Sound Check: The Basics of Sound and Sound Systems

Rating:
Summary: A Fine Intermediate Level Book.
Review: I have run sound part-time for several years. This book is a great next step after learning the basics of running and setting up sound equipment. I found this book excellent for answering introductory & intermediate questions about such topics as impedence matching, selecting speaker enclosures, and how cables affect the system. I recommend reading this book before reading the Sound Reinforcement Handbook (Davis & Jones)--an excellent, comprehensive resource book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book for Beginners
Review: I really liked Sound Check because it's easy to understand, fun to read, and it answered all my "beginner" questions. I thought that I should start out at a higher level book, like Yamaha Guide to Sound Systems, but I was wrong. I'm an aerospace engineer, lawyer, and I ran an electronics manufacturing company, but Sound Check was the best starting point for me; I wish that I had this book many years ago. It would have saved me a lot of trouble. It is a practical book that I have recommended to all my employees who work with sound systems.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book for Beginners
Review: I really liked Sound Check because it's easy to understand, fun to read, and it answered all my "beginner" questions. I thought that I should start out at a higher level book, like Yamaha Guide to Sound Systems, but I was wrong. I'm an aerospace engineer, lawyer, and I ran an electronics manufacturing company, but Sound Check was the best starting point for me; I wish that I had this book many years ago. It would have saved me a lot of trouble. It is a practical book that I have recommended to all my employees who work with sound systems.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for beginners in audio
Review: I wanted to learn the basics of audio, and found this book to be very easy to understand. It also has many illustrations. It especially helped me to understand decibels. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to better understand the basics of sound.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: The author of this book needs to take a basic writing class before writing any more books. He forgets to define sound terminology, expecting the reader to understand phrases like "colored signal", etc. although I did appreciate the somewhat incomplete glossary at the back of the book. He also has a hard time teaching many of the concepts. Many of the charts I found very labor intensive and confusing. Who proofread this book any way? I admit I did learn a fair amount. Maybe many of the concepts have to be experienced to be understood and if so, it's not the author's fault.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: The author of this book needs to take a basic writing class before writing any more books. He forgets to define sound terminology, expecting the reader to understand phrases like "colored signal", etc. although I did appreciate the somewhat incomplete glossary at the back of the book. He also has a hard time teaching many of the concepts. Many of the charts I found very labor intensive and confusing. Who proofread this book any way? I admit I did learn a fair amount. Maybe many of the concepts have to be experienced to be understood and if so, it's not the author's fault.

Rating:
Summary: Over simplified
Review: This book should only be read by the most novice of aspiring sound personele, at best. Some areas are terribly missleading and, at times, will leave out profound information that will simply get you in trouble. The saying, "I know just enough to be dangerous" is just the feeling I get from this book. It will leave the reader with a false self confidence of professional audio that, when given the opportunity, may land them in over thier heads or achieving undesirable results. For a quality start, check out Yamaha's Sound Reinforcement book.