Behind The Glass

by Howard Massey

Book Overview

In this prime collection of first-hand interviews, 37 of the world's top record producers share their creative secrets and hit-making techniques - from the practical to the artistic. George Martin reveals the technical and musical challenges of working with The Beatles, while Phil Ramone, producer for such artists as Billy Joel, discusses studio wall treatments. Offering real-world advice on everything from mics to mixing to coaching a nervous singer,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879306149
• ISBN13: 9780879306144
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Backbeat Books
• Length: 338 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Interesting interviews with legendary engineers

This is an fine set of interviews with engineers who have worked with the legends of rock and roll. Most of the time is spent discussion mic positioning, filtering, and mixes. There is some coverage of analog versus digital, and some amusing anecdotes about the performers. It's a fun read for those looking to glean a bit more sage wisdom from the pros. There are no diagrams, detailed specifications or settings to impart. This is higher level, about the approach of sound design and how one works with tricky personalities.

Good Hands on-Nuts and Bolts(knobs and Mic's) Kind of stuff

The author asks a bunch of recurring questions to nearly all the subject producers. Any musician/composer with some time under his belt struggling to self produce at an objectively professional caliber will recognize the starkly relevant real world challenges underlying those questions. The fact that so many of the questions repeat from one interview to the next only makes the many varied answers all the more interesting. If you're a starry eyed wanna-be mesmerized by the supposed glamour of pop music making, look elsewhere. If you want to know how the grunts in the trenches actually make hit records, don't read this book once; read it repeatedly. I still am. As much to absorb the no bs, no excuses, no slacking, know your stuff, just get it done, mind-set common to these seasons pro's. (no young bucks here)

One of the best recording books I've ever found

This is one of the best recording books I've ever found. Great interviews with most of the world's top producers and engineers. Anyone on any will learn and be entertained by this book. It gives insight into recording, mixing and the music business. I don't read many books and I never read them twice. I'm in the middle of reading this book for the third time. My only complaint is that some heros are left out (Jimmy Iovine, T-Bone Burnett, Chris Thomas), but it's still incredible how many star producers and engineers are here!

This book is an absolute GEM

This booked is really packed with insight from the best people in the business. What surprised me the most is the sheer amount of knowledge: unlike similar books (like "The Mixing Engineer's Handbook"), it's printed in "smallish" type (i.e. like a novel) and the page margins are "normal" too, so you really get your 328 pages of useful information. The interviews are also very entertaining, with very intelligent questions and answers. It's the closest you will be to having a face-to-face chat with the likes of George Martin and Brian Wilson. The amount of interviews is staggering too.If you are thinking of buying this book - you really can't live without it!

Learning From The Masters

If you're a musician, an aspiring engineer/producer or are into any aspect of audio, you'll find this book absolutely fascinating. The author obviously knows his stuff (he's a producer and engineer himself, and a well-known writer in EQ magazine), and by asking probing and detailed questions, Massey has managed to get the world's top record producers to spill the beans about every aspect of how they make hit records, and he's also successfully captured the essence of their personalities. Each of the big names in the business -- George Martin, Brian Wilson, Alan Parsons, Phil Ramone, Arif Mardin, George Massenburg, even the usually reticent Geoff Emerick (who engineered Revolver, Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road) get a full chapter, and there are two absolutely hilarious panel discussions as well. Equal time is given to top American and English producers, and I especially liked the section called "Young Guns," in which younger, up-and-coming producers (like Walter Afanasieff, Chuck Ainlay, Danny Saber and Sylvia Massy) get a chance to present their views. All in all, this is a truly exceptional, eminently readable book. If you've got a son, daughter, nephew or niece who's into music, this will make the perfect stocking stuffer.