The Ultimate Guide to MIDI Orchestration - Best Practices for Film Scoring & Music Production (Perfect for Composers & Producers)

This is an excellent book and compulsory reading for anyone, at any level, who wants to compose, arrange and produce big orchestral scores for TV, movies, or is just generally interested in the subject matter. The author is highly knowledgeable and experienced, as a musician as well as a composer and orchestrator, and it is obvious that he knows well what he is talking about when he describes in detail the various characteristics of orchestral instruments. Creating a beautiful and naturally sounding instrumentation is no easy feat (I am talking from experience) and knowing what the "real thing" sounds like, and understanding physical limitations of real instruments, is essential. One area I would like to see covered in more detail, whether in a fourth edition or in the upcoming "user area" on the author's website ([...]) is a more indepth coverage of Sibelius 5. Sibelius 5 now also supports virtual instruments which makes it an absolute killer (in my personal opinion) in combination with high end libraries such as Eastwest's Symphonic Orchestra.Note for readers of this review: the forementioned "user area" (expected to be up sometime in May according to the web site) will provide updates on the material covered in the book. This should alleviate some of the concerns of other reviewers to the effect that the information on MIDI orchestra and the various libaries available, is quickly outdated.