return to tranceaddict TranceAddict Forums Archive > DJing / Production / Promotion > Production Studio

Pages: [1] 2 
Is there a production equivalent to "How To DJ Right" ???
View this Thread in Original format
ClearVision
Does anybody have a book they could recommend regarding production, synthesis and so forth??? Is there anything that has achieved a "bible" sort of status like "How To DJ Righr"?
dj_kane
there is no right or wrong way to prodcue. jsut do what sounds good to you.

on synthesis just google it.
ClearVision
ok, well I've already found plenty of online material, but for some reason I like having something physical to read. Everything in HTDJR is covered online but I still bought the book just to have it.
richg101
there are lots of books on music production. most are directed as certain sequencers. i suppose you will need a few books.

1. general recording handbook
2. mastering handbook
3. promotion handbook (how to make it in the music industry)

search them on amazon. there are loads to choose from and you find them a lot in big bookstore chains.
dj_kane
i dont agree with using books to learn as your learning from peoples ideas and not creating your own. just create and learn by trial and error.
Storyteller
I'd say both reading and trial and error. It increases the learning curve by a lot. You don't have to do exactly as the books say, just fiddle the knobs a bit more and different but along the lines of the tutorials. You'll learn quicker with them than by trail and error only.

It is good to do stuff along with a tutorial. It gets you insight into the basics right away. Just make sure you know how to apply those tricks in stuff you do for yourself afterwards :).
G-Con
Ok.

there is a book called "The dance music manual" by rick snoman.
This is excellent, covering all aspects of music production. The mixing section and synthesis bits are particuarly useful. It won't teach you how to produce but as you learn yourself, it is excellent to refer to as and when you need it.

Other than that, i would recommend getting a book on whatever sequencer you use (unless you already know you're way around it comfortably). For instance when i got reason 3, i bought "reason 3 power." This sped up my learning curve in reason and music making in general a thousand times over. I know there are similar books for cubase and ableton and im sure the other major sequencers aswell. Some are better than others though so read reviews. I know that there are numerous books for reason, but some were reviewed poorly. the one i bought got lots of praise, so i went for that one and havent regretted it.
Zombie0729
when i first started i bought "sonar 3 power" as well. i'm using ableton now but that book defiently gave me an advantage because sequencers get more intense every year as the seasoned users request more and if you werent' there at step 1... you need to play catch up.


as far as synthesis goes, you won't find much unless its videos because lets think about it... you'd be buying a book to describe sounds to you. i'm sure you've seen people on this board have an incredibly hard time ddescribing sounds to you. It won't make sense for you to go and read 50 pages and understand a synth and all its knobs when it opens. What you need is some online tutorials to walk you thru the proces WHILE you are playing it so you can hear and use your phonogenic-memory.


good luck to you
Eric J
G-Con:

I bought the same 2 books a while back, and I agree that they are great reference materials. May I also recommend Power Tools for Synthesizer Programming. Another great read on the concepts of synthesis.
ClearVision
Thanks, these are fantastic suggestions :toocool:

I'll be hitting up amazon soon to check some of these out. :happy2:

Derivative
If you find a 'How to produce music' book it will be the sound equivilant of paint by numbers.

that . Theres no soul in painting by numbers and it ain't a good way to learn how to paint.
G-Con
quote:
Originally posted by Derivative
If you find a 'How to produce music' book it will be the sound equivilant of paint by numbers.

that . Theres no soul in painting by numbers and it ain't a good way to learn how to paint.


Thats not really true.

when you're starting out with little or know knowledge, then what often happens is you will twiddle all the knobs and sliders hoping that something suddenly sounds good, and when it does, you have no idea what exactly made it sound good and why. Sure eventually you will start to learn what everything does after heaps of trial and error.

But getting a book merely speeds this process up. Don't get me wrong, there is no substitute for practical, hands on learning, but text books go hand in hand in helping you understand what everything does.

Why try and blindly find you're way in the dark with no clue as to what you're doing when a book will guide you forward much quicker.
CLICK TO RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE
Pages: [1] 2 
Privacy Statement