The Bare Facts

Title: 101 Recording Tips – Stuff All the Pros Know and Use
Author: Adam St. James
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Heft factor: 78 pages plus a CD of 28 examples
Dough: $14.95 list

Last month I reviewed sister book 101 Drum Tips and was lukewarm about it. This month I checked out 101 Recording Tips, and I’m quite happy I did.

For someone who’s new to recording, this book rules. Adam St. James demystifies digital audio recording as well as analog recording with excellent, brief descriptions of recording software, types of microphones and MIDI. He then goes on with an overview of mic’ing different instruments, reverb, EQ and a plethora of tricks from the pros. One of my favorite parts is the descriptions – with pictures – of the different kinds of cables one might expect to find in a studio. Although the focus is on digital recording, folks interested in analog recording will find plenty of meat as well.

The author’s style tends to be a bit chatty with numerous irrelevant asides that sometimes get in the way of the information he’s trying to get across. Nevertheless, the information is worth waiting for. He includes specifics about costs involved as well as options for how to do things differently. St. James never assumes the reader has unlimited money to spend and often presents several different choices to achieve the same result.

The accompanying CD greatly enhances the value of the book. The table of contents helpfully lists which CD track goes with which tip. Furthermore, each track is preceded by a vocal description of what you are listening to so that you don’t necessarily need to have the book open while you are listening to the CD. The author talks you through the examples he’s giving on the CD so you are sure of what you are listening to.

Kudos to Adam St. James on this fine book. If you’re interested in home recording, go out and buy this book now.

101 Recording Tips Stuff All the Pros Know and Use. RECORDING INSTRUCTION. Book & CD Package. Size 9x12 inches. 80 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (311035) See more info...