Winer - The audio expert: everything you need to know about audio

The Audio Expert is a comprehensive reference book covering all aspects of audio, with both practical and theoretical explanations. It is written for people who want to understand audio at the deepest, most technical level, but without needing an engineering degree. The Audio Expert explains how audio really works in much more depth than usual, using common sense plain-English explanations and mechanical analogies, with minimal math. It uses an easy to read conversational tone, and includes more than 400 figures and photos to augment the printed text.

However, this book goes beyond merely explaining how audio works. It brings together the concepts of audio, aural perception, musical instrument physics, acoustics, and basic electronics, showing how theyre intimately related. It also describes in great detail many practices and techniques used by recording and mixing engineers, including video production and computers. This book is meant for intermediate to advanced recording engineers and audiophiles who want to become experts. Theres plenty for beginners too.

One unique feature is explaining how audio devices such as equalizers, compressors, and A/D converters work internally, and how theyre specd and tested, rather than merely describing how to use them. Theres plenty of myth-busting and consumerism too. The book doesnt tell readers what brand power amplifier to buy, but it explains in great detail what defines a good amplifier so people can choose a first-rate model wisely without over-paying.

Most explanations throughout the book are platform-agnostic, applying equally to Windows and Mac computers, and to most software and hardware. Many audio and video examples are included to enhance the written text.

The new edition offers many updates and improvements throughout. New sections on coding an equalizer, comparing microphone preamps, testing results of loudspeaker isolation devices, new online video content on music theory, plus incorporated chapters on MIDI basics, computers, video production, plus new myth-busters, and much more!

Ethan Winer has, at various times, earned a living as a professional musician, computer programmer, circuit designer, recording engineer, composer/arranger, technical writer, acoustician, and college instructor. Ethan has more than 150 feature articles published in various computer and audio magazines. He has produced dozens of educational and music videos, and composed three pieces for full orchestra, all of which have been performed. He now co-owns RealTraps, a manufacturer of acoustic treatment.

Second Edition

Second edition published 2018

by Routledge

711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

and by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2018 Taylor & Francis

The right of Ethan Winer to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

First edition published by Focal Press in 2012.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested

ISBN: 978-0-415-78883-0 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-0-415-78884-7 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-315-22316-2 (ebk)

Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC

Visit the companion website: www.TheAudioExpertBook.com/
www.routledge.com/cw/winer

For my Wife, Ilene,
who for reasons Ill never understand has
stuck with me for more than 40 years.

Its important to thank the people who were most influential over the years in teaching me how technology works. First was Marty Yolles, who, when I was about 12, spent many Saturday afternoons helping me overhaul an old lawnmower engine I would later use for a home-made go-cart. Then later in my teens and early 20s, Cliff Mills, Allen Podell, Marvin Fleischman, and others graciously gave their valuable time to answer my endless beginner questions about audio and radio electronics. Later, Leo Taylor and I designed and built several analog synthesizers and other audio devices, with Leo doing most of the designing and me doing all of the learning. Leo worked as an engineer at Hewlett-Packard, so I got to play with every type of audio test gear imaginable as we created and refined our designs. Finally, my thanks especially to Bill Eppler, who for more than 30 years has been my friend, mentor, and advisor on all technical matters.

I mention these influences because, aside from lawnmower engines and electronics, these people also taught me what I call the ham radio ethic of sharing information freely and with endless patience. When I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, ham radio was popular, and many towns had a local ham radio club where you could learn about electronics for free in a friendly and informal atmosphere. This ethic of sharing has been a driving force throughout my entire life. It was why I wrote my first book in 1991a manual for programmers to explain the unpublished internal workings of Microsofts DOS BASIC compilerseven though at the time I owned a software company that sold products based on the same information! My company was unique because we included all of the assembly language source code so people would not only buy a packaged solution but could also learn how the programs they bought worked.

It always bothers me when people are secretive or protective of their knowledge, as if sharing what they know means theyll no longer be as valued or even needed. This is why today I continuethrough my posts in audio forums and articles on my personal websiteto help people build acoustic treatment, even though my current business manufactures and sells acoustic treatment products.

Many people contributed and helped me over the ten months it took to write this book. Id like to thank Catharine Steers of Focal Press for recognizing the value of this book and helping to make it a reality. Carlin Reagan, also of Focal Press, guided me throughout the process. Expert audio engineer and journalist Mike Rivers did the technical review, offering many incredibly helpful comments and suggestions. My friend, cellist, and electronics engineer, Andy Woodruff, provided formulas for the Decibels.xls spreadsheet, and also performed the cello demonstration video. My friend, black belt electronics engineer Bill Eppler, contributed his considerable wisdom and helped with fact checking, as did microphone expert Bruce Bartlett, video expert Mark Weiss, acoustics expert Wes Lachot, and loudspeaker maven Floyd Toole.

I must also thank Collin Wade for the saxophone demo; David Gale for his violin expertise; Steve Isaacson and Terry Flynn, who demonstrated the piano; expert arranger Arnie Gross for years of musical tutoring; luthier Bob Spear for his string instrument expertise; and composer Ed Dzubak, who contributed several pieces for the plug-in effects demos. I offer my special thanks to John Roberts, a professional electronics engineer and friend since we worked together in the 1970s, for his many valuable suggestions.