5 comments about Introductory Guide to High-Performance Audio Systems: Stereo - Surround Sound - Home Theater.

1. I got Harleys' "Complete Guide to High End Audio" before the "Intro Guide to High Perform..." although I ordered the "Intro" first. Wasn't to arrive for a couple of months so I couldn't wait to find things out & got the earlier "Complete..." Confused? Well, anyway this newest is basically a condensed version of the 'Complete". So if you have it you really don't need this. If not this work is going to get you all the high points and teachings of the other. Either way one or the other will get you started understanding the complexities of sound. Very useful & helpful info!



2. This is a very good book on explaning equipment options and definitions of new audio terms. However, quite redundent.



3. The author does a very credible job at covering the universe of high-end audio. It's a very good companion to the first book which was geared towards experienced audiophiles. This book is designed to be more of an introductory 'course' to music lovers who may not yet be 'hooked' on the joys and frustrations that come with the hobby but it does include sufficient new or different thoughts and comments so as to appeal to more experienced audiophiles as well. Whether you start with this volume or Harley's first and more in-depth book, if you love music and have not experienced high-end audio - get one of the books, read it - get some great stereo gear (and the books guide you in how to choose)and dive into your favorite recordings. You'll discover great new sounds you may not have ever heard before.



4. The book is very informative, but can be used as guideline only.
   I will take it as " Dummy for Audio system "



5. I found that chapter 12 answered my questions on room design for optimal acoustics, and speaker placement. If you would like to gain audiophile knowledge this is definitely the book for you.

5 comments about Home Theater For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

1. For someone who's entirely new to home theater -- from A/V receivers to speakers to display monitors to hooking everything up -- "Home Theater for Dummies" offers a quick primer on the subject. It covers both sound and sight and gives honest opinions on many things.

   However, it suffers from excessive use of parenthesis and side notes and confusing run-on sentences. Also, the explanation of key topics such DVI and a display's aspect ratio still leaves the reader highly confused. The trouble seems to stem from the fact that neither author has a deep grasp of the home theater technologies and they might have just lifted all this information from various sources and put it in book form.

   Since the book is cheap on Amazon, I still recommend it to all newcomers to the wonderful world of home theater. If you need more information, get the optimizer discs the books recommends and also check the web for detailed discussions.




2. Wish I'd bought this when I first started researching home theaters. I was a novice, having purchased only a couple of 27" analog sets in the past 15 years. Rather than starting with a book like this, I researched mine the time consuming way: talking to knowledgable friends; wasting time with sales droids at electronic stores, reading home theater magazines. About two months later things reached critical mass and I could finally make an informed decision.

   My advice: buy this book, read it, and afterwards *still* do what I did. Only save the sales droids for last (by then you'll know more than they do), and look but don't buy. Then go home and buy what you want at Amazon.




3. Three months ago, my wife suggested that we upgrade our 15 year old TV to a "home entertainment center". So off we go to the local store to look at options. Spoke to a couple of salesmen who were worse than useless. In frustration, I bought this book. After a quick and pleasant read, I felt that I had a reasonable understanding of the options one has when setting up a "home entertainment center." We now have a v-e-r-y nice component system that is a breeze to use.
   It isn't difficult to specify and install a system. However, now that I've done it, I realize that most people make a number of unneccesary mistakes. If you know all about this stuff then don't buy the book. However, if you have questions like I did then buy the book and you'll find that you'll end up with a system far superior to the ones owned by most "know it alls".



4. This book is a bit dated. But since I am really a dummy in this area, it has been good to bone up my knowledge, as I gear up to buy and build up a audio home theater - I skipped most of the stuff on the video chapters as I don't plan a movie theater at home.
   
   It does need to be updated. PC and network information are old, so are some of the things around emerging standards. It could also do with some pictures and wiring diagrams - I am no dummy with electronics, but had difficulty understanding what was mean by a central panel, that could be placed in my basement or some place out of sight.



5. This was a well written basics type book. Definitely good for someone who knows nothing about home theater.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Remixing: Produce Professional Dance-Floor Hits on Your Home Computer.

1. With all books from Berklee Press the beginner and the advanced alike will learn something new. And this book is no exception. Remixing is very hot these days and everyone wants a piece of the pie. But there are only a select few who can pull off remixes that move people. With this book an aspiring DJ can get a few steps closer. Not olny does it start with the basics such as what gear you will need, it walks you through the different aspects of remixing. For the beginner, knowing what makes the genres of dance music different helps you to focus on the type of remix you want for a song. For the seasoned Remix artist it will give you the basis to expand your horizons into different types of dance music. The CD that comes with it is a great tool to actually hear the technique the author explains in step by step instructions.
   
   Remixing is an art, but you gotta start somewhere.While there is no subtitution for actual practice, you can't go wrong with this book.



2. This book cuts right to the heart of techniques that you can build off of to form your own tricks and styles. It really helps to reveal the added capabilities you can get out of your existing sequencer and FX along with inspiring some discovery.



3. 
   Great buy if you're looking specifically at remixing. The book does not dive into specific programming techniques for synthesizers at a detail enough to become a professional, but it is short enough that it became a quick reference for me on certain techniques. Very good read for the aspiring producer.



4. This is one of the better books I have read up to date. If you have a basic foundation of music production knowledge it will be extremely helpful - if you dont it will still be helpful. Great Book!!



5. THIS BOOK MIGHT BE GREAT FOR SOMEONE WHO ALREADY HAS SOME EXPERIENCE IN REMIXING, BUT NOT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER DONE IT. AS THE AUTHOR HIMSELF WRITES:
   
   "...it's crucial that you at least understand a digital audio sequencer's basic operations."
   
   HE GOES ON SAYING THAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO RECORD A TRACK, SEQUENCE A MIDI PART, QUANTIZE A PERFORMANCE, AUTOMATE AN EFFECT, ETC., ETC.
   
   WITHOUT THIS BACKGROUND YOU WASTED YOUR MONEY. THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR THE ABSOLUTE NOVICE AND I WISH THEY WOULD LET YOU KNOW THIS BEFORE YOU PURCHASE THE BOOK, BUT THEY DON'T. TO ME THE BOOK SHOULD BE TITLED "THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO REMIXING FOR THE INTERMEDIATE TO THE ADVANCE LEVEL REMIXER", OR AT LEAST AKNOWLEDGE THIS SOMEWHERE IN THE COVER. I STILL GIVE IT 4 STARS BECAUSE LIKE A SAID THIS BOOK IS GREAT FOR SOMEONE WHO ALREADY HAS SOME EXPERIENCE.

5 comments about Theater Shoes.

1. I think Theater Shoes is a great book fo kids intrested in acting,dancing or singing.This book had three strong charcters intrested in diffrent areas of theater so it was easy to find a charcter I could relate to.I would suggest this book for girls ages 9 to 14.



2. This book is about three children named Sorrel, Mark and Holly. When their grandfather dies and they are sent to live with their maternal grandmother, and former famous actress. They are sent to the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training so that they can carry the family's stage tradition. Holly is very good at dancing, Mark at singing and Sorrel at acting. The grandmother is very distant and cold, yet the children find love in their nanny and other family members. Meanwhile, they must put up with their talented, bratty cousin.
   The story is wonderfully told and once again, the characters are completely lovable. Kids and adults will love this story, especially Shoes fans.



3. I started the Shoe books a few years ago. The first one was absolutley stupendous and cute. This one is amazing too.
   
   Although each book is its own story, they are all linked with an amazing writing quality and performance.
   
   This one is the story of Holly, Sorrel and Mark, whose grandfather, who supports them, just died -- so they go and live with their grandmother who puts them in an Academy for Stage Training and Dancing. It starts out rough but they learn to like, and even love it.
   
   The overall story is really sweet a precious, which still warms my heart to this day.



4. Theater Shoes is a wonderful story with an attention grabbing plot, a lovely setting, and a well thought out conflict and resolution. This is, now, one of my favorite books and I really enjoyed it.
   Throughout this story, there is a great plot. In this book, Sorrel, Mark, and Holly's parents die. They are forced to live with their grandmother, a bitter, but famous, english actress. She puts the children through a Childrens Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. Almost everyone in their family, before the children, had been a famous in the arts. Their grandmother was determined to keep the family tradition. At first all three children hated the academy. They thought that all of the teachers were too harsh and too serious. Then, after getting used to it, the academy "grew" on to them. Each of the three children discover something about themself at the academy. Sorrel, the eldest, discovers that she is a real actress. She can be very dramatic and play roles quite well. Mark finds out that he is a really fabulous singer. Little Holly can do a lot. She charms almost everyone at the academy with her adorable ways of doing things.
   There is a lovely setting in this book. It takes place in England! I have always wanted to go to England, and by the way Noel Streatfeild, the author, describes it in the book, it seems so beautiful. It is in such detail and it is so easy to put an image in your mind.
   The conflict / resolution in the story, almost stated in the second paragraph, is the children are forced to go to an academy, by their bitter grandmother, that they have no interest in. But in the end, it all pans out. Each child learns something different about themselves and are now striving to learn more. They end up loving the academy and treating it like their home. It means more to them now, than just pleasing their grandmother. Do you think that all of the hard work the children put into learning will result to something? Read this wonderful book and you will find out quickly.
   In conclusion, this book was really great! I think that one reason why I liked it so much was because I can really relate to it. I love to do musical theater, and I think that reading about something that I really enjoy helped me understand the text better than it was already described. You don't have to love musical theatre to enjoy this book, but I think that it really helped. This book was enchanting and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did!



5. I liked ballet shoes so since this was the sequil I wanted to read it and was disapointed. It's not as funny and there's not as many crazy adventures as the first. It also has lots of flaws that the first didn't have. But read the third shoe book called dancing shoes way better than even the first one!

5 comments about Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems (2008 Edition).

1. Even if you think you know it all this book adds detailed information that's hard to find elsewhere. Written in an easy to read style by someone who knows his subject matter I think this book is a winner. This books presents the facts of Home Theater without any bias often seen in similar publications. Definitively worth reading if you want to get behind what goes into a good Home Theater.



2. Mr. Fleishman has written and clear and concise primer on Home Theater. Clearly, from his years as a staff writer for Audio Video Interiors and other pubs, he has an in-depth knowledge of the ins and out of HT. Certainly, everyone who is interested in HT should buy this book and read it from cover to cover. The best of all is that this volumne is updated on a on-going basis so that its always current with the latest trends and developements from HDMI to DTS 96/24.
   Great job!



3. This book contains a wealth of valuable and useful information and "demystifies" the subject of home theater with clear, concise explanations. It is an excellent resource, exceptionally well-written and extremely comprehensive, and as the book's title indicates, it offers a great deal of practical, real-world advice. The author clearly knows the subject matter thoroughly. I recommend this book highly to both novices and experienced home theater enthusiasts.



4. I recently bought a LCD HDTV by mail and set about to install it myself. I made the purchase after careful research, and with some head scratching was able to correctly connect the TV to my new high definition satellite receiver, and was delighted (and relieved) to see a stunningly lovely picture. However, I realized that I had managed just the "easy" part, next I faced the daunting challenge of adding enough black boxes to make a proper home theater. My knowledge of home theater was zip, nada! I did not even own a stereo music system. So, I searched home theater on Amazon and bought this book for no other reason than it said it was the "2007 Edition" and I wanted current information. I knew that an easy solution was to buy a theater-in-a-box, but which brand, and could I get a better value if I could put together a component system specifically designed for what I wanted, or thought I wanted?
   
   The book arrived in the mail and I settled down to read. My total lack of knowledge was to test the author's ability to explain a complex technical subject to the complete novice. I cannot say I found the book to be a delight to read, but it did just what I wanted it to do, provide a through grounding in all aspects of home theater, preparing me well to make an informed decision about what to buy to add a good sound system to my new HDTV. This book is not an easy read, but then it should not be if it is to adequately cover the subject matter in detail. I must say that not once did I find myself hopelessly lost as the author attempted to guide me through a maze of technical detail. I found that this one book brought me up to speed, from zero to 60, on home theater. I now go back and use it as a reference. My only mistake was not reading the book before buying the HD TV, as the video sections are excellent and would have saved me much research time.
   
   Building your own home theater system requires a considerable outlay of money. Do not start the project without first reading this book. If nothing else, it will arm you to know hype from fact when you face the salesperson.



5. I was not blown away by this book but it does give you a good foundation. Of course with any industry that is changing as fast as home theater the book is a little out of date but still valuable.

5 comments about The Voice Actor's Guide to Home Recording.

1. This book provides a good overview of the process and the equipment needed. it covers some of the technical aspects well in broad strokes with enough information to point in the directions for further study if required but is sufficient in the depth of information to be up and running quickly.
   
   The subject is huge. There are the technical aspects of the technology, which is changing monthly,and any publication will be out of date by the time it is printed, however, the underlying processes are unchanged.
   
   I recommend it as a good reference for anyone interested in Podcasting or Voice Overs.



2. I put a recording studio in my home in 2006 in order to build my voice over business. I must admit, I'm not sure why I didn't buy this book sooner!! This book is a MUST for anyone who is even REMOTELY considering building their own studio.
   
   In the process of building my home studio, I came to one conclusion: there's a reason there are audio engineers... because they understand all of this equipment, and I didn't have a clue what all the knobs and sliders meant. What little I did comprehend when building my studio has now been further explained to me in this book... NOW I KNOW!!!
   
   The text is written so that it's easy to understand. And, it's apparent, without even knowing them, that Harlan and Jeffrey included their personalities in the book. You can just tell by reading, these are guys with a great sense of humor... which is so refreshing when you're reading about things you may not necessarily understand at the onset.



3. Just when I thought I knew it all about voice-overs, my agent and producers started asking me to audition at home. Honestly, I was overwhelmed by the thought of it all. And thought that maybe this was the technological chasm, the great divide, that would separate the wheat from the chaff....and not related to voice-over abilibity.
   
   And then I found Harlan Hogan's and Jeffrey P. Fisher's book on Home Recording. To say it has saved my derriere is putting it mildly. Harlan and Jeffrey take you through step-by-step on what affordable equipment to buy, how to set up your home studio and how to properly record and edit yourself. They even toss in chapters on ISDN and phone patch, as well as self-promoting your home studio.
   
   A "home run" if you ask me...and you did!



4. Book was shipped on a timely manner, in the condition they said it would be in.



5. Man, I should have checked the dates on all the positive reviews of this book. Had I done so, I would have saved myself the purchase price.
   
   3 years ago, when it was published, I'm sure this was a fabulous reference, however, it is now SO out of date as to render more than half the book almost useless. To the author's credit (and the book's ultimate downfall) he includes a high level of detail on things like computer hardware and software, microphones, and other studio technology, but in any techno-based treatise, one year is a long time and three years is an eternity. The very detail that would have been fabulous three years ago is totally irrelevant today.
   
   I found myself skipping more than half the text of the book primarily because it was so out of date. Recommendations like a computer with a Pentium 4 processor with up to a 40GB hard drive and a minimum of 256MB of RAM were appropriate at the time of publishing (early 2005) but not now. Step by step instructions on how to use programs that have long since been upgraded (or even changed ownership) are of very little benefit in the year 2008. What I have in my hands is a 180 page book with maybe 80 pages of pertinent information.
   
   Another example is in the area of ISDN connections. Again, the authors couldn't include programs like Source Connect or Audio TX, both VOIP type programs and neither of which require an ISDN line and associated hardware/software/expenses to function in this book because they had yet to be released, but I go back to my original statement that if a book is going to be technology-based then it is incumbent on the authors to keep it up to date. Harlan Hogan himself has written a very good discussion on Source Connect and Audio TX that can be found at the CommercialVoices.com web site where he discusses the place non-ISDN communication solutions currently occupy and where they will be in 5 years, and it's critical everyone understand this BEFORE making the substantial investment in ISDN.
   
   I don't fault the authors because they wrote an exhaustive and definitive guide covering the subject at the time, but when one publishes a book like this, you need to make a concerted effort to keep the content up to date. I would think an eBook, with a living chapters would be more appropriate than a paper and ink volume like this. Harlan Hogan's web site is very helpful, and in fact, I learned MUCH more from his web site on the topic than I learned from his book.
   
   My bad, like I said, for not checking the dates of the reviews and the date of publishing.
   
   There is still some information in the book that is of general value regarding how to set up a home studio and get started in the business, but I feel there are other books out there that may be more complete and more importantly, more up to date on this score. On the positive side, the authors write in an enjoyable and humorous style which makes reading the book a positive experience.
   
   This isn't a terrible book, but it could be a GREAT book if it were current.

2 comments about Julius Caesar (No Fear Shakespeare) (No Fear Shakespeare).

1. I ordered this book for a class for my son. I was not able to get the book because it was not available.



2. I teach high school students and must say that this book has been a valuable resource throughout our unit on Julius Caesar. My students are finally grasping what is being read and have really enjoyed the reading thus far. If only there had been a reference tool around like this when I was in school!!! The title is absolutely right, there is No Fear in reading Shakespeare any longer.

5 comments about The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook.

1. Real good.His teaching skills shine thru on every page.Very thorough coverage of everything from simple paper mache to building a vaccuum form machine and creating artificial biulding parts,breakaway glass,recycling old props and reusing polymerss time and time again.Excellent.



2. This book seems to have it all. There seems to be an endless supply of information and how to apply it (Which it strongly implies in the first few pages). There is even a section at the end that shows you how to make a vacuum-forming machine in good detail and for the least amount of cost and bulk. If you are even remotely interested in making props or want to duplicate items in your own pad, buy this book.



3. The most detailed, informative, and educational book for any prop builders in the industry. A "gotta have" book in your library...just EXCELLENT.



4. This book gives great detail about most aspects of molding with good illustrations and step by step instruction that can be followed be a novice, covers various material used in the processes and describes the pro and cons of each.
   I think it would be usable in many projects beside prop building.



5. I have no experience in casting, and don't want to make any more costly mistakes than necessary. This was a very informative book that has given me much more confidence and knowledge to start.
   It is the best book I have found so far for my needs, which is actually for casting miniature (1:20.3 scale) details for an outdoor train layout. However, the methods explained are very widespread, and would suit most needs, I would think.

4 comments about A Midsummer Night's Dream (No Fear Shakespeare) (The Play Plus A Translation Anyone Can Understand).

1. This book is great. It does a great job of breaking down the text of "Midsummer" and telling what it really means. On one page is the actual text of the play; On the direct opposite page is the translation. The only translation I've found so far that is way out there is the translation of "Tary rash wanton...." The translation is "Wait a minute, you brazen hussy...." Now, HOW is that an understandable translation?? This is the only thing that puts a damper on a perfect score. While I was in a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," our director frequently had us refer to the book to figure out what in the world we were saying. I highly reccommend buying this book.



2. This book is very useful if you are reading this play for a class. Sometime a word or line is switched but other than that it's been very helpful.



3. My teen joined a drama class two months ago, and the class is performing "A Midsummer Night's Dream". This is the book needed for this particular class, and it did help clear up some possible questions in the script. However, I did find that some things were over-translated; for example, in one scene, there is a mention made about false beards being the color of French crowns(either royalty, heads, or both), and a joke is made that some French crowns have no hair, but it is left at that. But the Plain English translation goes into a little *too* much detail, and mentions that it is because of syphilis. While this might be implied by the original statement, it does not actually mention this nowhere in the original play, and could confuse students; not to mention that the translation's statement could be a bit inappropriate. I still suggest that you learn the vocabulary, and study Shakespeare's language, but this is a good aid if you get stuck, and can help an actor or actress truly understand their characters.



4. I discovered the No Fear Shakespeare series at Barnes and Noble two years ago. I have gradually purchased copies of different plays. I bought A Midsummer Night's Dream from Amazon in order to reach my $25 purchase to qualify for free shippng and handling.
   
   I am well able to read Shakespeare's original English thanks to great literature teachers in high school, but it is lovely having modern English side by side. I think that high schools should be able to carry the No Fear Shakespeare series for English and Literature classes as this would help students who have not been exposed to classical literature.

5 comments about Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. This book is good for a quick walkthrough reference. It's simple to use and does its job well. If you need help with Ruby or Sapphire, I'd recommend picking this up!



2. My daughter love the whole Pokemon genre, and especially enjoys the GameBoy Pokemon games. She has poured through this book many times already and just loved it. I highly recommend it.



3. Man, this is an awesome guide. I just got it in November and I already am at the Victory Road, about to enter the Pokemon League! Some reviews says it tells lies, and skips around the world of Hoenn; it doesn't! Some people even say that it skips Trainer imformation; but that's because Trainer's Pokemon are random. And for the "skipping around" part, just use the Quick Walkthrough to be guided and then head to the events of Hoenn in "Maps of Hoenn"! Some reviewers say that the guide calls Rock types Earth types, but that's usual. The guide even contains a Pokedex section, a List of Moves and a list of items! Here are the good and bad details about the guide (although it isn't that bad.)
   
   - The Good,
   - Nice walkthrough that connects to the Quick Walkthrough.
   - Thorough Pokedex, containing every Pokemon.
   - Nice charts for moves, and items.
   - Strategies for all Sub Quests and Pokemon Contests.
   - Good strategies for gym leaders, rivals and proteges, a.k.a. Wally.
   - Nice maps showing every building.
   - Locations of all Pokemon
   - The Bad,
   - Doesn't include Secret Bases.
   - On the battle with Archie in the Seafloor Cavern, he doesn't have a Golbat, he has a Crobat.
   
   - And the Ugly(I'm just kidding!)
   
   Anyway, buy this guide; it's well worth it!



4. The only real problem with the guide is the Pokedex in the back does not give enough information.



5. 
   I bought this book for my son and he really enjoyed reading it becuase he was really into the game he had. It's a good manual if your kids play the game.