Reprint of the original, first published in 1872.

From recording a single violin to a whole orchestra, Andrew Halifax reveals the techniques and secret knowledge of professional producers. The handbook covers live recording, studio techniques, equipment, microphone placement, recording techniques and even the sampling of classical instruments. As relevant for the classical musician as the modern pop producer, the book also reveals how to effectively arrange and mix an orchestral arrangement, use the new range of software strong samplers and master the final recordings for commercial release.

From the cylinder to the download, the practice of music has been radically transformed by the development of recording and playback technologies. This Companion provides a detailed overview of the transformation, encompassing both classical and popular music. Topics covered include the history of recording technology and the businesses built on it; the impact of recording on performance styles; studio practices, viewed from the perspectives of performer, producer and engineer; and approaches to the study of recordings. The main chapters are interspersed by 'short takes' - short contributions by different practitioners, ranging from classical or pop producers and performers to record collectors. Combining basic information with a variety of perspectives on records and recordings, this book will appeal not only to students in a range of subjects from music to the media, but also to general readers interested in a fundamental yet insufficiently understood dimension of musical culture.