Books: Engineering, techniques for producing dance music etc

[Jay-Producer]

Can anyone suggest some good books aimed towards producing dance music. I know this is subjective as it covers a whole range of music. So I'll help you out to provide me with some suggestions...

I have been producing music for 6 years. I have had tracks played out in clubs so I know how to produce a good song. I would say that I am an intermediate level (but now returning back to beginners due to my lost ways). I don't know any advance techniques nor understand any technical data about how things work anymore. I'm not interested in these technical data aspects as they for one bore me to death and two I like to use my ears. However I am willing to learn if I can find a book that explains it all in simple English but not in depth.

I really want to start all over again which is why I'm building my new studio. For the past 3 years I've been lazy and due to traveling and haven't really got into production. Ive lost my way a little and forgotten a lot of things I learned at the start. So I want one beginners book and I have done my research. Dance Music Manual (2nd edition) by Rick Snoman - More towards beginners, seems to be a good start - what do you think?

I have also seen these: Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science by Bob Katz - which seems more aimed for pro's & The Mixing Engineer's Handbook by Bobby Owsinski - which seems more aimed at intermediate level. Both look like good options.

I read most of Paul Whites books a few years ago and they were good.


Any recommendations?

[rifftrax]

Dance Music Manual (2nd edition) by Rick Snoman - More towards beginners, seems to be a good start - what do you think?

I have also seen these: Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science by Bob Katz - which seems more aimed for pro's & The Mixing Engineer's Handbook by Bobby Owsinski - which seems more aimed at intermediate level. Both look like good options.

I read most of Paul Whites books a few years ago and they were good.


Any recommendations?

I have all of those books (had and sold the Bob Katz one). They are all extremely good reference books. My favorite is Bob Katz's though. I was stupid to sell it.

[dirty oscillators]

Dance Music for Dummies?

[Jay-Producer]

Dance Music for Dummies?

I don't know if I need one of those for dummies. I pretty clued up mate. Although I need one for dummies that relates to the technical aspects of engineering.

[dirty oscillators]

Dance Music for Dummies?

I don't know if I need one of those for dummies. I pretty clued up mate. Although I need one for dummies that relates to the technical aspects of engineering.

i don't think you should rely on a book. i think you should listen to some Tom Moulton productions and take notes. listening to other people's work is really the best way to learn IMO.

[dirty oscillators]

whoops, double post

[Jay-Producer]

Dance Music for Dummies?

I don't know if I need one of those for dummies. I pretty clued up mate. Although I need one for dummies that relates to the technical aspects of engineering.

i don't think you should rely on a book. i think you should listen to some Tom Moulton productions and take notes. listening to other people's work is really the best way to learn IMO.

Yeah but if I don't how to do it whats the point in listening? Listening isn't going to teach me how to do things.

[Jay-Producer]

Any suggestions on good books to read?

[silenthill2006]

I would strongly suggest the Dance Music Manual by Rick Snoman. However, do NOT read the Music Theory section of the book. It has tons of errors. However, I'm not sure of the second edition that was recently released. It might be better. Also, you should check out both Music Theory for Computer Musicians and Composition for Computer Musicians by Michael Hewitt

[longfella]

this may or may not be relevent

i have been producing for 6 years went to college for a couple, and bouhgt books and collected all the mags every month, i look back and think i i didnt really learn that much from than other than the basics how the sequencer works, some basic production and mixdown techniques and the very odd usefull hint in the mags. 2 years or so ago i started to use the forums as my source of information and i have come on in my game 10 fold. really i find this type of advice a joke surely you have seen it b4 tweak this eq to that setting and you will sound like aphex twin bollox. theory is really important but the useful stuff doesnt seem to get published overly, in my opinion its knowing what theory is going to play a day to day part within what you do, these are some subjects you might want to research.

how to calculate your beat value 60,000 divided by bpm

note to frequency convertion chart

how to calculate how much volume increase via eq changes

how to find the value of a paramter, divide the top number of a setting by 128
the answer is one unit of its scale, so obviously if your parameter setting is 15 you would then times the answer by 15

chord progression chart for sequencing

routing options is a must to find that nasty timbre you need

the volume effects from opeing and closing the filter cutt offs

once you have made your patch enter the patch into an empty bank duplicate it then your alter the second copy and then the third, thus allows your work flow to be quicker and more varried

i dont think you need a book i think that you need to decide what information is relevent to you and find out what you need

[silenthill2006]

Also, try reading Composition for Computer Musicians by Michael Hewitt. Also, you might want to invest in his previous book Music Theory for Computer Musicians