Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 Looking Back for New Inspiration -- Before Multi-Tracking-Sam Phillips -- Sound on Sound: Les Paul -- Phil Spector -- Motown -- The Beach Boys -- The Beatles -- Frank Zappa -- Brian Eno -- Chapter 2 The Basics of Audio Recording -- Why Knowledge Is Power -- Understanding Sound Recording Basics -- Edison's Wax Cylinder Phonograph -- Analog Tape Recording -- Modern Digital Recording -- All the Little Pieces Add Up -- Chapter 3 The Most Important Tool: The Microphone -- Ribbon Microphones -- Diaphragm-Based Microphones -- Dynamic Microphones -- Condenser (Capacitor) Microphones -- Electret Condenser Microphones -- Piezoelectric Microphones/Pickups -- Understanding Microphones -- Frequency Response -- Diaphragm Size -- Polar Pattern -- Transient Response -- Sensitivity to Sound Pressure -- Additional Mic Design Qualities -- Picking the Best Mics for the Job -- Using Multiple Microphones: Understanding Phase -- Chapter 4 Setting Up Your Studio -- Knowing the Home Studio Pitfalls -- Before You Start: The Don'ts of Sound Treatment -- Step 1: Sound Isolation -- Risers and Platforms -- Floor Treatment Tips -- Step 2: Controlling Resonances and Reflections -- Sound Absorbing Panels -- Bass Traps -- Sound Diffusers -- Resonant Absorbers -- Considering Studio Ergonomics -- Connecting Your Gear -- Studio Monitors: Price and Practicality -- Final Thoughts -- Chapter 5 Microphone Technique -- Part I: Setting Up -- Part II: Understanding Stereo Microphone Techniques -- XY Configuration -- ORTF Configuration -- Spaced Pair Configuration -- Baffled Pair Configuration -- M/S Array Configuration -- Part III: You May Now Touch the Microphones -- Mic'ing Vocals -- Mic'ing Piano -- Mic'ing Acoustic Guitar -- Mic'ing Electric Guitar -- Mic'ing Bass Guitar/Upright Bass -- Mic'ing Organs/Keys -- Mic'ing Brass -- Mic'ing Strings.

Mic'ing Percussion -- Mic'ing Drums -- Mic'ing Unusual Instruments -- Final Thoughts -- Chapter 6 Signal Processing Toys: EQ -- Equalization Techniques -- EQ Overview -- Modern-Day EQ Advice -- Equalization Tips -- 20Hz-50Hz: Way WAY Down at the Bottom -- 60Hz-100Hz: Effective Bass -- 100Hz-250Hz: Thickness -- 300Hz-450Hz: Mud -- 500Hz-700Hz: Body, Warmth, and Chunk -- 800Hz-3kHz: Critical Midrange -- 3kHz-8kHz: Harshness and Definition -- 10kHz-16kHz: Sparkly and Airy, Tinny and Wimpy -- 16kHz and Up: Attention Canines! -- Final Thoughts -- Chapter 7 Signal Processing Toys: Compression -- All About Dynamics -- What a Compressor Does -- Limiting -- Expanders and Gates -- Compression Tips, Tricks, and Techniques -- Drum Compression -- Instrument Compression -- Vocal Compression -- Chapter 8 Signal Processing Toys: Reverb- and Delay-Based Effects -- Delay: The Building Block of All Effects -- Reverb: Delay, Delay, Delay, Delay, Delay -- Digital Reverb -- Chapter 9 Perspectives on Music Production -- Getting Ready to Produce Music -- Finding Your Place as a Producer -- Becoming a Do-It-Yourself Producer -- Musicians Producing Music -- Keeping the Producer's Position in Perspective -- Studio/Session Priorities -- Situation 1 -- Situation 2 -- Opinions, Criticism, and Space Madness -- Musical Scaffolding -- The All-Important Rhythm Track -- Production and Generative Music -- Final Thoughts -- Chapter 10 Building Your Arrangement Chops -- Understanding Song Structure -- Considering Song Sections Up Close -- Introduction -- Verse -- Pre-Chorus -- Chorus -- Bridge -- General Arrangement Thoughts -- Chapter 11 Mixing: Balancing Art and Craft -- The Craft of Mixing: Workspace and Monitoring -- Workspace -- Near-Field Monitors -- The Craft of Mixing: First Steps -- The Craft of Mixing: Building Your Mix -- The Craft of Mixing: Setting the Soundstage.

The Craft of Mixing: Depth and Space -- The Craft of Mixing: The Overall Balance -- The Art of Mixing: Overviews, Strategies, and Impressions -- On the Way to Mastering: A Mixing Checklist -- Chapter 12 Mastering: The Final Adjustments -- Mastering Rules -- A Step-by-Step Introduction to Mastering -- Mastering Processing: Practical Tips -- Master Equalization -- Stereo Spread Adjustment -- Compression in Mastering -- Limiting in Mastering -- Dithering -- Last Thoughts on Mastering -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- K-L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q-R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W-Z.