Product Description

Written by an award winning, highly respected professional, Mastering Audio gives you a thorough introduction to the unique procedures and technical issues involved in mastering.

Suitable for all levels of students and professionals, it is ideal for anyone who wants to increase their mastery of digital and analog audio: musicians, producers, A&R, mastering, recording and mixing engineers.

Fully updated to cover the latest technologies, Mastering Audio discusses audio philosophy and art: sequencing, leveling, processing; how to make a record album radio-ready; mixing as it reltes to mstering. Divided into 5 parts, the book begins with the basics - monitoring, mastering techniques, useful tutorials and the fundamentals of dithering and decibels and moves on to more advanced concepts - jitter and clocking, monitor collaboration as well as multi channel audio, miking and acoustics. Leading-edge audio concepts are explained in an easy-to-grasp holistic style.

Including practical tips and real world experiences, Bob Katz explains the technical detail of the subject in his informative and humorous style.

* Written by a well respected engineer who has engineered albums which have won the Grammy
* Provides you with information on the latest techniques and processes used in mastering
* Covers equipment, training and the business of mastering and answers all the frequently asked questions

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5450 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-11
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
"The definitive work on mastering...an indispensable resource for anyone working with audio. If you only buy one book on audio, this has to be it - it should be required reading for anyone involved with recording, producing or mastering music."
-Sound on Sound magazine

"After reading it, you will likely consider this book to be required reading for all audio professionals, regardless of technical background, who are interested in creating better sounding audio. I know that I do." - Jim Kaiser, Journal of the AES, March 2008

"I just received my book in the mail. Bob, you did a great job with the 2nd edition. This version does not read as clinical as the first edition making it an easier read. I really like the layout and updated info you put in the book."
- Glenn Bucci, Revelation Sound Studio

"Aimed at intermediate to advanced users, what sets this book apart is the liberal inclusion of practical tips, and the authors ability to be authoritative without being didactic. Even if you already do mastering, this book will help you do it better."
- Craig Anderton (editor of EQ magazine)

"I have no reservations when I recommend that every engineer working with audio purchase a copy of Mastering Audio."
- Tape Op Magazine, March/April 2008


"If you want to know what goes on behind the scenes in recording the music you enjoy; and learn more about digital audio, this comprehensive, insightful, and accessible book is without peer."
-Absolute Sound (Oct. 2007)

Synopsis
Written by an award winning, highly respected professional, "Mastering Audio" gives you a thorough introduction to the unique procedures and technical issues involved in mastering. Suitable for all levels of students and professionals, it is ideal for anyone who wants to increase their mastery of digital and analog audio: musicians, producers, A&R, mastering, recording and mixing engineers. Fully updated to cover the latest technologies, "Mastering Audio" discusses audio philosophy and art: sequencing, leveling, processing; how to make a record album radio-ready; mixing as it relates to mastering.Divided into 5 parts, the book begins with the basics - monitoring, mastering techniques, useful tutorials and the fundamentals of dithering and decibels and moves on to more advanced concepts - jitter and clocking, monitor collaboration as well as multi channel audio, miking and acoustics. Leading-edge audio concepts are explained in an easy-to-grasp holistic style. Including practical tips and real world experiences, Bob Katz explains the technical detail of the subject in his informative and humorous style.

It is written by a well respected engineer who has engineered albums which have won the Grammy. It provides you with information on the latest techniques and processes used in mastering. It covers equipment, training and the business of mastering and answers all the frequently asked questions.

About the Author
Bob Katz played the B flat clarinet from the age of 10, and his lifelong love of sound and music led him to become a professional recording, mixing and mastering engineer (since 1971). Three of his recordings have garnered the Grammy award and many others have been lauded in publications such as Stereo Review, Audio, and Stereophile. He has written over one hundred articles for audio and computer publications, and is an inventor and manufacturer with processors and support gear in use at mastering studios worldwide. His most recent patent-pending inventions, the K-Stereo and K-Surround Processors, fill a missing link in the mastering and post- production pantheon. He has been a workshops, facilities and section chairman of the AES and has given lectures in several countries. Currently, Bob runs Digital Domain Studios just north of Orlando, Florida.

Customer Reviews

Much more than Quick Mastering Tips
I must say I found this book an excellent read. I'm currently self producing an album of some of my songs and got this book in the hope that I'd get some quick tips to try and do a half decent master of the mixes. What it actually did was make me go back to the mixes and question the decisions I'd made to get there.

The author's technical knowledge is extremely high and has definitely given me a clearer understanding of the scope and limitations of the gear at my disposal. More important though is his insistance on not always using processing as a crutch and encouraging you to LISTEN before and after plugging in the standard fallback eq/compressor. I found it refreshing that he focused on music as an art and insisted that within all the requisite science of audio production you should never lose sight of the musical line of the recording your producing.

In a way this book has been temporarily counter productive for me as rather than giving me quick fixes for the last step in production its set me back a few stages to reflect. Hopefully though this will lead to a better, more transparent final product. I suspect that, as a long serving mastering engineer, this is more than a little of the author's intention. As he states several times a good mix is the key to a great master. I think the truly intended sense of this book's title is, therefore, a more all encompassing Mastering the Art and Science of Audio.

A must buy
If your serious about music and want to really produce some excellent sounds you must buy this book.
Professional or home studio, dance music or band producer this is where to get ahead.

One of the few authoritative books about audio
The world of audio is full of stupid explanations for largely misunderstood problems. People seem to suffer paranormal phenomena with audio, and there are people who claim that a green marker can enhance the sound of a CD!

This book is a welcome exception to that. It does a wonderful job describing (as the title states) the art *and* the science of mastering. The explanations of digital audio problems are scientific and rigurous, without a single exception.

And the author knows his job indeed; he isn't the typical person obsessed with gear. He deeply understands how the different processors work, and the different issues with them. Following his recommendations, my editions are now much better.

Moreover, the author is a member of the very small group of talented technical writers. The book is even fun to read, written in a lively style, and very interesting.