Understanding Records, Second Edition - 2nd Edition by Jay Hodgson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The revised edition of Understanding Records explains the musical language of recording practice in a way any interested reader and student can easily understand. Drawing on readily available hit records produced since 1945, each section of this book explains a handful of core production and engineering techniques in chronological record-making sequence, elucidates how those techniques work, what they sound like, how they function musically, where listeners can hear them at work in the broader Top 40 soundscape, and where they fit within the broader record-making process at large. As the only book to introduce music production and its practical elements with no assumed prior knowledge, the revised edition includes:
- Exclusive print and video interviews with emerging and established recordists, including: Alex Chuck Krotz (Drake, Three Days Grace, Mother Mother); Kevin O' Leary (Shawn Mendes, The Glorious Sons, Monster Truck); Alastair Sims (Rush, The Tragically Hip, Barenaked Ladies); Matt Shelvock (kingmobb, san holo, bitbird, DROLOE); and Russ Hepworth-Sawyer (Billy Ray Cyrus, Steve Earle, Amadou & Miriam)
- Numerous "real word" audio examples, organized into easily accessible streaming playlists, culled from Juno-nominated sessions the author himself worked on, and numerous other professional sources.
- Easy to understand explanations of each facet of the record production process, which avoid technical jargon and clarify terminology.
- Information on new developments in recording practice and updated musical references.
Completely reworked and expanded sections on mixing and audio mastering.

Review Quotes

"This diminutive 200-page text (first edition, 2010) offers more audio recording tips and techniques than publications four times its size. Hodgson (Western Univ., Canada), an experienced audio recordist and talented musician, provides in-depth, easy-to-understand explanations of the complexities of audio recording and mixing ... Everyone interested in studio or audio production, whether at high school or college level, needs this excellent book. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers." --CHOICE

"Understanding Records, Second Edition takes a very unique look at recording practice, and how to communicate what we hear when we listen to music. It breaks down and explores this extremely important part of music making like no other resource has done before, making this an invaluable field guide that everyone should read to take their skills in understanding music, and recording, to the next level!" --Alex Krotz, Audio Engineer, Mixer, Editor, Producer, and Songwriter based in Toronto/Vancouver, Canada

"Understanding Records provides a comprehensive toolbox for the listener who wishes to gain a deeper understanding of the processes that inform the construction of musical recordings and the factors that lie behind the effect they make. Now in a revised second edition, Hodgson's accessible and highly readable exposition of recording practice remains a valuable resource for professional recordists and educators alike, as well as a great primer in music production for the generally interested reader." --Mark Marrington, Senior Lecturer in Music Production, York St John University, UK

"There are certain texts in the field of music production analysis and pedagogy that lift the lid, so to speak, on the expected wisdom of a standardised train of thought. Hodgson's updated book is exactly this. Whilst it does provide the reader some technical background in the field we work in, it draws upon, analyses, and portrays a vast array of different contemporary academic and professional thoughts and considerations. The author's views express the musical artefact, the record, in a unique way and engaging way as a backdrop for the work. In this edition, the production process is totally updated with some excellent discussions around issues of our day such as loudness normalisation delivery and distribution. To those wishing to learn about the philosophy, not just the technology of record production, and to engage in meaningful discussion around the topic of the recorded medium, then this book isn't just a field guide, it's a mandatory thought provoker!" --Russ Hepworth-Sawyer, Mastering Engineer, MOTTOsound, UK

About the Author

Jay Hodgson is Associate Professor of Popular Music Studies at Western University, Canada. He is author or editor of numerous books, including Audio Mastering: The Artists (with Russ Hepworth-Sawyer, 2018) and Mixing Music (with Russ Hepworth-Sawyer, 2016). He was awarded a Governor General's Academic Gold Medal in 2006, primarily in recognition of his research on recording practice. He has mastered two records nominated for Juno awards, and contributed music to films recognized by the likes of Rolling Stone and which screened at the United Nations General Assembly.