5 comments about Fields and Waves in Communication Electronics.

1. This book may have some perplexing early chapters on basic electricity and magnetism, but no more so than any other intermediate-level physics or engineering text on E&M. That's the nature of the beast - it's a highly mathematical subject. If you want a "cookbook" for the practicing radar/antenna/comm. technician who never wanted/had to learn the theory, look elsewhere. Where this text really shines is not in the "Fields and Waves", but in the "in Communication Electronics." I have not seen a clearer presentation of transmission lines, period, and I own a number of other popular (and widely-taught and cited) E&M books at this level, as well as a rather muddy book on the specific subject of transmission lines. You will not find another similar book with this thorough coverage of real-life applications, simultaneously general enough that it's useful in a broad range of specialty fields. The figures are in general both very clear and very useful.



2. I refer to and review this book often. It has been updated and has the essential topics such as transmission lines, which is well covered. It also has interesting things like holography and optical image processing in the back, and is rather self contained. Like all great textbooks, you have to read it carefully and work out problems to build understanding. Ramo was the R in TRW as my former emag professor would say...For people who criticize this book, have you read the competition (Cheng)? For a slightly easier approach try Magid's "Electromagnetic Fields, Energy, and Waves". I think Jordan's "Emag Waves and Radiating Systems" is excellent w/regards to HF antennas and maxwell's equations, but it is very old.



3. I'm no genius in RF Engineering but I have come across a lot of good Microwave Engineering books and this is NOT one of them. More to the point, I work entirely with other RF engineers and every person I showed this book to shuddered and began spouting off profanities at it.
   
   Although the book does start out simply enough, the chapters tend to give only a brief overview of the material. The real trouble starts when you try to work the problems at the end of each chapter. With no solid examples or clear explanations of how to proceed, I found myself referring to my other RF textbooks for support.
   
   I have no doubt that if you are borderline Genius, this book will make perfect sense to you. ...But for us less than genius personality types, keep looking, your book is still out there.



4. Being a doctoral student in electrical engineering and having a B.S. in physics, I would say this is definitly a graduate level text. The reader must have a strong background in math, being able use formulas such as Legendre polynomials and vector cal with full understanding. It helps to have been exposed to this material. If you are looking for a book with more broken down explainations and examples, I would suggest Intro to Electrodynamics by David Griffiths.



5. I bought this book 13 years ago to read something about smith transmission-line chart. I think authors described very clear, especially, some figures that use to illustrate example very clear compared to other books with the same topic which is difficult to see something.

No comments about Control Systems for Live Entertainment, Third Edition.

5 comments about How to Set Up the Best Sounding Banjo.

1. This book will not only help you get the absolute best sound from your banjo, it provides enough technical information on the physical attributes to enable you to understand WHY. Roger can get as detailed as anyone wants, yet is able to make everyone understand the inner and outer workings of this fine instrument! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to make their banjo produce all the rich, clear sound it is capable of.



2. I play 4-string banjo and this is mainly about the 5-string, however, the majority of information is still relevant. Mr Siminoff has set the standard on how to produce a worthwhile book on how to look after, and more importantly, how to set up a banjo. Thanks, a treasure, and is referred to often. Regards, Jack, New Zealand.



3. Great book! Logically laid out, easy to read and understand and, most importantly, easy to refer to later and find the detail you're after. I applied some of the set-ups described and now have a much better sounding banjo - and I understand why.



4. Accurate information, well presented and easy to understand. Discourages beginners from reaching too far, while encouraging readers to do things that are within their abilities. Helpful.



5. This is a book every banjo player should own. The author is very qualified as a musician and luthier. His instructions are easy to follow and the photos, drawings and illustrations are very helpfull. My only gripe is that more visual aids would be nice. Probably a DVD would be the iceing on the cake. I feel that I got my money worth from this book.

5 comments about High-Power Audio Amplifier Construction Manual.

1. An excellent book if you are interested in building amplifiers, or if you are just interested in learning exactly how they work. My only complaint is that it doesn't have any info on building a power supply for a car amplifier. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.



2. This review is based on the first edition. I do not know whether there are any later editions.
   
   The introduction material is rather derivative of authors like Douglas Self.
   
   However some of the circuits are seriously flawed and simply will not work because the author simply does not understand some basic concepts. For example, the quiescent biasing is undefined and arbitrary in some instances. (This was pointed out to the author several years ago.) For example in figures 10.2, 10.3, 11.10, 11.12, 11.13, 11.14, 12.1 all have the same error; the current through the VAS stage may be anything, so the stage may be biased off, in which case the amplifier will oscillate, or biased on in which case the stage will suffer thermal run-away.
   
   In addition some of the quoted distortion figures are clearly wrong and seem to be based on a spice or similar program output rather than real measurements, which will give quite different values owing to real voltage drops across PCB tracks and non-linear magnetic field feedback etc.



3. I bought this book a few years ago and have built 3 of the designs with great success. the L-mosfets are available online at "the company store". As a matter of fact, they sell all of the transistors used in sloan designs. I bought 8 sets. I am listening to one of my amps I built using Sloans design as I type this. I shelved a top of the line Pioneer Elite receiver in favor of one of my DIY amps. It cannot compare.



4. This book, which rested on my bookshelf for 10 years because it consistently repelled me, turned out, after mustering courage to dig into it, to be a reasonable intro of the field to the budding armature but I can only rate the book as informative in the same way that a good quality audio magazine might be with a good selection of sample circuits and art work. With the qualification that the book is intended for the novice it is a good book although it does contain a number of useful nuggets of enlighenment even for the expert. However, my chronic aprehension to read the book was vindicated when the author engaged in belabouring hand-wavy explanations. I can only suppose the author honestly believes basic algebra is beyond most armatures. A book on audio really needs the underpinning of basic circuit theory maths, attempting to write a "manual" without it, like this one, can only disappoint a good majority of technically competent armatures.
   I must gripe about the authors use of RMS power when refering to rated power (a time average)as there is NO such thing as RMS power - only average, peak or instantaneous power - the term RMS only applies to volts and amps or other 'linear' quantities. Power is strictly a mean square metric. Usage of RMS power IS unfortunately incorrectly engrained in the jargon but I feel this is no excuse to propagate its usage.
   
   The Electronics Workbench hair-thin line screen dump drawings greatly `encheapen' the book. It seems as if the editors were involved in an ink saving scheme!
   
   Notwithstanding the book is redeemed by including a good selection of designs ( I have no comments on their functionality) but thus relegates itself into the cookbook category. It would have been enlightening had the author included a chapter dealing with first generation SS power amp techniques such the famous Lin OPS and application designs by RCA featured in their 1970s hobby and power applications handbooks. This would have paved the way nicely for a better appreciation of the reasons behind modern power amp topologies which draw heavily on the humble OPAMP paradigm.



5. Great book. Goes into fine detail on all aspects of audio power amplifier design and construction.

No comments about Audio Engineering: Know It All, Volume 1 (Newnes Know It All) (Newnes Know It All).

4 comments about Theoretical Acoustics.

1. This book was lying on the bookshelf long enough, because the title " Theoretical Acoustics" did not encourage me to take it up with any commitment. I work in the field of acoustics and I had to work on the basics of Moving Sources and that was the time I picked it up to read. The material was so clearly presented, with clear reasoning, that it motivated me to read the preceeding chapters as well.The book is very clearly written and presented. It assumes no acoustic or vibration background for the reader. The subject is built up step-by-step without comprimising on either physics or mathematics. The treatment of the subject starts with basic vibration theory, without which any further development in Acoustics is impossible and then introduces the Wave Equation. It proceeds with Radiation and Scattering of sound. This is highly relevant from the view of scattering of submarines, hulls etc., among other applications. More advanced treatment on how sound waves behave in ducts and rooms is presented. The section on structural acoustic coupling is very well presented. The entire book assumes that one has a sufficent background on fundamentals of differential equations and maths in general. If one has a flair for maths, then this is the book for acoustics. Treatment is complete with sufficient physical insight provided into the equations. This book is a must for acousticians and researchers in acoustics. An excellent work by one of the most regarded reserchers in the area of applied and theortical mathematics.



2. I am constantly amazed by this remarkable book. It remains a topical reference for theoretical methods in acoustics, despite the advent of computational methods that allow modern acousticians to solve models on their desktop. I recently had the job of reviewing a patent for an acoustic transducer -- and sure enough I found this "modern" idea in good-ol' Morse and Ingard. In my opinion it is a must.



3. Overall the depth of this text is exceptional. Morse and Ingard's greatest strength is their skill at explaining the physics behind the mathematics in appropriate terms: with simple expositions when possible, but with unapologetic complexity when that is what is required to properly and precisely motivate a discussion. Exercises provided at the end of each chapter are usually challenging without being so difficult they end up discouraging the student.
   
   Unfortunately the authors' precision is not matched by this edition's typesetters. A single errata page is included on one of the front leaves, but as the reader goes through the text he or she will quickly realize that it is littered with typesetting errors. An accurate and comprehensive list of errata would cover much more than a single page. In some cases the printers have scribbled in corrections by hand. Equation and section number references are also sometimes incorrect. Previous hardcover editions don't seem to have these issues. If you can find one, you're better off paying a few extra dollars to get it. In no way is this edition suitable as an assigned textbook for a university acoustics course, although it's invaluable a secondary reference.



4. I bought this book for two reasons: 1) I was beginning some experiments with ultrasonics, and I wanted a "handbook" of sorts. 2) In addition to these experiments, I was wondering if I could attempt some Finite Element modelling, and I needed a book that could help me translate stress-strain data to acoustics.
   
   For #1, I was somewhat disappointed, but it's my fault. This book is a dense, theoretical exploration of the topic of acoustics. It's first principles, through and through. It is not a quick reference handbook, not really a book you can flip through and say "oh... yes. I'll have to remember that." I was hoping for some detailed examples, but instead I've gotten more than I ever asked for. In some ways, I suppose this can be a good thing, but in others, it isn't.
   
   For #2, I found everything I need to know in the first 6 pages. Really. Start with F = d/dt(mv) and go from there (I suppose F = ma just doesn't look complicated enough). After that, the book is already into Bessel functions in 1000 words or less.
   
   I was really hoping for a page somewhere that said: Maxwell's Equations for Acoustics (complete with analogies between E&M and acoustics). I didn't find it. Maxwell's Equations are mentioned on page 799-800, on a mathematical assault of "magnetoacoustic waves".
   
   This book is a lot like John David Jackson's "Classical Electrodynamics". It is *the* book, the comprehensive book, the one that all of the graduate students regard with an uncomfortable mixture of deep respect and dread. This dense, heavy book is good for slapping somebody around, both literally and figuratively. Reading through the book makes me wonder how in the heck I ever got a Ph.D. when there were people out there writng books like this. I can't give it 5 stars because I don't see how anyone can get anything out of the book without devoting half of their life to it, but I give it at least 4 stars because it's more than a person will ever need to know about acoustics. It's a masterpiece, but not practical for the scientist looking for a good reference text.

5 comments about CD and DVD Recording for Dummies, Second Edition.

1. I am not a beginner, yet the new CD and DVD Recording issues have become part of my world. I am thrilled with the opportunities it presents to Dummies like me. So when selecting something easy, I thought the Dummy books were right up my alley. I was right. This book talks in a down to earth style that doesn't intimidate me. It makes me think I'm not such a dummy after all. Now when I purchase DVD Plus and Minus R and RW I have a better idea what to buy.



2. This information is very helpful and especially understandable. My only problem with is was that there is too much information and sometimes that causes confusion



3. You have to be a real dummy to get this book. If you have the Internet you can get this book for free (File-Sharing,) or just google it and check out some sites. I'm still cussing to this day for getting this junk. This book doesn't tell you anything that the burning software of your choice won't tell you. If you think I'm lying then fine, get the book but, be ready to start cussing. Hell I'm cussing as I type...



4. For someone who is a real novice I suspect that there is a lack of basic information to get that person started. For someone who is a step above a novice the book (latest edition) is already badly out of date and still doesn't cover popular software written years before the publication data (e.g., Pinnacle Clean). It does not cover any of the problems one encounters with music recording. It simply tells you how to transfer files from your computer to a CD or DVD and because that is simply a matter of clicking on buttons for software included on most computers it doesn't help.



5. This book goes into great detail but only if you use Roxio. I don't and the book doesn't really go into detail about how to use the information with any other software. Pretty much useless in my case. I gave it two stars because I did learn a little by looking through it. Not enough, however, to make it worth the purchase.

1 comments about Systems Biology: Properties of Reconstructed Networks.

1. While this may not be an all encompassing review of what systems biology is, it provides an insightful view on network reconstruction. I've found this book very helpful and well written (being a first edition, it does have a few typos, but this is normal). It has a very logical flow, but it is written on the level of a professional or graduate student interested in entering the field of systems biology.

3 comments about Mullard Tube Circuits for Audio Amplifiers.

1. This is a book which is not only useful for its historical value but also for the constructional articles inside. Many of the circuits are very similar to those found in classic valve amp brands like Leak, Quad, Radford, etc. As it is a reprint of an old book some of the components may not be easily available, especially output transformers, switches and capacitors. Theoretical information is kept to a minimum and is very useful. This is a book for constructors who really want to build their own amp. The is an excellent stereo preamp design and 20, 10 and 3 Watt mono amp designs. Designs for 7 and 3 Watt stereo preamps are also included. There are chapters on sources of distortion, hi fidelity amplification, construction and assembly.



2. If you wish to build vintage audio equipment, this book fills the bill nicely. The state of the art in 1958 was surprisingly good, the builder will bear in mind that the book is written for English reader/builders whose smaller homes and penchant for more efficient speakers even then placed emphasis on smaller amplifiers than Americans tended to prefer. On the other hand, it's precisely the little EL84-tubed amplifiers today's vintage-tweako element seems to prefer, and if you are unhappy with your project you can always recycle it into a guitar amplifier!

   The projects in this book can be built very cheaply today, the only big expense being the output transformers, and even these are not terribly costly. I believe the intermediate hobbyist will do much better to build from this book with modern components rather than throwing good money into forty-year-old mediocre products such as those now bringing large sums on eBay-with the exception of Mac and Marantz and some specialty or industrial/professional products, most fifties and sixties hi-fi units were actually not very good.




3. This is an interesting read, of historical value and a pretty good guide to some basic valve amplification circuits. The power amps described are all push/pull so if you're looking for a class-A single-ended design, this isn't your source. Still, it's worth keeping in your library. At sixty dollars it's a bit pricey but at the cover price of $16.95 would be quite reasonable if it were still available. Oh wait. It is still available from Parts Express and it's even discounted so now you don't have to agonize over the expense. I'm still kicking myself over that one.

5 comments about Professional Microphone Techniques (Mix Pro Audio Series).

1. The book is extremely popular, too popular. Deeper insight like SMPTE reviews would have given me a better knowledge. However the enclosed CD with samples is worth the money alone. I would have appreciated that they had used the microphones they really wanted to demonstrate.



2. a good mix of old and new school mic placement techniques. not a lot of information for me personally, but a handy reference just to see how somebody else might approach a situation.



3. Hey, nothing replaces the value of time spent in a professional facility with an experienced engineer, but this book is useful when you've never had the opportunity to mic something like a bagpipe and you need some guidelines to get satisfying results quicker.
   
   Additionally, there are other nuggets like the section on how to kill RF in mic signals... Sure, some of this info is available online but having it all put together in a logically presented title is valuable.
   
   I really don't think the negative reviews are fair. No offence, but if you guys are so adept then what the heck would you need a book for?
   
   
   Peace



4. I am just geting started in home studio recording and I found the information in this book to be VERY valuable. It is so much more than "just put a mic 6"-8" in front of it and hit record". There are very useful starting points in placing mic's and in mic selection but ultimatly it is up to you to experiment and find what sounds good to you and your project.



5. First, I would like to ask studioslave a question regarding his review of this book: In which part of it did you find information that isn't relevant to the professional recording industry? I've been recording professionally for more than 20 years and found the information to be very accurate and have seen most of the suggested mic techniques in use by professionals almost daily. If you didn't learn anything new from it and needed something more comprehensive or technical that's fine... but just say that... don't mislead others by suggesting that it isn't a book that's suited for "professionals" when that simply isn't true. This is an excellent book written by an excellent author and it's worth every penny. Now beat it kid... ya bother me.