Guide to Midi Orchestration 3rd Edition

[muzik]

This book looks great, and i've sifted through amazon reviews. I'm sure there must be some owners on these forums, so i'd love to ask how and if this book has positively benefited your progress?

[JCL]

My copy was very hard to read; high-gloss paper and razor-thin type. Half of my copy seems to be very dated interviews. I should have gotten the Adler book on Orchestration instead.

[Spinning poo machine]

I've read a few hundred pages so far and I'm glad I have it. So far it's only really helped me in one aspect though, other things seemed to come to me as common sense (like don't make the contrabasses play 16th notes at 300 BPM, percussion can outplay the entire orchestra, what sequencer and virtual instrument software to select, etc.). It also skimps on things that are mysteries to me, like the details of EQ.

Some people will find it VERY helpful, I believe, while others could do without it for the most part. I'd say I'm somewhere in the middle. Owning it definitely won't hurt. It's definitely postively benefited my progress, and I'm hardly halfway finished with it.

[A.Leung]

Its a great book. I recommend it to ALL noobs and those that even consider themselves (intermediate)

[Chrispire]

It really is an excellent general resource.

[Vincent Bergbahn]

I've got it and like it toooo

Recommended to all.

[Djoule]

yes I recommend it as well !

it is thanks to A.Leung (always talking about it :D ) that I took interest in this book and bought it a couple of months ago, and I absolutely don't regret it, it is very well explained (english is not my native tongue and I managed to understand 95% of this book, the rest I'm still learning from what I read on this forum).
It is very progressive and explains orchestration from the musician's point of view and from the MIDI orchestrator's point of view, so it is very helpful when you start arranging and orchestrating, especially when you're a self-taught composer who knew nothing about DAWs and Orchestration, like me (I was just used to apply Zappa's law "if it sounds good then it's good", but now I learned that it can sound better with some tips :p ).

The only thing I reproach is that this book is a bit short (I know it's 700 pages, but there are 200 pages just to describe libraries...), and I expected a better explaination of EQ-ing (there is a very cool and useful chart with frequencies and moods but that's all, no real explanation on how to use it on which instrument...) as well as using compressor (I'm a totally newbie so it's not very intuitive to understand how to set a good compressor or EQ on an instrument).

But fortunately there is a cool website where you can find information and ask some questions about all those things you haven't understood, and it's called.. hum... can't remember...
found it ! : www.soundsonline.com :D

[peter5992]

Warmly recommended to everyone, from newbies to seasoned composers, good reference. The part about libraries is likely to be outdated since that is moving so fast but the info about instruments and orchestration is timeless. Also it is beautifully produced (high gloss, high grade paper).

[A.Leung]

in fairness , regarding the outdated library portion of the book: Many of the libraries mentioned are still the same since the book was written, e.g., Sonic implants strings and orchestra and what is said about them is still true, however, that said, my MAIN discern is the fact that author/publisher with a book like this is in the perfect position to have a really nice website with addendums and up-to-date info and in fact its even mentioned in the book that this is going to happen but it has not yet.

It is a shame, because it has the potential to be a home for the ultimate MIDI mock-ups 'tIps and Tricks' domain.

[JCL]

I totally agree, Allan! My comments had to do more with the book's production decisions rather than the overall content.

[Enrique]

The glossy pages make them hard to read (light reflections!) and to turn though (i have to lick my fingers to turn the page!) but it a great reference guide.

A website for it would be fantastic though, perhaps the author needs a little coaxing? http://www.websmileys.com/sm/evil/204.gif

[muzik]

its to bad i'll probably have to order the book online as i can't find it anywhere local in canada. People seem to really be on opposite ends regarding the glossy paper thing. Hopefully the gloss won't bother me to badly in regards to light reflection.

[A.Leung]

Its a college text book. Its got Glossy paper...

[peter5992]

its to bad i'll probably have to order the book online as i can't find it anywhere local in canada. People seem to really be on opposite ends regarding the glossy paper thing. Hopefully the gloss won't bother me to badly in regards to light reflection.

I think you'll have to order directly from Paul Gilreath himself - he is self published (I ordered my copy from him directly). While you are at it, you might ask him about plans for updating his website ... there is indeed a reference in his book about updates being available on his site but when I checked some time ago there was nothing yet.

He's probably a really busy bee but it would be nice to have that as a reference tool -- though there are many online resources already. There's probably people that will be glad to give a little hand in contributing etc.

[Spinning poo machine]

People seem to really be on opposite ends regarding the glossy paper thing. Hopefully the gloss won't bother me to badly in regards to light reflection.


Lol, it seriously isn't that big of a deal.

[Jeff Hayat]

Borrowed the book from the library a while back.

Very good for the newbie, or anyone still learning the craft. Very well written, and while some things are in fact dated (will happen with any book - especially one regarding technology), it is still very informative, and most of the techniques and industry "stuff" will be applicable for a long time to come.

Cheers.

[Patanjali]

Good book for beginners. Goes into what might be obvious for those more experienced.

Interviews might be old, but they are still useful.


Didn't find the glossy pages too reflective that they were a nuisance. I have read magazines where I had to read at a shallow angle just to read thetext by its lower reflectivity.

[chlady]

If you do get it, make sure you get the 3rd edition. I got a used copy recently on Amazon and it turned out to be the 2nd edition and had to send it back. It was even more dated, (1997) and had only 200 pages compared to 700 in the 3rd edition.

[Hokuto]

Yes I have a very old version, bought years ago... it was ok but a bit superficial I think is was no more than 200 pages... I should probably have a look at the new version if it has 700 pages instead 200!