Small Signal Audio Design by Douglas Self

by Douglas Self

Small Signal Audio Design is a highly practical handbook providing an extensive repertoire of circuits that can be assembled to make almost any type of audio system. The publication of Electronics for Vinyl has freed up space for new material, (though this book still contains a lot on moving-magnet and moving-coil electronics) and this fully revised third edition offers wholly new chapters on tape machines, guitar electronics, and variable-gain amplifiers, plus much more. A major theme is the use of inexpensive and readily available parts to obtain state-of-the-art performance for noise, distortion, crosstalk, frequency response accuracy and other parameters. Virtually every page reveals nuggets of specialized knowledge not found anywhere else. For example, you can improve the offness of a fader simply by adding a resistor in the right place- if you know the right place.Essential points of theory that bear on practical audio performance are lucidly and thoroughly explained, with the mathematics kept to an absolute minimum. Self’s background in design for manufacture ensures he keeps a wary eye on the cost of things.This book features the engaging prose style familiar to readers of his other books. You will learn why mercury-filled cables are not a good idea, the pitfalls of plating gold on copper, and what quotes from Star Trek have to do with PCB design.Learn how This expanded and updated third edition contains extensive new material on optimising RIAA equalisation, electronics for ribbon microphones, summation of noise sources, defining system frequency response, loudness controls, and much more. Including all the crucial theory, but with minimal mathematics, Small Signal Audio Design is the must-have companion for anyone studying, researching, or working in audio engineering and audio electronics.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Engineering, Technical

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely valuable and builds impressively on the excellent 1st edition.

The perspective is that of the working professional audio equipment designer and Self's emphasis is on lowest cost for highest performance. Useful features are examined along with best practices for implementation. You could literally design a mixing console with the information in this book, and design it well. there are principles I have internalized from reading (and re-reading) this book which have informed my own work and become part of my skill set.

Douglas Self also has the rare ability to take technical writing and make it funny - that is quite a gift.

I am largely self- (Self- ?) taught in audio electronics and a book of this quality is worth its weight in Telefunken ECC83's.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and well organized with a focus on studio electronics, music reproduction and sound reinforceement. Has little about music creation (synthesizer circuitry for example). Strong on low-noise design techniques.

This is a book to read right through, and to refer back to frequently.