Bob Katz: Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science, 2nd Edition

Larry covered the first edition of this book back in Tape Op #35. But there is so much updated content in this second printing that a second review is merited. The title, Mastering Audio, is clearly a double entendre, as the book covers the job of audio mastering as well as the goal of mastering the concepts of audio. It is a comprehensive look at the state of contemporary digital audio technologies, standards, and practices. Doubtless, mastering engineers of all experience levels will enjoy this edition, as will anyone interested in their "dark art", but the second half of the text (starting with "Part III: Advanced Theory and Practice") is devoted to taking control of digital audio. These pages are loaded with information aimed at audio engineers of every discipline. Candid discussions about hot topics such as jitter, level calibration, and analog summing make this a not-to-be-missed read. The audio production world is one of the last frontiers-an unregulated, barely standardized new horizon. Hardly a month goes by when I don't encounter format, jitter, sample-rate or other technical concerns from my mastering clients. It's not uncommon for more experienced mix engineers to have issues, too. The fact is, much of the information about how and why things work, especially with PCM digital, is fragmented, disjointed, and poorly documented. In Mastering Audio, Bob Katz presents all of this information in a straightforward manner. I have no reservations when I recommend that every engineer working with audio purchase a copy of Mastering Audio. From broadcast to film, live to studio, Mastering Audio provides a complete foundation for understanding and working with sound in the digital age. ($39.95 MSRP; www.digido.com)