Technical Books

Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

Neil Postman

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Television -> History & Criticism
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Social Sciences -> Communication -> Media And Society

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 126 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Judge a book by its cover 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Just today I logged on to one of the biggest news channels' website (CNN) and on the front page under "Popular News" was the following headline: "Is that Miley Cyrus flashing her bra on the Web?" I had just finished my second reading of this book and it seemed like a stark reminder of what Neil Postman was talking about over 20 years ago, how television has drastically changed our culture and redefined everything in our society from news to politics, education and even religion. I don't know of any book written during my lifetime that is more socially relevant and whose message is more important to be read and understood by the general public.

In Chapter 6, "The Age of Show Business", Postman writes, "To say television is entertaining is merely banal. Such a fact is hardly threatening to a culture, not even worth writing a book about. It may even be a reason for rejoicing. Life, as we like to say, is not a highway strewn with flowers. The sight of a few blossoms here and there may make our journey more endurable." He goes on to point out that the problem is not that there are entertaining shows on television, but that in order to accommodate itself to the demands of television, *everything* must be presented as entertainment. In order to generate ratings, advertisers and ultimately revenue, no subject is too serious to be presented in any way other than the one that attracts the most viewers. When the local news reports about a murder, it has no relevant meaning to our lives and it's not told so much to inform us of the tragedy of a murder but because it is the most exciting and what people want to see. News producers have a motto for this, "If it bleeds it leads."

Probably the most alarming example Postman cites is how television has changed politics and political discourse. This is where the transformation from a word-based media to an image-based media is felt the most strongly. Politicians have realized that the content of what they say is now largely irrelevant compared to how they appear, how they present themselves. Postman uses the example that when Ted Kennedy made a run for the presidency, Richard Nixon offered him the following advice: "Lose twenty pounds." Nixon had been in politics most of his adult life and knew the name of the game well, that one's ideas, beliefs, actions and words are now almost completely irrelevant in a world where nearly everyone has started getting their information from television only. Before Mike Huckabee entered this political race, he lost over a hundred pounds. If you look at photographs of presidents throughout our history, you notice that most of them certainly never got anywhere in life because of their looks and some of them are downright ugly men. Political races are now completely decided in the arena of television and their coverage of it has become absurd and embarassing. This is the change that Postman has tried to point out, that a literate culture that depends on the printed word for information and communication creates a vastly different culture from one that depends on images, ten second soundbites and information that has no context or relevance to anyone's life, like what Miley Cyrus or Paris Hilton is up to.

It has been over twenty years since Neil Postman wrote this but his ideas are even more relevant today. This book should be read and understood by everyone but it mostly falls on deaf ears. I think it was Mark Twain who said that the man who doesn't read has no advantage over the man who can't read. Television is now an integral part of life not only in America but in Europe, China and pretty much any other developed nation. This would not be a problem but, as Postman points out, one of the nasty side effects of television is that it has degraded literacy rates, so that every year we hear that people are reading less and less. People and specifically children spend an alarming amount of their free time watching television and to get them to read you practically have to force it upon them. Once in a while a book like Harry Potter will become a hit but for many children and even adults that was the only book they purchased or even attempted to read in an entire year. We hear that children in this country are performing worse every year in school but the finger is never pointed at the obvious culprit because we hear about this on TV.

Editorial Review:

Originally published in 1985, Neil Postman’s groundbreaking polemic about the corrosive effects of television on our politics and public discourse has been hailed as a twenty-first-century book published in the twentieth century. Now, with television joined by more sophisticated electronic media—from the Internet to cell phones to DVDs—it has taken on even greater significance. Amusing Ourselves to Death is a prophetic look at what happens when politics, journalism, education, and even religion become subject to the demands of entertainment. It is also a blueprint for regaining controlof our media, so that they can serve our highest goals.

The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide: A Down & Dirty DV Production

Anthony Q. Artis

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Movies -> Direction & Production
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Movies -> Video -> Technical

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Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

So you want to make a documentary, but think you don't have a lot of time, money, or experience? It's time to get down and dirty! Down and dirty is a filmmaking mindset. It's the mentality that forces you to be creative with your resources. It's about doing more with less. Get started NOW with this book and DVD set, a one-stop shop written by a guerrilla filmmaker, for guerrilla filmmakers. You will learn how to make your project better, faster, and cheaper. The pages are crammed with 500 full-color pictures, tips from the pros, resources, checklists and charts, making it easy to find what you need fast.

The DVD includes:
* Video and audio tutorials, useful forms, and interviews with leading documentary filmmakers like Albert Maysles (Grey Gardens), Sam Pollard (4 Little Girls), and others
* 50+ Crazy Phat Bonus pages with jump start charts, online resources, releases, storyboards, checklists, equipment guides, and shooting procedures

Here's just a small sampling of what's inside the book:
* Putting together a crew
* Choosing a camera
* New HDV and 24P cameras
* Shooting in rough neighborhoods
* Interview skills and techniques
* 10 ways to lower your budget
* Common production forms

* Pull off your vision in creative and cost-effective ways
* Bonus DVD with video and audio tutorials, interviews, bonus pages with forms and checklists, and more
* 500+ full color illustrations: this book shows you, not tells you

Dance Music Manual, Second Edition: Tools. toys and techniques

Rick Snoman

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Musical Genres -> Dance
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Music -> Recording & Sound

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

So you want to learn the ins and outs of creating dance music and looking to improve your production? Then this book is just for you. No matter what genre you are interested in- trance, techno, garage, chill out, house or what tool you are working with- Abelton, Reason, Reaktor or Absynth, Snowman covers every aspect of dance music production- from sound design, compression and effects to mixing and mastering to help you improve your music. No matter what you level of experience the Dance Music Manual is packed with sound advice, techniques and practical tips to help you achieve professional results.

The CD provides demo tracks showing what can be achieved when applying the advice contained in the book, including examples of the quality difference before and after mixing and mastering. The CD also contains free software demos for you to download.

For even more advice and resources, check out the book?s official website www.dancemusicproduction.com

* Covers every aspect of music production, enables you to achieve professional results using any music software
* CD includes MIDI files, samples and example tracks, shows you what you can achieve when applying the techniques discussed in the book
* Rick Snowman has remixed for high-profile artists including Madonna, Moby and Massive Attack, learn from one of the best in the field

Blu-ray Disc Demystified

Jim Taylor, Michael Zink, Charles Crawford, Christen Armbrust

Amazon Price: $37.77 List Price: $59.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Professional Amazon Marketplace: 17 new & used starting at $35.85

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Digital Music -> General
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Digital Music -> General AAS
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Movies -> Video -> Reference

Editorial Review:

The Latest Tips and Techniques for Getting the Maximum from Blu-ray Technology

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Blu-ray Disc Demystified provides the most current information and applications available for this popular high-definition optical disc format. Written by a team of experts with a wide range of experience in DVD and high-definition production, this thorough, skill-building guide details Blu-ray's many features, formats, and applications.

. .

Blu-ray Disc Demystified provides exhaustive coverage of the multitude of production and authoring processes, while explaining how the standard and high-definition DVD specifications dovetail and/or clash with related digital media standards. The authors also provide detailed descriptions of Blu-ray's strengths, as well as frank assessments of its weaknesses and common traps that often ensnare new users. Blu-ray Disc Demystified is the most comprehensive and practical guide available for navigating the numerous challenges, changes, and opportunities associated with Blu-ray technology.

. . .

Blu-ray Disc Demystified provides:

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• Detailed overview of Blu-ray technology .
• In-depth coverage of formats, features, and applications.
• The latest news on content protection .
• Tips on using Blu-ray in the home, office, and school.
• The facts behind the myths surrounding Blu-ray.
• Essential information regarding production.
• Interaction paradigms.
• Honest assessments of Blu-ray's pitfalls

. . .

The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction

Steve Hullfish

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Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Photography -> Color
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Photography -> Digital Photography
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Photography -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Provides direct access to the skills, insights and techniques of some of the postproduction industry's most prominent digital video colorists, delivering practical skills to the postproduction pro seeking to improve their color grading craft. The author interviews and observes 8 professional colorists as they grade a series of real world video images, describing the methods and techniques each artist uses to reach their finalized image. These video images are included on a DVD that allows you to work lockstep with each artist as they grade their images.

Though some tools provided may differ from one product to the next, the basic process of video color correction (grading) remains the same. Application agnostic and sure to inspire, The Art of Digital Video Color Correction will further your artistic skills, whether you're an editor, compositor, or colorist, and allow you to apply those skills to the grading process, making your finished image sharper, crisper and more aesthetically pleasing in general.

* Digital video color correction tips and techniques from the pros grading the films, shows and commercials we all see everyday, thus advancing the artistic coloring skills of the reader
* Is non-software specific, with lessons that are applicable to any postproduction workflow
* DVD includes samples of the same video images that the colorists featured in the book were working on, providing direct access to the techniques and process of professional grading

Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems (2009 Edition)

Mark Fleischmann

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Subjects -> Entertainment -> Movies -> Video -> Technical
Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Engineering -> Electrical & Electronics -> Electricity Principles
Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Engineering -> Electrical & Electronics -> Electronics -> Stereo & Audio Equipment

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

How can an average person navigate the maze of audio/video technologies in a home theater system? Turn to Mark Fleischmann's Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems, now in its eighth edition, thoroughly revised and updated for 2009. The ultimate answer book, it tells you everything you need to know when shopping for HDTV and surround gear-including how to read a spec sheet, how to separate fact from hype, and how to get good value for your money. It weighs the pros and cons of HDTV display technologies such as plasma, LCD, DLP, and tube-based sets. It explains the differences between Dolby and DTS surround, including the new Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master standards. It dispels the confusion surrounding such topics as HDMI and 1080p. And it covers all formats under the sun including the new Blu-ray disc and anything that plays in an iPod. The book also explores often ignored topics such as buying a DTV antenna, power-line accessories, and cables. A richly detailed connections chapter tells how to hook up every component and how to solve common problems. By knowledgably guiding readers through the briar patch of video and audio, Practical Home Theater has become the standard reference work for home theater buffs. Future annual editions will continue to track changes in home theater technology.

HDTV For Dummies (For Dummies )

Danny Briere, Pat Hurley

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Business & Culture -> Culture
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Software -> Introductory Guides
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Movies -> Video -> Technical

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

If you love movies, TV, and video games, then you’ve probably thought seriously about investing in a high-definition television set, otherwise known as HDTV. But before you run to your nearest electronic goods store, you should know what you’re investing your hard-earned money in, which TV set is good for you, and other things that will optimize your viewing pleasure.

HDTV for Dummies shows you everything you need to know about buying the right equipment, setting it up, and enjoying all the things you love about TV. It’ll save you tons of confusion over this exciting new technology and tell you everything you need to know about terms, concepts, and the difference between HD and digital. This handy guide gives you the tools you need to:

• Get connected with video and audio cables
• Hook up your DVD player, VCR, PC, camcorder, and other fun stuff
• Mount your HDTV
• Receive HDTV programming
• Understand the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray disc players
• Record with DVRs and VCRs
• Install game consoles like PS3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii
• Enhance your HDTV with audio upgrades

The guide also shows you how to shop smart and lists the best places to buy your HDTV and popular accessories to pump up your system. With up-to-date knowledge on the latest technology in the market today, HDTV for Dummies gives you a clear picture of what HDTV can do for your viewing experience!

Video Demystified: A Handbook for the Digital Engineer, 5th Edition

Keith Jack

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

What doesn't have a video component nowadays? IPod, cell phone, computer, they all have video. And, of course, television which is a major source of our entertainment and information. Any engineer involved in designing, manufacturing, or testing video electronics needs this book!

Each edition of Video Demystified has sold thousands of copies and answered many questions for electrical engineers across the globe. This fifth edition will keep the engineer up-to-date with next-generation digital video formats - Blu-ray and HD-DVD, development of new audio and video codecs - Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD, etc. - along with the all the latest information on HDTV, HDMI and IPTV(TV over the Internet). All broadcast, cable, and satellite standards will be updated to reflect these new codecs and specifications. The book will also aid in the design of devices and infrastructures from analog to digital television transmission - with analog transmission ceasing in early 2009 or before.

*The next generation of digital video - Blu-ray and HD-DVD thoroughly introduced
*All broadcast and satellite standards completely updated
*Essential information for the upcoming transition of television signals from analog to digital

Master Handbook of Acoustics

F. Alton Everest

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Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Engineering -> Electrical & Electronics -> Electronics -> Audio Technology & Engineering

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Title may be misleading 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

There are two common definitions of the word "acoustics." The most general is "an area of physics dealing with sound and sound waves" and the second is "the qualities of a room that determine audibility and fidelity of sound in it." This book is a very good reference for the latter, but if you're looking for the former, look elsewhere. Also, I'm not sure I would describe it as a Handbook, but rather as a reference text.

It is good for what it does cover and is relatively easy to read.

A book for the advnaced 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

A great book, but can be too advanced for some. A lot of physics is included - which is great - but perhaps some previous knowledge or some side reading is a good idea.

Over all, excellent book, and a goldmine to buy.

Editorial Review:

The goal of this book is to apply the principles of acoustics to the audio arts. This involves serving as an interpreter of major trends and the literature for students and practitioners in the audio field. Along with covering the more theoretical aspects of acoustics, the book applies the theory to the design of specialized audio spaces such as the home listening room, the control room, and the multi-track-recording studio.

Apple Pro Training Series: DVD Studio Pro 4 (2nd Edition) (Apple Pro Training Series)

Martin Sitter, Adrian Ramseier, Jem Schofield

Amazon Price: $37.87 List Price: $54.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Peachpit Press Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $33.26

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Apple -> Web Publishing
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Digital Music -> Audio & Video Editing
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Digital Music -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Not Worth the money, but still pretty good 3 out of 5 stars.
52 of 54 people found this review helpful.

I've been in a fight w/ Apple and Peachpit over this 'new' version of DVDSP4.
I'm an Apple cert. instructor for this and other ProApps. When I started reading the new book I found the same mistakes from version 3 had been copied over to version 4.

Granted, the new compressor app is great but nowhere does it explain the new features of DVDSP4 like support for external video, VTS editing and the whole HD support. I was told by Apple and Peachpit that this version of the book was intended to be an 'revision' of the old book; however, the general advertising of this book says 'Fully Update' instead of 'Fully Revised'... a bit misleading to the people who thought this version would help instruct students on how to best use the new features. We'll have to wait.

Editorial Review:

Now the best-selling book on DVD Studio Pro is even better. Updated for DVD Studio Pro 4.2, this Apple-certified book uses striking, real-world footage (including the HD documentary One-Six-Right) to build four complete DVDs. This revised edition covers integration with Final Cut Pro 6, Motion 3, and Compressor 3, as well as the new SD-to-HD workflow. Each chapter presents a lesson in an aspect of DVD creation and finishing, with hands-on projects for you to complete as you go. After learning how to storyboard your DVD and plan its interactions, you’ll set chapter markers, create stories, build still and motion menus, and add overlays and subtitles. You’ll also learn to work with multiple audio tracks and camera angles, create smart buttons and custom transitions, professionally encode audio and video files, and create useful scripts.