which painlessly reveals answers.


Product Description
Music downloading has become a genuine phenomenon, capturing the imagination of millions of consumers. Apple's breakthrough personal music system, the iPod and iTunes store, offers a vast catalog that is easily downloadable. Written by renowned record producer Steve Levine, The Art of Downloading Music, explains every aspect of downloading: getting started online; equipment needed (with price guide); using programs like Garage Band; dealing with bugs; copyright issues; creating and listening to music; buying tunes online; and much more. Included are a glossary of terms and a guide to useful websites.

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Review of Sonar 7 Power!: The Comprehensive Guide (Paperback)

I recently purchased Sonar 7 Producer Edition, which was my first Digital Audio Workstation software purchase.The developers at Cakewalk have really created a wonderful piece of software, and I found it very easy to navigate and use even without reading the supplied manual.But after a few days I came to realize that this was a Monster of a program, and that I would need a reference book to learn all it's capabilites.

I purchased Sonar 7 Power! and was really impressed by how easy it was to read (not dry like most reference manuals) and how informative it was.I was just halfway into Chapter 3 when I realized that the book had already paid for itself with all the information it had given me on how to customize Sonar.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the ins and outs of this awesome piece of software.

Product Description
Covering both Studio and Producer Editions, Sonar 7 Power! is the seventh edition of the best-selling Sonar Power book series providing detailed training for Cakewalk's Sonar 7 music recording software. Written for both new users and veteran upgraders alike, Sonar 7 Power! walks you through all of the features of the software with step-by-step instructions and exercises.New users will start at the beginning and learn everything they need to know to use Sonar 7 for recording, editing, producing, mixing, and bringing their music to the masses. Upgraders will learn about all the new features in Sonar 7 as well as enhancements to existing features that may affect their current production workflow.New topics covered include: Flexible PRV Tools, PRV Microscope Mode, MIDI Data Lanes, EQ Settings Copy, Step Sequencer, CD Ripping/Burning, Sidechaining, Using External Hardware, Boost 11 Maximizer, Linear Phase EQ, Linear Phase Compressor, Dimension LE, Rapture LE, DropZone, Z3TA+, and more.

About the Author
Scott R. Garrigus (www.garrigus.com) has been involved with music and computers since he was 12 years old. After graduating from high school, he went on to earn a B.A. in music performance with an emphasis in sound recording technology at UMass, Lowell. In 1993, he released his first instrumental album on cassette, entitled "Pieces Of Imagination." In 1995, he began his professional writing career when his first article appeared in Electronic Musician magazine. In 2000, he authored his first book, Cakewalk Power! This was the first book to deal exclusively with the Cakewalk Pro Audio, Guitar Studio, and Home Studio software applications. Since then he has authored a number of other titles including Sound Forge Power!, SONAR Power!, SONAR 2 Power!, Sound Forge 6 Power!, SONAR 3 Power!, SONAR 4 Power!, SONAR 5 Power!, Sound Forge 8 Power!: The Official Guide, and SONAR 6 Power! Today, Garrigus continues to contribute articles to a number of print and online publications. He also publishes his own music technology e-zine, called DigiFreq (www.digifreq.com), which provides free news, reviews, tips, and techniques for music technology and home recording users.

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Review of Shaping Sound in the Studio and Beyond: Audio Aesthetics and Technology (Paperback)

This is a fabulous book about acoustics and recording theory. What sets this book apart from any others I have read is that it deals with the artistic/aesthetic perspective of sonic perception, which anyone who works in recording studios, professional or amateur,would agree is a crucial element for a successful product.

Product Description
Audio, in all its forms, is a combination of aesthetics and technology. An audio engineer without any sense of aesthetics could successfully run current through a console, but would be unable to judge if the resulting sounds were effective for the application. Similarly, someone with a well-developed aesthetic sense who possesses no technical knowledge would fall short trying to make great audio, since he would have an idea in mind but be unable to execute it. Shaping Sound in the Studio and Beyond takes a unique approach to teaching audio by presenting both the aesthetic and technology elements of recording audio in one text-- it helps you understand the technology while helping you train your standards of what good sound really is. No other book on the market takes this unique and comprehensive view to teach audio production. Topics covered include basic audio theory, microphones, speakers, amps, digital audio, MIDI, audio editing, signal processing, mixing, sound design, and much more. There's also a chapter that defines recording industry jobs available and offers helpful tips about how to get them and keep them. Exercises at the end of each chapter help reinforce the concepts learned. This is an ideal introduction to studio recording and audio production for anyone interested in pursuing these careers, as well as for home recordists and practicing audio engineers and musicians who want to make the most out of their equipment, or improve their communication skills in the studio.

About the Author
Longtime music business professional Gary Gottlieb refers to himself as a music generalist. A professional musician since age 13, he worked in radio on and off for 25 years, and was a music critic for 9 years. As a recording engineer and music producer in New York, Gottlieb's long and distinguished career includes work with numerous Grammy Award winners and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. His credits as a sound designer include off-off-Broadway productions, along with community and college theatre productions throughout New England. Along with his history as a music critic and entertainment writer for the Deerfield Valley News in West Dover, Vermont, and a disc jockey for WEQX, a major modern rock station in Manchester, Vermont, Gottlieb owned and operated a mobile DJ service and was a Venue Director for numerous X Games and Winter X Games for ESPN. In 2002 he accepted a position as Professor of Audio Production at Webster University in St. Louis, where he now runs the Audio program. In 2007 Thomson Publishing released Gottlieb's Shaping Sound in the Studio and Beyond, the definitive introductory textbook in audio.

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