Understanding Audio

Acknowledgment
Preface
CHAPTER 1. THE RECORDING STUDIO: A BRIEF HISTORY AND OVERVIEW
	Early Recording
	The Modern-Era (Post-1960s) Recording Studio
	Basic Recording Studio Signal Flow
	Recording Studios in the Digital Age
CHAPTER 2. RECORDING STUDIO BASICS
	The Recording Process
	Sound Source
	Recording Console/Mixer
	Signal Processors
	Signal Destinations
	Summary
CHAPTER 3. BASIC SYMBOLS AND SIGNAL FLOW: THE AUDIO MAP
	Flowchart Basics
	Symbols
	Normalled Connections
	Projects: Signal Flow Exercises
CHAPTER 4. ADVANCED SIGNAL FLOW: THE RECORDING CONSOLE
	Console Architecture
	I/O Modules
	Channel Path/Monitor Path
	Master (Center) Section
	Advanced Console Flow
	Split Console
	Digital Consoles/Mixers
	Projects: Signal Flow Exercises
CHAPTER 5. THE DAW: WORKING INSIDE THE BOX
	DAW Systems Signal Flow
	DAW Recording/Mixing Signal Flow
	DAW Signal Metering
	Projects: DAW Signal Flow
CHAPTER 6. BASIC ACOUSTICS: WHAT IS SOUND?
	Sound and Vibration
	Simple Harmonic Motion
	Frequency and Period
	Wavelength
	Amplitude (Peak vs. RMS)
	Complex Sound (Fourier)
CHAPTER 7. DIGITAL AUDIO: EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS
	A/D Conversion
	D/A Process
	Practical Complications with Digital Audio
	High-Resolution Audio
	Projects
CHAPTER 8. AUDIO BASICS
	Electricity
	Ohm's Law
	Impedance
	AC Electrical Circuits
	Grounding
	Projects
CHAPTER 9. ADVANCED AUDIO: THE STUDIO-INTERCONNECTIONS
	Impedance
	Matching vs. Bridging Impedances
	Balanced vs. Unbalanced Connections
	Cables and Interconnects
	Ground Loops
	System Noise Prevention
	Projects
CHAPTER 10. DIGITAL STUDIO CONNECTIONS: BIT BY BIT
	Digital Cables
	Digital Interface and Audio Transfer Protocols
	Interconnections: Word Clock
	Projects
CHAPTER 11. DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEMS: SHALL WE DANCE?
	MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface
	MIDI Connections
	MIDI Data
	MIDI System Setup
	Software Synthesis: Virtual Instruments
	MIDI Expanded for the 21st Century
	Synchronization
	Non-MIDI Digital Control Protocols
	Project
CHAPTER 12. ANALOG MAGNETIC RECORDING: IT'S ONLY TAPE
	Analog Recording Process
	Analog Tape Alignment
	Alignment Procedure
	Reference Levels
	Noise Reduction
	Transport
	Projects
CHAPTER 13. DECIBELS: dB OR NOT dB?
	Origins
	Logarithms
	Power and Intensity
	Loudness
	Bels and Decibels
	Projects
CHAPTER 14. SOUND REFERENCE LEVELS: MORE dB
	Sound Power Level (dB PWL)
	Sound Intensity Level (SIL)
	Sound Pressure Level (dB SPL)
	Inverse Square Law
	Electrical Power and Voltage
	Origins of 0 dB Reference Levels
	Projects
CHAPTER 15. PSYCHOACOUSTICS: RELATING dB TO WHAT WE HEAR
	The Audio Window
	Equal Loudness Contours
	Localization
	Stereo Miking Techniques
	Stereo Sound Reproduction
	Masking
	Projects
CHAPTER 16. THE AUDIO WINDOW: RELATING WHAT WE HEAR TO THE GEAR
	The Audio Window Revisited
	Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Dynamic Range, Standard Operating Level (SOL), and Maximim Output Level (MOL)
	Digital Signal Metering
	The Loudness Wars
	Harmonic Distortion
	Frequency Response
	Projects
CHAPTER 17. GAIN STRUCTURES: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
	System Levels
	Recording Gain Structure
	Projects
CHAPTER 18. STUDIO AND LISTENING ROOM ACOUSTICS: WHERE IT ALL BEGINS AND ENDS
	Room Modes (Standing Waves)
	Speaker Placement
	Reflections (Reverberation)
	Control Room Design
	Reverberation Time (T60)
	Room Treatment
	Diffusion
	Sound Isolation
	Noise
	Projects
APPENDICES
	Appendix A. Reference
	Appendix B. Bibliography
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX