Back to Basics Audio

By: Julian Nathan

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Paperback | 1 September 1998

At a Glance

Paperback
344 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
24.13 x 15.88 x 1.91

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Back to Basics Audio is a thorough, yet approachable handbook on audio electronics theory and equipment. The first part of the book discusses electrical and audio principles. Those principles form a basis for understanding the operation of equipment and systems, covered in the second section. Finally, the author addresses planning and installation of a home audio system.

Julian Nathan joined the audio service and manufacturing industry in 1954 and moved into motion picture engineering and production in 1960.
He installed and operated recording theaters in Sydney, Australia,
and set up similar facilities in Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong. Later he spent several years in cinema installation and service including audio visual theaters and government sound systems, then worked in the hi-fi- and professional sound equipment markets. His particular interest is home theater. He makes his home in New South Wales, Australia.
Notes on home theater systems, speaker placement and calibration
System planning, diagram analysis, and signal processing
Easy introduction to practical audio, acoustics, and electrical theory

Industry Reviews

'A practical and very accessible handbook on basic audio theory and practice, written not only for technicians but also for sales people and amateur enthusiasts who 'want to go into things seriously.'...It's all written and presented in a friendly way, with a bare minimum of maths and a lot of good down-to-earth practical advice. My impression is that it would be an excellent introduction to basic audio theory and practice, for anyone wanting to get into this area.' - Electronics Australia

"Back To Basics Audio is a thorough, yet approachable handbook on audio electronics theory and equipment."
- Front of House, March 2005

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Engineering & Technology Electronics & Communications Engineering Electronics Engineering Economics, Finance, Business and Management Other Technologies & Applied Sciences Kids & Children's Books Children's Non-Fiction Drama & Performing for Children & Teenagers Communications Engineering & Telecommunications Energy Technology & Engineering Electrical Engineering

Electrician Skills Arts & Entertainment Music Music Recording & Reproduction

Introduction	p. xiii
Electrical Principles	p. 1
Audio's Three Parts	p. 1
Electronics and Electricity	p. 1
An Electrical Circuit	p. 2
Electrical Principles	p. 3
Ohm's Law	p. 4
Using Ohm's Law	p. 4
Voltage Drop	p. 5
Introduction to Measurements	p. 6
Inductance, Capacitance, and Impedance	p. 7
Resonance	p. 8
Line Impedance	p. 9
Magnetism and Speaker Drivers	p. 10
Speakers and Electric Motors	p. 11
The Inverse Square Law and Speaker Design	p. 12
Bi-Polarity	p. 13
Direct and Alternating Current	p. 13
Graphical Representation of Waveforms	p. 14
Meters and Electrical Measurements	p. 17
Multimeters	p. 17
Voltage Measurement	p. 18
Current Measurement	p. 19
A Word of Warning about Meter Current Ranges	p. 21
Resistance Measurement	p. 21
Using Analog and Digital Multimeters	p. 22
Accuracy of a Meter	p. 22
Meter Sensitivity	p. 25
Additional Features Available in Multimeters	p. 26
Oscilloscopes	p. 26
Oscilloscope Experiments	p. 28
Amplifiers and Transmission Lines	p. 29
Power Amplifier Lines and Loads	p. 29
The Input Circuit	p. 30
The Output Circuit	p. 31
Avoidable Failures	p. 32
Speaker Impedance Matching	p. 33
Constant Voltage Lines	p. 34
RMS Voltage and Current	p. 36
Power	p. 38
Amplifier Output Power Measurement	p. 39
DC Offset Voltage	p. 41
Catastrophic Failures	p. 43
Dummy Loads	p. 44
Cascading Power Amplifiers	p. 45
Line Amplifiers	p. 46
Voltage Amplifiers	p. 47
Audio Lines	p. 48
Coaxial Transmission Lines	p. 49
Hearing-Aid Induction Loops	p. 50
DC Coupled Amplifiers	p. 51
Sound Waves and Decibels	p. 53
The Audio and Electromagnetic Spectra	p. 53
The 630 Hz Tool	p. 54
Frequency and Wavelength	p. 57
Propagation	p. 57
Audio Measurements	p. 58
Noise and Distortion Thresholds	p. 60
Decibels and Power	p. 63
Decibels Further Explained	p. 65
Case Histories	p. 68
Shutting the door after the horse has bolted	p. 68
Hazards of arbitrarily adding an insert point	p. 69
Transfer Characteristic and Networks	p. 75
Transfer Characteristic and Distortion	p. 75
Electro-Mechanical and Acoustic Transfer	p. 80
Preparing for Unavoidable Transfer Errors	p. 81
Networks	p. 81
Attenuators	p. 83
Variable Attenuators	p. 84
Loss Pads	p. 85
Filters and Equalizers	p. 86
Resistances in Series and Parallel	p. 92
When to Use a Fixed Equalizer	p. 92
Cautions Regarding Equalizer Use	p. 93
Recovery Amplifiers	p. 94
Active Crossovers and Speaker Processors	p. 95
Speakers	p. 99
Speaker Power Ratings	p. 99
Estimating the Power to a Speaker	p. 101
IEC Speaker Power Rating	p. 101
Directional Properties and Stereo Image	p. 102
Stereo Surround	p. 103
Poor Man's Surround	p. 104
Using Speaker Directional Properties	p. 105
Frequency Response of Speakers	p. 108
Response Limits of Speakers	p. 109
Standing Waves	p. 111
Efficient Bass Speaker Placement	p. 111
Speaker Baffles	p. 112
Bass Box Design	p. 113
Intermodulation Distortion	p. 115
Phase Response of Speakers	p. 116
Speaker and Driver Phasing	p. 116
Speaker Efficiency	p. 118
Theater Speaker Evolution	p. 119
Importance of Theater Speaker Dispersion Angle	p. 121
Recent Developments	p. 122
Cinema High-Frequency Roll-Off	p. 123
Auditorium Response Limitations	p. 125
Monitor Speakers	p. 126
Limited Monitors	p. 127
Auditorium and Monitor Calibration	p. 127
Speaker Response Measurements	p. 132
Auditorium and Monitor Levels	p. 134
Why Do Commercials Sound Louder?	p. 135
Headphones	p. 136
Tape Recorders and Monitor Selectors	p. 137
Magnetic Recorders	p. 138
Recorder Features and Types	p. 141
Simplifying Complicated Concepts	p. 142
General Purpose Monitor Selectors	p. 144
Introduction to Studio Monitor Selectors	p. 148
Monitor Selectors for Studio Mixers	p. 149
Drop-Edits and Insert Recorders	p. 151
Zero Level and Line Level	p. 152
Recorder Line-Up Tone	p. 153
Tape Recorder Alignment	p. 153
Mixers	p. 157
Introduction to Mixers	p. 157
The Difference between Speech and Dialog	p. 160
Dialog Processing	p. 161
Dialog Equalizer/Compressor Combination	p. 163
Where Not to Use Dialog Processing	p. 166
Background Suppression	p. 167
Bandpass Filters	p. 168
Dip Filters	p. 172
Points to Consider when Mixing	p. 172
The Effects Channels	p. 173
Digital Sound Processing and Equipment	p. 175
Unlocking the Noise Gate	p. 176
Acoustics	p. 179
Rooms and Acoustics	p. 179
Reverberation and the Absorption Spectrum	p. 179
Sound Isolation and Acoustics	p. 180
Equalizing the Absorption Frequency Response	p. 181
Acoustic Control by Diffusers and Resonators	p. 181
Sound Isolation Construction	p. 186
Overcoming Building Noises	p. 190
Planning and Supervising a Building Project	p. 193
Silencing a Generator	p. 194
Audio Cabling	p. 197
Balanced and Unbalanced Lines	p. 197
Short Run Audio Wiring	p. 200
Long Balanced and Unbalanced Lines	p. 200
Reducing Noise Interference at Source	p. 204
Safety	p. 205
Connections to Various Types of Equipment	p. 206
Cable Segregation and Rack Termination	p. 208
There-and-Back Cable Termination	p. 208
Pre-Measured Cable Runs and Junction Boxes	p. 210
Prefabricated Cable Looms	p. 210
Keeping RF Out of Systems and Cables	p. 211
Transformers and Power Supplies	p. 215
Transformers	p. 215
Auto-Transformers	p. 220
Making Auto-Transformers to Order	p. 221
Transformer Frequency Response	p. 221
The Electricity Supply Mains	p. 222
Rectifiers and Power Supplies	p. 223
Regulators	p. 226
Voltage and Current Regulation	p. 227
Zener Diodes	p. 228
Regulator Noise	p. 228
Switch-Mode Power Supplies	p. 229
Three Dollar Tester	p. 229
Power Supply Faults	p. 230
Batteries and Chargers	p. 231
Lead-Acid Batteries	p. 232
Precautions with Acid Batteries	p. 233
Nickel-Cadmium Batteries	p. 234
Choice of Battery	p. 235
Control Systems	p. 237
Basic Control Groups	p. 237
Relays	p. 238
Relay Timer Circuits	p. 241
Motor Reversing	p. 242
Solid State Control Devises	p. 243
Relays Versus Electronic Control	p. 245
Solder and Assembly Methods	p. 247
Soldering	p. 247
Tools	p. 247
Soldering Techniques	p. 248
Using Additional Flux	p. 252
Troubleshooting, Inspection, and Re-Soldering	p. 253
When Not to Re-Solder	p. 254
Choosing and Fitting Connectors	p. 254
Solderless and Crimp Connectors	p. 257
Wire Wrap	p. 258
Installation Planning	p. 259
Diagrams	p. 259
How Far to Go with Drawing Detail	p. 264
Drawing a System Block Diagram	p. 264
Patchbay Layout and Wiring	p. 268
Racks and Panels	p. 270
Examples of Standard and Special Racks	p. 276
Communicating Ideas	p. 276
Front Opening Racks	p. 282
Panel Design	p. 282
Control Grouping	p. 284
Laying Out a Panel	p. 287
Lettering, Styling, and Engraving	p. 287
Scales for Potentiometers and Switches	p. 288
Before Starting Work on a Panel	p. 289
Materials and Panel Thickness	p. 290
Panels for Membrane Switches	p. 291
Brackets and Shelf Units for Mobile Equipment	p. 292
Drilling Precision Holes in Metal and Plastic	p. 294
Home Theater Sound	p. 297
Real Theater Sound at Home	p. 299
Surround Speaker Position	p. 300
Equalizing the Center Channel	p. 301
Case History	p. 302
Bass and treble OK, but sound is bad	p. 302
Adding a Sub-Bass	p. 304
Bass Distortion and Power Loss	p. 306
Maintaining Program Dynamic Range	p. 307
Working with Formulae - Practical Examples of Common Calculations	p. 309
Calculating Voltage Drop Resistance	p. 309
Calculating Amplifier Output Power	p. 310
Calculating LED Resistor Values	p. 310
Calculating AC Transformer Secondary Voltage for a Given DC Rectifier Output	p. 311
Diagram Symbols	p. 313
A Mechanical Design Exercise	p. 321
Making a High Gain Video Projection Screen	p. 321
Consequential Design Steps	p. 324
Estimating Power to Speakers	p. 327
How Much Power is Going to the Speakers?	p. 328
Field Assessment of Power to a Speaker	p. 328
Glossary
Index	p. 331
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

Back to Basics Audio

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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