Music-Related Books by Simon Cann
These are my music-related books. Click on the links on the left for further details of the books. If you want to know about some of my non-music books, check out my website.
Cakewalk Synthesizers: From Presets to Power User, second edition
Cakewalk Synthesizers: From Presets to Power User, second edition is the ultimate guide to understanding and using all of Cakewalk's synthesizers and learning about synthesizer programming.
The book features the complete range of Cakewalk (and rgc:audio) synthesizers, including Rapture, Rapture LE, Dimension Pro, Dimension LE, Beatscape, Session Drummer 2 and Session Drummer 3, Z3TA+, and Pentagon I. There's also a free download to accompany the book.
Becoming a Synthesizer Wizard: From Presets to Power User
Becoming a Synthesizer Wizard: From Presets to Power User is for:
- People who are new to synthesis and who want to understand the basics and take their first steps in creating and controlling sounds with synthesizers.
- Musicians who are familiar with synthesis, but who want to solidify or expand their knowledge so they can use their tools more fully.
- Anyone who wants to build, share, and perhaps sell their own synthesizers.
The book looks at synthesis from first principles. It focuses on the elements of synthesis and the building blocks, and it highlights its examples using four leading modular synthesizers (Zebra 2, KarmaFX Synth Modular, VAZ Modular, and SynthEdit). From these building blocks, the book looks at a range of sound building techniques that can be used with the featured synthesizers, or can be readily applied to any other synthesizer.
The book is also a great introduction to SynthEdit for anyone who wants to create—and then share or sell—their own synthesizers.
How to Make a Noise: A Comprehensive Guide to Synthesizer Programming
How To Make A Noise: a comprehensive guide to synthesizer programming, is perhaps the most widely read book about synthesizer programming (and there's a free downloadable version, too). It is a comprehensive, practical guide to sound design and synthesizer programming techniques using:
- subtractive (analog) synthesis
- frequency modulation synthesis (including phase modulation and ring modulation)
- additive synthesis
- wave-sequencing
- sample-based synthesis
This book focuses on building sounds (over 300 sounds are built) and looks at building these sounds with six synthesizers (Cameleon 5000, Rhino 2, Surge, Vanguard, Wusikstation, and Z3TA+).
Rocking Your Music Business: Run Your Music Business at Home and on the Road
Making music is only half the story if you want to earn your living making music: the other half is the business. Rocking Your Music Business:
- introduces the business of music, and
- tells you what you need to do to set up and run that business—both in terms of what you need to do, and the tools you need to run that business at home and on the road.
You don't need a major record label to have a career—especially with all of the changes that the industry has been undergoing in the last few years—but you do need a successful business and business infrastructure, and Rocking Your Music Business is the handbook that needs to be on the bookshelf of every musician who wants to take their business as seriously as they take their music.
Sample This! Third Edition
Sample This! is a practical guide for musicians about using samplers to make music written by Simon Cann and Klaus P Rausch.
The book has been written for both experienced musicians who are looking to expand their understanding of how to use the most modern tools that are available to them and for first time users of samplers. Sample This! also includes a coupon for a free PC VSTi sample-based synthesizer together with a wide range of sample material.
Building a Successful 21st Century Music Career
Your career in music begins today: decide to begin your career and you're off. Don't wait for a record company to call and offer you a contract, because they won't. All you need to do is decide to start your career.
Building a Successful 21st Century Music Career is about how you can proactively start, and manage your own music career so that you can earn your living through making music—whether as a musician playing pop, rock, soul, R&B, classical or any other style of music; as a songwriter or composer; or as a producer.
Project5 Power! The Comprehensive Guide
Project5 Power! is the comprehensive guide to using this sophisticated piece of software (both versions 2.0 and 2.5) and the included synthesizers, effects, and loop tools in all stages of the music creation process from the first beat through to producing a CD and putting your tracks on the web.