Automated Speaking Assessment: Using Language Technologies to Score Spontaneous Speech provides a thorough overview of state-of-the-art automated speech scoring technology as it is currently used at Educational Testing Service (ETS). Its main focus is related to the automated scoring of spontaneous speech elicited by TOEFL iBT Speaking section items, but other applications of speech scoring, such as for more predictable spoken responses or responses provided in a dialogic setting, are also discussed. The book begins with an in-depth overview of the nascent field of automated speech scoring-its history, applications, and challenges-followed by a discussion of psychometric considerations for automated speech scoring. The second and third parts discuss the integral main components of an automated speech scoring system as well as the different types of automatically generated measures extracted by the system features related to evaluate the speaking construct of communicative competence as measured defined by the TOEFL iBT Speaking assessment. Finally, the last part of the book touches on more recent developments, such as providing more detailed feedback on test takers' spoken responses using speech features and scoring of dialogic speech. It concludes with a discussion, summary, and outlook on future developments in this area. Written with minimal technical details for the benefit of non-experts, this book is an ideal resource for graduate students in courses on Language Testing and Assessment as well as teachers and researchers in applied linguistics.

PRO TOOLS 10 ADVANCED MUSIC PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES is the official Avid Learning Series Expert Level guide to the advanced operation of Pro Tools in a professional music production environment. It includes technical insight into both Pro Tools HD and HDX hardware and software, common workflows, and advanced editing and mixing topics. The materials on the supplemental DVD--sample sessions and source files used in the book's many exercises and projects--help to reinforce the skills being learned. Whether you're learning on your own or pursuing formal Pro Tools certification through an Avid Learning Partner, PRO TOOLS 10 ADVANCED MUSIC PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES will help you achieve expert-level mastery of Pro Tools. PRO TOOLS 10 ADVANCED MUSIC PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES (Course 310M) is part of the Avid Learning Series. This course leads to expert-level certification. To find more books on Pro Tools, Media Composer, Sibelius, or any other Avid product, visit www.courseptr.com/avid.

The Art of Producing is the first book to standardize a specific production process for creating a successful music project from start to finish. Learn how to develop a step-by-step process for critiquing all of the musical components that go into creating a highly refined production that works for all styles of music. The book provides a well-rounded perspective on everything that goes into producing, including vital information on how to creatively work with bands, groups and record companies, and offers insight into high level values and secrets that famous producers have developed through years of trial and error. The book covers detailed production techniques for working with today's latest digital technologies including virtual recording, virtual instruments, and MIDI tracking. Take these concepts, adapt them to your own personal style and you will end up with a successful project of the highest attainable quality with the most potential to be become a hit - or just affect people really deeply.

Drawing on decades of experience, Beep to Boom: The Development of Advanced Runtime Sound Systems for Games and Extended Reality is a rigorous, comprehensive guide to interactive audio runtime systems. Packed with practical examples and insights, the book explains each component of these complex geometries of sound. Using practical, lowest-common-denominator techniques, Goodwin covers soundfield creation across a range of platforms from phones to VR gaming consoles. Whether creating an audio system from scratch or building on existing frameworks, the book also explains costs, benefits and priorities. In the dynamic simulated world of games and extended reality, interactive audio can now consider every intricacy of real-world sound. This book explains how and why to tame it enjoyably.

Clearly technology has added a "voice" to music, but how does that voice affect the traditional human craftsmanship of music? In other words, can the music created still be called one's own? In Strange Sounds, Timothy Taylor addresses the anxieties provoked by technology's role in music composition since World War II. In this accessible and comprehensive study, Taylor discusses the nature of technology, its use in making music, and the inevitable fears of losing one's agency further with the new digital technologies being developed. From the early tape music of France and the "space age pop" of 1950s America to the numerous electronic dance music genres of today that detour into "illegal" activities like those argued in lawsuits over the sampling of traditional folk music, and the trance club scenes in cities like New York and London that have become synonymous with the drug ecstasy, technology has irrevocably penetrated the production and consumption of contemporary music.

An expert team from SONY Europe explains the technology behind today's major digital audio consumer products, including the Compact Disc, MiniDisc, Super Audio CD, DVD-Audio, MP3 and Digital Audio Tape.
Beginning with a fascinating overview of the history of audio technology, this fourth edition addresses the principles and technologies which underpin the various formats currently available. Considerable technical detail is provided, with extensive use of illustrations to enhance understanding.
Audio engineers, students and hi-fi enthusiasts who want to gain an understanding of the way these technologies have been developed will find no better introduction than this authoritative guide from SONY, a forerunner in the digital audio industry.

Covers everything you need to know about the major digital audio consumer products.
Now includes SACD, DVD(A) and MP3, keeping you updated with the latest technology
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Originally published in 1972 Recording in Social Work looks at how recording has always been claimed as one of the necessary activities of social workers, whatever form of social work they undertake. The book deals systematically with recording, and the theory and practice recording takes, as well as the research projects and small-scale studies which discuss critically certain aspects of the method. The book offers a review of the history of recording, including a critical discussion of the three early texts on the subject. It surveys the literature on purposes of recording and concludes with an analysis of the main issues surrounding recording. The book assesses the present position of theory and practice in social work recording and suggests both ways in which the subject can be developed and the wider context.

In this book, Geoff Hill demonstrates modern software and hardware being applied to the processes behind loudspeaker design and modelling. Modern computing power has progressed to the point that such analyses are now practical for any interested individual or small company. Loudspeaker Modelling and Design: A Practical Introduction examines the process from initial concept through specifications and theoretical simulations and onto detailed design. It demonstrates the processes of design and specification, by using detailed simulations of a loudspeaker driver; sufficient to give re-assurance that a design is practical and will perform as expected.This book brings together many different strands of modelling from electro-magnetic through to mechanical and acoustic, without getting bogged down in theoretical discussions and arguments. This practice-based book shows the techniques used in designing modern loudspeakers and transducers.

Covers the entire mixing process – from fundamental concepts to advanced techniques Features new sections on console emulation, the loudness war, LUFS targets, and DIY mastering, as well as updated figures and illustrations throughout Offers a robust companion website featuring over 2,000 audio samples as well as Pro Tools/ Multitrack Audio Sessions

In Mixing with Impact: Learning to Make Musical Choices, Wessel Oltheten discusses the creative and technical concepts behind making a mix. Whether you're a dance producer in your home studio, a live mixer in a club, or an engineer in a big studio, the mindset is largely the same. The same goes for the questions you run into: where do you start? How do you deal with a context in which all the different parts affect each other? How do you avoid getting lost in technique? How do you direct your audience's attention? Why doesn't your mix sound as good as someone else's? How do you maintain your objectivity when you hear the same song a hundred times? How do your speakers affect your perception? What's the difference between one compressor and another? Following a clear structure, this book covers these and many other questions, bringing you closer and closer to answering the most important question of all: how do you tell a story with sound?

Practical Recording Techniques covers all aspects of recording, perfect for beginning and intermediate recording engineers, producers, musicians, and audio enthusiasts. Filled with tips and shortcuts, this hands-on, practical guide gives advice on equipping a home studio (whether low-budget or advanced) and suggestions for set-up, acoustics, effects, choosing mics and monitor speakers, and preventing hum. This best-selling guide also instructs how to mike instruments and vocals, judge recordings and improve them, work with MIDI and loops, do mastering, and put your music on the web. Two chapters cover live recording of classical and popular music. New in the seventh edition: Complete update of all types of recording equipment, plug-ins, and recording software Increased focus on current industry and classroom trends like DAW signal flow and operation (during recording and mixdown), while still covering analog fundamentals Updated organization to focus and break up topics Updated tips on optimizing your computer for multitrack recording - for both Windows and Mac New sections on streaming audio, mobile-device recording, live recording with digital consoles, and psychoacoustics Listen Online boxes highlight where audio samples on the website relate to chapter discussions Updated companion website with audio examples, articles, and suggested activities, plus expanded and more user-friendly links to the best sites for videos and articles, recording techniques, equipment, and other learning resources. Instructors can download figures from the book, the audio files, and a test bank

This volume provides a comprehensive introduction to foundational topics in sound design for interactive media, such as gaming and virtual reality; compositional techniques; new interfaces; sound spatialization; sonic cues and semiotics; performance and installations; music on the web; augmented reality applications; and sound producing software design. The reader will gain a broad understanding of the key concepts and practices that define sound design for its use in computational media and design. The chapters are written by international authors from diverse backgrounds who provide multidisciplinary perspectives on sound in its interactive forms. The volume is designed as a textbook for students and teachers, as a handbook for researchers in sound, design and media, and as a survey of key trends and ideas for practitioners interested in exploring the boundaries of their profession.

Long considered one of the key books on the well-informed audio engineer's shelf, Sound System Engineering provides an accurate, complete, and concise tool for all those involved in designing, implementing, and testing sound reinforcement systems. This new fourth edition includes eight new chapters leading the reader through both cutting-edge topics-e.g., IBM's proposed thought-controlled sound system-and solid basics, such as loudspeaker specifications, wave equations, and digital audio. Topics covered include: Psychoacoustics and how the brain processes sound Digital theory Mathematics for audio systems Using the decibel Interfacing electrical and acoustical systems Audio and acoustic measurements Large room and small room acoustics Designing for acoustic gain Designing for speech intelligibility Wave equations Microphones Loudspeakers, loudspeaker arrays, and loudspeaker directivity Power ratings for amplifiers and loudspeakers Computer-aided system design Signal delay, signal synchronization, and signal processing Sound system equalization Packed with numerous illustrations and useful appendices, this is a concentrated capsule of industry standards and knowledge that spans the complete range of sound systems, from the simplest all-analog paging systems to the largest multi-purpose digital systems.

The only book on the market to specifically address its audience, Recording Voiceover is the comprehensive guide for engineers looking to understand the aspects of capturing the spoken word. Discussing all phases of the recording session, Recording Voiceover addresses everything from microphone recommendations for voice recording to pre-production considerations, including setting up the studio, working with and directing the voice talent, and strategies for reducing or eliminating distracting noise elements found in human speech. Recording Voiceover features in-depth, specific recommendations for recording radio and television commercials, corporate communications, documentaries, tracks for gaming and animation, radio drama, interviews and roundtable discussions. A discussion of the voice in film and television is also included. Special attention is paid to the final release format and its impact on recording strategies. Exploration of using telephone interfaces - including both analogue and digital ISDN, as well as recording across the internet - is included.

The only book on the market to specifically address its audience, Recording Voiceover is the comprehensive guide for engineers looking to understand the aspects of capturing the spoken word. Discussing all phases of the recording session, Recording Voiceover addresses everything from microphone recommendations for voice recording to pre-production considerations, including setting up the studio, working with and directing the voice talent, and strategies for reducing or eliminating distracting noise elements found in human speech. Recording Voiceover features in-depth, specific recommendations for recording radio and television commercials, corporate communications, documentaries, tracks for gaming and animation, radio drama, interviews and roundtable discussions. A discussion of the voice in film and television is also included. Special attention is paid to the final release format and its impact on recording strategies. Exploration of using telephone interfaces - including both analogue and digital ISDN, as well as recording across the internet - is included.

This book provides readers with a solid understanding of game development, design, narrative, charaterization, plot, back story and world creation elements that are crucial for game writers and designers as they create a detailed world setting, adventure, characters, narrative and plot suitable for possible publication. Game design and development issues such as writing for games, emergent complexity, risk reward systems, competitive and cooperative game play will be investigated, analyzed and critiqued. Examples will be used to highlight and explain the various concepts involved and how the game development process works. Key Features Provides the critical skills any good game designer should have, such as narrative, characterization, progression, challenges, world building, plot, and rewards Using a hands-on, learn-by-doing approach, this book teaches prospective game designers how to excel in creating their own worlds and adventures without having to learn any programming or technical computer skills Includes clear and concise chapter objectives, chapter overviews, examples, case studies, key terms and multiple in-depth analyses Multiple case studies are provided and thoroughly analyzed so that readers will be familiar with the concepts and methodologies involved in each task Over the course of the book, readers will develop a professional level asset for inclusion in a portfolio of work suitable for submitting to job applications

Understanding and Crafting the Mix, 3rd edition provides the framework to identify, evaluate, and shape your recordings with clear and systematic methods. Featuring numerous exercises, this third edition allows you to develop critical listening and analytical skills to gain greater control over the quality of your recordings. Sample production sequences and descriptions of the recording engineer's role as composer, conductor, and performer provide you with a clear view of the entire recording process. Dr. William Moylan takes an inside look into a range of iconic popular music, thus offering insights into making meaningful sound judgments during recording. His unique focus on the aesthetic of recording and mixing will allow you to immediately and artfully apply his expertise while at the mixing desk. A companion website features recorded tracks to use in exercises, reference materials, additional examples of mixes and sound qualities, and mixed tracks.

Understanding Video Game Music develops a musicology of video game music by providing methods and concepts for understanding music in this medium. From the practicalities of investigating the video game as a musical source to the critical perspectives on game music - using examples including Final Fantasy VII, Monkey Island 2, SSX Tricky and Silent Hill - these explorations not only illuminate aspects of game music, but also provide conceptual ideas valuable for future analysis. Music is not a redundant echo of other textual levels of the game, but central to the experience of interacting with video games. As the author likes to describe it, this book is about music for racing a rally car, music for evading zombies, music for dancing, music for solving puzzles, music for saving the Earth from aliens, music for managing a city, music for being a hero; in short, it is about music for playing.

Learning Music Theory with Logic, Max, and Finale is a groundbreaking resource that bridges the gap between music theory teaching and the world of music software programs. Focusing on three key programs-the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Logic, the Audio Programming Language (APL) Max, and the music-printing program Finale-this book shows how they can be used together to learn music theory. It provides an introduction to core music theory concepts and shows how to develop programming skills alongside music theory skills. Software tools form an essential part of the modern musical environment; laptop musicians today can harness incredibly powerful tools to create, record, and manipulate sounds. Yet these programs on their own don't provide musicians with an understanding of music notation and structures, while traditional music theory teaching doesn't fully engage with technological capabilities. With clear and practical applications, this book demonstrates how to use DAWs, APLs, and music-printing programs to create interactive resources for learning the mechanics behind how music works. Offering an innovative approach to the learning and teaching of music theory in the context of diverse musical genres, this volume provides game-changing ideas for educators, practicing musicians, and students of music. The author's website at http://www.geoffreykidde.com includes downloadable apps that support this book.

Immersive Sound: The Art and Science of Binaural and Multi-Channel Audio provides a comprehensive guide to multi-channel sound. With contributions from leading recording engineers, researchers, and industry experts, Immersive Sound includes an in-depth description of the physics and psychoacoustics of spatial audio as well as practical applications. Chapters include the history of 3D sound, binaural reproduction over headphones and loudspeakers, stereo, surround sound, height channels, object-based audio, soundfield (ambisonics), wavefield synthesis, and multi-channel mixing techniques. Knowledge of the development, theory, and practice of spatial and multi-channel sound is essential to those advancing the research and applications in the rapidly evolving fields of 3D sound recording, augmented and virtual reality, gaming, film sound, music production, and post-production.

Understanding Game Scoring explores the unique collaboration between gameplay and composition that defines musical scoring for video games. Using an array of case studies reaching back into the canon of classic video games, this book illuminates the musical flexibility, user interactivity and sound programming that make game scoring so different from traditional modes of composition. Mack Enns explores the collaboration between game scorers and players to produce the final score for a game, through case studies of the Nintendo Entertainment System sound hardware configuration, and game scores, including the canonic scores for Super Mario Bros. (1985) and The Legend of Zelda (1986). This book is recommended reading for students and researchers interested in the composition and production of video game scores, as well as those interested in ludo-musicology.

This step-by-step guide for editing sound to picture using Pro Tools starts by explaining the Pro Tools systems and covers all key audio topics, including equipment, sound, music, effects, output and mixing tools, to give users the skills needed to work on any project from big budget feature film to amateur DV video in mono, stereo or surround sound.
Clearly set out and thorough in coverage, the book takes a practical real world approach, a live 35mm film project runs through the chapters illustrating how different functions are added to a film providing the real detail of how to apply it to an edit. Extensively illustrated in color and packed with time-saving hints and tips, the companion website,

http: //www.focalpress.com/cw/angell-9780240520773/

., contains the various Pro Tools sessions of the project film as it moves through audio editing, ADR, mixing and final 35mm release prints.

Learn Audio Electronics with Arduino: Practical Audio Circuits with Arduino Control teaches the reader how to use Arduino to control analogue audio circuits and introduces electronic circuit theory through a series of practical projects, including a MIDI drum controller and an Arduino-controlled two-band audio equalizer amplifier. Learn Audio Electronics with Arduino provides all the theoretical knowledge needed to design, analyse, and build audio circuits for amplification and filtering, with additional topics like C programming being introduced in a practical context for Arduino control. The reader will learn how these circuits work and also how to build them, allowing them to progress to more advanced audio circuits in the future. Beginning with electrical fundamentals and control systems, DC circuit theory is then combined with an introduction to C programming to build Arduino-based systems for audio (tone sequencer) and MIDI (drum controller) output. The second half of the book begins with AC circuit theory to allow analogue audio circuits for amplification and filtering to be analysed, simulated, and built. These circuits are then combined with Arduino control in the final project - an Arduino-controlled two-band equalizer amplifier. Building on high-school physics and mathematics in an accessible way, Learn Audio Electronics with Arduino is suitable for readers of all levels. An ideal tool for those studying audio electronics, including as a component within other fields of study, such as computer science, human-computer interaction, acoustics, music technology, and electronics engineering.

Digital interactive audio is the future of audio in media - most notably video games, but also web pages, theme parks, museums, art installations and theatrical events. Despite its importance to contemporary multi-media, this is the first book that provides a framework for understanding the history, issues and theories surrounding interactive audio. Karen Collins presents the work of academics, composers and sound programmers to introduce the topic from a variety of angles in order to provide a supplementary text for music and multimedia courses. The contributors cover practical and theoretical approaches, including historical perspectives, emerging theories, socio-cultural approaches to fandom, reception theory and case study analyses. The book offers a fresh perspective on media music, one that will complement film studies, but which will show the necessity of a unique approach when considering games music.