LMMS: A Complete Guide to Dance Music Production Paperback – September 24, 2012

I do most of my audio work on Linux using Ubuntu Studio with KXStudio extensions. Included in these packages is the free (yes FREE) LMMS software. LMMS is one of the few great Linux audio packages that also works on Windows, giving Windows users an excellent choice over some of the much more $expensive$ proprietary options. As a bonus, even though originally designed in Linux, LMMS allows access to VSTs under both Linux and Windows, which opens a world of opportunity.Every DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software package has its strengths and weaknesses. LMMS is custom made for dance music, but unfortunately the available online documentation leaves a bit to be desired. I got this book both because I am interested in making dance music AND because I wanted to learn LMMS. This book delivers on its promise. Certainly, there's no such thing as a truly *complete* book on any musical subject, but in terms of its core competencies of showing you how to use LMMS and explaining how dance music is constructed, it is excellent. This book takes you step-by-step through putting together a cool piece of dance music. The author explains every step clearly, gives examples, asks you review questions, etc.If you know absolutely nothing about music, this book will not make you a serious composer. It gives a bit of an introduction to things such as musical scales, chords and keys which is enough to get started. I have a hard time judging this as I've been involved with music for three decades. It's hard to put myself in the shoes of someone with absolutely zero knowledge of music and ask: would this be enough? I think it is, though just barely, and would recommend if you are seriously interested in music composition generally and need to learn music theory, you should get a supplemental text on the subject. It would also be helpful if you actually know how to play an instrument -- any instrument. This is not, IMO, a shortcoming of the book. I'm glad the author covers what he does and hopefully it will whet some readers' appetites.The author shows you how to use every feature of the software, including features such as the Beat/Bassline editor that make LMMS unique. He shows you how to use effects as both inserts and sends, how to use the mixing panel, how to use automation to work with practically any control, and more.The author also explores dance music construction including its beats, tempo, syncopation and more. He discusses the ideas behind synthesis and gives an introduction to using external instruments with MIDI.There is one shortcoming to this book. In several sections he tells the reader to "reduce/increase volume by X db." The problem is that the knobs are calibrated in percentages rather than decibels and unless someone knows how to correlate db and percentages, there will be a bit of head scratching. To make this easy, a signal is cut in half for every 6db. So a volume control at 100% would be reduced to 50% when turned down 6db.Overall, this is a really great book. It is accessible in that it is written for laypeople, is very clearly written with good illustrations, and really explains its subject matter. It talks to the reader but never down to the reader. I like this book a lot, and wish more authors who address complex subjects could do so with this author's clarity.

The author is clear in his explanations on how LMMS functions. I use this book as a valuable aid in my Digital Music course. The only real issue I have is that an older version of LMMS is covered and there have been significant changes to the program since it was published. Of course, this is not the author's fault, but simply a consequence of the rapidly evolving technology age we live in. Just realize, it will be up to the reader to discover how the many new LMMS features work and how to apply them. I eemphatize with the author because I am also an author of technology books and well aware of how rapidly things change once your book is published. That's why I constantly focus on unchanging fundamental principles and less on the current technology issues, which I know will change rapidly.Oh! how I envy fiction and historical authors.

The only book about LMMS. Not a bad one. :)

There's some things you'll learn by clicking through them, then there's LMMS. LMMS has a lot of features that have become expected in a music studio, but without a clear understanding of how to find them and what they actually do (i.e. Envelope) it's just a game of turning knobs, clicking buttons and *hoping* things sound good.The book starts with an introduction to the equipment LMMS (as well as other music software) mimics and ends with some very cool automation stuff such as dynamically changing tempo, volume and some advanced techniques used in music creation.Don't be fooled into thinking this is just a crash course on the LMMS software. The author takes time to explain microphones, keyboards, synthesizers, distortion pedals and much more which is important in an era where many musicians have never touched the physical equipment they are so eager to use electronically.What I found most valuable from this book is the explanation of the Triple Oscillator. This instrument often seen as "Default preset" is easily overlooked but can create sounds such as a bass guitar, electric guitar, and many others! Also, the detail about each instrument plug-in (such as Kicker, LB302 and ZynAddSubFX and taking advantage of that yellow star (instrument presets) was excellent. This book was enough inspiration for me to take LMMS a step further from a hobby to a great free production tool. I'd highly recommend purchasing this book.