With the recording arts mostly a practical craft, the enclosed DVD reinforces new concepts by providing both audio samples and short video vignettes of what it should sound like and what it should exactly look like i.e. in the case of positioning a mic on a guitar amp in a certain way. Next to actually attending a recording school, this is the best way I've seen used in a printed book.

Instrument and Vocal Recording takes you through chapters on: acoustics; the recording of both electric and acoustic guitars; a big chapter of getting a drum sound; bass; vocals; and piano. I liked the way Gibson handled the many issues that can come up during a vocal session--problems actually relating more to the producer or singer than the engineer but most important to be resolved by someone if a good recording is to be realized.

And that may be the theme of this book and others in this series: to tackle each task(s) by breaking down and identifying the individual steps required to accomplish it and in the process learn and refine the underlying families of craft--be they technically, artistically or physiologically oriented.