Product Description

This comprehensive guide shows you how to integrate a variety of production tools for the Mac OS X platform into all stages of audio production so that you can create and produce music. From single applications to complete suites, you’ll discover the software toolsets that are best for you and then discover how to incorporate them into a coherent workflow. Featuring best practices, real-world examples, and interviews with audio professionals, this book pulls together all the programs and tasks you need.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #164773 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 591 pages

From the Back Cover
Create and Produce Music with Mac OS X

In today's digital studio, audio engineers blend loops, effects, and many other tools from multiple programs. This comprehensive guide shows you how to integrate a variety of production tools for the Mac OS X platform into all stages of audio production. From single applications to complete suites, you'll discover the software toolsets that are best for you based on your skills, budget, studio resources, and music genre and how to incorporate them into a coherent workflow.

Including best practices, real-world examples, and interviews with audio professionals, this book pulls together all the programs and tasks you need, whether you already have a complete studio or are just setting one up.

Coverage includes:

• Optimizing Mac OS X for music production

• Composing a new song with Propellerhead Reason

• Getting the most out of Ableton® Live, Pro Tools®, and GarageBand

• Mastering AU, VST, and RTAS plug-ins

• Choosing the right MIDI keyboard for your needs

• Exploring virtual amplifiers, drums, and other virtual instruments

• Using Apple Loops and creating your own

• Exporting finished sessions and mastering file formats

Valuable Companion DVD with Extras

The DVD is packed with more than 50 products for the Mac digital studio, including trial versions, freeware, virtual instruments, loop libraries, and plug-ins. You'll find popular applications, demos, samples, and loops, including:

• SONiVOX multisamples, loops, and plug-ins

• FXpansion BFD and Guru

• Zoyd

• Bias Peak Pro and Peak LE

• iDrum virtual drum machine

• Audacity

• SoundToys TDM Effect Bundle

• Native Instruments Reaktor, Absynth, and Battery

• Destroy FX

• Camel Audio CamelPhat, Cameleon 5000, and more

Master the Tools and Tasks of an Integrated Studio Workflow, Start to Finish

Discover Best Audio Practices and Key Techniques on Mac OS X

Gain Insight and Inspiration from Real-world Examples and Interviews with Studio Pros

Unleash Your Creativity and Explore Your Own Musical Stylings

Create Professional Quality Audio — at Any Level, on Any Budget

About the Author
Cliff Truesdell is a recording engineer, producer, and musician at Take Root Recording Studio in San Francisco. He also has recording credits as an arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. Cliff cofounded the punk rock band Black Furies, which has released three CDs to date and continues to record and tour extensively. Cliff's original music has appeared in a variety of media, including video games and professional skateboard videos. Among his recent credits is a contribution to the soundtrack for Bravo's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

Customer Reviews

Covers a lot of stuff
I've been using this book for a couple of weeks now and it's totally got me excited about doing music on my computer again. I know a bit about some of the programs covered in the book (Logic, Reason, Garageband) already, but it gave me more of an idea of how to use those programs more effectively. It also gave me the opportunity to learn about other programs I have been wanting to use. Plus there's just a ton of information about the different software and plugins that are available, some really cool stuff (especially the free stuff). There's also sections that provide "real world scenarios" that I found immensely helpful. These sections gave me ideas of how to use the tools in new ways. The DVD that comes with the book has some great stuff too, freeware, loops, plugins, etc. Super cool.

Overall it has a wealth of information that is relevant to beginners as well as people like me who already have some knowledge of Mac music production. The book is laid out really well and the writing is engaging and well thought out. I can't say enough good stuff about it. I'm sure I will go back to it frequently. Good stuff!

Great Source!
If your interested in getting into audio production with your Mac, this is a great start. The companion DVD comes with everyting you need to get introduced to digital audio. If can't wrap your head around this book, then I wouldn't waste money on a digital interface (Pro Tools, Motu, M-Audio). I like how it's laid out, good information. Cheers!

Just what I needed!
This is just an amazing book. I'm still kind of in shock that it even exists. I've been a life long musician, but have never taken the plunge into digital audio. It just seemed like such a big, scary world. Well, it was until I found this book. I don't know how much it would benefit others, but to me, it was a total godsend. I now feel really familiar and comfortable with the entire WORLD of digital audio, not just one program. I now understand plugin formats, virtual instruments, and I also know all sorts of great secrets on where to get them for free, and which freebies are especially awesome. I would have paid triple the price for the knowledge in this book. Thanks to the author for this awesome and needful book.
Speaking of the author, he does a really fine job here. Yes, there are some things I feel were left out, but there's bound to be some stuff missing in a book that undertakes such a massive task, as this one does. Even though I'm not an expert, I feel so much more educated as to why I would want to use Logic vs. Reason vs. Ableton Live vs. Garageband (I've never been interested in Pro Tools, although it's also covered in the book).
Also, to any potential Windows users, this book can also be really beneficial for you as well. You won't have Garageband or Logic, but other than those two chapters (and a little bit of info about customizing the Mac for digital audio production), all this stuff applies to you as well. I'm a recent convert to the Mac platform, and I can use this info on either platform. I also plan on purchasing this book as a gift for some friends of mine on Windows.
This review is just too long, and I apologize. But I'm just so happy with it. Remember that it doesn't get deep. At all. In any regards. But it's just what I needed: a huge, sweeping overview of the entire digital audio world. Thanks again to the author for such a gem!