Rating: 
Summary: Ask an Engineer What Time it is.....
Review: ...and he'll tell you how to build a watch. I was extremely disappointed in this book, not for its lack of content, but for its lack of focus. I bought "Home Recording Power" hoping to learn tips and techniques to make the best audio recordings possible with my inexpensive home set-up. While there were many helpful tips and tricks, I spent most of my reading skimming over superfluous explanations on the physics of sound waves, how MIDI works, how Microsoft Front Page works (???)and a re-hashing of much of my "Sonar User's Guide."
Can I record my electric guitar direct with an effects processor without an amp? How do I hook up this mixing board to my soundcard's breakout box? These and myriad other questions I went into the book asking never got answered. Like so many other how-to manuals it runs the gamut between the insultingly simple to the unitelligibly advanced - for example, the author begins talking about boosting EQ values by specific db amounts but he never tells you what equipment he uses to do this or how it's done.
It wasn't all a waste, however, I did pick up a few tips that I hadn't known before and bought the recommended Rode NT1 microphone that was touted several times. Overall disappointing.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent guide to building your dreams at home
Review: As a musician, a nonconformist and a struggling optimist, I believe in the ability of musicians to craft their music independently, and I personally wish to craft my own music from home and make it sound so good that no one will be the wiser.Home Recording Power is helping me on the way to do just that Complex topics involving physics of sound, recording equipment, recording, marketing and more are covered in this book in a wonderfully comforting down-to-earth manner. I have been learning from this book immensely and am using it as my bible for building my first (and possibly more) digital home recording studio in my apartment bedroom. Perhaps the greatest thing about this book is that it takes great care to encourage the reader that ridiculous dreams like mine are actually possible! Make this book your how-to guide for buying your equipment and preparing your first recordings. Then take the knowledge you've earned from the book and run with it! I think that anyone who has a burning to transform the music in their head to music others can hear should start with this book. I haven't found one better at getting you started. (Also a plus: product recommendations for software and recording equipment! With price comparisons at time of printing and description of telling a good piece of equipment from a bad one. Emphasis on how to build a legitimate recording studio on a budget)
Rating:
Summary: Great book for beginners and intermediates
Review: Being the first to review this book on Amazon, I ordered it blindly based on the description and kept my fingers crossed. I have not been disappointed by my purchase. As a musician who has for years relied solely on Sonic Foundry's Acid program (which is great but has its limitations), I have been wanting to expand my repertoire into midi and home recording on my PC, but have spent most of time fumbling in the dark and trying to get through rather tedious hardware and software manuals that assume a certain degree of knowledge about midi and PC recording. Milstead's book has filled in all the gaps, focusing on all aspects of PC recording (sorry Mac users), including mics, setting up your home computer studio, using various programs, sequencing and drum machines, recording live instruments, mixing, burning, internet audio, selling your music and much, much more. The book is clearly written and punctuated throughout with helpful "Notes," which are basically sidebars full of useful tips. The only drawback I can see is that Milstead focuses on some specific programs--like Adaptec's Easy CD Creator--which is of no use if you happen to use another program, as I do. (As a sidenote, I use Nero for CD burning, which for me has been a much more reliable and faster appication than Adaptec and with a smaller footprint no less). But this is only a slight drawback to the book, and at least the programs he picks are generally regarded as the industry standards or the most popular (like the aforementioned CD Creator or Cakewalk's "Sonar"). And you can still extrapolate his information regarding specific programs to similar ones. For the most part, though, the author gives a wide berth to all aspects of the subject and provides a wealth of information that should get any beginner well on his or her way, and even provide some helpful data for intermediates and advanced users. I purchased this along with two other books on the same subject--"Digital Home Recording" and "Desktop Digital Audio"--and I feel it is the most comprehensive and up-to-date of the three. "Home Recording Power" is fully indexed and highly recommended by this reader.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for beginners and intermediates
Review: Being the first to review this book on Amazon, I ordered it blindly based on the description and kept my fingers crossed. I have not been disappointed by my purchase. As a musician who has for years relied solely on Sonic Foundry's Acid program (which is great but has its limitations), I have been wanting to expand my repertoire into midi and home recording on my PC, but have spent most of time fumbling in the dark and trying to get through rather tedious hardware and software manuals that assume a certain degree of knowledge about midi and PC recording. Milstead's book has filled in all the gaps, focusing on all aspects of PC recording (sorry Mac users), including mics, setting up your home computer studio, using various programs, sequencing and drum machines, recording live instruments, mixing, burning, internet audio, selling your music and much, much more. The book is clearly written and punctuated throughout with helpful "Notes," which are basically sidebars full of useful tips. The only drawback I can see is that Milstead focuses on some specific programs--like Adaptec's Easy CD Creator--which is of no use if you happen to use another program, as I do. (As a sidenote, I use Nero for CD burning, which for me has been a much more reliable and faster appication than Adaptec and with a smaller footprint no less). But this is only a slight drawback to the book, and at least the programs he picks are generally regarded as the industry standards or the most popular (like the aforementioned CD Creator or Cakewalk's "Sonar"). And you can still extrapolate his information regarding specific programs to similar ones. For the most part, though, the author gives a wide berth to all aspects of the subject and provides a wealth of information that should get any beginner well on his or her way, and even provide some helpful data for intermediates and advanced users. I purchased this along with two other books on the same subject--"Digital Home Recording" and "Desktop Digital Audio"--and I feel it is the most comprehensive and up-to-date of the three. "Home Recording Power" is fully indexed and highly recommended by this reader.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad at all.
Review: For any beginning or experienced home recording enthusiast. This book is, without question, the most comprehensive and easy to understand reference I have found. (I have a collection of 5 other home recording book publications by various authors.) Mr. Milstead takes the time to explain nearly every aspect of home recording from space design, to MIDI setup (including a brief tutorial), mic placement for various instruments, project management, recording/mixing, and a host of other subject areas that offer invaluable advice for those of us who are new to this field and those with professional experience who may need reminders. His subtle sense of humor and levity makes the learning process considerably more enjoyable. "Hat's off" to Mr. Milstead for writing such an effective reference. His book has a permanent place in my home studio.
Rating:
Summary: Down to earth and comprehensive.
Review: For any beginning or experienced home recording enthusiast. This book is, without question, the most comprehensive and easy to understand reference I have found. (I have a collection of 5 other home recording book publications by various authors.) Mr. Milstead takes the time to explain nearly every aspect of home recording from space design, to MIDI setup (including a brief tutorial), mic placement for various instruments, project management, recording/mixing, and a host of other subject areas that offer invaluable advice for those of us who are new to this field and those with professional experience who may need reminders. His subtle sense of humor and levity makes the learning process considerably more enjoyable. "Hat's off" to Mr. Milstead for writing such an effective reference. His book has a permanent place in my home studio.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for a beginner (and possibly others)
Review: I am somewhat knowledgeable about computers but know little about creating music. When I decided to enter this world, I looked at about 5-6 books to help me. This was clearly the standout. I purchased it and it has been a huge help to me. Very sensible and great explanations. Really excellent at covering the whole gamut of issues I (as a beginner) was facing. The book would probably also be helpful to a more advanced User. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A must for the home recording wannabe!
Review: I have been toying with recording music at home for a few years (as a hobby, of course), but the overall idea of a "home studio" has always been in the back of my mind. Unfortunately, I am not rich and have little space to dedicate to a studio. This book takes that into account. Most home recording books I have read all assume that you have tons of money to invest. That is not the case for most of us. This book takes a relatively complex subject and puts it into terms that even the beginner can understand. The advice in this book can have you up and recording semi-professional stuff in no time, and for less than [amt], not including software and a PC of course (Sorry Mac Users, this is pretty much PC geared). My only real complaint is that Mr. Milstead leans a little too much towards Cakewalk's SONAR. That is great for someone like me who has Sonar XL, but those of you who can't afford the [amt] Sonar pricetag, you may have to work around that. Other than that, this is a very solid and ejoyable read. I highly recommend it. As a matter of fact, if you are even THINKING about getting into home recording, DO NOT BUY A SINGLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT BEFORE YOU BUY THIS BOOK! It could potentially save you from buying unnecessary equipment and software. Think of this book as a [amt] coupon to savings!
Rating:
Summary: A must for the home recording wannabe!
Review: I have been toying with recording music at home for a few years (as a hobby, of course), but the overall idea of a "home studio" has always been in the back of my mind. Unfortunately, I am not rich and have little space to dedicate to a studio. This book takes that into account. Most home recording books I have read all assume that you have tons of money to invest. That is not the case for most of us. This book takes a relatively complex subject and puts it into terms that even the beginner can understand. The advice in this book can have you up and recording semi-professional stuff in no time, and for less than [amt], not including software and a PC of course (Sorry Mac Users, this is pretty much PC geared). My only real complaint is that Mr. Milstead leans a little too much towards Cakewalk's SONAR. That is great for someone like me who has Sonar XL, but those of you who can't afford the [amt] Sonar pricetag, you may have to work around that. Other than that, this is a very solid and ejoyable read. I highly recommend it. As a matter of fact, if you are even THINKING about getting into home recording, DO NOT BUY A SINGLE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT BEFORE YOU BUY THIS BOOK! It could potentially save you from buying unnecessary equipment and software. Think of this book as a [amt] coupon to savings!
Rating:
Summary: MAXIMIZE your puny home studio budget!
Review: I love this book! I am a lifelong professional musician with some audio and recording experience; I want to get started with recording, but funds are limited, and the idea of trying to sift through all the trade mags and internet articles to get "up to speed" on the latest recording equipment is daunting, to say the least. Ben Milstead is well aware of professional recording techniques and gear, but he has THANKFULLY chosen to keep this book concise and easy to understand for people that are not necessarily educated, on even the basics of recording. In several cases, he presents us with two viable ways to solve a problem: 1. The pro (expensive) way, and 2. The home-studio (cheap) way. The idea here is that home studio people can really have a shot at making something decent without spending a zillion dollars. I love that. Although this book is well informed with the wisdom of the last few decades of recording, it is up-to-date in it's presentation about digital technology. This is important, because the nature of the recording world is really shifting from analog to digital. Digital has gained so much in quality and value over the last five years that even the most die-hard analog guys have reason to reconsider. Ben touches on everything from planning and building a studio to recording to mastering to marketing and sales (and even a little on artistry and creative identity!). The book is broad in scope, yet simple to digest for just about anybody. Not only that, it's just fun to read. At the times when he could get really long-winded and boring with detail, he makes the choice to be concise and entertaining. If you want to get "up to speed" on the latest gear, and you want some practical, cost-effective ways to "get the music out of your head", get this book. You will not be disappointed.
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