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What do you need to know as a music producer or audio engineer? And how can you learn music production and audio engineering? With this list of best books on music production and audio engineering, you will boost your learning curve!

music production and audio engineering books

Resources

Best Books on Songwriting for Songwriters

Best Books on Music Composition

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Music production and audio engineering are about so much more than what most people assume. It is a complex world where multiple fields of music and technology come together. In the end, it’s all about music making!

As a music producer, you need knowledge about songwriting, mixing, recording and arranging. That’s why for example you want to read books about music production. As an audio engineer, it will benefit you to know a thing or two about mixing and writing music.

There are many music production books and audio engineering resources out there, but not all of them are complete, up-to-date or accurate. So are there any good books on music production? Yes, there are! That’s why in this list I will only recommend books for music producers and audio engineering books that I have personally read.

To make this list easier for you to navigate and read, I have divided the music books into different categories.

Top Picks

Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio by Mike Senior

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The Recording Engineer's Handbook by Bobby Owsinski

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Great Songwriting Techniques by Jack Perricone

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The Creative Act A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

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Music Production: Mixing and Mastering Books

1. Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio by Mike Senior

Mixing Secrets by Mike Senior is as complete as it gets when it comes to learning how to mix. This is the ultimate resource for students who are just starting to learn how to mix music. But it also has enough interesting tips and tricks for the more seasoned mixing student. If that’s not enough, each chapter has very elaborate online videos and sound materials.

Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio by Mike Senior

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2. Mixing Audio by Roey Izhaki

The book ‘Mixing Audio’ by Roey Izhaki is an absolute must-have book! It has so many great tips and techniques that will teach you all about mixing music. But not only limited to that. All this information is essential when you want to explore the world of music production and audio engineering. Also, I find the book to be really pleasant to read. It’s an absolute easy read and not boring at all. The online materials are perfect to help you along with your mixing journey.

Mixing Audio by Roey Izhaki

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3. Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science by Bob Katz

This book is as complete as it gets. And what I like is that it is practical and not too long of a read. If you want to become better at music production and audio engineering by reading and learning about mastering music, then this is your book. Mastering Audio by Bob Katz is a book that you will see on any music producer’s or audio engineer’s bookshelf.

Mastering Audio The Art and the Science by Bob Katz

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4. Audio Production and Critical Listening by Jason Corey

Together with the online tools that are available, I find this to be a very solid book. So if you want to really develop critical listening skills and knowledge about production mixing then you should read it. It’s a bit of a tough read so you cannot read it on the fly like Mixing Audio by Roey Izhaki or Mixing Secrets by Mike Senior. Nevertheless, it is a valuable resource for people who want to learn all aspects of audio engineering.

Audio Production and Critical Listening by Jason Corey

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Recording and Audio Engineering

5. Recording Secrets for the Small Studio by Mike Senior

Being able to record your songs and music as well as possible is an essential skill for a music producer or audio engineer. That’s why this is also a recommended book for music producers. Luckily Mike Senior who also writes articles for the famous Sound on Sound, has made a comprehensive guide.

Especially for all the musicians, songwriters, composers, and producers who make music at home or in a small studio. Each chapter also has elaborate online materials that you can listen to and read. This book is highly recommended as an audio engineer resource for beginners or intermediate engineers.

Recording Secrets for the Small Studio by Mike Senior

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6. The Recording Engineer’s Handbook by Bobby Owsinski

Some things that I found missing in other books were clear pictures of multiple different recording techniques. And that is exactly what I found in this book. Bobby Owsinski has written many books about music production and audio engineering.

If you want to record an acoustic guitar but don’t know how? Just look it up. Want to record voiceovers? Just go to the pages where everything about voiceovers is explained. I really love this book. It’s easy to read and navigate. A superb music production book and audio engineering companion!

The Recording Engineer's Handbook by Bobby Owsinski

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7. Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles Huber

If you are looking for one of the most complete books on music production and audio engineering books then look no further. This is the ultimate handbook and maybe the most complete audio engineering resource for beginners and professionals. I often catch myself grabbing this book just to check some things. Of course, you cannot read everything, but that’s the great thing about this book. You just take it, look up your topic and put it back. It’s super handy! So as a valuable music and recording resource, I definitely advise you to buy it.

Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles Huber

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Music Theory and Songwriting

As a music producer, it is essential that you know a thing or two about music theory and songwriting. Music production and audio engineering is not only about the technical aspect of audio and music. This is not a standard repertoire like audio engineering resources, but I believe it is a must to learn.

8. Great Songwriting Techniques by Jack Perricone

This is hands down the best book a songwriter could read. The first time I picked up this book I was amazed by how clearly everything was explained. Practically any topic ranging from writing melodies to amazing chord progressions is covered. Jack Perricone has delivered a masterpiece and if you only buy one book from this list, then let it be this one. This will be one of the only songwriting books for music producers you’ll need.

Great Songwriting Techniques by Jack Perricone

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9. Chord Progressions For Songwriters by Richard Scott

If you want to dive into chord progressions. Then here you go! Chord Progressions For Songwriters by Richard Scott is an amazing resource. There is enough to explore for an entire songwriting career. And I should not forget to mention that you will find chord progressions that will inspire you greatly. All in all this book is a creativity bomb.

Chord Progressions For Songwriters by Richard Scott

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Songwriting Tutorials

If you want to learn more creative songwriting techniques and hear them in action then check out my video tutorial playlist called: Songwriting Tips & Music Theory for Composing Music. Or check out all the educational music videos and articles on this site.

Music Industry: Marketing and Productivity

10. How To Make It in the New Music Business by Ari Herstand

For me, this book was a revelation. And I think I have read it three times already. Strictly it is not really like any of the books about music production, but it is a must-read! Ari Herstand has done a fantastic job of lining up important things that you need to know and do as somebody who wants to earn money making or doing music.

If you ever thought that you only need to know the creative and technical things then you are definitely wrong. Today’s music business is so versatile and there is just so much competition from other music producers, musicians, composers and audio engineers who are hitting it out of the ballpark. It truly is an indispensable guide for anybody interested in the music industry.

How To Make It in the New Music Business by Ari Herstand

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11. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Essentialism by Greg McKeown is one of those books that makes sense from the beginning. Nowadays we just want to do everything at the same time. Multitasking is hip and buzzing. But does that really work? Learn how to do more by doing less.

Essentialism The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

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Biographies and Books About Music Producers

12. Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles by Geoff Emerick

Not only fun for Beatles fans! This book gives you a very juicy, fun and inspirational insight into the recording process of the biggest band in the world. Apart from being a very interesting and entertaining read, this book is full of music production and audio engineering tips and tricks. So I really consider this to be one of the easiest-to-read audio engineering resources out there.

Here, There and Everywhere My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles by Geoff Emerick

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13. The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Ruben

Rick Ruben. Do I need to say more? For anybody interested in music production or audio engineering, this name should ring a bell. This surprising and inspiring book should be on any musician’s or music producer’s shelf. Actually, anybody in the art scene should have read it!

The Creative Act A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

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In general, a music producer is someone who assists an artist with recording music by guiding them and helping them develop their unique sound throughout a project. They can have different roles, such as creative director, arranger, composer, or sound engineer. Sometimes they just assume one or two of these roles. But it can also happen that you need to do all of them. They are often also responsible for overseeing and managing the recording process and ensuring that the finished product meets the desired quality and creative vision of the artists and everybody involved.

A music producer needs to have many different skills and knowledge related to music creation and production. They need to be creative, as they are responsible for developing tracks, piecing together sounds and linking up artists with musicians and other people who will complement their own skills. They also need to have a good ear for listening, as they have to sort out the different instruments, notes and chords of a track, and to understand which sounds go well together, or what is still missing.

But what is also important is that they need to have project management skills, because they have to schedule recording sessions within the appointed budget and lead the musicians through that schedule in an efficient manner. They also need to have leadership skills, since they have to assist an artist with their recording project, bringing their vision to life while making tough decisions along the way. They need to be interested in technology because they sometimes have to handle the technical aspects of recording and mixing, such as setting up microphones, adjusting levels, and applying effects.

An audio engineer is someone who works with sound in many different ways. Ultimately, they can be responsible for capturing, editing, mixing, and mastering audio recordings. They use their technical knowledge, trained ears and skills to ensure that the sound quality meets the expectations of the audience and the client. An audio engineer can work in different settings, such as recording studios, live sound venues, and post-production facilities.

An audio engineer needs to have various skills and knowledge related to sound production. Some of these are hardware management, digital sound software, recording skills, mixing skills, and communication skills. Hardware management involves operating and connecting different audio equipment, such as microphones, speakers, amplifiers, and mixing consoles. Digital sound software refers to using digital audio workstations (DAWs) to record, edit, and mix sounds into one complete track. Recording skills are essential for capturing multiple tracks in a pristine way. Mixing skills allow the audio engineer to balance and adjust the sound levels and dynamics of each instrument and voice when necessary. Communication skills are important for working closely with artists, producers, and other technical staff, and for understanding their needs and expectations.

Yes, you can but you need to take a structured and step-by-step approach. You need to find a balance between learning theory and practical experience. If I share my point of view, I think the best way to start is while you are reading a book, you immediately apply what you read to your production. And while you are learning, listen for these techniques in your favourite songs and see if you can recognize them in the production recording. And at the end of the day, it really is a matter of just doing it and sticking in the hours!

I wrote a guide about if music production is difficult and the best way to learn music production.

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Xander | Learning Music Skills
Xander | Learning Music Skills

Hi my name is Xander and I am a Composer, Songwriter and Music Educator with a degree in music composition. I teach many students all over the world via private music classes and via my YouTube channel, Learning Music Skills.

As a composer, educator and content creator, my goal is to share all aspects of the process of making music. I want to give everyone the tools necessary to be able to understand, enjoy and create music. No matter the genre or skill level. If you have any questions or when you want to work together, please contact me.

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