Product Description

Described as "the most comprehensive book on digital audio to date", it is widely acclaimed as an industry "bible". Covering the very latest developments in digital audio technology, it provides an thorough introduction to the theory as well as acting as an authoritative and comprehensive professional reference source. Everything you need is here from the fundamental principles to the latest applications, written in an award-winning style with clear explanations from first principles.



New material covered includes internet audio, PC audio technology, DVD, MPEG audio compression, digital audio broadcasting and audio networks.

Whether you are in the field of audio engineering, sound recording, music technology, broadcasting and communications media or audio design and installation, this book has it all. Written by a leading international audio specialist, who conducts professional seminars and workshops around the world, the book has been road tested for many years by professional seminar attendees and students to ensure their needs are taken into account, and all the right information is covered.

This new edition now includes:

Internet audio
PC Audio technology
DVD
MPEG Audio compression
Digital Audio Broadcasting
Audio networks

Digital audio professionals will find everything they need here, from the fundamental principles to the latest applications, written in an award-winning style with clear explanations from first principles.

John Watkinson is an international consultant in audio, video and data recording. He is a Fellow of the AES, a member of the British Computer Society and a chartered information systems practitioner. He presents lectures, seminars, conference papers and training courses worldwide. He is the author of many other Focal Press books, including: the Kraszna-Krausz award winning MPEG-2; The Art of Digital Audio; An Introduction to Digital Video; The Art of Sound Reproduction; An Introduction to Digital Audio; TV Fundamentals and Audio for Television. He is also co-author, with Francis Rumsey, of The Digital Interface Handbook, and contributor to the Loudspeaker and Headphone Handbook, 3rd edition.

· The 'Bible' of Digital Audio
· Get everything you need on digital audio in just one book
· Gain a thorough understanding of all the latest technology

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #191398 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 752 pages

Review
'It's hugely informative, well illustrated and an essential source of reference.'
Malcolm Nelson in Line Up magazine

'...a full dissection of all things digital... accessibility is one of this book's strong points.'
Future Music magazine

Reviews of previous editions

'Once in a while, someone writes a technical book which becomes the definitive work or industry bible. John Watkinson has done that with The Art of Digital Audio'.
New Scientist

' As a bridge between introductory text and technical dissertations or papers, The Art of Digital Audio remains highly recommended.' Studio Sound

' Watkinson writes clearly and makes frequent use of diagrams, what he has produced here is an authoritative text book. As a reference work, this book is superb. In short, an essential reference work for any modern recording facility. Sound Engineer & Producer

'Since digital audio has become a commercial reality there has been a need for a comprehensive textbook on the subject; a need fulfilled by John Watkinson. ... The Art of Digital Audio is highly informative but approachable and refreshing at the same time, hence widening its appeal outside the university campus to DIY-ers and enthusiasts alike. Highly recommended. Paul Miller, Hi-Fi News

'Mr Watkinson's work commands pride of place amongst the publications on digital audio techniques.' EBU Review (European Broadcasting Union journal)

Selected by Choice - the magazine of the American College Libraries Association - as one of their OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC BOOKS.
'For some time there has been a need for a comprehensive book on this subject. This book covers both the essential theory of all aspects of audio reproduction and a good deal of its practice. Highly recommended as an acquisition for libraries serving either technical groups or the public who require an authoritative overview of digital audio reproduction.'

'The Art of Digital Audio by John Watkinson remains the best in its field.'
David Josephson, Sound & Communications

'It's a must for all audio engineers interested in complete digital fluency. ' Radio World

From the Publisher
Following feedback from delegates to the author's very successful series of seminars and training courses, a completely new chapter has been added which introduces readers to basic audio principles - before leading them into essential digital principles and the more complex material covered in later chapters.A completely new chapter on Sound Quality Considerations has also been added.More has been included on:7 Audio in PCs7 Internet audio7 DVD7 Compression/MPEGWhat has not changed is the approach. Every subject is explained from first principles, because if the mechanism is understood it can be applied to many problems. This is an introductory book, a theory book, an applications book and a reference book all in one.John Watkinson is an international consultant in audio, video and data recording. He is a Fellow of the AES, a member of the British computer Society and a chartered information systems practitioner. He presents lectures, seminars, conference papers and training courses worldwide. He is the author of many other Focal press books, including MPEG-2, The Art of Digital Video, An Introduction to Digital Video, The Art of Sound Reproduction, An introduction to Digital Audio, TV Fundamentals and Audio for Television. He is also co-author, with Francis Rumsey, of The Digital Interface Handbook, and a contributor to The Loudspeaker and Headphone Handbook, 3rd edition.

About the Author
John Watkinson is an independent international consultant in advanced applications of electronics to audiovisual and avionics systems. He is a Fellow of the AES, a member of the Society of Expert Witnesses, and the British Computer Society and is a chartered information systems practitioner. He presents lectures, seminars and training courses worldwide. He is the author of many other Elsevier books, including The Art of DigitalVideo, An Introduction to Digital Video, Convergence in Broadcast and Communications Media, Television Fundamentals and The Art of the Helicopter.

Customer Reviews

Not for interested amateurs
I suppose I've only got myself to blame buying a 'bible' when what I needed was an introduction, but looking at the reviews for Watkinson's introduction book, I think I would have been equally disappointed.

Watkinson has an almost complete inability to identify with anything other than the fully informed reader, and in that case, you wonder why they need a book at all. Subjects are introduced without any context whatsoever, and the examples chosen are almost wilfully confusing. Why on earth, in a book on digital audio, would you use a square wave as an example to illustrate the issues surrounding filters ?

Maybe that's why people use the word 'bible' to describe books such as this, I suspect it joins the list with the bible, the origin of the species, and das kapital as one of the books most read in the title alone.

The Bible of Digital Audio
The most comprehensive book to date on Digital Audio.

The most comprehensive book on Digital Audio available
This book has everything you need to know about digital audio. All concepts that are introduced are described from first principles, with no prior knowledge of digital electronics, sampling theory or error correction techniques assumed. At the same time, it is a comprehensive reference text for popular digital audio formats such as AES/EBU. Mathematical formulae are provided where needed, but the emphasis is placed on describing phenomena in plain English.

At nearly 700 pages, it may be daunting for the novice, but this is essential reading for anyone in the digital audio industry.