Frequently Asked Questions

In the author's experience, the internet is great for audio topics provided you know what you are looking for. However, individual topics are presented outside of a coherent framework. A smart learning process has a structure that provides information in succession and context to build a holistic picture in the mind of the reader, growing knowledge organically through subtle links between subjects and disciplines. A book allows a student to flip between pages to fact check and reinforce topics. The internet has countless cures for skin rashes, bold financial advice and chicken soup recipes, but is there any certainty that the outcomes will be good ones?

Sound Knowledge is written for everyone who loves sound: from those starting out in professional audio; University students reading sound engineering; those on music production or radio courses; through to working professionals looking to increase their understanding of developing practices. It is an invaluable resource for home audio enthusiasts.

Not at all. The maths is either simple or simply not there! It is designed to be equally accessible to those from artistic or technical backgrounds. Complex concepts are demonstrated through parallels taken from everyday life, making the content approachable regardless of your starting point. Whilst the technology level is appropriate for entry into the sound profession, the references at the end of each chapter provide additional reading for those with an engineering bias.

Sound Knowledge is the first complete foundation on professional audio to be published in over a quarter of a century. Rather than treating disciplines in isolation, it builds an interlinked understanding across all areas, from a foundation of basic skills to creative techniques in the studio, working with acoustics, electronics, and both analogue and digital media through to presentation, production values, event planning and fault finding.

Yes. There is a chapter dedicated to finding your feet in podcasting with plain language providing expert guidance on the technical and acoustic setup to optimise your space, and on production values to make your work succinct, engaging and professional. There is encouragement to go further with this book to create a career out of a valued pastime.

Sound Knowledge will have worldwide distribution, initially available in the UK from September 2026 through publishers Routledge, and from Amazon, Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, and valued local bookshops. Pre-orders open from mid-August 2026 at a discount — register your interest and we'll notify you as soon as you can order. Additional retailer links will be added as they become available.

Yes. The Audio Vault section of this website provides a growing resource of free downloadable tables, graphs, and supplementary materials. These are organised by subject to support your course work alongside progress through the book. Many are drawn from the book, but there are an increasing number of additional resources in support of your study.

Absolutely. The book is structured to flow without outside support as each concept builds on the last, making it ideal for independent learners. Whilst you do not need a classroom setting to benefit from it, hands on experience with sound equipment is essential to create a holistic sound professional, and the reader is encouraged to reach out to local studios, audio companies and stage venues to support their individual journey.

The book has a total of sixteen chapters, complemented by three appendices, which collectively provide thorough support for foundational sound skills. Each section is carefully structured to ensure readers gain a well-rounded understanding of the essential elements required in professional audio. The breadth of skills is carefully addressed, providing a solid base for further study and practical application. Highlights include audio and electronic principles, sound desks and outboard devices, acoustics, microphones, loudspeakers, digital audio and sound synthesis. Practical support is given for hands-on work in the radio or music studio, location recording, mixdowns, editing, and real-world problem solving. The book also includes detailed appendices on microphone placement, acoustic specialisms, and plans for constructing your own acoustic absorbers.

With complete confidence! Sound Knowledge was conceived and written to fill the void in audio theory texts for media-centric University courses. It is accompanied by a growing resource of additional material on this website, providing support for both students and lecturers. The book is edited by the world's most trusted educational publisher, Taylor & Francis (Routledge). Instructors can request a free desk copy for evaluation via the Routledge evaluation form.

Yes, the book will be available in electronic form with highly detailed "alt text" for each of the 171 book images in support of blind and partially sighted people so they enjoy equal access to the same images as sighted people, but through descriptive text. Details of digital formats will be confirmed closer to the publication date. Check back on this website or sign up for updates (coming soon) for the latest information.

If you are a lecturer on a sound, audio engineering, music production, or related course, you can request a complimentary desk copy through Taylor & Francis. Apply via the Routledge evaluation copy form and select Sound Knowledge (ISBN: 9781041205791).