Topic: Anyone ever consider writing a book on taping?

[Cobiwan]

SSIA.
I know that every time I read posts from DSatz, Gutbucket, or JonStoppable, and many, many more of you, I feel like I just had an epiphany walking out of a grad school class. I'm in no way forgetting the many other tapers on here that are all a wealth of knowledge, but I know I would throw down at least $100 for a book that has all the information in it that I learn piece by piece everyday reading this forum. So I thank you for your scholarly advice my fellow TS'rs and hope someone here has the time to write a "How to Manual" on our subject matter. Hell, with a little searching this site and copy/pasting it could already be over half written.
Thank you again all!
Coby

[runonce]

Here we go again!

[vanark]

Mixed reviews on Amazon about this one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0240808916/

[Cobiwan]

Here we go again!

Has there already been multiple requests for a nonfiction hardback?  I missed out on the pre-order.

[runonce]

Here we go again!

Has there already been multiple requests for a nonfiction hardback?  I missed out on the pre-order.

Nah - years ago there was some effort to produce a "manual" - I think I remember people volunteering to write various parts...seemed like it fell apart relatively quickly - although some of the older sticky and FAQ stuff might have emerged from this effort.

[2manyrocks]

It seems like what has been published is aimed at open recording done by professionals specifically hired and given direct, best access to record musicians. Taping or recording under the limitations most tapers face is a different beast.  Other than TS, what other information is available on taping? 

[acidjack]

I mean, other than professional recording, which generally requires a college degree + hands-on training, is "taping" really in need of a book to explain it?

[Gutbucket]

Well, if have no care about the technical pursuit of excellence and achieving the best sounding, most professional results you can, there's certainly no need at all.  "Taping" has been around for decades so it's is obviously not in any dire need of an organized and thorough text.  Neither is guitar playing, golf, gardening and a million other endeavors all of which span a wide spectrum of practitioners from top professionals to half-interested amateurs.  Anyone who cares to improve their performance in anything does so by way of education and experience - two sides of the same coin.  Why not feel free to take either as far as you care to go with them?  No one is forcing anything on anyone here.

"Why not" is the more appropriate question.  The practical answer is probably the rather small target audience and the effort required to make it happen.  We are a small nitch community.

It seems like what has been published is aimed at open recording done by professionals specifically hired and given direct, best access to record musicians. Taping or recording under the limitations most tapers face is a different beast.  Other than TS, what other information is available on taping? 

^^
Truth.

[2manyrocks]

I get what you're saying, but on the other hand, there's a high level of ingenuity and problem solving displayed in the posts here.  A professional can wheel in a cart full of cables, preamps, and recorders to record from the optimal spots.  Getting a good recording from the audience with what you can carry in your pockets is a different challenge.      I spent a lot of time on GS before realizing that there's a very high level of specialized knowledge relative to taping and  I needed to be here. 

[Chuck]

No book needed. Just come here and read. Then make a post when you have a question.

[bobstammers]

No book needed. Just come here and read. Then make a post when you have a question.

^^ This.

I have been coming here daily for nigh on 6 years (first joined in 2006). Always reading and taking it in, have asked very few questions in that time as most of it has been asked before.

Please keep up the good work, wouldn't buy a book as it is already here, so no need.

Thanks to all posters who contribute, I've learnt loads (and spent a bit too )

[bryonsos]

I think the technical side would be useful to have in a simple brochure or condensed into a chapter or 2. The really neat stuff would be the history, anecdotes, and the 'Tales from the Golden Road' type material.

[u2_fly_2]

It would be interesting to have a book that both covers the various "set-up stuff" vs. "venues"...etc and perhaps a little bit of good old tapers/taping-stories to go with it. Do we really need it these days with the eletronic/internet sources, probably not, but I would def. buy a book like this.

[stevetoney]

For what it's worth, years ago I participated in a community Stevie Ray Vaughan group.  We traded music and shared stories.  As a group, we developed an extensive SRV FAQ that became well known.  One guy in particular had started a fan club before this internet blog group formed, so in fairness, he pre-existed our talk group.  However, for awhile, this guy was also part of the early group.

He broke off and started doing stuff on his own.  Started hoarding.  He ended up writing a book which he claimed authorship over, though not all of the book was written by him.  Pretty big controversy and most of the purists on our talk group were resentful.  He ended up starting several SRV-related endeavors that mutually benefitted himself and the SRV legacy.  For example, now there's an SRV museum where he displays his personal collection of SRV memorabilia...it's not called the XX museum of SRV memorabilia...it's just called the SRV museum.  I really don't know if the family estate has sanctioned him or not, but that's not really the point. 

For the most part, nowadays I just say good for him.  He's taken intiative and stuck to it, and he's making a buck for himself while doing a reasonable job promoting the legacy of SRV.  On another level, I still see this guy as the same opportunistic douchebag I thought he was 20 years ago when I would trade tapes with him and he'd take advantage of me and always hoard the good stuff.

I'm not sure if there's a moral to this story, but I think it's that, if anyone were to take the initiative to write a book that compiles information in this forum, there's probably a really good chance that others are going to end up being resentful if the author makes any money off or gains anything intangible out of it.