Dance Music Manual: Toys, Tools and Techniques

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review




Great all around book for everyone!!!!, September 20, 2008
By Jason R. Floyd
This book is a great source of information wether you are starting out to someone that has been making dance music for a while in they're home or computer. It goes into detail from midi studio setup to different styles of techno not just trance. This book also goes into a little theory, basic music chords, recording, hardware, sampling, editing, mixing, mastering, sound design, publishing, copyrighting and even making your own web page and promoting. It also goes into a little history of the different styles of techno. This book or any other for that matter is never going to be able to tell you the secret formula of creating the perfect lead or beat for that matter but this one will give you ideas and suggestion on how create one and push you in the right direction. Dance music changes so much and goes thru trends that if anyone could make that secret formula it would probably be out dated by the time they were able to document and publish it! This is a must have and I can't wait to see what he is going to have the second volume. If your a know it all and don't want to learn something new don't buy since you already know it all and your selling a million albums a year but those of us that are not this is a great source of knowledge and great advice!!!!!! Buy this one before you buy the remixer's bible cause that is geared for more advanced producers!!!!!!



I should've got this book YEARS ago!, July 3, 2008
By H. Hsu
I've been working on breakbeat & trance for two years now after doing pop and rock for years in my 20s. I thought I knew quite a bit about electronica, but my 'knowledge' has always been like a mist in my head...there was always something wrong in either my tunes or the process.

I've heard so many good things about this book...to the extent that I thought it was all hype. Weeks ago I finally decided to give it a go. And wow...now the loose ends are really coming together. The author really understands and speaks from a producer point of view, in the case of dance music production, the producer needs to take control of the whole picture and therefore his way of integrating all aspects is nothing short of a great revelation.

I was gonna wait for the new edition, but decided to give this one a read first. And I'm glad I did. I wish I had this book years ago!

THere's a reviewer saying that this book is 'basic': well, it certainly isn't for "advanced electronica producers"---because these advanced dudes are most likely working on inspirations that hace to be felt and worked, rather than essential skills this book provides. Really...if you're so advanced, why are you still looking for a 'manual'?

If you do dance music, I whole heartedly recommend that you get a copy of this book.



Excellent book.. except for...., May 30, 2008
By Mr. Nick Hart (Adelaide, SA, Australia)
Excellent book. Easy to read, and extensive to say the least.

Some things that disappointed me though (and they are minor): The examples of drum rhythms, bass lines, and basically constructing a track are brief.

Another thing I was disappointed with was that almost a quarter of the book was devoted to HTML and making an audio website. That was upsetting because I don't care to make websites. I care to make MUSIC!

I was also disappointed that the book picked a few sub-sub-genres to work composition/production examples from. I would have preferred the book focused more on how to make something that gets people onto the floor and DANCE.

I can see though, that without much knowledge at all about dance music production, this is a fantastic starting point and would get a reader up to speed to read the more in depth books on audio production specifics such as synth programming, drum programming, and software/hardware specific manuals.

I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who is a dance music hobbyist or just starting out with the dream of getting hearing your name backannounced on the radio when you drive home from work.... "Yep, that's my track."

Buy this book and the dream will be a LOT closer.





The best for any level of electronic musicians!!!!!!!!!!!!!, February 13, 2008
By Carolyn Board (Detroit, Mi USA)
This book has been more help than any other book that I have read on making electronic music!!!!! I recommend this as a must have for anyone starting out to seasoned vets of electronic music!!!!!!!



The thing i have been looking for all these years., December 23, 2007
By Tatyana V. Belenyuk
This book is really quite a treasure. I highly recommend everyone interested in dance music production, or really electronic music in general get this book. For me, it seems like the thing i have been looking for on the internet for all this time. This book quickly jump starts you through the most basic knowledge if you happen to be a beginner, then it just blasts off into a comprehensive coverage of just about everything you might ever want to know. It tells you in depth about every effect, and guides you step by step on how to produce several variety's of the most popular dance sounds. One of the most impressive parts is that it contains about 100 pages about how to make the most prominent dance genres.

Overall the book is very comprehensive and written at the level of a college textbook. The theme of the book is generally, music theory and music production all in the light of dance music. Every other theory/songwriting book doesn't help you too much when you're trying to create dance music, and thats about all there is. this book is the only one ive covered which covers the electronica side of things. Amazing book.