1 comments about The New Complete Keyboard Player: Omnibus Edition (Complete Keyboard Player).

1. The title is extremely misleading. This introduction to playing piano and reading music is very basic and focuses on playing the melody line with the right hand. If you just bought a Casio and want to play the horn part on pop songs, this is for you.

1 comments about Synthesizer Technique - The New And Revised Edition (Keyboard Synthesizer Library).

1. A comprehensive examination of sound synthesis from which you can still get a lot of tips and tricks from experts in the synthesizer industry on topics ranging from Recreating Timbres, Pitch Bending Modulation,Expression, Soloing and Orchestration. Some Prior knowledge of basic sound synthesis would be good, but everyone can assimilate some valuable information from this book. This book is basically reprintings of articles from Keyboard Magagzine.The articles are consise and in a cohesive format. Some passages seemed to go over my head because of their highly technical language, but for some its proably second nature. Despite the fact these articles ranging from the years 1978-84 the information contained can provide lots of ways to spur your technical and musical creativity. Overall I rate this book as good.It could even serve as a useful reference.

No comments about Troubleshooting and Repairing Electronic Music Synthesizers.

1 comments about Phase-Locked Loop Synthesizer Simulation (McGraw-Hill Electronic Engineering).

1. Bianchi offers both advice and code to perform simulations of phase locked loops. He develops enough theory for you to understand the key ideas. Though this is not a book on circuit theory per se; he suggests you consult other texts for that.
   
   The accompanying CD has Mathcad and Simetrix engines. The Mathcad is the equivalent of Maple or Mathematica. It is unclear to me why he has chosen Mathcad over these. But for many readers, it is the Simetrix which will be more pertinent. It simulates analog and digital circuits. The analog portion is descended from the venerable Spice, which should be well known to any electrical engineer. You might consider the book as an indepth tutorial on Simetrix.

No comments about Programming Synthesizers (The Keyboard magazine library of electronic musicians).

4 comments about Keyfax The Omnibus Edition (Mix Pro Audio Series).

1. A very good referance book for those interested in vintage synths. Has good overview's and statisics on many of the classics. Not as indepth as Vintage Synthesizers by Mark Vail and features some questionable "Top 100" synthesizer choices (Roland MT-32 but not Jupiter-6??). However, most Top 100 entries feature photos of instruments (although many are overly cropped), but if you're into vintage synths then it's a must read. I enjoyed it. Plus if you keep it in the bathroom, each synth overview will cover a sitting, allowing it to be enjoyed for a full 100 sittings! - And that doesn't count the synth manufacturer profiles and extensive buyer's guide index.



2. Keyfax Omnibus is a must have item for electronic musicians looking for those increasingly hard to find bargains in the world of used synthesizers.

   Each review has pertinant information like how many units of a particular instrument were sold, what the asking price was when the item was originally sold and what it was when this edition was compiled (1996 prices). Of course there have been fluctuations, but the guide prices are all pretty valid.

   This has reviews and many pictures for just about anything that you'll find, so it may save some money in the long run, and help to identify bargains. Julian has a hot 100 which most people will agree with. Strongly recommended.




3. There is no other way to get all this information on vintage synths in one lifetime. Yeah, I kept mine in the bathroom at first, but now its next to the computer so I can check the minimal synth descriptions at the Ebay and Amazon auctions. Most recently, it convinced me to buy the Oberheim Matrix 1000, new in the box, a great synth. If you want data (and some knowledgeable opinions) rather than photos and memoirs, this is the book. (It does have some photos, small but informative.)



4. An excellent reference-work, this sets out to give details on every synth ever made from 1968 until 1996, with a big directory at the back of the book, and lengthy reviews of 100 of the most interesting at the front. Rather than being simply a collection of reviews from the other, hard-to-find Keyfax book, the whole book has been written from scratch. Julian Colbeck has a knack for writing that is informative and friendly without appearing smug, and the constant references to hopelessly untrendy bands that he has worked with add to the charm. His selection of 100 great synths covers the obvious bases and includes plenty of bizarre, interesting things that you have probably never heard of - the Gleeman Pentaphonic and the Octave-Plateau Voyetra Eight are new to me. Omissions are a matter of taste, but it seems odd to have both the Jupiter 8 and MKS-80 in separate entries, and it would have been nice to see the JX-10 as well. There is single black-and-white photograph for each synth (oddly, the one for the Kurzweil 250 seems to focus on the back of the machine), and a few interesting images in the directory. Given that the synth market has thrown up some interesting things in the last four years, here's hoping that there's an updated reprint in the wings, hopefully with a CD of old synth sounds attached to the front.

No comments about Alfred's basic chord approach to electronic keyboards: A beginning method for all instruments with automatic rhythms & chords.

4 comments about Arranging Techniques For Synthesists.

1. This book is an excellent introduction to the theory and application of arranging techniques, geared to the synthesist. It contains chapters on melody, percussion, harmony, strings, and vocals. It comes with a CD that plays the examples in the book - really helpful, IMHO.



2. Had this book for several years and keep opening it up for the breath of intelligent simplicity that breaks me out of bad habits I might be developing. Contains excellent gems about not overwriting, about keeping clarity of line, about writing realistically. Also has a thousand handy charts and diagrams on such things as part-writing, vocal ranges, counterpoint, basic instrument techniques, basic brass voicings...
   Should not be the only book you own...but might be the only one you pack on a vacation where you mean to get a little composing in.



3. The book starts with Music theory basics: Rhythm, Styles, Melody, Harmony, Advanced Harmony Substitution and voice arrangement, etc. Then It takes a structured look at the different sections of the band (Rhythm, Brass, Woodwinds, Strings) Explaining how each works, instrument ranges, how to write parts for each, etc. I have had this book for several years, and although I consider myself an accomplished musician/arranger, I refer to it often, especially when it comes to unfamiliar instruments/ensembles. This book is a must for beginning/aspiring arrangers.



4. I bought a whole stack of books on arranging, every one I could find. This is the only one I found remotely helpful. If what you want are chapters on orchestral instrument ranges, then there are truckloads of books on that. Anyone can write one of those books, because all you'd have to do is copy the info from one of the tiresome pile of books already out there. It's also one of those things you can figure out yourself, without even going to music school. But to actually deal with the problem of making a good sounding song, there is a BIG difference between "discussing" a subject, and giving you USEFULL info. The more books I read, the more I realize anyone can write a book on any subject and actually get away with it. And there will always be someone who thinks it's brilliant. Most books are like the 'Windows' help files - tell you everything you can figure out yourself, and would have had to figure out to get as far as finding and opening them, then leave you standing there, wondering WHY IS THERE NEVER AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL? There only seems to be "incredibly stupid beginner" level, and "Doctorate degree advanced level". Anyway this book actually throws in a little intermediate level stuff. There is more I'd like to know, but for the price, it's well worth it.

No comments about The Complete DX7.

1 comments about Digital Pll Frequency Synthesizers: Theory and Design.

1. CMOS phase locked loop design is a hot topic in RF(Radio Frequency) design. This book has very important information for Rf designers in Electrical Engineering.The tone of the book is very user-friendly.I wish if this book were on the market again.