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 Customer Reviews
Much more than Quick Mastering Tips, 05 Jul 2007
I must say I found this book an excellent read. I'm currently self producing an album of some of my songs and got this book in the hope that I'd get some quick tips to try and do a half decent master of the mixes. What it actually did was make me go back to the mixes and question the decisions I'd made to get there.
The author's technical knowledge is extremely high and has definitely given me a clearer understanding of the scope and limitations of the gear at my disposal. More important though is his insistance on not always using processing as a crutch and encouraging you to LISTEN before and after plugging in the standard fallback eq/compressor. I found it refreshing that he focused on music as an art and insisted that within all the requisite science of audio production you should never lose sight of the musical line of the recording your producing.
In a way this book has been temporarily counter productive for me as rather than giving me quick fixes for the last step in production its set me back a few stages to reflect. Hopefully though this will lead to a better, more transparent final product. I suspect that, as a long serving mastering engineer, this is more than a little of the author's intention. As he states several times a good mix is the key to a great master. I think the truly intended sense of this book's title is, therefore, a more all encompassing Mastering the Art and Science of Audio. A must buy, 13 Dec 2006
If your serious about music and want to really produce some excellent sounds you must buy this book.
Professional or home studio, dance music or band producer this is where to get ahead. One of the few authoritative books about audio, 27 Aug 2004
The world of audio is full of stupid explanations for largely misunderstood problems. People seem to suffer paranormal phenomena with audio, and there are people who claim that a green marker can enhance the sound of a CD! This book is a welcome exception to that. It does a wonderful job describing (as the title states) the art *and* the science of mastering. The explanations of digital audio problems are scientific and rigurous, without a single exception. And the author knows his job indeed; he isn't the typical person obsessed with gear. He deeply understands how the different processors work, and the different issues with them. Following his recommendations, my editions are now much better. Moreover, the author is a member of the very small group of talented technical writers. The book is even fun to read, written in a lively style, and very interesting.
Detailed Mastering Bible, 31 Jan 2004
The degree in which the author masters the audio & digital domains is truly amazing. It goes down to the lowest physical level and lets you understand _why_ things behave as they behave, instead of just giving you a list of what not to do. This, together with invaluable examples from his more than impressive 32 years of experience in the field, makes this book more vital to your work than various pieces of expensive equipment.
So, all in all, 5 out of 5. If you are a sound engineer and you haven't bought this book yet, buy it now (or wait a little - a revision is in the pipeline for 2007!) :-)
The best book on mastering., 09 Jan 2004
If you are thinking of buying a book on the topic of mastering, then this should be it. It contains explanations of the principals and processes involved in mastering along with excellent technical explanations. If you are interested in mastering audio, whether at beginner, intermediate or expert level then you will learn something from this book. It's set out nicely and is interesting throughout. You'll soon be turning good sounding tracks into great sounding ones!
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Customer Reviews
Much more than Quick Mastering Tips, 05 Jul 2007
I must say I found this book an excellent read. I'm currently self producing an album of some of my songs and got this book in the hope that I'd get some quick tips to try and do a half decent master of the mixes. What it actually did was make me go back to the mixes and question the decisions I'd made to get there.
The author's technical knowledge is extremely high and has definitely given me a clearer understanding of the scope and limitations of the gear at my disposal. More important though is his insistance on not always using processing as a crutch and encouraging you to LISTEN before and after plugging in the standard fallback eq/compressor. I found it refreshing that he focused on music as an art and insisted that within all the requisite science of audio production you should never lose sight of the musical line of the recording your producing.
In a way this book has been temporarily counter productive for me as rather than giving me quick fixes for the last step in production its set me back a few stages to reflect. Hopefully though this will lead to a better, more transparent final product. I suspect that, as a long serving mastering engineer, this is more than a little of the author's intention. As he states several times a good mix is the key to a great master. I think the truly intended sense of this book's title is, therefore, a more all encompassing Mastering the Art and Science of Audio. A must buy, 13 Dec 2006
If your serious about music and want to really produce some excellent sounds you must buy this book.
Professional or home studio, dance music or band producer this is where to get ahead. One of the few authoritative books about audio, 27 Aug 2004
The world of audio is full of stupid explanations for largely misunderstood problems. People seem to suffer paranormal phenomena with audio, and there are people who claim that a green marker can enhance the sound of a CD! This book is a welcome exception to that. It does a wonderful job describing (as the title states) the art *and* the science of mastering. The explanations of digital audio problems are scientific and rigurous, without a single exception. And the author knows his job indeed; he isn't the typical person obsessed with gear. He deeply understands how the different processors work, and the different issues with them. Following his recommendations, my editions are now much better. Moreover, the author is a member of the very small group of talented technical writers. The book is even fun to read, written in a lively style, and very interesting.
Detailed Mastering Bible, 31 Jan 2004
The degree in which the author masters the audio & digital domains is truly amazing. It goes down to the lowest physical level and lets you understand _why_ things behave as they behave, instead of just giving you a list of what not to do. This, together with invaluable examples from his more than impressive 32 years of experience in the field, makes this book more vital to your work than various pieces of expensive equipment.
So, all in all, 5 out of 5. If you are a sound engineer and you haven't bought this book yet, buy it now (or wait a little - a revision is in the pipeline for 2007!) :-)
The best book on mastering., 09 Jan 2004
If you are thinking of buying a book on the topic of mastering, then this should be it. It contains explanations of the principals and processes involved in mastering along with excellent technical explanations. If you are interested in mastering audio, whether at beginner, intermediate or expert level then you will learn something from this book. It's set out nicely and is interesting throughout. You'll soon be turning good sounding tracks into great sounding ones!
KAKU IS GOD, 03 Nov 2008
This review would partially be continued from my "michio kaku - parallel worlds" review.
like i said in that review, parallel worlds laid down the carpet for the big knowledge to move into the house. it was a nice foundation and gives you a general understanding of every aspect.
Now: Hyperspace jumps deeper into it. So far im only half way through and im finding it amazing. it explains alot about the flatlanders (2D people) and what would happen if we twisted and turned them in 3D space etc.
explains the ins and outs of dimentions, space, einstein etc.
even goes on to explain about when michio was at war in viet nam =O but il let you explore that yourselfs :)
anyway. I give this book 5 stars, because once again, he amazingly explains everything he needs to explain, in such a casual sense that it doesnt get boring. he stays on each subject long enough for you to understand, but then moves on swiftly enough to keep you interested!. and extra points because if you read Pworlds, and then hyperspace, youl notice that they "connect" together very well.
5 stars!
a gem, 20 Nov 2007
I stumbled accross this book in a second hand shop and must admit that I had limited understanding the first read around, but I persevered and came out somewhat wiser at the end. Since then I have read it three more times and each time I become more enlightened. Michio has a way of allowing you to visualise complex issues making him an excellent story teller. I would recommed this as a must for anyone interested in popular science.
An Introduction to Hyperspace, 15 Nov 2007
This is an odyssey into the history of development of the concept of hyperspace that includes fourth and higher spatial dimensions to account for the riddles and unsolved problems of unified field theory. Since the postulation of special theory of relativity, Einstein and subsequent physicists until now have struggled to explain the four natural forces; the electromagnetic force (explained by Maxwell's field equations for electricity & magnetism); the strong and weak nuclear forces (explained by Yang - Mills field equations for subatomic forces); and the gravitational force (explained by Einstein's field equations of gravitation and relativity) by one unified field theory (theory of everything: String Theory). In other words, unifying the forces of the big, the cosmos, and the laws of the small, the microcosm (subatomic forces) by one single theory. The first part of the book describes how laws of nature become so simple to understand if higher dimensions are invoked; the author gives us a good historical background to build his case for hyperspace concept. The second part of the book describes the evolution of quantum mechanics and String theory. An introduction to wormholes, black holes and the use of these cosmic bodies for interstellar travel is given in the third part. The fourth part rambles through the future of the universe with irrelevant and some times out of focus narrative. The book is entirely free of physics and mathematics; from the point of understanding the basic concepts this approach is welcome. This book also gives an insight into the poignant story of Riemann (p.42) and Ramanujan (p.174) who sustained enormous personal and family hardships to contribute significantly in the field of mathematics. We also get a glimpse of academic rat race that involves professional rivalry, name & work recognition, and personal ego that is prevalent in academics. This is illustrated when Einstein delays Kaluza's paper for publication for 2 years (p.102). Bohr calling Pauli's lecture crazy (p.137); Sheldon Glashow ridiculing t'Hooft's work (p.121); a superior discouraging Mahahiko Suzuki's publication about Euler's Beta function (p.161); and Pauli being furious about Eisenberg's claim, Einstein - Bohr argument, and Schrodinger frustrated with Bohr's interpretation (p.261).
The author rambles about symmetry in arts; what is that got to do with hyperspace? The reader can find this discussion in any art book. Time travel has been described in layman's language in many books in depth; this discussion is unnecessary for this book. Throughout the book, the author refers to standard model and the equations of quantum mechanics as ugly; Equations are not ugly, they are complex or non-symmetrical.
The author could have devoted one chapter to describing the field equations in layman's terms; it would have helped a more enthusiastic reader to build a bridge to physics and tensor calculus. The reader should not be discouraged about mathematics in understanding relativity; many physicists themselves are heading to the library to learn about mathematics in String theory (Part 2). More appropriate title of the book could be hyperspace - a historical development of String theory. Despite the minor concerns, this book has strong points as observed above. I encourage the reader to buy this book; if you are not happy with this book, it is less than two-lunch money.
Theoretical pyhsics goes ;ogical, 14 Nov 2005
This book gives the best explanation for string theory I've read - each time I read this I found myself coming up with new theories regarding the logic of n-dimensional space. A truly inspirational book, and I hope I can get my lent copy back soon!!
A Capsule Version of How the Universe Works, 09 Feb 2005
AM (still on the air but hosted by George Noory). He explained theories of the universe in a rational manner which made complex theories come alive in this listener's imagination. He provided descriptions that were palatable to a lay audience. He even entertained answering questions on the air. This taste led me to buy the book. Mankind has contemplated his or her place in the cosmos and exploring "what lies beyond " or "how the universe functions" since time immemorial. This book provides explanations to enhance the understanding many people seek ... The most fascinating and intriguing concept in the book refers to the ten dimensions of hyperspace. Basic explanations are given for the strong force, weak force, gravitational force, electromagnetic force but the magic in this book lies in the descriptions of the quest for "unified theory" which will explain the operation of the universe in one single equation to the satisfaction of every theorist. The new geometry first conceived by George Bernard Reimann in 1854 was the most important mathematical conceptual discovery heading in this direction, toward solving this puzzle. This mathematical discovery revealed an equation for the fourth dimension. This revolutionary concept created the geometric patterns possible to explain the existence of higher dimensions in the universe. Space travel, multiple dimensions, parallel universes, superstring theory, black holes, time warps, and paradoxes are explained with lucidity in this book. The "Big Bang" theory is compared to the Biblical explanation. Anyone reading this book who has been mesmerized by viewing stars at night and who has wondered what lies beyond, will benefit from reading this book. The book is now over 10 years old but holds valuable ideas for those interested in this complex subject. Other recommended books are "The Tao of Physics" by Fritjof Capra and "Dancing of the Wu Li Masters" by Gary Zukov. By first listening to Dr. Michio Kaku I was hooked on learning more about the theories of the universe. His book is a great start on this quest. Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)
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Customer Reviews
Much more than Quick Mastering Tips, 05 Jul 2007
I must say I found this book an excellent read. I'm currently self producing an album of some of my songs and got this book in the hope that I'd get some quick tips to try and do a half decent master of the mixes. What it actually did was make me go back to the mixes and question the decisions I'd made to get there.
The author's technical knowledge is extremely high and has definitely given me a clearer understanding of the scope and limitations of the gear at my disposal. More important though is his insistance on not always using processing as a crutch and encouraging you to LISTEN before and after plugging in the standard fallback eq/compressor. I found it refreshing that he focused on music as an art and insisted that within all the requisite science of audio production you should never lose sight of the musical line of the recording your producing.
In a way this book has been temporarily counter productive for me as rather than giving me quick fixes for the last step in production its set me back a few stages to reflect. Hopefully though this will lead to a better, more transparent final product. I suspect that, as a long serving mastering engineer, this is more than a little of the author's intention. As he states several times a good mix is the key to a great master. I think the truly intended sense of this book's title is, therefore, a more all encompassing Mastering the Art and Science of Audio. A must buy, 13 Dec 2006
If your serious about music and want to really produce some excellent sounds you must buy this book.
Professional or home studio, dance music or band producer this is where to get ahead. One of the few authoritative books about audio, 27 Aug 2004
The world of audio is full of stupid explanations for largely misunderstood problems. People seem to suffer paranormal phenomena with audio, and there are people who claim that a green marker can enhance the sound of a CD! This book is a welcome exception to that. It does a wonderful job describing (as the title states) the art *and* the science of mastering. The explanations of digital audio problems are scientific and rigurous, without a single exception. And the author knows his job indeed; he isn't the typical person obsessed with gear. He deeply understands how the different processors work, and the different issues with them. Following his recommendations, my editions are now much better. Moreover, the author is a member of the very small group of talented technical writers. The book is even fun to read, written in a lively style, and very interesting.
Detailed Mastering Bible, 31 Jan 2004
The degree in which the author masters the audio & digital domains is truly amazing. It goes down to the lowest physical level and lets you understand _why_ things behave as they behave, instead of just giving you a list of what not to do. This, together with invaluable examples from his more than impressive 32 years of experience in the field, makes this book more vital to your work than various pieces of expensive equipment.
So, all in all, 5 out of 5. If you are a sound engineer and you haven't bought this book yet, buy it now (or wait a little - a revision is in the pipeline for 2007!) :-)
The best book on mastering., 09 Jan 2004
If you are thinking of buying a book on the topic of mastering, then this should be it. It contains explanations of the principals and processes involved in mastering along with excellent technical explanations. If you are interested in mastering audio, whether at beginner, intermediate or expert level then you will learn something from this book. It's set out nicely and is interesting throughout. You'll soon be turning good sounding tracks into great sounding ones!
KAKU IS GOD, 03 Nov 2008
This review would partially be continued from my "michio kaku - parallel worlds" review.
like i said in that review, parallel worlds laid down the carpet for the big knowledge to move into the house. it was a nice foundation and gives you a general understanding of every aspect.
Now: Hyperspace jumps deeper into it. So far im only half way through and im finding it amazing. it explains alot about the flatlanders (2D people) and what would happen if we twisted and turned them in 3D space etc.
explains the ins and outs of dimentions, space, einstein etc.
even goes on to explain about when michio was at war in viet nam =O but il let you explore that yourselfs :)
anyway. I give this book 5 stars, because once again, he amazingly explains everything he needs to explain, in such a casual sense that it doesnt get boring. he stays on each subject long enough for you to understand, but then moves on swiftly enough to keep you interested!. and extra points because if you read Pworlds, and then hyperspace, youl notice that they "connect" together very well.
5 stars!
a gem, 20 Nov 2007
I stumbled accross this book in a second hand shop and must admit that I had limited understanding the first read around, but I persevered and came out somewhat wiser at the end. Since then I have read it three more times and each time I become more enlightened. Michio has a way of allowing you to visualise complex issues making him an excellent story teller. I would recommed this as a must for anyone interested in popular science.
An Introduction to Hyperspace, 15 Nov 2007
This is an odyssey into the history of development of the concept of hyperspace that includes fourth and higher spatial dimensions to account for the riddles and unsolved problems of unified field theory. Since the postulation of special theory of relativity, Einstein and subsequent physicists until now have struggled to explain the four natural forces; the electromagnetic force (explained by Maxwell's field equations for electricity & magnetism); the strong and weak nuclear forces (explained by Yang - Mills field equations for subatomic forces); and the gravitational force (explained by Einstein's field equations of gravitation and relativity) by one unified field theory (theory of everything: String Theory). In other words, unifying the forces of the big, the cosmos, and the laws of the small, the microcosm (subatomic forces) by one single theory. The first part of the book describes how laws of nature become so simple to understand if higher dimensions are invoked; the author gives us a good historical background to build his case for hyperspace concept. The second part of the book describes the evolution of quantum mechanics and String theory. An introduction to wormholes, black holes and the use of these cosmic bodies for interstellar travel is given in the third part. The fourth part rambles through the future of the universe with irrelevant and some times out of focus narrative. The book is entirely free of physics and mathematics; from the point of understanding the basic concepts this approach is welcome. This book also gives an insight into the poignant story of Riemann (p.42) and Ramanujan (p.174) who sustained enormous personal and family hardships to contribute significantly in the field of mathematics. We also get a glimpse of academic rat race that involves professional rivalry, name & work recognition, and personal ego that is prevalent in academics. This is illustrated when Einstein delays Kaluza's paper for publication for 2 years (p.102). Bohr calling Pauli's lecture crazy (p.137); Sheldon Glashow ridiculing t'Hooft's work (p.121); a superior discouraging Mahahiko Suzuki's publication about Euler's Beta function (p.161); and Pauli being furious about Eisenberg's claim, Einstein - Bohr argument, and Schrodinger frustrated with Bohr's interpretation (p.261).
The author rambles about symmetry in arts; what is that got to do with hyperspace? The reader can find this discussion in any art book. Time travel has been described in layman's language in many books in depth; this discussion is unnecessary for this book. Throughout the book, the author refers to standard model and the equations of quantum mechanics as ugly; Equations are not ugly, they are complex or non-symmetrical.
The author could have devoted one chapter to describing the field equations in layman's terms; it would have helped a more enthusiastic reader to build a bridge to physics and tensor calculus. The reader should not be discouraged about mathematics in understanding relativity; many physicists themselves are heading to the library to learn about mathematics in String theory (Part 2). More appropriate title of the book could be hyperspace - a historical development of String theory. Despite the minor concerns, this book has strong points as observed above. I encourage the reader to buy this book; if you are not happy with this book, it is less than two-lunch money.
Theoretical pyhsics goes ;ogical, 14 Nov 2005
This book gives the best explanation for string theory I've read - each time I read this I found myself coming up with new theories regarding the logic of n-dimensional space. A truly inspirational book, and I hope I can get my lent copy back soon!!
A Capsule Version of How the Universe Works, 09 Feb 2005
AM (still on the air but hosted by George Noory). He explained theories of the universe in a rational manner which made complex theories come alive in this listener's imagination. He provided descriptions that were palatable to a lay audience. He even entertained answering questions on the air. This taste led me to buy the book. Mankind has contemplated his or her place in the cosmos and exploring "what lies beyond " or "how the universe functions" since time immemorial. This book provides explanations to enhance the understanding many people seek ... The most fascinating and intriguing concept in the book refers to the ten dimensions of hyperspace. Basic explanations are given for the strong force, weak force, gravitational force, electromagnetic force but the magic in this book lies in the descriptions of the quest for "unified theory" which will explain the operation of the universe in one single equation to the satisfaction of every theorist. The new geometry first conceived by George Bernard Reimann in 1854 was the most important mathematical conceptual discovery heading in this direction, toward solving this puzzle. This mathematical discovery revealed an equation for the fourth dimension. This revolutionary concept created the geometric patterns possible to explain the existence of higher dimensions in the universe. Space travel, multiple dimensions, parallel universes, superstring theory, black holes, time warps, and paradoxes are explained with lucidity in this book. The "Big Bang" theory is compared to the Biblical explanation. Anyone reading this book who has been mesmerized by viewing stars at night and who has wondered what lies beyond, will benefit from reading this book. The book is now over 10 years old but holds valuable ideas for those interested in this complex subject. Other recommended books are "The Tao of Physics" by Fritjof Capra and "Dancing of the Wu Li Masters" by Gary Zukov. By first listening to Dr. Michio Kaku I was hooked on learning more about the theories of the universe. His book is a great start on this quest. Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)
Joanne Thomson, Student at School of Sound Recording, Manchester., 25 Sep 2007
I bought this book at the start of my degree course and i would highly recommend it for beginners, as it explains everything in detail for you, it has helped me greatly in understanding how sound works and how we record today.It gives detailed diagrams throughout the book which makes it easy to explain the technical side of things.
Great book, would definately recommend this book, every sound student should own a copy .
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Customer Reviews
Much more than Quick Mastering Tips, 05 Jul 2007
I must say I found this book an excellent read. I'm currently self producing an album of some of my songs and got this book in the hope that I'd get some quick tips to try and do a half decent master of the mixes. What it actually did was make me go back to the mixes and question the decisions I'd made to get there.
The author's technical knowledge is extremely high and has definitely given me a clearer understanding of the scope and limitations of the gear at my disposal. More important though is his insistance on not always using processing as a crutch and encouraging you to LISTEN before and after plugging in the standard fallback eq/compressor. I found it refreshing that he focused on music as an art and insisted that within all the requisite science of audio production you should never lose sight of the musical line of the recording your producing.
In a way this book has been temporarily counter productive for me as rather than giving me quick fixes for the last step in production its set me back a few stages to reflect. Hopefully though this will lead to a better, more transparent final product. I suspect that, as a long serving mastering engineer, this is more than a little of the author's intention. As he states several times a good mix is the key to a great master. I think the truly intended sense of this book's title is, therefore, a more all encompassing Mastering the Art and Science of Audio. A must buy, 13 Dec 2006
If your serious about music and want to really produce some excellent sounds you must buy this book.
Professional or home studio, dance music or band producer this is where to get ahead. One of the few authoritative books about audio, 27 Aug 2004
The world of audio is full of stupid explanations for largely misunderstood problems. People seem to suffer paranormal phenomena with audio, and there are people who claim that a green marker can enhance the sound of a CD! This book is a welcome exception to that. It does a wonderful job describing (as the title states) the art *and* the science of mastering. The explanations of digital audio problems are scientific and rigurous, without a single exception. And the author knows his job indeed; he isn't the typical person obsessed with gear. He deeply understands how the different processors work, and the different issues with them. Following his recommendations, my editions are now much better. Moreover, the author is a member of the very small group of talented technical writers. The book is even fun to read, written in a lively style, and very interesting.
Detailed Mastering Bible, 31 Jan 2004
The degree in which the author masters the audio & digital domains is truly amazing. It goes down to the lowest physical level and lets you understand _why_ things behave as they behave, instead of just giving you a list of what not to do. This, together with invaluable examples from his more than impressive 32 years of experience in the field, makes this book more vital to your work than various pieces of expensive equipment.
So, all in all, 5 out of 5. If you are a sound engineer and you haven't bought this book yet, buy it now (or wait a little - a revision is in the pipeline for 2007!) :-)
The best book on mastering., 09 Jan 2004
If you are thinking of buying a book on the topic of mastering, then this should be it. It contains explanations of the principals and processes involved in mastering along with excellent technical explanations. If you are interested in mastering audio, whether at beginner, intermediate or expert level then you will learn something from this book. It's set out nicely and is interesting throughout. You'll soon be turning good sounding tracks into great sounding ones!
KAKU IS GOD, 03 Nov 2008
This review would partially be continued from my "michio kaku - parallel worlds" review.
like i said in that review, parallel worlds laid down the carpet for the big knowledge to move into the house. it was a nice foundation and gives you a general understanding of every aspect.
Now: Hyperspace jumps deeper into it. So far im only half way through and im finding it amazing. it explains alot about the flatlanders (2D people) and what would happen if we twisted and turned them in 3D space etc.
explains the ins and outs of dimentions, space, einstein etc.
even goes on to explain about when michio was at war in viet nam =O but il let you explore that yourselfs :)
anyway. I give this book 5 stars, because once again, he amazingly explains everything he needs to explain, in such a casual sense that it doesnt get boring. he stays on each subject long enough for you to understand, but then moves on swiftly enough to keep you interested!. and extra points because if you read Pworlds, and then hyperspace, youl notice that they "connect" together very well.
5 stars!
a gem, 20 Nov 2007
I stumbled accross this book in a second hand shop and must admit that I had limited understanding the first read around, but I persevered and came out somewhat wiser at the end. Since then I have read it three more times and each time I become more enlightened. Michio has a way of allowing you to visualise complex issues making him an excellent story teller. I would recommed this as a must for anyone interested in popular science.
An Introduction to Hyperspace, 15 Nov 2007
This is an odyssey into the history of development of the concept of hyperspace that includes fourth and higher spatial dimensions to account for the riddles and unsolved problems of unified field theory. Since the postulation of special theory of relativity, Einstein and subsequent physicists until now have struggled to explain the four natural forces; the electromagnetic force (explained by Maxwell's field equations for electricity & magnetism); the strong and weak nuclear forces (explained by Yang - Mills field equations for subatomic forces); and the gravitational force (explained by Einstein's field equations of gravitation and relativity) by one unified field theory (theory of everything: String Theory). In other words, unifying the forces of the big, the cosmos, and the laws of the small, the microcosm (subatomic forces) by one single theory. The first part of the book describes how laws of nature become so simple to understand if higher dimensions are invoked; the author gives us a good historical background to build his case for hyperspace concept. The second part of the book describes the evolution of quantum mechanics and String theory. An introduction to wormholes, black holes and the use of these cosmic bodies for interstellar travel is given in the third part. The fourth part rambles through the future of the universe with irrelevant and some times out of focus narrative. The book is entirely free of physics and mathematics; from the point of understanding the basic concepts this approach is welcome. This book also gives an insight into the poignant story of Riemann (p.42) and Ramanujan (p.174) who sustained enormous personal and family hardships to contribute significantly in the field of mathematics. We also get a glimpse of academic rat race that involves professional rivalry, name & work recognition, and personal ego that is prevalent in academics. This is illustrated when Einstein delays Kaluza's paper for publication for 2 years (p.102). Bohr calling Pauli's lecture crazy (p.137); Sheldon Glashow ridiculing t'Hooft's work (p.121); a superior discouraging Mahahiko Suzuki's publication about Euler's Beta function (p.161); and Pauli being furious about Eisenberg's claim, Einstein - Bohr argument, and Schrodinger frustrated with Bohr's interpretation (p.261).
The author rambles about symmetry in arts; what is that got to do with hyperspace? The reader can find this discussion in any art book. Time travel has been described in layman's language in many books in depth; this discussion is unnecessary for this book. Throughout the book, the author refers to standard model and the equations of quantum mechanics as ugly; Equations are not ugly, they are complex or non-symmetrical.
The author could have devoted one chapter to describing the field equations in layman's terms; it would have helped a more enthusiastic reader to build a bridge to physics and tensor calculus. The reader should not be discouraged about mathematics in understanding relativity; many physicists themselves are heading to the library to learn about mathematics in String theory (Part 2). More appropriate title of the book could be hyperspace - a historical development of String theory. Despite the minor concerns, this book has strong points as observed above. I encourage the reader to buy this book; if you are not happy with this book, it is less than two-lunch money.
Theoretical pyhsics goes ;ogical, 14 Nov 2005
This book gives the best explanation for string theory I've read - each time I read this I found myself coming up with new theories regarding the logic of n-dimensional space. A truly inspirational book, and I hope I can get my lent copy back soon!!
A Capsule Version of How the Universe Works, 09 Feb 2005
AM (still on the air but hosted by George Noory). He explained theories of the universe in a rational manner which made complex theories come alive in this listener's imagination. He provided descriptions that were palatable to a lay audience. He even entertained answering questions on the air. This taste led me to buy the book. Mankind has contemplated his or her place in the cosmos and exploring "what lies beyond " or "how the universe functions" since time immemorial. This book provides explanations to enhance the understanding many people seek ... The most fascinating and intriguing concept in the book refers to the ten dimensions of hyperspace. Basic explanations are given for the strong force, weak force, gravitational force, electromagnetic force but the magic in this book lies in the descriptions of the quest for "unified theory" which will explain the operation of the universe in one single equation to the satisfaction of every theorist. The new geometry first conceived by George Bernard Reimann in 1854 was the most important mathematical conceptual discovery heading in this direction, toward solving this puzzle. This mathematical discovery revealed an equation for the fourth dimension. This revolutionary concept created the geometric patterns possible to explain the existence of higher dimensions in the universe. Space travel, multiple dimensions, parallel universes, superstring theory, black holes, time warps, and paradoxes are explained with lucidity in this book. The "Big Bang" theory is compared to the Biblical explanation. Anyone reading this book who has been mesmerized by viewing stars at night and who has wondered what lies beyond, will benefit from reading this book. The book is now over 10 years old but holds valuable ideas for those interested in this complex subject. Other recommended books are "The Tao of Physics" by Fritjof Capra and "Dancing of the Wu Li Masters" by Gary Zukov. By first listening to Dr. Michio Kaku I was hooked on learning more about the theories of the universe. His book is a great start on this quest. Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)
Joanne Thomson, Student at School of Sound Recording, Manchester., 25 Sep 2007
I bought this book at the start of my degree course and i would highly recommend it for beginners, as it explains everything in detail for you, it has helped me greatly in understanding how sound works and how we record today.It gives detailed diagrams throughout the book which makes it easy to explain the technical side of things.
Great book, would definately recommend this book, every sound student should own a copy .
View from a novice, 24 Jul 2008
Very thorough and starting with basics. I've a real interest in valve amps but never strayed into electronics before. I was surprised by the amount of theory you need to get your head around and the standard of Maths required. Jones does a good job of walking you through it, though I had to keep going back some pages to re-read what didn't fully sink in. Not an ideal first book, electronics for dummies would be a better place to start.
Glad I bought it, it's a keeper.
Comments on 1st Edition of Valve Amplifiers, 03 Jan 2008
I find it puzzling that this book has survived to see a 3rd edition. Readers with an EE background will be dissapointed with this book. Meant to be a practical book on this subject it is better at the mechanical donkey work aspects of the amp building than the electronics. All said, the book can be a good starting point for debutants with useful nuggets of wisdom appearing once in a blue moon;
Beware of mathematical and conceptual CLANGERS especially on pages 237-239 on the feedback calculation which are NOT applicable to controlled sources. The author has been made aware but chose to ignore - I trepidate to think he really does not know any better.
Morgan's noise calculation approach is bog standard but, alas, real world triodes (notoriously, in my experience, some NOS and even frame grid types like the E88CC) can be far far noisier than the 2.5/Gm and the author would have you believe so, again, caveat emtor! The author also exhibits a fettish for elaborating resistor combinations to achieve 1% accuracies out of standard series all quite ridiculous efforts best spent else where.
Personally I would not bother with building any of the designs in the book there are much better ones around. The zero feedback E88CC based designs are interesting but not much more. I hope noise and microphonics that can plague such designs prove acceptable to those that do not heed this advice.
After 10 yeras I still glance at this book once in a while but competent amatures will outgrow the book pretty quickly... and this is probably a backhanded compliment if that means it did its job.
Excellent all-rounder, 13 Jun 2004
Jones has really cornered the market with this superb bible on valve audio - there really isn't a more comprehensive guide with the same refined expertise that he clearly possesses. The writing is clear and concise covering a wide range of useful topics. If like me you are a relative beginner in amplifier theory it will provide a low-pain introduction into the field (be warned there's few introductory notes on basic electronics - you'll need another textbook for that; however, the style encouages learning a minimum of theory for maximum effect), and I've been assured by various other sources that for advanced users it will still serve as an invaluble reference book. I'd also like to note that it would be an ideal first book for getting into musical instrument amplification. Top marks.
Technically accomplished and an enjoyable to read too!, 29 Jun 2002
This book covers valve audio electronics from basic principals and progresses to very sophisticated modern tube designs. The accomplished writing style makes the book an easy and enjoyable read with just enough gentle humour too provoke the occasional smile. The author obviously knows his subject well and is able to communicate it clearly. The in-depth coverage of passive components is a particular bonus. There is also a useful section on construction and testing. Armed with this book you could design and build you own valve amplifiers, I did.
Morgan Jones' grasp of audio systems is exemplory., 05 Oct 2000
This is a fine book well explained, having known the author through his lectures, I know that his explanations always hold up to close scrutiny.
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Customer Reviews
Much more than Quick Mastering Tips, 05 Jul 2007
I must say I found this book an excellent read. I'm currently self producing an album of some of my songs and got this book in the hope that I'd get some quick tips to try and do a half decent master of the mixes. What it actually did was make me go back to the mixes and question the decisions I'd made to get there.
The author's technical knowledge is extremely high and has definitely given me a clearer understanding of the scope and limitations of the gear at my disposal. More important though is his insistance on not always using processing as a crutch and encouraging you to LISTEN before and after plugging in the standard fallback eq/compressor. I found it refreshing that he focused on music as an art and insisted that within all the requisite science of audio production you should never lose sight of the musical line of the recording your producing.
In a way this book has been temporarily counter productive for me as rather than giving me quick fixes for the last step in production its set me back a few stages to reflect. Hopefully though this will lead to a better, more transparent final product. I suspect that, as a long serving mastering engineer, this is more than a little of the author's intention. As he states several times a good mix is the key to a great master. I think the truly intended sense of this book's title is, therefore, a more all encompassing Mastering the Art and Science of Audio. A must buy, 13 Dec 2006
If your serious about music and want to really produce some excellent sounds you must buy this book.
Professional or home studio, dance music or band producer this is where to get ahead. One of the few authoritative books about audio, 27 Aug 2004
The world of audio is full of stupid explanations for largely misunderstood problems. People seem to suffer paranormal phenomena with audio, and there are people who claim that a green marker can enhance the sound of a CD! This book is a welcome exception to that. It does a wonderful job describing (as the title states) the art *and* the science of mastering. The explanations of digital audio problems are scientific and rigurous, without a single exception. And the author knows his job indeed; he isn't the typical person obsessed with gear. He deeply understands how the different processors work, and the different issues with them. Following his recommendations, my editions are now much better. Moreover, the author is a member of the very small group of talented technical writers. The book is even fun to read, written in a lively style, and very interesting.
Detailed Mastering Bible, 31 Jan 2004
The degree in which the author masters the audio & digital domains is truly amazing. It goes down to the lowest physical level and lets you understand _why_ things behave as they behave, instead of just giving you a list of what not to do. This, together with invaluable examples from his more than impressive 32 years of experience in the field, makes this book more vital to your work than various pieces of expensive equipment.
So, all in all, 5 out of 5. If you are a sound engineer and you haven't bought this book yet, buy it now (or wait a little - a revision is in the pipeline for 2007!) :-)
The best book on mastering., 09 Jan 2004
If you are thinking of buying a book on the topic of mastering, then this should be it. It contains explanations of the principals and processes involved in mastering along with excellent technical explanations. If you are interested in mastering audio, whether at beginner, intermediate or expert level then you will learn something from this book. It's set out nicely and is interesting throughout. You'll soon be turning good sounding tracks into great sounding ones!
KAKU IS GOD, 03 Nov 2008
This review would partially be continued from my "michio kaku - parallel worlds" review.
like i said in that review, parallel worlds laid down the carpet for the big knowledge to move into the house. it was a nice foundation and gives you a general understanding of every aspect.
Now: Hyperspace jumps deeper into it. So far im only half way through and im finding it amazing. it explains alot about the flatlanders (2D people) and what would happen if we twisted and turned them in 3D space etc.
explains the ins and outs of dimentions, space, einstein etc.
even goes on to explain about when michio was at war in viet nam =O but il let you explore that yourselfs :)
anyway. I give this book 5 stars, because once again, he amazingly explains everything he needs to explain, in such a casual sense that it doesnt get boring. he stays on each subject long enough for you to understand, but then moves on swiftly enough to keep you interested!. and extra points because if you read Pworlds, and then hyperspace, youl notice that they "connect" together very well.
5 stars!
a gem, 20 Nov 2007
I stumbled accross this book in a second hand shop and must admit that I had limited understanding the first read around, but I persevered and came out somewhat wiser at the end. Since then I have read it three more times and each time I become more enlightened. Michio has a way of allowing you to visualise complex issues making him an excellent story teller. I would recommed this as a must for anyone interested in popular science.
An Introduction to Hyperspace, 15 Nov 2007
This is an odyssey into the history of development of the concept of hyperspace that includes fourth and higher spatial dimensions to account for the riddles and unsolved problems of unified field theory. Since the postulation of special theory of relativity, Einstein and subsequent physicists until now have struggled to explain the four natural forces; the electromagnetic force (explained by Maxwell's field equations for electricity & magnetism); the strong and weak nuclear forces (explained by Yang - Mills field equations for subatomic forces); and the gravitational force (explained by Einstein's field equations of gravitation and relativity) by one unified field theory (theory of everything: String Theory). In other words, unifying the forces of the big, the cosmos, and the laws of the small, the microcosm (subatomic forces) by one single theory. The first part of the book describes how laws of nature become so simple to understand if higher dimensions are invoked; the author gives us a good historical background to build his case for hyperspace concept. The second part of the book describes the evolution of quantum mechanics and String theory. An introduction to wormholes, black holes and the use of these cosmic bodies for interstellar travel is given in the third part. The fourth part rambles through the future of the universe with irrelevant and some times out of focus narrative. The book is entirely free of physics and mathematics; from the point of understanding the basic concepts this approach is welcome. This book also gives an insight into the poignant story of Riemann (p.42) and Ramanujan (p.174) who sustained enormous personal and family hardships to contribute significantly in the field of mathematics. We also get a glimpse of academic rat race that involves professional rivalry, name & work recognition, and personal ego that is prevalent in academics. This is illustrated when Einstein delays Kaluza's paper for publication for 2 years (p.102). Bohr calling Pauli's lecture crazy (p.137); Sheldon Glashow ridiculing t'Hooft's work (p.121); a superior discouraging Mahahiko Suzuki's publication about Euler's Beta function (p.161); and Pauli being furious about Eisenberg's claim, Einstein - Bohr argument, and Schrodinger frustrated with Bohr's interpretation (p.261).
The author rambles about symmetry in arts; what is that got to do with hyperspace? The reader can find this discussion in any art book. Time travel has been described in layman's language in many books in depth; this discussion is unnecessary for this book. Throughout the book, the author refers to standard model and the equations of quantum mechanics as ugly; Equations are not ugly, they are complex or non-symmetrical.
The author could have devoted one chapter to describing the field equations in layman's terms; it would have helped a more enthusiastic reader to build a bridge to physics and tensor calculus. The reader should not be discouraged about mathematics in understanding relativity; many physicists themselves are heading to the library to learn about mathematics in String theory (Part 2). More appropriate title of the book could be hyperspace - a historical development of String theory. Despite the minor concerns, this book has strong points as observed above. I encourage the reader to buy this book; if you are not happy with this book, it is less than two-lunch money.
Theoretical pyhsics goes ;ogical, 14 Nov 2005
This book gives the best explanation for string theory I've read - each time I read this I found myself coming up with new theories regarding the logic of n-dimensional space. A truly inspirational book, and I hope I can get my lent copy back soon!!
A Capsule Version of How the Universe Works, 09 Feb 2005
AM (still on the air but hosted by George Noory). He explained theories of the universe in a rational manner which made complex theories come alive in this listener's imagination. He provided descriptions that were palatable to a lay audience. He even entertained answering questions on the air. This taste led me to buy the book. Mankind has contemplated his or her place in the cosmos and exploring "what lies beyond " or "how the universe functions" since time immemorial. This book provides explanations to enhance the understanding many people seek ... The most fascinating and intriguing concept in the book refers to the ten dimensions of hyperspace. Basic explanations are given for the strong force, weak force, gravitational force, electromagnetic force but the magic in this book lies in the descriptions of the quest for "unified theory" which will explain the operation of the universe in one single equation to the satisfaction of every theorist. The new geometry first conceived by George Bernard Reimann in 1854 was the most important mathematical conceptual discovery heading in this direction, toward solving this puzzle. This mathematical discovery revealed an equation for the fourth dimension. This revolutionary concept created the geometric patterns possible to explain the existence of higher dimensions in the universe. Space travel, multiple dimensions, parallel universes, superstring theory, black holes, time warps, and paradoxes are explained with lucidity in this book. The "Big Bang" theory is compared to the Biblical explanation. Anyone reading this book who has been mesmerized by viewing stars at night and who has wondered what lies beyond, will benefit from reading this book. The book is now over 10 years old but holds valuable ideas for those interested in this complex subject. Other recommended books are "The Tao of Physics" by Fritjof Capra and "Dancing of the Wu Li Masters" by Gary Zukov. By first listening to Dr. Michio Kaku I was hooked on learning more about the theories of the universe. His book is a great start on this quest. Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)
Joanne Thomson, Student at School of Sound Recording, Manchester., 25 Sep 2007
I bought this book at the start of my degree course and i would highly recommend it for beginners, as it explains everything in detail for you, it has helped me greatly in understanding how sound works and how we record today.It gives detailed diagrams throughout the book which makes it easy to explain the technical side of things.
Great book, would definately recommend this book, every sound student should own a copy .
View from a novice, 24 Jul 2008
Very thorough and starting with basics. I've a real interest in valve amps but never strayed into electronics before. I was surprised by the amount of theory you need to get your head around and the standard of Maths required. Jones does a good job of walking you through it, though I had to keep going back some pages to re-read what didn't fully sink in. Not an ideal first book, electronics for dummies would be a better place to start.
Glad I bought it, it's a keeper.
Comments on 1st Edition of Valve Amplifiers, 03 Jan 2008
I find it puzzling that this book has survived to see a 3rd edition. Readers with an EE background will be dissapointed with this book. Meant to be a practical book on this subject it is better at the mechanical donkey work aspects of the amp building than the electronics. All said, the book can be a good starting point for debutants with useful nuggets of wisdom appearing once in a blue moon;
Beware of mathematical and conceptual CLANGERS especially on pages 237-239 on the feedback calculation which are NOT applicable to controlled sources. The author has been made aware but chose to ignore - I trepidate to think he really does not know any better.
Morgan's noise calculation approach is bog standard but, alas, real world triodes (notoriously, in my experience, some NOS and even frame grid types like the E88CC) can be far far noisier than the 2.5/Gm and the author would have you believe so, again, caveat emtor! The author also exhibits a fettish for elaborating resistor combinations to achieve 1% accuracies out of standard series all quite ridiculous efforts best spent else where.
Personally I would not bother with building any of the designs in the book there are much better ones around. The zero feedback E88CC based designs are interesting but not much more. I hope noise and microphonics that can plague such designs prove acceptable to those that do not heed this advice.
After 10 yeras I still glance at this book once in a while but competent amatures will outgrow the book pretty quickly... and this is probably a backhanded compliment if that means it did its job.
Excellent all-rounder, 13 Jun 2004
Jones has really cornered the market with this superb bible on valve audio - there really isn't a more comprehensive guide with the same refined expertise that he clearly possesses. The writing is clear and concise covering a wide range of useful topics. If like me you are a relative beginner in amplifier theory it will provide a low-pain introduction into the field (be warned there's few introductory notes on basic electronics - you'll need another textbook for that; however, the style encouages learning a minimum of theory for maximum effect), and I've been assured by various other sources that for advanced users it will still serve as an invaluble reference book. I'd also like to note that it would be an ideal first book for getting into musical instrument amplification. Top marks.
Technically accomplished and an enjoyable to read too!, 29 Jun 2002
This book covers valve audio electronics from basic principals and progresses to very sophisticated modern tube designs. The accomplished writing style makes the book an easy and enjoyable read with just enough gentle humour too provoke the occasional smile. The author obviously knows his subject well and is able to communicate it clearly. The in-depth coverage of passive components is a particular bonus. There is also a useful section on construction and testing. Armed with this book you could design and build you own valve amplifiers, I did.
Morgan Jones' grasp of audio systems is exemplory., 05 Oct 2000
This is a fine book well explained, having known the author through his lectures, I know that his explanations always hold up to close scrutiny.
Out of Date, 28 Dec 2005
This book is 15yrs out of date and that is a long time in electronics. The basics are still valid but sections on radio Mics, mixers, modern installations etc need bringing up to date. Explains theory reasonably well. Totally American.
Not for the faint hearted, 25 Feb 2004
This book is great for the "intermediate" sound engineer. It contains alot of quite technical language so is not for the beginner but once you have the basic technical knowledge its a fantastic tool, especially for trouble shooting and general research.
A Live Sound 'Must Read', 22 Jan 2004
Excellent book going from the basic to the complex.
Could do with a new edition to bring it right up to date with state of the art systems ? Not a big problem though.
Sound Reinforcement Handbook, 14 May 2003
An excellent book for engineers looking to progress their knowlege from basic skills to a much more advanced level.
The bible, 21 Aug 2001
This is the first bible for every sound engineer. Sound Engineers have more than one bible, but this one is the first. Really.
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Customer Reviews
Much more than Quick Mastering Tips, 05 Jul 2007
I must say I found this book an excellent read. I'm currently self producing an album of some of my songs and got this book in the hope that I'd get some quick tips to try and do a half decent master of the mixes. What it actually did was make me go back to the mixes and question the decisions I'd made to get there.
The author's technical knowledge is extremely high and has definitely given me a clearer understanding of the scope and limitations of the gear at my disposal. More important though is his insistance on not always using processing as a crutch and encouraging you to LISTEN before and after plugging in the standard fallback eq/compressor. I found it refreshing that he focused on music as an art and insisted that within all the requisite science of audio production you should never lose sight of the musical line of the recording your producing.
In a way this book has been temporarily counter productive for me as rather than giving me quick fixes for the last step in production its set me back a few stages to reflect. Hopefully though this will lead to a better, more transparent final product. I suspect that, as a long serving mastering engineer, this is more than a little of the author's intention. As he states several times a good mix is the key to a great master. I think the truly intended sense of this book's title is, therefore, a more all encompassing Mastering the Art and Science of Audio. A must buy, 13 Dec 2006
If your serious about music and want to really produce some excellent sounds you must buy this book.
Professional or home studio, dance music or band producer this is where to get ahead. One of the few authoritative books about audio, 27 Aug 2004
The world of audio is full of stupid explanations for largely misunderstood problems. People seem to suffer paranormal phenomena with audio, and there are people who claim that a green marker can enhance the sound of a CD! This book is a welcome exception to that. It does a wonderful job describing (as the title states) the art *and* the science of mastering. The explanations of digital audio problems are scientific and rigurous, without a single exception. And the author knows his job indeed; he isn't the typical person obsessed with gear. He deeply understands how the different processors work, and the different issues with them. Following his recommendations, my editions are now much better. Moreover, the author is a member of the very small group of talented technical writers. The book is even fun to read, written in a lively style, and very interesting.
Detailed Mastering Bible, 31 Jan 2004
The degree in which the author masters the audio & digital domains is truly amazing. It goes down to the lowest physical level and lets you understand _why_ things behave as they behave, instead of just giving you a list of what not to do. This, together with invaluable examples from his more than impressive 32 years of experience in the field, makes this book more vital to your work than various pieces of expensive equipment.
So, all in all, 5 out of 5. If you are a sound engineer and you haven't bought this book yet, buy it now (or wait a little - a revision is in the pipeline for 2007!) :-)
The best book on mastering., 09 Jan 2004
If you are thinking of buying a book on the topic of mastering, then this should be it. It contains explanations of the principals and processes involved in mastering along with excellent technical explanations. If you are interested in mastering audio, whether at beginner, intermediate or expert level then you will learn something from this book. It's set out nicely and is interesting throughout. You'll soon be turning good sounding tracks into great sounding ones!
KAKU IS GOD, 03 Nov 2008
This review would partially be continued from my "michio kaku - parallel worlds" review.
like i said in that review, parallel worlds laid down the carpet for the big knowledge to move into the house. it was a nice foundation and gives you a general understanding of every aspect.
Now: Hyperspace jumps deeper into it. So far im only half way through and im finding it amazing. it explains alot about the flatlanders (2D people) and what would happen if we twisted and turned them in 3D space etc.
explains the ins and outs of dimentions, space, einstein etc.
even goes on to explain about when michio was at war in viet nam =O but il let you explore that yourselfs :)
anyway. I give this book 5 stars, because once again, he amazingly explains everything he needs to explain, in such a casual sense that it doesnt get boring. he stays on each subject long enough for you to understand, but then moves on swiftly enough to keep you interested!. and extra points because if you read Pworlds, and then hyperspace, youl notice that they "connect" together very well.
5 stars!
a gem, 20 Nov 2007
I stumbled accross this book in a second hand shop and must admit that I had limited understanding the first read around, but I persevered and came out somewhat wiser at the end. Since then I have read it three more times and each time I become more enlightened. Michio has a way of allowing you to visualise complex issues making him an excellent story teller. I would recommed this as a must for anyone interested in popular science.
An Introduction to Hyperspace, 15 Nov 2007
This is an odyssey into the history of development of the concept of hyperspace that includes fourth and higher spatial dimensions to account for the riddles and unsolved problems of unified field theory. Since the postulation of special theory of relativity, Einstein and subsequent physicists until now have struggled to explain the four natural forces; the electromagnetic force (explained by Maxwell's field equations for electricity & magnetism); the strong and weak nuclear forces (explained by Yang - Mills field equations for subatomic forces); and the gravitational force (explained by Einstein's field equations of gravitation and relativity) by one unified field theory (theory of everything: String Theory). In other words, unifying the forces of the big, the cosmos, and the laws of the small, the microcosm (subatomic forces) by one single theory. The first part of the book describes how laws of nature become so simple to understand if higher dimensions are invoked; the author gives us a good historical background to build his case for hyperspace concept. The second part of the book describes the evolution of quantum mechanics and String theory. An introduction to wormholes, black holes and the use of these cosmic bodies for interstellar travel is given in the third part. The fourth part rambles through the future of the universe with irrelevant and some times out of focus narrative. The book is entirely free of physics and mathematics; from the point of understanding the basic concepts this approach is welcome. This book also gives an insight into the poignant story of Riemann (p.42) and Ramanujan (p.174) who sustained enormous personal and family hardships to contribute significantly in the field of mathematics. We also get a glimpse of academic rat race that involves professional rivalry, name & work recognition, and personal ego that is prevalent in academics. This is illustrated when Einstein delays Kaluza's paper for publication for 2 years (p.102). Bohr calling Pauli's lecture crazy (p.137); Sheldon Glashow ridiculing t'Hooft's work (p.121); a superior discouraging Mahahiko Suzuki's publication about Euler's Beta function (p.161); and Pauli being furious about Eisenberg's claim, Einstein - Bohr argument, and Schrodinger frustrated with Bohr's interpretation (p.261).
The author rambles about symmetry in arts; what is that got to do with hyperspace? The reader can find this discussion in any art book. Time travel has been described in layman's language in many books in depth; this discussion is unnecessary for this book. Throughout the book, the author refers to standard model and the equations of quantum mechanics as ugly; Equations are not ugly, they are complex or non-symmetrical.
The author could have devoted one chapter to describing the field equations in layman's terms; it would have helped a more enthusiastic reader to build a bridge to physics and tensor calculus. The reader should not be discouraged about mathematics in understanding relativity; many physicists themselves are heading to the library to learn about mathematics in String theory (Part 2). More appropriate title of the book could be hyperspace - a historical development of String theory. Despite the minor concerns, this book has strong points as observed above. I encourage the reader to buy this book; if you are not happy with this book, it is less than two-lunch money.
Theoretical pyhsics goes ;ogical, 14 Nov 2005
This book gives the best explanation for string theory I've read - each time I read this I found myself coming up with new theories regarding the logic of n-dimensional space. A truly inspirational book, and I hope I can get my lent copy back soon!!
A Capsule Version of How the Universe Works, 09 Feb 2005
AM (still on the air but hosted by George Noory). He explained theories of the universe in a rational manner which made complex theories come alive in this listener's imagination. He provided descriptions that were palatable to a lay audience. He even entertained answering questions on the air. This taste led me to buy the book. Mankind has contemplated his or her place in the cosmos and exploring "what lies beyond " or "how the universe functions" since time immemorial. This book provides explanations to enhance the understanding many people seek ... The most fascinating and intriguing concept in the book refers to the ten dimensions of hyperspace. Basic explanations are given for the strong force, weak force, gravitational force, electromagnetic force but the magic in this book lies in the descriptions of the quest for "unified theory" which will explain the operation of the universe in one single equation to the satisfaction of every theorist. The new geometry first conceived by George Bernard Reimann in 1854 was the most important mathematical conceptual discovery heading in this direction, toward solving this puzzle. This mathematical discovery revealed an equation for the fourth dimension. This revolutionary concept created the geometric patterns possible to explain the existence of higher dimensions in the universe. Space travel, multiple dimensions, parallel universes, superstring theory, black holes, time warps, and paradoxes are explained with lucidity in this book. The "Big Bang" theory is compared to the Biblical explanation. Anyone reading this book who has been mesmerized by viewing stars at night and who has wondered what lies beyond, will benefit from reading this book. The book is now over 10 years old but holds valuable ideas for those interested in this complex subject. Other recommended books are "The Tao of Physics" by Fritjof Capra and "Dancing of the Wu Li Masters" by Gary Zukov. By first listening to Dr. Michio Kaku I was hooked on learning more about the theories of the universe. His book is a great start on this quest. Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)
Joanne Thomson, Student at School of Sound Recording, Manchester., 25 Sep 2007
I bought this book at the start of my degree course and i would highly recommend it for beginners, as it explains everything in detail for you, it has helped me greatly in understanding how sound works and how we record today.It gives detailed diagrams throughout the book which makes it easy to explain the technical side of things.
Great book, would definately recommend this book, every sound student should own a copy .
View from a novice, 24 Jul 2008
Very thorough and starting with basics. I've a real interest in valve amps but never strayed into electronics before. I was surprised by the amount of theory you need to get your head around and the standard of Maths required. Jones does a good job of walking you through it, though I had to keep going back some pages to re-read what didn't fully sink in. Not an ideal first book, electronics for dummies would be a better place to start.
Glad I bought it, it's a keeper.
Comments on 1st Edition of Valve Amplifiers, 03 Jan 2008
I find it puzzling that this book has survived to see a 3rd edition. Readers with an EE background will be dissapointed with this book. Meant to be a practical book on this subject it is better at the mechanical donkey work aspects of the amp building than the electronics. All said, the book can be a good starting point for debutants with useful nuggets of wisdom appearing once in a blue moon;
Beware of mathematical and conceptual CLANGERS especially on pages 237-239 on the feedback calculation which are NOT applicable to controlled sources. The author has been made aware but chose to ignore - I trepidate to think he really does not know any better.
Morgan's noise calculation approach is bog standard but, alas, real world triodes (notoriously, in my experience, some NOS and even frame grid types like the E88CC) can be far far noisier than the 2.5/Gm and the author would have you believe so, again, caveat emtor! The author also exhibits a fettish for elaborating resistor combinations to achieve 1% accuracies out of standard series all quite ridiculous efforts best spent else where.
Personally I would not bother with building any of the designs in the book there are much better ones around. The zero feedback E88CC based designs are interesting but not much more. I hope noise and microphonics that can plague such designs prove acceptable to those that do not heed this advice.
After 10 yeras I still glance at this book once in a while but competent amatures will outgrow the book pretty quickly... and this is probably a backhanded compliment if that means it did its job.
Excellent all-rounder, 13 Jun 2004
Jones has really cornered the market with this superb bible on valve audio - there really isn't a more comprehensive guide with the same refined expertise that he clearly possesses. The writing is clear and concise covering a wide range of useful topics. If like me you are a relative beginner in amplifier theory it will provide a low-pain introduction into the field (be warned there's few introductory notes on basic electronics - you'll need another textbook for that; however, the style encouages learning a minimum of theory for maximum effect), and I've been assured by various other sources that for advanced users it will still serve as an invaluble reference book. I'd also like to note that it would be an ideal first book for getting into musical instrument amplification. Top marks.
Technically accomplished and an enjoyable to read too!, 29 Jun 2002
This book covers valve audio electronics from basic principals and progresses to very sophisticated modern tube designs. The accomplished writing style makes the book an easy and enjoyable read with just enough gentle humour too provoke the occasional smile. The author obviously knows his subject well and is able to communicate it clearly. The in-depth coverage of passive components is a particular bonus. There is also a useful section on construction and testing. Armed with this book you could design and build you own valve amplifiers, I did.
Morgan Jones' grasp of audio systems is exemplory., 05 Oct 2000
This is a fine book well explained, having known the author through his lectures, I know that his explanations always hold up to close scrutiny.
Out of Date, 28 Dec 2005
This book is 15yrs out of date and that is a long time in electronics. The basics are still valid but sections on radio Mics, mixers, modern installations etc need bringing up to date. Explains theory reasonably well. Totally American.
Not for the faint hearted, 25 Feb 2004
This book is great for the "intermediate" sound engineer. It contains alot of quite technical language so is not for the beginner but once you have the basic technical knowledge its a fantastic tool, especially for trouble shooting and general research.
A Live Sound 'Must Read', 22 Jan 2004
Excellent book going from the basic to the complex.
Could do with a new edition to bring it right up to date with state of the art systems ? Not a big problem though.
Sound Reinforcement Handbook, 14 May 2003
An excellent book for engineers looking to progress their knowlege from basic skills to a much more advanced level.
The bible, 21 Aug 2001
This is the first bible for every sound engineer. Sound Engineers have more than one bible, but this one is the first. Really.
WTF!!!, 24 Dec 2007
The first version of this book is available as a free ebook which you can download off the authors website, if you buy this hard copy you will then need to spend another $10 on some patches for the synths which are not included when you buy it, you can download additional 'refills' which give you more info which is not available in the free version (but is in the hard copy), then you will need to buy six software synthesizers to do the various tutorials with, You could get the demos but they might time out before you could complete the whole book, you do the math!!!
It is a shame because the author realy knows he's stuff when it comes to the subject of sound design, why he did not choose to use some of the many exellent freeware synths available to impart his knowledge is beyond me. Not everyone will like/want/need the six synths he uses, not everyone could afford to buy them either.
Five stars for knowledge, zero stars for business acumin!!!
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Customer Reviews
Much more than Quick Mastering Tips, 05 Jul 2007
I must say I found this book an excellent read. I'm currently self producing an album of some of my songs and got this book in the hope that I'd get some quick tips to try and do a half decent master of the mixes. What it actually did was make me go back to the mixes and question the decisions I'd made to get there.
The author's technical knowledge is extremely high and has definitely given me a clearer understanding of the scope and limitations of the gear at my disposal. More important though is his insistance on not always using processing as a crutch and encouraging you to LISTEN before and after plugging in the standard fallback eq/compressor. I found it refreshing that he focused on music as an art and insisted that within all the requisite science of audio production you should never lose sight of the musical line of the recording your producing.
In a way this book has been temporarily counter productive for me as rather than giving me quick fixes for the last step in production its set me back a few stages to reflect. Hopefully though this will lead to a better, more transparent final product. I suspect that, as a long serving mastering engineer, this is more than a little of the author's intention. As he states several times a good mix is the key to a great master. I think the truly intended sense of this book's title is, therefore, a more all encompassing Mastering the Art and Science of Audio. A must buy, 13 Dec 2006
If your serious about music and want to really produce some excellent sounds you must buy this book.
Professional or home studio, dance music or band producer this is where to get ahead. One of the few authoritative books about audio, 27 Aug 2004
The world of audio is full of stupid explanations for largely misunderstood problems. People seem to suffer paranormal phenomena with audio, and there are people who claim that a green marker can enhance the sound of a CD! This book is a welcome exception to that. It does a wonderful job describing (as the title states) the art *and* the science of mastering. The explanations of digital audio problems are scientific and rigurous, without a single exception. And the author knows his job indeed; he isn't the typical person obsessed with gear. He deeply understands how the different processors work, and the different issues with them. Following his recommendations, my editions are now much better. Moreover, the author is a member of the very small group of talented technical writers. The book is even fun to read, written in a lively style, and very interesting.
Detailed Mastering Bible, 31 Jan 2004
The degree in which the author masters the audio & digital domains is truly amazing. It goes down to the lowest physical level and lets you understand _why_ things behave as they behave, instead of just giving you a list of what not to do. This, together with invaluable examples from his more than impressive 32 years of experience in the field, makes this book more vital to your work than various pieces of expensive equipment.
So, all in all, 5 out of 5. If you are a sound engineer and you haven't bought this book yet, buy it now (or wait a little - a revision is in the pipeline for 2007!) :-)
The best book on mastering., 09 Jan 2004
If you are thinking of buying a book on the topic of mastering, then this should be it. It contains explanations of the principals and processes involved in mastering along with excellent technical explanations. If you are interested in mastering audio, whether at beginner, intermediate or expert level then you will learn something from this book. It's set out nicely and is interesting throughout. You'll soon be turning good sounding tracks into great sounding ones!
KAKU IS GOD, 03 Nov 2008
This review would partially be continued from my "michio kaku - parallel worlds" review.
like i said in that review, parallel worlds laid down the carpet for the big knowledge to move into the house. it was a nice foundation and gives you a general understanding of every aspect.
Now: Hyperspace jumps deeper into it. So far im only half way through and im finding it amazing. it explains alot about the flatlanders (2D people) and what would happen if we twisted and turned them in 3D space etc.
explains the ins and outs of dimentions, space, einstein etc.
even goes on to explain about when michio was at war in viet nam =O but il let you explore that yourselfs :)
anyway. I give this book 5 stars, because once again, he amazingly explains everything he needs to explain, in such a casual sense that it doesnt get boring. he stays on each subject long enough for you to understand, but then moves on swiftly enough to keep you interested!. and extra points because if you read Pworlds, and then hyperspace, youl notice that they "connect" together very well.
5 stars!
a gem, 20 Nov 2007
I stumbled accross this book in a second hand shop and must admit that I had limited understanding the first read around, but I persevered and came out somewhat wiser at the end. Since then I have read it three more times and each time I become more enlightened. Michio has a way of allowing you to visualise complex issues making him an excellent story teller. I would recommed this as a must for anyone interested in popular science.
An Introduction to Hyperspace, 15 Nov 2007
This is an odyssey into the history of development of the concept of hyperspace that includes fourth and higher spatial dimensions to account for the riddles and unsolved problems of unified field theory. Since the postulation of special theory of relativity, Einstein and subsequent physicists until now have struggled to explain the four natural forces; the electromagnetic force (explained by Maxwell's field equations for electricity & magnetism); the strong and weak nuclear forces (explained by Yang - Mills field equations for subatomic forces); and the gravitational force (explained by Einstein's field equations of gravitation and relativity) by one unified field theory (theory of everything: String Theory). In other words, unifying the forces of the big, the cosmos, and the laws of the small, the microcosm (subatomic forces) by one single theory. The first part of the book describes how laws of nature become so simple to understand if higher dimensions are invoked; the author gives us a good historical background to build his case for hyperspace concept. The second part of the book describes the evolution of quantum mechanics and String theory. An introduction to wormholes, black holes and the use of these cosmic bodies for interstellar travel is given in the third part. The fourth part rambles through the future of the universe with irrelevant and some times out of focus narrative. The book is entirely free of physics and mathematics; from the point of understanding the basic concepts this approach is welcome. This book also gives an insight into the poignant story of Riemann (p.42) and Ramanujan (p.174) who sustained enormous personal and family hardships to contribute significantly in the field of mathematics. We also get a glimpse of academic rat race that involves professional rivalry, name & work recognition, and personal ego that is prevalent in academics. This is illustrated when Einstein delays Kaluza's paper for publication for 2 years (p.102). Bohr calling Pauli's lecture crazy (p.137); Sheldon Glashow ridiculing t'Hooft's work (p.121); a superior discouraging Mahahiko Suzuki's publication about Euler's Beta function (p.161); and Pauli being furious about Eisenberg's claim, Einstein - Bohr argument, and Schrodinger frustrated with Bohr's interpretation (p.261).
The author rambles about symmetry in arts; what is that got to do with hyperspace? The reader can find this discussion in any art book. Time travel has been described in layman's language in many books in depth; this discussion is unnecessary for this book. Throughout the book, the author refers to standard model and the equations of quantum mechanics as ugly; Equations are not ugly, they are complex or non-symmetrical.
The author could have devoted one chapter to describing the field equations in layman's terms; it would have helped a more enthusiastic reader to build a bridge to physics and tensor calculus. The reader should not be discouraged about mathematics in understanding relativity; many physicists themselves are heading to the library to learn about mathematics in String theory (Part 2). More appropriate title of the book could be hyperspace - a historical development of String theory. Despite the minor concerns, this book has strong points as observed above. I encourage the reader to buy this book; if you are not happy with this book, it is less than two-lunch money.
Theoretical pyhsics goes ;ogical, 14 Nov 2005
This book gives the best explanation for string theory I've read - each time I read this I found myself coming up with new theories regarding the logic of n-dimensional space. A truly inspirational book, and I hope I can get my lent copy back soon!!
A Capsule Version of How the Universe Works, 09 Feb 2005
AM (still on the air but hosted by George Noory). He explained theories of the universe in a rational manner which made complex theories come alive in this listener's imagination. He provided descriptions that were palatable to a lay audience. He even entertained answering questions on the air. This taste led me to buy the book. Mankind has contemplated his or her place in the cosmos and exploring "what lies beyond " or "how the universe functions" since time immemorial. This book provides explanations to enhance the understanding many people seek ... The most fascinating and intriguing concept in the book refers to the ten dimensions of hyperspace. Basic explanations are given for the strong force, weak force, gravitational force, electromagnetic force but the magic in this book lies in the descriptions of the quest for "unified theory" which will explain the operation of the universe in one single equation to the satisfaction of every theorist. The new geometry first conceived by George Bernard Reimann in 1854 was the most important mathematical conceptual discovery heading in this direction, toward solving this puzzle. This mathematical discovery revealed an equation for the fourth dimension. This revolutionary concept created the geometric patterns possible to explain the existence of higher dimensions in | | |