In September 2026, music producer and author Yuko Shibuya published a new book, The Alchemy of Sound-The Craft and Philosophy of Recording Engineers -
In late 2024, Shibuya interviewed me for a book about the behind-the-scenes world of the music industry. I looked forward to seeing how the book would take shape. When it was published, I found my name among the nine recording engineers featured in it. I was pleased and honored, if a little humbled, to be included.
The book offers a vivid picture of the realities of recording work behind the music industry, while delving into the fundamental challenges facing the industry.
When recording engineers talk about “good sound,” we tend to use a great deal of technical terminology, which can make it difficult for non-specialists to understand what we mean. In this book, however, Shibuya presents the work and perspectives of recording professionals in clear, accessible language.
Through in-depth conversations with nine distinguished Japanese recording and mastering engineers, Shibuya explores the craft, philosophy, and aesthetic judgment behind their work. Their perspectives reveal that recording is far more than the technical reproduction of sound. It involves listening, interpreting, and making decisions about how music should reach its audience.
The book also traces the development of sound recording, from its earliest days through the emergence of multitrack recording, digital technology, immersive audio, and AI-generated music, showing how technological advances have expanded the possibilities of musical expression.
In Chapter 7, “Recording Space,” Shibuya draws on her interview with me to explore immersive audio, spatial perception, and how the atmosphere and emotional impact of a musical performance can be conveyed through sound.
I highly recommend this book to music lovers with an interest in audio.
