GET SMART

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Len Sasso

           
 

Common Ground Publishing's The Music of CSIRAC

The Music of CSIRAC ($25) from Common Ground Publishing (thehumanities.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.61/prod.10) explores Australian computer-music research in the early 1950s, well before the better-known pioneering work of Max Mathews and his colleagues at Bell Labs in the United States. The book is as much mystery as history because the music, made on the CSIR Mk1 (aka CSIRAC) computer, was never recorded and only anecdotally documented. Author Paul Doornbusch manages to unearth the story, recover many of the original music programs, and painstakingly reproduce the sounds. An accompanying CD includes a slide show, a video interview with CSIRAC designer Treaver Percey, and 16 reconstructed audio examples.

MacAudioLab's Ultimate DP6 Learning Series

Ultimate DP6 Learning Series (Mac, $79.95) from MacAudioLab (macaudiolab.com) is a new instructional DVD covering all aspects of MOTU Digital Performer 6. This follow-up to its series of DP5 training videos offers 15 hours of new video, real-world projects to follow along with, spotlighted features, and an exploration of the MOTU sampler MachFive 2.0. Topics include optimization and integration, tracking and arranging, mixing and mastering, film scoring, and plug-ins. The videos offer 1,280 by 960 resolution and require Apple QuickTime 7.

Focal Press's From Demo to Delivery

From Demo to Delivery: The Process of Production ($31.95) is the first in the new Mastering Music series of books from Focal Press (focalpress.com). This title includes contributions from industry professionals Bob Katz, Robert E. Runstein, Roey Izhaki, and Jenny Bartlett, among others. Aimed at up-and-coming musicians, the book's essays cover every stage of music production: development of the composition, recording, mixing and mastering, marketing, and distribution. Each chapter includes links to further information. Editor Russ Hepworth-Sawyer has 12 years of experience as a sound engineer and producer and is currently senior lecturer of music production at Leeds College of Music.