Sound Engineering Level 1 - Beginners (Udemy.com)

Learn the basics of Sound Engineering in a "step by step", easy to understand way

Created by: Liam Davin

Produced in 2021

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What you will learn

  • How to use the software effectively
  • How to use the hardware effectively
  • How to record with good levels and use meters to achieve this
  • How to use the 3 main processers: Reverb, Compresser and EQ
  • How to edit, so you can remove mistakes and unwanted noises from your recordings
  • How to mix your recordings
  • How to balance all the parts and enhance them using the 3 main processers, that is your reverbs, compressers and EQs
  • How to render your mixed song to different audio formats for going online, onto CD or to just save to your hard drive

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Quality Score

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Overall Score : 92 / 100

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Course Description

This course - Sound Engineering Level 1 - is a fantastic starting point for anyone with an interest and a passion to record sounds, whether musical or otherwise, and will take you through everything you need to know to get started in an easy, straightforward way.
Have a look at some reviews about Sound Engineering Level 1-Beginners***** This course was laid out and presented really well. I had some basic previous experience and this course reinforced a lot of that stuff but also clarified a lot of the stuff I never really understood. e.
g. compression and EQ. Liam's presentation style was very easy going and straight forward, any jargon was explained when it came up. Thanks Liam. Ralph Hyland 2021*****This was an extremely helpful course. Everything was thoroughly explained and the provided course material was so much fun to work with. The lecturer was really knowledgeable and engaging. Thank you so much for the course. Volga Arasli 2021*****Getting all the important essential knowledge for recording and sound engineering. This a great course and I highly recommend it. Liam makes it really easy to do and understand. Enjoyed it. Fred Beck 2021In approximately 3.
5 hours of videos, you will learn all you need to know to start recording, editing, mixing and rendering to .
Wav or MP3Why this course?
I am a trained Sound Engineer and Music Producer, and have been teaching Sound Engineering and Music Technology at my own Recording Studios, Carrig Sound, in the South-West of Ireland since 2001, and before that, in various locations in England. I have taught everyone from absolute beginners up to Degree and Masters students. I am absolutely passionate about my subject and maintain that The only stupid question is the one that isnt asked. I am more than happy to answer any question however trivial it may appear, and love the challenge to ensure that everyone understands what they are learning.
What will you learn?
The course is divided into 6 modules, covering every area of Sound Engineering at an easy-to-understand level, and by the end of it, you will be able to record, edit, mix and render your own songs!
Here is a breakdown of what you will learn in each module:
Free Introductory Video (Lecture 1) (2 minutes 16 seconds)MODULE 1: Software & HardwareLecture 2, Reaper Overview 1 (12 minutes 43 seconds)The Software used on this course, what it is called, what it looks like, how to put in the audio files (provided), how to open empty tracks, how to save a project, the different functions of the software and some of the functions of the track control panels.
Lecture 3, Reaper Overview 2 (9 minutes 21 seconds)More about the Software, description of audio (.
wav) files, how audio is represented, zooming and navigating the project, how to loop a section of the project, looking at the Arrangement View and the Mixer View.
Lecture 4, Hardware (5 minutes 59 seconds)The hardware and how to get sound in to and out of the computer, the computer's sound card and its limitations, external audio interfaces and how they work.
Lecture 5, Recording & Audio Levels (11 minutes 40 seconds)Recording and audio levels, creating project folders for new projects, creating a new project, further explanation of snap control, first explanation of project settings dialogue box, how to save a project, how the meters work, optimum recording levels, naming the track, choosing an input, how to arm the track for recording, how to record the track and the save dialogue box.
MODULE 2: ReverbLecture 6, Reverb Theory (7 minutes 48 seconds)What is Reverb, the speed of sound, the difference between echoes and reverb, what dictates how long reverb lasts and examples of different reverbs.
Lecture 7, Plugins (11 minutes 37 seconds)What audio plugins are, how to install a plugin, what the terminology means when installing, how to put a reverb plugin into the project, how to adjust the parameters of the plugin and how to set up reverb times.
Lecture 8, Setting up Reverb (7 minutes 12 seconds)How to set up reverb on a separate track, how to connect dry tracks to a wet track, how to set up a send and how to use a send shortcut.
MODULE 3: CompresserLecture 9, Compresser Theory (4 minutes 54 seconds)What is a compresser, what is dynamic range, what does it do to audio and a visual explanation of the compresser at work.
Lecture 10, Compresser Practical 1 (11 minutes 38 seconds)How to use a compresser, opening the compresser, an explanation of the 3 compresser meters, an explanation of the 5 parameters and how to compress audio.
Lecture 11, Compresser Practical 2 (10 minutes 34 seconds)How to open the mixer window, how to resize the mixer, alternative ways to set the sends and inserts on the mixer, how to alter send volumes on the channel strip, shortcuts and signal flow.
MODULE 4: EQLecture 12, EQ Theory (11 minutes 50 seconds)The frequency response of human hearing, what EQ means, what the EQ does and the different types of EQ.
Lecture 13, EQ Practical (14 minutes 38 seconds)Some jargon explained, how to adjust EQ parameters, explanation of all the options in the EQ, practical applications, and a demonstration using EQ.
Lecture 14, The Three Main Processors (14 minutes 58 seconds)Using the Compresser, EQ and Reverb processors together on one song, what we are trying to achieve, setting up loop points, setting up a compresser and an EQ on each of the tracks, how to improve body and clarity, creating a new track, setting up a reverb and setting up sends.
MODULE 5: MicrophonesLecture 15, Microphone theory (11 minutes 47 seconds)What is a microphone, what is a transducer, what is happening when sound goes in to a microphone, the two different types of microphones: Dynamic and Condenser microphones, what the differences are between the types, how each work (diagrams to help explain), the advantages and disadvantages of the different types, and four important comparison aspects between the Dynamic and Condenser microphones.
Lecture 16, Audio Examples (11 minutes 46 seconds)Comparing directly between Dynamic and Condenser microphones recording the same sound, a visual illustrating the correct positioning of each type of microphone, testing a Dynamic and a Condenser microphone recording the same sound, but at 3 different distances from the sound source, the pros and cons with each type of microphone, what you need to consider when buying a microphone with regarding your environment, budget and requirements, and some suggested Dynamic and Condenser microphones you may wish to purchase.
MODULE 6: Recording, Editing, Mixing & RenderingLecture 17, Using your Audio Interface Part 1: Software (8 minutes 07 seconds)Explaining how to use your Audio Interface, how to access Drivers, how to change the Preferences to access the Audio Interface on the DAW, Recording Level reminder, adjusting the Reaper screen, how to set up for a Recording Session and how to keep all the recordings for a project in the same place.
Lecture 18, Using your Audi

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Instructor Details

Liam Davin

Liam Davin is a sound engineer, producer, technical trainer and musician, and has been working in the music industry since the 1970's. Over the past 25 years whilst working as a sound engineer, he has written and run many successful courses on all levels of sound engineering, music technology and music composition which he runs at his own recording studios, in the South West of Ireland.

His live courses are incredibly popular due to the large amount of hands-on time students get, sadly missing from most diploma and degree courses. To counteract this online, Liam provides the links to free, legal plugins (and only the very best ones that he has tested) plus all the audio used in his demos, so students can replicate his every move at home, the closest he can get to giving you a hands-on experience! His courses also unfold clearly, simply and in chronological order, taking the students on a journey, just as if you were attending one of his live courses.

As a sound engineer who is also a musician, he can empathise a musician's desire to learn to record themselves well, and communicates the technical information in an easy-to-understand manner.

Liam is passionate about all aspects of sound engineering and music technology, and communicates his enthusiasm through his videos, making them easy and exciting to watch.

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Reviews

4.6

44 total reviews

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By Steven R Nagel on 12/13/2020

At first a little confusing where to find resource material because it is called something like Student Packet 1. Was looking where to download it or was it emailed to me. Duh, it was right on the side.
Very Good. Really explained in detail a lot of things that I known and made me understand them a lot more.
Really would have liked to have Normalization and Gain Limits explained.

By Tania Lopez Moreno on 11/21/2020

I loved it! There are things I used without knowing how they worked, and now I already have the knowledge of their role and it's wonderful.

By Edric Salone on 11/14/2020

It does a good job at explaining how the processors work for basic mixing but doesn't go into detail about why he picks certain frequency ranges, or what sounds should i be noticing during the editing. He gives you time to listen, but doesn't always articulate what you should be listening for. It also doesn't give a new engineer of music concepts and how different sounds need to be altered to get your desired results. Just moving the meters back and forth without explaining why he is moving in certain directions versus others, or altering some bands of EQ and not others.

By Freddy Jacobs on 11/14/2020

ja

By Lomas Cain on 11/10/2020

learned alot look forward to the intermediate course 2

By Matthew Hyman on 11/3/2020

The more the course progresses the more interesting I am finding it and the more it re-enforces my knowledge. Particularly like the EQing section so far.
:)

By Ernesto Oddone on 10/17/2020

I LOVE IT! I REALLY ENJOYED

By Mecit Yazc on 10/10/2020

At the end of the course i found out that i m not a beginner at all. This course was like a do over for me. BUT there s a biigg but, if you do not know anything like the course says "for beginners" it is exactly for them. Excellent and very well prepared. Also for me to be happy after all i learned how to use Reaper. It s nice.

By Lawrence Laone on 9/26/2020

THIS COURSE IS VERY EDUCATUIONAL

By Nahum Nehemia on 9/21/2020

Very well done! Great course for music production beginners. Clear and articulate. The examples are well designed, and give the student the capabilities to start his/her first project. Thank you!

By Serena Giles on 9/20/2020

He gave me a clear, easy but informal insight on sound engineering. He took it step by step and I really enjoyed it. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who would like to start sound engineering. Thank you.

By Phillon Morgan on 9/13/2020

Thanks a lot it was enlightening in every way i look forward to course 2 and beyond