F. Alton Everest - Master Handbook of Acoustics, Seventh Edition

About the Authors

F. Alton Everest was a leading expert and authority in the field of acoustics. He was an emeritus member of the Acoustical Society of America, a life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and a life fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. He was cofounder and director of the Science Film Production division of the Moody Institute of Science, and was also section chief of the Subsea Sound Research section of the University of California.

Ken C. Pohlmann is well known as an audio educator, consultant, and author. He was director of the Music Engineering Technology program, founder of its Master of Science degree program, and is professor emeritus, at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. He is a fellow of the Audio Engineering Society, a consultant for numerous audio companies and car manufacturers, and an expert in patent-infringement litigation. He is author of numerous articles and books including Principles of Digital Audio (McGraw-Hill), and coauthor of the Handbook of Sound Studio Construction (McGraw-Hill).

Contributions are included from Peter DAntonio, Geoff Goacher, and Doug Plumb.

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Dedicated to the memory of F. Alton Everest

Y ou hold in your hands, either physically or electronically, the seventh edition of the Master Handbook of Acoustics. Mr. F. Alton Everest was the original author of this book. In 1981 he devised the formula for an acoustics book that balanced theory and practice. Many engineering books sprinkle examples and problems throughout the text, to inform the reader of practical applications. He improved on that model by presenting basic theory combined with a significant quantity of pragmatic information, then attaching entire chapters, comprising a substantial portion of the book, that are purely devoted to practical examples. These chapters are particularly essential for anyone building a room with similar characteristics.

Mr. Everest understood that this was the perfect way to teach introductory acoustics while simultaneously providing practical guidance to anyone undertaking a construction project. He thus created a valuable tool that we know and trust, a book that has become a classic. The acoustical engineering community grieved when Mr. Everest passed away in 2005 at the age of 95.

I was honored when McGraw-Hill asked me to prepare a fifth, a sixth, and now this seventh edition of the Master Handbook of Acoustics. I had used the handbook since it was first published, and was well familiar with its value as a teaching text and reference handbook. Readers who are familiar with another of my books, Principles of Digital Audio, may be surprised to learn that my passion for digital technology is equaled by my enthusiasm for acoustics. I taught courses in architectural acoustics (in addition to classes in digital audio) for 30 years at the University of Miami, where I directed the Music Engineering Technology program. Throughout that time, I also consulted on many acoustics projects, ranging from recording studio to listening room design, from church acoustics to community noise intrusion. As with many practitioners in the field, it was important for me to understand the fundamentals of acoustical properties, to be able to articulate those principles to clients, and also to stay current with the practical applications and solutions to todays acoustical problems. This essential equilibrium was the guiding principle of Mr. Everests original vision for this book, and I have continued to seek that same balance. Further, through Mr. Everests four editions, and my three editions, this book has improved steadily to reach a high level of refinement.