Sound Engineering, Visual Effects and Film Technology: New books
This guide brings together key resources to help you find information relating to Visual Effects, Digital Film Production, Music Technology, Sound Engineering and Production courses.
Your librarian updates this list periodically.
New books
The Art and Science of Digital Compositing by
The classic reference, with over 25,000 copies in print, has been massively expanded and thoroughly updated to include state-of-the-art methods and 400+ all-new full color images! "At ILM, compositing is one of the most important tools we use. If you want to learn more, this excellent 2nd-edition is detailed with hundreds of secrets that will help make your comps seamless. For beginners or experts, Ron walks you through the processes of analysis and workflows - linear thinking which will help you become deft and successfully tackle any shot." --Dennis Muren ASC, Senior Visual Effects Supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic "Ron Brinkman's book is the definitive work on digital compositing and we have depended on this book as a critical part of our in-house training program at Imageworks since the 1999 Edition. We use this book as a daily textbook and reference for our lighters, compositors and anyone working with digital imagery. It is wonderful to see a new edition being released and it will certainly be required reading for all our digital artists here at Imageworks." --Sande Scoredos, Executive Director of Training & Artist Development, Sony Pictures Imageworks The Art and Science of Digital Compositing is the only complete overview of the technical and artistic nature of digital compositing. It covers a wide range of topics from basic image creation, representation and manipulation, to a look at the visual cues that are necessary to create a believable composite. Designed as an introduction to the field, as well as an authoritative technical reference, this book provides essential information for novices and professionals alike. 17 new case-studies provide in-depth looks at the compositing work done on films such as Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Golden Compass, The Incredibles, King Kong, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Sin City, Spider-Man 2, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith. Includes new sections on 3D compositing, High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging, Rotoscoping, and much more! All disc-based content for this title is now available on the Web. 17 new case-studies provide in-depth looks at the compositing work done on films such as Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Golden Compass, The Incredibles, King Kong, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Sin City, Spider-Man 2, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith. Includes new sections on 3D compositing, High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging, Rotoscoping, and much more!
ISBN: 9780080879260Publication Date: 2008-05-24
The Complete Guide to Blender Graphics by
The book provides instruction for New Users starting at the very beginning. Instruction is presented in a series of chapters incorporating visual reference to theprogram's interface. The initial chapters are designed to instruct the user in the operation of the program while introducing and demonstrating interesting features of the program. Chapters are developed in a building block fashion providing forward and reverse reference to relevant material.
ISBN: 9781032128412Publication Date: 2022-03-09
Living the Audio Life by
Living the Audio Life details the aspects and procedures necessary for one to have a successful career in live entertainment sound. Encompassing a wide range of topics, the text clearly guides anyone interested in working in a position within the live entertainment audio field. The guide is broken into clearly defined sections, allowing the reader to easily navigate through various subjects including jobs, career, business, creativity, lifestyle, and travel. Real-world examples and documentation from the author and key industry experts allow the reader to gain insight into the essential practices that are helpful throughout a career. Additional in-depth interviews provide details of careers from industry veterans. Whether considering a career in live entertainment audio or just starting out, readers will find the resources for the key to success in audio. Students, those new to sound, and workers already within their careers can refer to the text as a guide throughout their journeys. With benefits to anyone interested in the audio field, Living the Audio Life is a key navigational resource for success.
ISBN: 9781003188957Publication Date: 2022-05-16
Modern recording techniques : a practical guide to modern music production by
Cover -- Half Title -- Series Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Chapter 1 Introduction -- The Professional Studio Environment -- The Professional Recording Studio -- The Control Room -- The Project Studio -- Making the Project Studio Pay for Itself -- The Portable Studio -- The iRevolution -- The Retro Revolution -- The Changing Faces of the Music Studio Business -- Live/On-Location Recording: A Different Animal -- Audio for Video and Film -- Audio for Games -- The DJ -- The Times, They've Already Changed: Multimedia and the Web -- Power to the People! -- Whatever Works for You -- The People Who Make It All Happen -- The Artist -- Studio Musicians and Arrangers -- The Producer -- The Engineer -- Assistant Engineer -- Maintenance Engineer -- Mastering Engineer -- Studio Management -- Music Law -- Women and Minorities in the Industry -- Behind the Scenes -- Career Development -- Self-Motivation -- Networking: "Showing Up Is Huge" -- So, What Are Some Good Ways to Get Started? -- A Word on Professionalism -- In Conclusion -- Chapter 2 Sound and Hearing -- The Basics of Sound -- Waveform Characteristics -- Amplitude -- Frequency -- Frequency Response -- Velocity -- Wavelength -- Reflection of Sound -- Diffraction of Sound -- Phase -- Harmonic Content -- Envelope -- Loudness Levels: The Decibel -- Logarithmic Basics -- The Decibel -- Sound-Pressure Level -- Voltage -- Power -- The "Simple" Heart of the Matter -- The Ear -- Threshold of Hearing -- Threshold of Feeling -- Threshold of Pain -- Taking Care of Your Hearing -- Psychoacoustics -- Auditory Perception -- Beats -- Combination Tones -- Masking -- Perception of Direction -- Perception of Space -- Direct Sound -- Early Reflections -- Reverberation -- Chapter 3 Studio Acoustics and Design -- Studio Types -- The Professional Recording Studio.
The Audio-for-Visual and Media Production Environment -- The Audio-for-Gaming Production Environment -- The Project Studio -- Primary Factors Governing Studio and Control Room Acoustics -- Acoustic Isolation -- Walls -- Floors -- Risers -- Ceilings -- Windows and Doors -- ISO-Rooms and ISO-Booths -- Acoustic Partitions -- Noise Isolation Within the Control Room -- Symmetry in Control-Room Design -- Frequency Balance -- Reflections -- Absorption -- High-Frequency Absorption -- Low-Frequency Absorption -- Flexible Surfaces -- The Practical Side of Acoustics -- Symmetry -- 25/25/50 -- Speaker Placement -- Room Reflections and Acoustic Reverberation -- Acoustic Echo Chambers -- Chapter 4 Microphones: Design and Application -- Microphone Design -- The Dynamic Microphone -- The Ribbon Microphone -- Further Developments in Ribbon Technology -- The Condenser Microphone -- Powering a Condenser Mic -- External Power Supply -- Phantom Power -- The Electret-Condenser Microphone -- Microphone Characteristics -- Directional Response -- Frequency Response -- Transient Response -- Output Characteristics -- Sensitivity Rating -- Equivalent Noise Rating -- Overload Characteristics -- Microphone Impedance -- Balanced/Unbalanced Lines -- Soldering, Baby! -- Microphone Preamps -- Modeled Condenser Mic Systems -- Microphone Techniques -- Other Microphone Pickup Issues -- Low-Frequency Rumble -- Proximity Effect -- Popping -- Off-Axis Pickup -- Pickup Characteristics as a Function of Working Distance -- Close Microphone Placement -- Leakage -- Recording Direct -- Distant Microphone Placement -- Room Microphone Placement -- Room Pickup in the Studio -- The Boundary Effect -- "Reamping It" in the Mix -- Accent Microphone Placement -- Stereo and Immersive Mic Techniques -- Spaced Pair -- X/Y -- M/S -- Decca Tree -- Surround Miking Techniques -- Ambient/Room Surround Mics.
Immersive Decca Tree -- Ambisonic Pickup -- Microphone Placement Techniques -- Brass Instruments -- Trumpet -- Trombone -- Tuba -- French Horn -- Guitar -- Acoustic Guitar -- Miking Near the Sound Hole -- Room and Surround Guitar Miking -- Nylon or Spanish Guitar -- The Electric Guitar -- Miking the Guitar Amp -- Recording Direct -- The Electric Bass Guitar -- Keyboard Instruments -- Grand Piano -- Upright Piano -- Electronic Keyboard Instruments -- Percussion -- Drum Set -- Miking the Drum Set -- Kick Drum -- Snare Drum -- Overheads -- Rack Toms -- Floor Tom -- Hi-Hat -- Tuned Percussion Instruments -- Congas and Hand Drums -- Xylophone, Vibraphone and Marimba -- Stringed Instruments -- Violin and Viola -- Cello -- Double Bass -- Voice -- Mic Tools for the Voice -- Woodwind Instruments -- Clarinet -- Flute -- Saxophone -- Harmonica -- Microphone Selection -- Shure SM57 -- Telefunken M81 -- AKG D112 -- Royer Labs R-121 -- Beyerdynamic M-160 -- AEA A440 -- Audio-Technica AT5045 -- AKG C214 -- Neumann TLM102 -- Warm Audio WA-47 -- Telefunken U47, C12 and ELA M251E -- Chapter 5 The Analog Tape Recorder -- To Commit or Not to Commit It to Tape? -- The Medium of Magnetic Recording -- The Professional Analog ATR -- The Tape Transport -- The Magnetic Tape Head -- Equalization -- Bias Current -- Monitoring Modes -- Tape, Tape Speed and Head Configurations -- Print-Through -- Analog Tape Noise -- Cleanliness -- Degaussing -- Editing Magnetic Tape -- Backup and Archive Strategies -- Backing up Your Analog Project -- Tape Restoration -- Archive Strategies -- Tape Availability -- Tape Emulation Plug-Ins -- Chapter 6 Digital Audio Technology -- The Language of Digital -- Digital Basics -- Sampling -- Quantization -- The Devil's in the Details -- The Nyquist Theorem -- Oversampling -- Signal-to-Error Ratio -- Dither -- Fixed- versus Floating-Point Processing.
The Digital Recording/Reproduction Process -- The Recording Process -- The Playback Process -- Sound File Basics -- Sound File Bit Depths -- Sound File Sample Rates -- Professional Sound File Formats -- Regarding Digital Audio Levels -- Digital Audio Transmission -- AES/EBU -- S/PDIF -- SCMS -- MADI -- ADAT Lightpipe -- TDIF -- AES 67 -- Signal Distribution -- What Is Jitter? -- Wordclock -- Chapter 7 The Digital Audio Workstation -- Integration Now - Integration Forever! -- DAW Hardware -- The Desktop Computer -- The Laptop Computer -- System Interconnectivity -- USB -- Thunderbolt -- FireWire -- Audio over Ethernet -- The Audio Interface -- Audio Driver Protocols -- Latency -- Need Additional I/O? -- DAW Controllers -- Hardware Controllers -- Instrument Controllers -- Touch Controllers -- Large-Scale Controllers -- Sound File Formats -- Sound File Sample and Bit Rates -- Sound File Interchange and Compatibility Between DAWs -- DAW Software -- Sound Recording and Editing -- Fixing Sound with a Sonic Scalpel -- Comping -- MIDI Sequencing and Scoring -- Support for Video and Picture Sync -- Real-Time, On-Screen Mixing -- DSP Effects -- DSP Plug-Ins -- Accelerator Processing Systems -- Fun With Effects -- Equalization -- Dynamics -- Delay -- Pitch and Time Change -- ReWire -- Mixdown and Effects Automation -- Exporting a Final Mixdown to File -- Power to the Processor … Uhhh, People! -- Get a Computer That's Powerful Enough -- Make Sure You Have Enough Fast Memory -- Keep Your Production Media Separate -- Update Your Drivers … With Caution! -- Read Your Manuals -- Going (at Least) Dual Monitor -- Keeping Your Computer Quiet -- Backup, Archive and Networking Strategies -- Computer Networking -- Session Documentation -- Documenting Within the DAW -- Make Documentation Directories -- Accessories and Accessorizing -- Protect Your Investment.
Protect Your Hardware -- Protect Your Body -- Chapter 8 Groove Tools and Techniques -- The Basics -- Pitch-Shift Algorithms -- Warping -- Beat Slicing -- Audio to MIDI -- Groove Hardware -- Groove Software -- Looping Your DAW -- Loop-based Audio Software -- ReWire -- Groove and Loop-Based Plug-Ins -- Drum and Drum Loop Plug-Ins -- Pulling Loops into a DAW Session -- iOS Groove Apps -- Groove Controllers -- DJ Software -- Obtaining Loop Files from the Great Digital Wellspring -- Chapter 9 MIDI and Electronic Music Technology -- The Power of MIDI -- MIDI Production Environments -- What Is MIDI? -- What MIDI Isn't -- System Interconnections -- The MIDI Cable -- MIDI Phantom Power -- Wireless MIDI -- MIDI Jacks -- MIDI Echo -- Typical Configurations -- The Daisy Chain -- The Multiport Network -- MIDI 1.0 and 2.0 -- Exploring the MIDI 1.0 Spec -- The MIDI 1.0 Message -- MIDI Channels -- MIDI Modes -- Channel Voice Messages -- Explanation of Controller ID Parameters -- System Messages -- Exploring the MIDI 2.0 Spec -- Introduction to MIDI 2.0 -- The Three Bs -- Higher Resolution for Velocity and Control Messages -- Tighter Timing -- Sixteen Channels Become 256 -- Built-in Support for "Per-Note" Events -- MIDI 2.0 Meets VST 3 -- MIDI Capability Inquiry (MIDI-CI) -- The Three Ps -- The Universal MIDI Packet -- Groups -- MIDI 1.0 Protocol Inside the Universal MIDI Packet -- MIDI 2.0 Protocol Messages -- Expanded Resolution and Expanded Capabilities -- MIDI 2.0 Program Change Message -- The Future of MIDI 2.0 -- MIDI and the Computer -- Connecting to the Peripheral World -- The MIDI Interface -- Electronic Instruments -- Inside the Toys -- Instrument and Systems Plug-Ins -- Keyboards -- The MIDI Keyboard Controller -- The Drum Machine -- MIDI Drum Controllers -- Drum Replacement -- Sequencing -- Integrated Hardware Sequencers -- Software Sequencers.
Basic Introduction to Sequencing.
ISBN: 9781003260530Publication Date: 2024
New Realities in Audio by
The new realities are here. Virtual and Augmented realities and 360 video technologies are rapidly entering our homes and office spaces. Good quality audio has always been important to the user experience, but in the new realities, it is more than important, it's essential. If the audio doesn't work, the immersion of the experience fails and the cracks in the new reality start to show. This practical guide helps you navigate the challenges and pitfalls of designing audio for these new realities. This technology is different from anything we've seen before and requires an entirely new approach; this book will introduce the broad concepts you need to know before delving into the practical detail you need. Key Features This book covers audio for all types of new reality technology. At the moment, VR and 360 video are getting a lot of press, but in a few years we will be hearing a lot more about Augmented and Mixed reality technologies as well. A practical guide to creating, designing and implementing audio for this new technology by a leading sound design and implementation expert. Conceptual explanations address the new approaches necessary to designing effective audio for the new realities. Real-world examples and analysis of what does and does not work including detailed case study discussions.
ISBN: 9781138740815Publication Date: 2018-02-16
Real-Time Rendering, Fourth Edition by
Thoroughly updated, this fourth edition focuses on modern techniques used to generate synthetic three-dimensional images in a fraction of a second. With the advent of programmable shaders, a wide variety of new algorithms have arisen and evolved over the past few years. This edition discusses current, practical rendering methods used in games and other applications. It also presents a solid theoretical framework and relevant mathematics for the field of interactive computer graphics, all in an approachable style. New to this edition: new chapter on VR and AR as well as expanded coverage of Visual Appearance, Advanced Shading, Global Illumination, and Curves and Curved Surfaces.
ISBN: 9781351816151Publication Date: 2018-08-06
Real Time Visual Effects for the Technical Artist by
Visual effects (VFX) are one of the most complicated components of feature film and television creation. With advancements in such technologies as Ray Tracing and Virtual Reality, the visual quality of the real-time rendering engine is now rivaling feature film. Real-time rendering requires years of programming experience with advanced understanding in math and physics. As the power of the real-time rendering engine improves, so too do the interfaces for VFX creation. With limited technical understanding, artists can create VFX with the push of a button and tug of a slider. As powerful as the interfaces are, they can only expose a portion of the true potential of the rendering engine. Artists are limited by their understanding of the engine interface. Real Time Visual Effects for the Technical Artist is written for digital artists to explain the core concepts of VFX, common in all engines, to free them from interface bounds. Features: Introduces the reader to the technical aspects of real-time VFX Built upon a career of more than 20 years in the feature film VFX and the real-time video game industries and tested on graduate and undergraduate students Explores all real-time VFX in four categories: in-camera effects, in-material effects, simulations, and particles This book is written to complement undergraduate- or graduate-level courses focused on the fundamentals of modern real-time VFX. Chris Roda is a Technical Art instructor at the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), a graduate degree program in interactive, real-time application development at the University of Central Florida. Early in his career, Chris was a visual effects artist in the film and television industries where he contributed visual effects for films such as Spider-Man, Titanic, and The Fifth Element. Before coming to FIEA, Chris was a CG Supervisor at Electronic Arts, where he worked on video game titles such as NCAA Football and Madden NFL Football. In addition to teaching, Chris works on generating tools and pipelines for the creation of immersive experiences: the amalgamation of the narrative of films, the interactivity of video games, and the immersion of theme parks.
ISBN: 9781000551532Publication Date: 2022-03-13
Recording Secrets for the Small Studio by
In this new edition, discover how to achieve commercial-grade recordings, even in the smallest studios, by applying power-user techniques from the world's most successful producers. Recording Secrets for the Small Studio is based on the backroom strategies of more than 250 famous names. This thorough and down-to-earth guide leads you through a logical sequence of practical tasks to build your live-room skills progressively from the ground up, with user-friendly explanations that introduce technical concepts on a strictly need-to-know basis. On the way, you'll unravel the mysteries of many specialist studio tactics and gain the confidence to tackle a full range of real-world recording situations. Specifically designed for small-studio enthusiasts, this book provides an intensive training course for those who want a fast track to releasing quality results, while the chapter summaries, assignments, and extensive online resources are perfect for school and college use. Learn the fundamental principles of mic technique that you can apply in any recording scenario - and how to avoid those rookie mistakes that all too often compromise the sonics of lower-budget productions. Explore advanced techniques which help industry insiders maintain their competitive edge even under the most adverse conditions: creative phase manipulation, improvised acoustics tweaks, inventive monitoring workarounds, and subtle psychological tricks. Find out where you don't need to spend money, as well as how to make a limited budget really count. Make the best use of limited equipment and session time, especially in situations where you're engineering and producing single-handed. Pick up tricks and tips from celebrated engineers and producers across the stylistic spectrum, including Steve Albini, Neal Avron, Roy Thomas Baker, Joe Barresi, Howard Benson, Tchad Blake, T-Bone Burnett, Geoff Emerick, Brian Eno, Paul Epworth, Shawn Everett, Humberto Gatica, Imogen Heap, Ross Hogarth, Trevor Horn, Rodney Jerkins, Leslie Ann Jones, Eddie Kramer, Jacquire King, Daniel Lanois, Sylvia Massy, Alan Meyerson, Justin Niebank, Gary Paczosa, Tony Platt, Jack Joseph Puig, David Reitzas, Bob Rock, Laura Sisk, Fraser T Smith, Young Guru, and many more. Now extensively expanded and updated, with new sections on contact mics, software instruments, squash mics, and ensemble depth distortion.
ISBN: 9781032229553Publication Date: 2022-10-01
Small Signal Audio Design by
Small Signal Audio Design is a highly practical handbook providing an extensive repertoire of circuits that can be assembled to make almost any type of audio system. This fully revised fourth edition offers wholly new content on internally balanced audio design, electret microphones, emitter-follower stability, microphony in capacitors, and much, much more. This book continues the engaging prose style familiar to readers as you learn why mercury-filled cables are not a good idea, the pitfalls of plating gold on copper, and what quotes from Star Trek have to do with PCB design. Learn how to: make amplifiers with apparently impossibly low noise design discrete circuitry that can handle enormous signals with vanishingly low distortion transform the performance of low-cost opamps build active filters with very low noise and distortion while saving money on expensive capacitors make incredibly accurate volume controls make a huge variety of audio equalisers use load synthesis to make magnetic cartridge preamplifiers that have noise so low it is limited by basic physics sum, switch, clip, compress, and route audio signals build simple but ultra-low noise power supplies be confident that phase perception is not an issue Including all the crucial theories, but with minimal mathematics, Small Signal Audio Design is the must-have companion for anyone studying, researching, or working in audio engineering and audio electronics.
ISBN: 9781032366258Publication Date: 2023-11-20
Sound Reinforcement for Audio Engineers by
- A comprehensive reference guide on the topic of sound reinforcement, suitable for both students and professionals - Covers a wide variety of fields of application, include sports venues, religious venues, corporate environments, cinemas and more. - Represents an opportunity to solidify our offering in the area of sound reinforcement
ISBN: 9781032115177Publication Date: 2022-08-31
Writing Compelling Dialogue for Film and TV by
Writing Compelling Dialogue for Film and TV is a practical guide that provides you, the screenwriter, with a clear set of exercises, tools, and methods to raise your ability to hear and discern conversation at a more complex level, in turn allowing you to create better, more nuanced, complex and compelling dialogue. The process of understanding dialogue writing begins with increasing writers' awareness of what they hear. This book provides writers with an assortment of dialogue and language tools, techniques, and exercises and teaches them how to perceive and understand the function, intent and thematic/psychological elements that dialogue can convey about character, tone, and story. Text, subtext, voice, conflict, exposition, rhythm and style are among the many aspects covered. This book reminds us of the sheer joy of great dialogue and will change and enhance the way writers hear, listen to, and write dialogue, and along the way aid the writers' confidence in their own voice allowing them to become more proficient writers of dialogue. Written by veteran screenwriter, playwright, and screenwriting professor Loren-Paul Caplin, Writing Compelling Dialogue is an invaluable writing tool for any aspiring screenwriter who wants to improve their ability to write dialogue for film and television, as well as students, professionals, and educators.
ISBN: 1000203190Publication Date: 2020-10-01
