Announcement for Book Release (English)

[MNovy]

 Hello,

I just want to announce, that a (really) completely reworked edition of the book is released the next days. Language is English.
The concept of the book was changed a bit and offers more details on (digital) room acoustic but concerning the practical use for
musicians (how to use a given setting in a plug in and so on). This edition was authored also by an US composer (name not mentioned).

Main changes are:

-         no “beginner’s overview” anymore (first 60 pages), book is focused on room acoustics and the use of sequencers and plug ins
-         starting directly with room acoustics - strongly reworked
-         more pictures and drawing explaining details
-         NEW aspects on room acoustics to be used in sequencer and plug ins
-         a lot of value tables for direct use (example orchestra seating, depths, plug in settings)
-         drawing templates for own setups
-         detailed walkthrough for Cubase 4 and Samplitude Pro 10
-         how to setup VI and Kontakt 3
-         general walkthrough for other sequencers
-         using algorithm. reverb and convolution reverb for room acoustics
-         more sample calculations
-         new book cover with nice “ad-on” ;-)
-         several basic tips

This is all Volume 1.

 

Volume 2 (coming 2009) will describe in detail how to compose with several sample players like VI and how to start a new music piece
(action, horror, …) from scratch up to the final mix (uses stuff from Volume 1).

I’ll post the title of the book and further details soon…

 

 

Kind regards,
Mike

[RainerL]

Hello Mike,

good to hear that you worked it completely over in such an astonishing short time.

If there wasn´t the impression that you used the german readers - including myself - as beta-testers, it would be only positive. But so I wish I had taken the money for the VSL-Poster....

Will there be a new version in german language, too?  And maybe a possibility to update from beta-version to version 1.0?

[monoescape]

Hi there, can you guys please tell me the title of the book you're talking about? Or did I miss some essential information in this thread? All the best!

[MNovy]

Hi,

the title + abstract + ISBN will be posted soon.

Currently all employees of the puplisher are in holiday due to 7th January.

King regards,

Mike

[MNovy]

Hi!

Here are some information about the new book, which is available in English language
(currently only available within Europe. International sales in approx. 2 weeks; printed in the US).
This book is based on the German book "Das digitale Orchester", but with strongly reworked contents.

[b]The Composer's Approach Volume 1
ISBN-13: 978-38370-8453-5
[/b]160 pages, 24,- EUR (32,90 $)

[img]http://www.the-composers-approach.com/book.jpg[/img]

Product description:

@Another User said:

The Composer’s Approach Volume 1
Principles on Room Acoustics and Techniques for Digital Orchestras
Mike Novy 

This book explains the principles on room acoustics and basic working techniques for sample-based orchestras.
Learn the basics of sound localization and how to use this knowledge to place any instrument in a virtual room –
independently of the music software used. Benefit from the detailed value tables of an example orchestra seating
(American seating), and create realistic panning and room depths instantly with your dedicated plug-ins. 

The procedures are described step by step and are directed at any musician working with orchestra libraries.   

Book contents: 
•    General Room Acoustics
•    Sound Localization
•    Early Reflections
•    Room Depths
•    General How-To
•    Walkthrough for Cubase 4 and Samplitude 10
•    Examples for SIR2, Origami, DreamVerb, and Other Plug-Ins
•    Tips for Kontakt 3 and Vienna Instruments
•    Techniques for Samples
•    General Value Tables for Instant Use (Software-Independent)

Official website of the puplisher:
[url]http://www.the-composers-approach.com/[/url]

Audio demos:
[url]http://www.the-composers-approach.com/audiodemos.php[/url]

Book samples:
[url]http://www.the-composers-approach.com/v1samples.html[/url]

There is already a German version in process and available mid of February.

Best wishes,
Mike

[Banquo]

This looks fantastic. I'll be getting two copies of this; one for me and one for my piano teacher!

[Steve Martin]

Mike,

I've just listened to the demo's and had a look through the sample pdf. This is just great! Love it!!

I will be definitely getting this when it is available. Do you also have score examples in your book?

thanks,

best,

Steve[:D]

[MNovy]

Steve,

I'm sorry to say that there is no score examples in the book,
since the main focus is set on the room acoustics and how to create
virtual rooms. Also, there some additional basic techniques explained,
how samples can be used.

Concerning your question: just wait for volume 2 which is in process :-)

Mike

[Steve Martin]

Hi Mike,

thanks for the reply, I was actually meaning the 2nd book, so,  sorry, I should have made it clear that the 2nd volume was what I was meaning.

thanks again, and I will look forward to both volumes!

best,

Steve[:D]

[RainerL]

 Hello Mike,

once more my question: Will there be an upgrade price for the German readers who buyed the first beta-version of your book?

[MNovy]

Rainer,

since there is no beta out there no upgrade price for such a book will be available.

But it will be possible soon to upgrade from the first edition of "Das digitale Orchester" to
 the German version of "The Composer's Apporach Volume 1", which can be handled as 2nd edition
of "Das digitale Orchester". The German title will not be changed.

Upgrade price is not mentioned so far, but will be arround -40% from offical price. The puplisher did not
mentioned any numbers so far. I guess this is communicated after processing of the German book mid
of February.

It should be kept in mind, that the 2nd edition has no "beginners" section anymore. The use of
computers, or sequencer, etc. should be known.

Best regards,

Mike

[MNovy]

Hint for those of you outside of US or UK:
You can order the book at any book store worldwide.

Examples:
[url=http://www.amazon.com/Composers-Approach-1-Mike-Novy/dp/3837084531/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234356482&sr=8-1]Amazon.com / The Composer's Approach Vol. 1[/url]
[url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Composers-Approach-1-Mike-Novy/dp/3837084531/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234356515&sr=8-1]Amazon.co.uk / The Composer's Approach Vol. 1[/url]

Hope, this hint is usefull for you.

Best regards,
Mike

[fritzflotow]

I just read this book. At first I was very delighted to find something to read about mixing sampled orchestra. Especially with VSL, where it is not easy to get a nice sound.

In the end of reading I must say, I was a little bit confused again, since there are no diffrent aproaches mentioned, wether you use analogue reverbs and ER generators or Impuls reverb with seperate ER instances. In this setup you only use one instance of reverb tor the master? Without sends to vary the reverb amount from instrument to instrument exept for ER amount. Also, the best convolution reverb available (altiverb) was not even mentioned.

Further more: it has been said here many times, that the best sollution is a combination of IR an analogue reverbs. Nothing about that.

I found your book interesting to read, but a little short  for this rather complex topic of mixing. It seems to miss important information on getting the best sound possible.

I hope the next book will cover more details on the most important and complex topic: Room acoustics and mixing.

[MNovy]

Well, the whole book is NOT about mixing. I'm sorry if you misunderstood the book dscription:

This book explains the principles on room acoustics and basic working
techniques for sample-based orchestras. Learn the basics of sound localization
and how to use this knowledge to place any instrument in a virtual room –
independently of the music software used. Benefit from the detailed value
tables of an example orchestra seating (American seating), and create realistic
panning and room depths instantly with your dedicated plug-ins.

It is not about mixining of digital orchestras, but how to use your plug ins for the
right serttings for creating depths etc.

It does not matter, which plug ins you use, as long they offer the required settings
as described in the book. Altiverb is a good plug in, but since it is a matter of
the right setting, it does not matter if it is named in the book or not (but it is actually in the Appendix).

Composing and mixing with orchestral samples is part of Volume 2.

Btw: there is more than only one reverb involved. Did you read the book properly? Maybe you did not
understand the content? :-/

[Dietz]

@fritzflotow_27429 said:

[...] the best sollution is a combination of IR an analogue reverbs. [...]

Off topic: What do you mean by "analogue reverb"? I think there's some kind of misunderstanding going on, because I can't remember a single message on these boards suggesting the use of  spring reverb or plates ...?

[RainerL]

Maybe there is a misunderstanding of the term "analogue reverb". 

Mike Novy wrote in his beta-version of book (sorry Mike but that was NOT a well-structured, finished, complete work at all) that Impulse Response Plugins would be studio standard today. This is not true. For there are many mixing engineers who don´t use impulse response reverbs but big hardware reverbs from Lexicon, TC or Eventide which are algorithmic reverbs.

Also I suppose that some people who write "analogue" just mean hardware with algorithmic reverb instead of plugins with impulse response reverb.

[fritzflotow]

Yep, that somebody would be me! : )

Sorry for this unthougtful posting. I just wanted to make my point that I don't think the book is more than a good start for a complete beginner with no idea about mixing sampled instruments. I would have expected more detailed insight to that kind of complex topic. Especially, when the book is only about simulating room acoustics.

You should write a book about it, Dietz! ; )

[Dietz]

@fritzflotow_27429 said:

[...] simulating room acoustics.

You should write a book about it, Dietz! ; )

Oh boy, no. I came up with the idea for some weird software which takes care for this - I promise it will be my only input to this topic! 😉

[MNovy]

@fritz

It seems that you still did not get the intention of the book. That is pretty sad.

It is neither about mixing, nor to recommend any studio standards like Lexicon

or AltiVerb. Technically there is no difference!

The book's only purpose is to explain, what sound localization is and what

you can do, to create your orchestral setup and how to use YOUR plug ins

to achieve the results.

AltiVerb seems also not to convince in a certain way:

http://community.vsl.co.at/forums/p/20775/144241.aspx#144241

Further on it is more interesting to musicians how to get the best results

out of their own (algorithmic) plug ins, which does not use that much

computer ressources than AltiVerb etc.

Since you missunderstood the whole book I will not make any further

comments on it.

[fritzflotow]

Well, I did understand the title. But since it is about music this would mean mixing tracks into a room. Sorry, but I won't take it back, because you say I don't understand: I found the book rather superficial. You pay 24 Euro for not so many pages. Some pictures are 2-3 times on diffrent pages for no reason, but to have some more pages.

I would say nothing against the price, if the content was very good. But since you advertised here for free, it must be allowed to make my point as well. I think it's a good start, but not as I expected an insight on room acoustic that makes everything clear for a composer. Some good hints though.