Producing Great Sound for Digital Video at DVinfo.net

Brian Huey · February 9th, 2003, 11:24 PM

I've seen quite a bit of positive comments about this book here and from review other places such as amazon. But I've also seen some negative stuff like the following from and amazon review:

"A disappointment. It is well written, very introductory, and not at all geared to those of us trying to get the best digital sound out of our MiniDV camcorders, which is what I was hoping for. My problems include mic questions, in-line mixers, return loops for headphone monitoring, in brief: how to bypass the internal preamps in the camera to get the best sound out of a MiniDV camcorder. I need practical examples. This is not in this book. I am not sending it back, but it goes on the shelf with the other not-enough-hands-on-examples books"

So I want to be sure I'm getting the right book for me before I purchase it. I'm looking for a book that will help me get GREAT sound doing mini DV productions (short films, working up to features) leaning more towards action more than drama, but some of that also. I'm graduating with a electrical engineering degree in a few months so I don't need a basic overview of sound in the digital era.

I'm looking to purchase a GL2 and ME66/K6 package and I want to get the most out of it possible and I'm looking for a book that will assist me in this.

Thanks for the help,
Brian

Ken Tanaka · February 9th, 2003, 11:56 PM

Jay Rose's book "Producing Great Sound for Digital Video" is a very good primer on the principles of good sound recording, the basic technologies involved, and how they are generally excercised within the context of digital video acquisition. It is not a dance-step instructional book, and frankly such a work would not be possible.

If you are new to sound recording it will be worth every penny and then some.

I'd recommend skimming through it first. Then grab your mic, a good set of closed-cup headphones, your GL2 and some fresh tapes. Go out and record principally sound in various settings and locations. Get a feeling for how the directional ME-66 compares to the on-board GL2 mic by switching between the two in the same setting. Come back when your battery runs down and listen to your shots very closely. Then read Jay's book a bit more deeply.

There's no substitute for just using your equipment and your ears when it comes to learning this stuff.

Have fun with your new GL2!

Brian Huey · February 10th, 2003, 04:42 AM

Thanks for the info, I just broke down and ordered hundreds of pages of knowledge:

Film Directing Shot by Shot
Producing Great Sound for Digital Video
The Five C's of Cinematography
The Filmaker's Handbook

Total was $80.92 from buy.com w/ a $5 off $50 book purchase

Coupon code SKU - 84971642

Now I just need to find some more time for reading between classes.

BTW I also ordered - My First Movie: Twenty Celebrated Directors Talk About Their First Film (damn Amazon and there one click purchasing!)

Philip Boyer · February 10th, 2003, 10:59 AM

I noticed you didn't include a screenwriting book in your list. If you're interested, there's a website (wordplayer.com) that's better than any screenwriting book I've read. It's run by Terry Rosio and Ted Eliot, writers of Aladdin, Mask of Zorro, and the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean (among others).

Matt Betea · February 10th, 2003, 01:31 PM

Personally I would put at least one screenwriting book on the "must have" list. Unless you're already seasoned with the format, style and thinking that goes into a screenplay. For me, trying to shoot without a solid screenplay (or maybe at the very least an outline) is like trying to determine which is the "heads" and "tails" side of a coin in a pitch black room. you might finally get there by feeling your way around, but it's going to be a lot more trouble.

Brian Huey · February 10th, 2003, 01:32 PM

Yah, I was planning on getting the technical side down then start working more on the writing. Thanks for the tip of that site, added a bookmark to it.

Rob Lohman · February 11th, 2003, 05:35 AM

Thanks for the link to that site! I've bookmarked it and it looks
great.

I myself sometimes visit these sites:

http://www.unmovies.com/ (weird guy, but some very good articles)
http://www.writemovies.com/
http://www.scriptsales.com/

Also I have the book "The Screenwriters Bible" which I consider
to be very good.

Craig Irving · October 27th, 2007, 06:03 PM

I'd like to buy a book on sound for Digital Video, but I am undecided between
Tomlinson Holman's book "Sound for Digital Video" or Jay Rose's "Producing Great Sound for Digital Video".

Anyone have any input, or is there another book I should consider instead?

Emre Safak · October 27th, 2007, 09:46 PM

There are so many good books these days; one is spoilt for choice. Jay's is good. I don't know about Holman's, but it's on my wish list.

Steve House · November 2nd, 2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig Irving

I'd like to buy a book on sound for Digital Video, but I am undecided between
Tomlinson Holman's book "Sound for Digital Video" or Jay Rose's "Producing Great Sound for Digital Video".

Anyone have any input, or is there another book I should consider instead?

I have both and can recommend them. Rose is a bit more general, Holman is more techinical. They complement each other very well.

Craig Irving · November 2nd, 2007, 06:22 PM

Great to hear, thanks!

I was looking for something more technical, but I'm sure Jay Rose offers a lot with his book also. So I'll be buying them both :)

Graham Risdon · November 2nd, 2007, 08:57 PM

Jay has 2 books - I have them both and they're both essential reading.

One focuses on production sound and the other post-production sound.

Although there is some overlap, it's worth getting both!

Hope this helps

February 9th, 2003, 11:24 PM	#1
Brian Huey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle , WA Posts: 184	Producing Great Sound for Digital Video I've seen quite a bit of positive comments about this book here and from review other places such as amazon. But I've also seen some negative stuff like the following from and amazon review: "A disappointment. It is well written, very introductory, and not at all geared to those of us trying to get the best digital sound out of our MiniDV camcorders, which is what I was hoping for. My problems include mic questions, in-line mixers, return loops for headphone monitoring, in brief: how to bypass the internal preamps in the camera to get the best sound out of a MiniDV camcorder. I need practical examples. This is not in this book. I am not sending it back, but it goes on the shelf with the other not-enough-hands-on-examples books" So I want to be sure I'm getting the right book for me before I purchase it. I'm looking for a book that will help me get GREAT sound doing mini DV productions (short films, working up to features) leaning more towards action more than drama, but some of that also. I'm graduating with a electrical engineering degree in a few months so I don't need a basic overview of sound in the digital era. I'm looking to purchase a GL2 and ME66/K6 package and I want to get the most out of it possible and I'm looking for a book that will assist me in this. Thanks for the help, Brian

February 9th, 2003, 11:56 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Welcome Brian Jay Rose's book "Producing Great Sound for Digital Video" is a very good primer on the principles of good sound recording, the basic technologies involved, and how they are generally excercised within the context of digital video acquisition. It is not a dance-step instructional book, and frankly such a work would not be possible. If you are new to sound recording it will be worth every penny and then some. I'd recommend skimming through it first. Then grab your mic, a good set of closed-cup headphones, your GL2 and some fresh tapes. Go out and record principally sound in various settings and locations. Get a feeling for how the directional ME-66 compares to the on-board GL2 mic by switching between the two in the same setting. Come back when your battery runs down and listen to your shots very closely. Then read Jay's book a bit more deeply. There's no substitute for just using your equipment and your ears when it comes to learning this stuff. Have fun with your new GL2! __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

February 10th, 2003, 10:59 AM	#4
Philip Boyer Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Carrollton, Texas Posts: 141	I noticed you didn't include a screenwriting book in your list. If you're interested, there's a website (wordplayer.com) that's better than any screenwriting book I've read. It's run by Terry Rosio and Ted Eliot, writers of Aladdin, Mask of Zorro, and the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean (among others). __________________ Philip Boyer

February 11th, 2003, 05:35 AM	#7
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Thanks for the link to that site! I've bookmarked it and it looks great. I myself sometimes visit these sites: http://www.unmovies.com/ (weird guy, but some very good articles) http://www.writemovies.com/ http://www.scriptsales.com/ Also I have the book "The Screenwriters Bible" which I consider to be very good. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 27th, 2007, 06:03 PM	#8
Craig Irving Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 539	Sound for Digital Video I'd like to buy a book on sound for Digital Video, but I am undecided between Tomlinson Holman's book "Sound for Digital Video" or Jay Rose's "Producing Great Sound for Digital Video". Anyone have any input, or is there another book I should consider instead?

February 10th, 2003, 04:42 AM	#3
Brian Huey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle , WA Posts: 184	Thanks for the info, I just broke down and ordered hundreds of pages of knowledge: Film Directing Shot by Shot Producing Great Sound for Digital Video The Five C's of Cinematography The Filmaker's Handbook Total was $80.92 from buy.com w/ a $5 off $50 book purchase Coupon code SKU - 84971642 Now I just need to find some more time for reading between classes. BTW I also ordered - My First Movie: Twenty Celebrated Directors Talk About Their First Film (damn Amazon and there one click purchasing!)

February 10th, 2003, 01:31 PM	#5
Matt Betea Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: detroit, mi Posts: 187	Personally I would put at least one screenwriting book on the "must have" list. Unless you're already seasoned with the format, style and thinking that goes into a screenplay. For me, trying to shoot without a solid screenplay (or maybe at the very least an outline) is like trying to determine which is the "heads" and "tails" side of a coin in a pitch black room. you might finally get there by feeling your way around, but it's going to be a lot more trouble.

February 10th, 2003, 01:32 PM	#6
Brian Huey Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle , WA Posts: 184	Yah, I was planning on getting the technical side down then start working more on the writing. Thanks for the tip of that site, added a bookmark to it.

October 27th, 2007, 09:46 PM	#9
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	There are so many good books these days; one is spoilt for choice. Jay's is good. I don't know about Holman's, but it's on my wish list.

November 2nd, 2007, 06:22 PM	#11
Craig Irving Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 539	Great to hear, thanks! I was looking for something more technical, but I'm sure Jay Rose offers a lot with his book also. So I'll be buying them both :)

November 2nd, 2007, 08:57 PM	#12
Graham Risdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 192	Jay has 2 books - I have them both and they're both essential reading. One focuses on production sound and the other post-production sound. Although there is some overlap, it's worth getting both! Hope this helps