Bloomsbury Understanding Records, Second Edition: A Field Guide to Recording Practice

The revised edition of Understanding Records explains the musical language of recording practice in a way that any interested reader or student can understand. Drawing on readily available hit records produced since 1945, each section of this book explains a handful of core production and engineering techniques in chronological recordmaking sequence, elucidating how those techniques work, what they sound like, how they function musically, where listeners can hear those techniques at work in the broader Top 40 soundscape, and where they fit in the broader recordmaking process at large. As the only book to introduce music production and its practical elements with no assumed prior knowledge, the revised edition includes: -Real word examples throughout, including audio samples culled from Juno-nominated artists and from sessions undertaken by the author. -Easy to understand explanations of each facet of the record production process, which avoid technical jargon and clarify terminology. -Information on new developments in recording practice and updated musical references. -Completely reworked and expanded sections on mixing and audio mastering. -New pedagogical features including suggested exercises to help concretize various aspects of the production process. Review Understanding Records provides a comprehensive toolbox for the listener who wishes to gain a deeper understanding of the processes that inform the construction of musical recordings and the factors that lie behind the effect they make. Now in a revised second edition, Hodgson's accessible and highly readable exposition of recording practice remains a valuable resource for professional recordists and educators alike, as well as a great primer in music production for the generally interested reader. Mark Marrington, Senior Lecturer in Music Production, York St John University, UK Understanding Records, Second Edition takes a very unique look at recording practice, and how to communicate what we hear when we listen to music. It breaks down and explores this extremely important part of music making like no other resource has done before, making this an invaluable field guide that everyone should read to take their skills in understanding music, and recording, to the next level! Alex Krotz, Audio Engineer, Mixer, Editor, Producer, and Songwriter based in Toronto/Vancouver, Canada There are certain texts in the field of music production analysis and pedagogy that lift the lid, so to speak, on the expected wisdom of a standardised train of thought. Hodgson's updated book is exactly this. Whilst it does provide the reader some technical background in the field we work in, it draws upon, analyses, and portrays a vast array of different contemporary academic and professional thoughts and considerations. The author's views express the musical artefact, the record, in a unique way and engaging way as a backdrop for the work. In this edition, the production process is totally updated with some excellent discussions around issues of our day such as loudness normalisation delivery and distribution. To those wishing to learn about the philosophy, not just the technology of record production, and to engage in meaningful discussion around the topic of the recorded medium, then this book isn't just a field guide, it's a mandatory thought provoker! Russ Hepworth-Sawyer, Mastering Engineer, MOTTOsound, UK About the Author Jay Hodgson is on faculty at Western University, where he primarily teaches courses on songwriting and project paradigm record production. He is also one of two mastering engineers at MOTTOsound a boutique audio services house situated in England,whose credits include work on records by the likes of Rush, Three Days Grace, The New Pornographers, Glen Campbell, Billy Ray Cyrus, and The Barenaked Ladies. He was awarded a Governor Generals academic medal in 2006, in recognition of his research on audio recording, and is co-editor of Mixing