Dance Music Manual from Focal Press, is aimed at the novice and seasoned professional alike, takes the reader through the software and hardware needed to create original, captivating, and professional sounding music. The new and improved fourth edition covers processes and techniques used by music producers, masters, mixers, and DJs. Each page is full of facts presented in a manner that is easy to absorb and implement. Along with the book is a companion website, which provides examples of synthesis programming, compression, effects, MIDI files, and examples of the tracks discussed in this edition.
Key Features
- How to create compelling, professional-sounding original or remixed dance tracks
- Differences between different genres and how to produce them
- How to expose your tracks to their chosen audience and equip you with the skills to develop your career as a dance music producer and engineer
Table of Contents
- Dedication
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Chapter 1
- The Studio Centre Piece
- Chapter 2
- The Audio Interface
- Chapter 3
- Monitors and headphones
- Chapter 4
- Hearing Protection
- Chapter 5
- Frequency and Amplitude
- Chapter 6
- Synthesizers
- Chapter 7
- FM and wavetables
- Chapter 8
- Modular Synthesis
- Chapter 9
- The Theory of Sound Design.
- Chapter 10
- Samplers
- Chapter 11
- Compression
- Chapter 12
- Processors
- Chapter 13
- Effects
- Chapter 14
- Mixing Desk structure
- Chapter 15
- Hybrid Studios
- Chapter 16
- Fundamentals of Rhythm
- Chapter 17
- Kicks and Percussion
- Chapter 18
- Drum Loops
- Chapter 19
- Fundamentals of Music Theory
- Chapter 20
- Harmony
- Chapter 21
- Composing and Designing Strings
- Chapter 22
- Composing and Designing Leads
- Chapter 23
- Composing and Designing Bass
- Chapter 24
- Sound Effects.
- Chapter 25
- Vocals
- Chapter 26
- Formal Structure in Dance Music
- Chapter 27
- House
- Chapter 28
- Techno
- Chapter 29
- Uplifting Trance
- Chapter 30
- Dubstep
- Chapter 31
- Chill out
- Chapter 32
- Drum & Bass
- Chapter 33
- Dub
- Chapter 34
- Mixing Theory
- Chapter 35
- Mixing Practice
- Chapter 36
- Mastering
- Chapter 37
- Publishing and Promotion
- Chapter 38
- A DJ’s Perspective
- Appendix
- Index
About the Author
Rick Snoman has over 30 years' experience in the production of electric dance music. He has released under various names including AeonSoul, Phiadra, NeuroKode and Ascii, and has remixed professionally for numerous international artists. He has written articles and columns for leading music technology magazines, and is the founder of Dance Music Production, an industry leading educational website. He is the author of the first three editions of Dance Music Manual, which are required reading at a number of universities, and actively encourages the education/development of music producers. He currently runs his own recording studio and works as a ghost producer for artists and DJs.