This is one of four books in the Quick Guide series (see Quick Guide to Analogue Synthesis) about digital audio.

Everyone and their cat is making music on their computer now – whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, we leave to your discerning nature.

But all computer-based music-making involves digital audio – sound converted into a digital format, recorded, stored and manipulated by the computer. If you know how this is done, you’ll be at an advantage, not only when recording but when using effects and processing software.

Product	Quick Guide To Digital Audio Recording
From	PC Publishing UK
	Superb explanation of sound and digital recording
	Some hardware discussion is a little dated

A chapter discussing equipment is a little behind the times but that’s inevitable with any book discussing modern hardware.

The section on recording explains how sound can be recorded into a computer, and there’s an excellent section describing Mics and their response, all well illustrated.

A section on editing explains how programs handle digital audio editing. It explains time stretching, pitch shifting, looping and zero-crossing points, and includes tips on how to create good loops.

Another chapter describes the most popular effects – again, all amply illustrated – including EQ, filters, dynamics, the de-esser, DC offset, normalisation, noise reduction, loudness maximisers, reverb, delay, chorus, phasing, flanging, overdrive and sample conversion.

The final section contains tips on mixing and mastering and information about mp3.

Conclusion

Like other books on the series, the Quick Guide To Digital Audio Recording is concise, and well-illustrated. If you’re not up to speed with the basics of digital audio recording this will provide an excellent, er, Quick Guide.

The author’s site can be found at www.making-music.com