Keywords
Citation
(1999), "The Master Handbook of Acoustics - 3e", Sensor Review, Vol. 19 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.1999.08719cae.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited
The Master Handbook of Acoustics - 3e
The Master Handbook of Acoustics - 3e
F. Alton EverestMcGraw-Hill1994ISBN 0-8306-4437-7£22.99
Keywords Acoustics
This text is an excellent resource for anyone requiring a review of acoustics. It is easy to understand and a readable education on acoustical concepts and terminology. The aim of this book is to apply the principles of acoustics to the audio arts.
The first five chapters introduce the fundamentals of sound, sound levels and the decibel, the ear and the perception of sound, sound waves in the free field and speech, music and noise. Chapter 6 discusses analogue and digital sound processing, while the following seven chapters address the characteristics of sound. These include reverberation, the control of interfering noise, absorption of sound, reflection and diffraction of sound and the refraction and diffusion of sound.
Chapter 14 explains Schroeder diffusors, with modal resonances and reflections being covered in chapters 15 and 16. Chapter 17 discusses comb-filter effects.
The following eight chapters cover topics concerned with the recording of sound. They include: quiet air for the studio, acoustics of the listening room, acoustics of the small recording studio, acoustics of the control room, acoustics for multi-track recording and audio/video tech room and voice-over recording.
Chapter 24, "Adjustable acoustics", discusses the ways in which an acoustic environment can be modified to change its characteristics. The final chapter discusses methods and the technology for taking acoustical measurements.
This is an excellent book which comprehensively covers the field of acoustics. The background theory covered in the text can be used to introduce similar concepts in related fields, such as ultrasonics and radar theory.