Top 5 Books On Sound For Film

You can learn sound for film by applying for a course, only if you have that much time and money to spare. But for the rest of us, we rely on books. We read and learn whatever we want, and then we read a lot more. There is no point in life when we stop reading or learning. There is always room for growth and as an engineer or producer, consistent growth is the key.

Learning and mastering the art of film sound on your own can be a big challenge. But the first step is to gather all the information you need to learn about the fundamentals of film sound. To make it easy, I have listed the Top 5 Books On Sound For Film. These books will give you a sneak peek into what goes behind the making of sound for film and video. 

Top 5 Books On Sound For Film

Here is the list of Top 5 Books On Sound For Film:

  1. Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen – by Michel Chion
  2. The Location Sound Bible: How to Record Professional Dialog for Film and TV – by Ric Viers
  3. Producing Great Sound for Film and Video – by Jay Rose 3.82/73
  4. Film Sound: Theory and Practice – by Elisabeth Weis & John Belton
  5. Sound-On-Film: Interviews with Creators of Film Sound – by Vincent Lobrutto

Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen 

Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen – by Michel Chion highlights the mutual relationship between sound and image in audiovisual perception.

Michel Chion is a French film theorist, filmmaker, composer of experimental music and an author of bestselling books on film, sound, and music.

Why Do I Recommend This Book?

This book is a bible for motion picture sound theory. This book summarises Chion’s observation of sound design, music and their use in films. He shares his insight on how sound is used in films to reinforce stories and to suspend the audience’s disbelief. 

Reading this book will answer your questions about common sound design techniques and film clichés. This book would be a great start before getting into the sound techniques. As it will help you understand how to read a film soundtrack and how to guide the audience's emotions through sound.

Who Is This Book For?

A must-read for anyone interested in knowing the theory behind the audio for films. An essential read for analysing film sound.

The Location Sound Bible: How to Record Professional Dialog for Film and TV

The Location Sound Bible: How to Record Professional Dialog for Film and TV – by Ric Viers is a complete guide to recording on location professional dialogue for film and television.

Ric Viers is a producer, author and widely known as the "Rock and Roll Professor of Sound". In his nearly two-decade career, Ric has become the world's largest producer of professional sound effects libraries.

Why Do I Recommend This Book?

In this book, Ric covers topics like fundamentals of audio, recording and mixing techniques, wireless systems, location sound commandments, microphone selection and more. He shares with the readers behind the scene stories of his professional work. 

This book provides a comprehensive guide to location sound and is a great source of practical information for those just starting with audio for video. Reading this will help you understand a lot of techniques, sound equipment and the proper way to use them.

Who Is This Book For?

An essential read for those starting in audio especially if you are going to do location sound, this is the book for you.

 

Producing Great Sound for Film and Video 

Producing Great Sound for Film and Video – by Jay Rose is a definitive book that features real-world advice for every aspect of your track such as planning and budgeting, editing, field and studio recording, sound effects and music, processing and more. Jay Rose is a well-known sound engineer and an excellent author of many bestselling books on audio.

Why Do I Recommend This Book?

In this book, the author shares a step-by-step approach, instructions and professional tips for getting the best results from your digital cameras and digital recorders. He shares resources, downloadable samples, practical examples and exercises for you to try.  

This book features all the information, tips and techniques for various production situations and demystifies common myths. As well as it shares information about the equipment you need to record great quality sound for film and video. You can find solutions to solve your sound-related problems in the “How Do I Fix This?” section. 

Reading this book will help you understand the hardcore side of motion picture sound like recording, sound effects, editing, music etc.

Who Is This Book For?

Whether you are a filmmaking student or someone who wants to learn the sound for film and video, this is the book for you.

 

Film Sound: Theory and Practice 

Film Sound: Theory and Practice – by Elisabeth Weis & John Belton features essential methods for examining the aesthetics of sound through the in-depth study of critical sound films. Both the authors are professors of film and have written books on sound, film and cinema.

Why Do I Recommend This Book?

In this book, the authors feature a collection of essays on film sound from the world's most respected film historians, aestheticians and theorists. Different essays focus on individual films, genres, directors, historical periods or the medium as a whole.  

This book provides a precise summary of the sound development and explains the techniques and practices of filmmaking sound from initial recordings to final theatre playback.

Reading this book will help you understand the history, theory, practice and technological aspects of film sound. 

Who Is This Book For?

An essential read for anyone interested in learning about the history and evolution of film sound.

 

Sound-On-Film: Interviews with Creators of Film Sound

Sound-On-Film: Interviews with Creators of Film Sound – by Vincent Lobrutto features interviews with 27 prominent men and women who discuss their careers and the art and craft of film sound.

Vincent Lobrutto is an instructor of motion picture editing and an author of many books on filmmaking, sound and design.

Why Do I Recommend This Book?

In this book, the author focuses on the process and facilities involved in the making of sound for films. In each chapter, he interviews a different sound creator who presents many of the crafts working in film sound like production sound, sound design, editing, ADR, sound engineering, foley and many more. 

This book features these interviews in a way to give you an overview of the evolution of the film sound from the studio era to contemporary productions. Reading this book will give you an exploration into the craft and philosophy of designed sound. As well as the details of behind the scenes.

Who Is This Book For?

A must-read for people who want to get an interesting view of sound within the film industry. 

 

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Udeeksh Sood on

Udeeksh is an Audio Engineer. He loves to produce music, research music gear, play guitar, go on treks and road trips.