Audio mixing book recommendation

E

eco_bach

Well-known member
Hi
Trying to become an audio 'ninja' or at least know how to record and master vocals, how and when to apply eq, compression, add and remove echo and reverb, and what are some 'best practices' to follow when mastering mixing audio for short films.

These are a few books I am considering

http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Mixing-Tricks-Eddie-Bazil/dp/1906005044/ref=sr_1_1


http://www.amazon.com/Mixing-Engineers-Handbook-Second/dp/1598632515/ref=sr_1_1


http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Engineers-Handbook-Audio/dp/1598634496/ref=sr_1_1


http://www.amazon.com/Mixing-Audio-Second-Concepts-Practices/dp/0240522222/ref=sr_1_1

Any recommendations for the above or other suggestions?
 
Since you're posting this here, I'm guessing you are trying to improve your recording and mixing skills as they relate to filmmaking. If that is indeed the case, then I'm not sure any of the books you mentioned are the place to start.


This is probably a good place to start.
http://www.amazon.com/Roll-Sound-Pr...9837/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1286495344&sr=8-1

Like everything else audio, it all starts with proper recording techniques. This has far more to do with microphone selection and appropriate application than what happens afterwards in the studio.

Unlike other forms of audio recording, dialog recording for film is always a diminishing exercise. What this means is you start with the source (the talent's voice). From that point forward, the only thing you can do to it is make it worse. Never better. So, as a location sound recordist, my only goal is to capture that voice as cleanly and naturally as possible and add as little noise and artifacts as possible. Anything you do after recording is bandaid to attempt to cover up, mask, or somehow disguise shortfalls made during the recording process.

Yes, there are plenty of tools that can be applied after the voice is recorded. Not one can fix a recording problem without somehow either adding undesireable artifacts, or removing desired content.

That would be the best place to start if your goal is to become an audio "ninja".

After that, I would focus on dialog editing.

http://www.amazon.com/Dialogue-Editing-Motion-Pictures-Invisible/dp/0240809181

How and when to apply things like eq, compression, etc. are decisions made by your ears and done in the context of the film. Mixing is pretty far to the right in the workflow of sound for film, after sound effects and Foley, and is typically done in concert with the sound designer and composer for score.

Here's a great resource for all things film sound related.

http://filmsound.org/

Hope this helps.
 
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My favorite is: http://www.amazon.com/Art-Mixing-Recording-Engineering-Production/dp/1932929142

It is very visual in the way they describe how to mix, place in the aural field, and EQ. I learn the best when I can see it, and the fashion this book does it in is great! It's more from a mix engineer of music standpoint, but the principles apply quite well to any audio mixing, be it film, music, stage, recording, or live.

Don't get me wrong, I have over 50% of the books already mentioned, and they are good too. But for me, I love visual representations to learn from.
 
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the best method is to apprentice and learn from a pro. with books it really depends on your methodology of how you learn whether a book can help you out, on the other hand, It cant hurt.
 
Not that the Mixing Engineer's and Mastering Engineer's Handbooks are bad books, (I don't know about the other two you listed) but they are focused on music. If you're going to get them, you should get The recording Engineer's Handbook, also. Still focused on music, but still a good book.

You will certainly learn good things from them if you get them, but how usefull they are for film and post work is debatable.

This is another good placee to start...
http://www.amazon.com/Producing-Great-Sound-Video-Expert/dp/024080970X/ref=pd_sim_b_2

...then this one.
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Postproduction-Second-After-Shoot/dp/0240809718/ref=pd_sim_b_3

They overlap some, but still worth reading both all the way through.

Also, you don't master films really at all. "Mastering" is done to music.
 
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