5 Essential Books For Sound Design & Audio Post Production

Over the past couple of decades there have been some fantastic books written about sound design and audio post production. Here is our list of 5 essential books that we think you should add to your reading list.

Sound Effects Bible – Ric Viers

In this comprehensive guide, sound designer Ric Viers dispenses everything he knows about creating sound effects. Working through the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of sound design, this book covers everything from field recording, studio equipment, acoustic treatment and recording gunshots. The Sound Effects Bible is known for its “Commandments” chapters, and for its “Sound Effects Encyclopedia” section that contains a huge list of sound design tips and tricks.

Principles of Game Audio & Sound Design – Jean-Luc Sinclair

This book covers the topic of game audio and offers an accessible introduction to the subject both from a creative and technical standpoint. With a focus on creating interactive audio assets using the free program Unity, Principles of Game Audio and Sound Design is a great book for those who want to learn the skills required for game audio. This book also includes a library of ready-to-use, adaptable scripts.

Sound For Film & Television - Tomlinson Holman

Originally published in 1997 and written by one of Hollywood’s leading sound experts, this book offers a fascinating guide into the world of sound for Film & Television. Many different areas of the sound process are covered, including recording, editing, and mixing. There is a great balance between technical and aesthetic content making this book a great source of knowledge for those looking to up their game.

Practical Art Of Modern Picture Sound – David Lewis Yewdall

Written by a veteran of over 140 motion pictures, this book approaches the subject of sound for Film & TV with an emphasis on real world problems and solutions. With tons of practical guidance from craftspeople who have spent years honing their skills, this is an essential-read for anyone who is pursuing a career in sound design & audio post-production. Topics covered include pre-production planning, production sound recording strategies and tips, sound editing and how to achieve superb sound on limited budget.

Dialogue Editing for Motion Pictures: A Guide To The Invisible Art – John Purcell

Dialogue editing can often be an overlooked part of the sound process, but it is without a doubt one of the most crucial. Dialogue is what connects the audience to the story so it is essential to get it right. In the authors own words “This is a book for people who need to edit production sound for film, TV, or video but were never taught how to do it. It goes step by step through the process and covers all the workflows that you are likely to encounter.”  

Thanks for reading!

‍