Performers, composers and technicians have constantly manipulated sound, creating, innovating and enriching the musical message. Over the course of several decades, the distinctive guitar sound of Jimi Hendrix as well as the electronic music of Pierre Henry, Kraftwerk, Pink Floyd, Daft Punk and T-Pain, amongst many others, has led to the emergence of numerous effects: reverb, compression, distortion, phasing, auto-tune, etc.

This book develops the theoretical and practical aspects linked to the sound effects present in every musical domain; performance, recording, mixing and broadcasting. Each of these is studied through its own historical, physical and theoretical context. Market-leading materials and software that implement these effects are then presented, as well as corresponding usage guides.

This book is intended for anybody who is passionate about sound, and provides examples using Adobe Audition, Ableton Live and Max/MSP as well as a sound-restoration approach.