How to Get the Sound You Want (Paperback)

It turns out to be a very broad brushed and rather shallow discussion of musical genres and styles from a historical and social perspective which tries to explain how the different styles relate. Hoplessly wide of the title's claim.

I found it terribly irritating to read as well full of all sorts of psuedo philosophical observations that have nothing to do with audio engineering.

In fact this book was so lacking that I had to desperately search through all of it to find anything worthwhile at all. The only thing of value is the rather long glossary which takes up the last third of the book.. It certainly seemed like a rehash but perhaps I am mistaken. Anyone who has such a glossary already certainly wont want to pay 12 quid for another version of much the same thing.

The book fails to focus in depth on anything and subsequently gives the impresion of a very wishy washy discussion that attempts too much and consequently brings little of value to the reader.

I got the distinct impression reading this book that it was someones University thesis rehashed with a few screen dumps from Cubase. And I do mean only a few.

Its certainly not a holy grail of information and I honestly think its very poorly written and lacks depth and information of value.

It lacks the validity of books such as 'Behind the Glass' by Howard Massey and the technical focus and value of the Sound on Sound series by Paul White.

I was terribly dissapointed by this book and really feel I have wasted my money.

If I was a 12 year old and was looking for a first book on the history of pop music styles and the relationships between them it might have been worthwhile but as someone interested in compression, recording techniques, balancing sounds and musical pre and post production I found this book almost a complete waste of time.

I dont like to trash other peoples work but seriously this book should never have been published in its currect form without much closer scrutiny by the publishers.

I really feel had..Its the sort of book athat a 30 second flick through would make you put it back on the shelf.

The title of the book is completely misleading and as a source of technical detail and technique it fails miserably.

I only wish I had it with me now to qoute some of the rubbish in it and you would see exactly what I mean.

There are better primers for those just starting out in home recording and project studios than this shallow description of what the authors call 'genre theory'.

Very dissapointing.

So dissapointing in fact I was motivated to write this review in the hopes that other people dont get mislead by the title like I did.

Look for good technical advice, production skills and tips elsewhere because this book is largely a waste of paper and you will learn almost nothing of value from it.