For his first book, 'PRESETS – digital shortcuts to sound', Stefan Goldmann has talked to industry leaders, programmers, producers, musicians and fine artists to gather a comprehensive description of the world of preset audio: from synthesis to sample libraries, from instrument emulations and gear cloning to automated composition and performance. The effects of digitisation on electronic music are covered in detail, and so is the rapid digitisation of more unexpected fields: classical and traditional music, guitar rock and fine arts. The role of traits inherent in specific electronic instruments in the emergence of genres such as techno, house, hip hop, synth pop and, most recently, US 'brostep' and EDM is discussed in detail. Disruptive gear and iconic presets, their background and impact – from Korg's M1, Yamaha's DX7 and Roland's 909 to Ableton Live, Native Instruments Reaktor, sidechain compression and Auto-Tune – are discussed in unprecedented depth, with some of the key agents speaking out for the first time.

Featuring interviews with:
Robert Henke, co-founder – Ableton
Mike Daliot, senior audio developer – Native Instruments
Michael Wagener, producer – Metallica, Janet Jackson, Ozzy Osbourne, Queen
Cory Arcangel, fine artist
Junichi Ikeuchi & Tomoko Itoh, members of the original Korg M1 developer team
Dimitar Kotev, Bulgarian traditional musician
Tony Stevanovsky, arranger