Over the years I have spent a lot of money on educational textbooks. They are not cheap!
If you are a serious audio engineer or someone who loves a deep dive into the technical aspect of acoustics, then the following books are great resources.
Some of these books are speaker and headphone design specific, while others cover the broader field of acoustics in general.
Here is a list of my top books for each aspect of the audio industry from loudspeaker design to live sound engineering.
Best Books For Speaker Design
1. Loudspeaker Design Cookbook
2. Introduction to Loudspeaker Design
3. Loudspeaker and Headphone Handbook
3. Fundamentals of Acoustics (By Lawrence E. Kinsler)
4. Loudspeakers: For Music Recording and Reproduction
5. Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms
Best Books For Acoustics Theory
1. Master Handbook of Acoustics
2. Acoustics and the Performance of Music
Best Books For Recording
1. Sound and Recording: Applications and Theory
2. Classical Recording: A Practical Guide in the Decca Tradition
3. Modern Recording Techniques
4. The Recording Engineer’s Handbook
Best Books For Live Sound Engineering
1. Audio Metering: Measurements, Standards and Practice
2. Handbook for Sound Engineers
3. Sound Systems: Design and Optimization: Modern Techniques and Tools for Sound System Design and Alignment
4. The Ultimate Live Sound Operator’s Handbook
Best Books For Mixing
1. The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook
2. The Art of Mixing: A Visual Guide to Recording, Engineering, and Production
3. Mixing Audio: Concepts, Practices and Tools
4. Step By Step Mixing: How to Create Great Mixes Using Only 5 Plug-ins
5. Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio
Best Books For Mastering
1. Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science
2. Audio Mastering Secrets: Learn To Master Your Songs And Music Like A Pro
3. The Mastering Engineer’s Handbook
Best Books For Music Production
1. Modern Recording Techniques: A Practical Guide to Modern Music Production
2. Audio Production and Critical Listening: Technical Ear Training
3. The MIDI Manual: A Practical Guide to MIDI within Modern Music Production
4. Intelligent Music Production
5. Behind The Glass: Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft The Hits
