This book presents a detailed panorama of electroacoustic music's principal trends. His approach includes general ideas (terminology, role, listening experience), interviews with several important composers, instruments and devices, the principal historical and current techniques and the studios. Each element includes numerous examples of musical works.

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• Musique concrète and tape manipulation techniques
  • Pierre Schaeffer and the Études of 1948
  • Tape loops
  • Cutting and splicing
  • Speed change
  • Direction change
  • Tape delay
  • Combined tape and manipulation techniques
  • Electronic music
  • Electro-acoustic musical instruments
  • Electronic music and optical sound tracks
  • Classical studio electronic music: the Cologne studio and its precursors
  • Classical studio electronic music: the development of classical studio
  • Electronic music synthesizers
  • Computer music
  • Live/electronic music
  • The art of electro-acoustic Music: interviews with composers
  • Interview with Luciano Berio (Thema: Omaggio a Joyce)
  • Interview with Pauline Oliveros (I of IV)
  • Interview with Morton Subotnick (Until Spring)
  • Interview with Jean-Claude Risset (Mutations I)
  • Interview with Gordon Mumma (Cybersonic Cantilevers)
  • Bibliography