E-Book Overview
The Audio Engineer's Reference Book is an authoritative volume on all aspects of audio engineering and technology including basic mathematics and formulae, acoustics and psychoacoustics, microphones, loudspeakers and studio installations. The content is concise and accurate, providing quick and easy access to everything you will need to know, from basic formulae to practical explanations and operational detail. Compiled by an international team of experts, this second edition has been updated to keep abreast of fast-moving areas such as digital audio and transmission technology. Much of the material has been revised, updated and expanded to cover the very latest techniques. For professionals engaged in the design, manufacture and installation of all types of audio equipment, this reference book will prove an invaluable resource. It will also be of interest to anyone employed in recording, broadcasting or audio-visual units in industry, and students on university courses. Michael Talbot-Smith is a freelance audio consultant and writer who, for many years, trained audio engineers at BBC Wood Norton. He is also the author of Sound Assistance and Audio Explained, and is the editor of Sound Engineer's Pocketbook. contains extensive coverage and detail of the subjectContains modern theory and practise An industry 'bible'
E-Book Content
Audio Engineer’s Reference Book This Page Intentionally Left Blank Audio Engineer’s Reference Book Second edition Edited by Michael Talbot-Smith OXFORD AUCKLAND BOSTON JOHANNESBURG MELBOURNE NEW DELHI Focal Press An imprint of Butterworth-Heinemann Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP 225 Wildwood Avenue, Woburn, MA 01801-2041 A division of Reed Educational and Professional Publishing Ltd A member of the Reed Elsevier plc group First published 1994 Paperback edition 1998 Second edition 1999 © Reed Educational and Professional Publishing Ltd, 1999 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright holder except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, England W1P 9HE. Applications for the copyright holder’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publishers British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Audio engineer’s reference book. – 2nd ed. 1. Acoustical engineering 2. Sound – Recording and reproducing – Equipment and supplies – Handbooks, manuals, etc. 1. Talbot-Smith, Michael 621.3’893 ISBN 0 240 51528 5 Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Audio engineer’s reference book/edited by Michael Talbot-Smith. – 2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0 240 51528 5 1. Sound – Recording and reproducing – Equipment and supplies – Handbook, manulas, etc. I. Talbot-Smith, Michael. TK7881. 4. A926 98-42607 621.3890 3 – dc21 CIP Typeset by Laser Words, Madras, India Printed and bound in Great Britain Contents Preface to first edition Preface to second edition List of contributors 1 Basic Principles 1.1 Mathematics, formulae and equations John Ratcliff 1.2 Units used in audio engineering John Ratcliff 1.3 The physics of sound waves Michael Talbot-Smith 1.4 The hearing process J. Patrick Wilson 1.5 Perceptual audio coding Louis D. Fielder 1.6 Noise measurement Glynne Parry and Richard Tyler 1.7 Electromechanical analogies Michael Gayford 1.8 Introduction to digital audio Roger Derry 2 Acoustics and acoustic devices 2.1 Room acoustics Bob Walker 2.2 Sound is