Category: Music Production Courses

As with free options in software, courseware, or any other application, the tools and abilities are often limited. While completing free music production courses may give you the basic, overall knowledge of music production, the intricate details will not be divulged.

Should You Attend Paid Classes Or Is Free Good Enough?

It is true that if you have enough time and patience on your hand, anything can be self-taught using the internet and YouTube videos. There has been a burst in the field of electronic dance music over the past decade. More artists are releasing tracks and many more tutorials are now available as opposed to previous years.

The biggest advantage of attending a music production school where you are taught everything you need to know within a pre-determined timeframe is that you are surrounded with people who share the same passion for music as you do. You have the opportunity to benefit from two forms of learning. Yes, you receive the formal studies through the classes presented as part of the course, but you also learn through conversation, discussion, and debate with your fellow classmates when you are relaxing and socializing. It may be after school hours but music-minded people are always thinking in tune. With this information overload, you are sure to climb the ladder to success pleasantly fast.

The downside to learning music production through free self-study online is that you won’t have a well-rounded, general knowledge of every area of the field. While you may excel at the use of synths, you may be at a loss when the time comes to include vocals. By attending a certified course, you will be well-prepared and well-educated in all areas of music production.

Is The Learning Experience Worth The Money?

Whether or not the learning experience for you was worth the money you paid will depend entirely on how smartly you selected your school and field of focus. If you are serious about your future in this career, the importance of your choices of courses and place of study is imperative. If you have chosen wisely, you will not have to endure hours of information on things that don’t relate to the direction you want to go. This, paired with the friendships made, and the shared experiences make it all worth the money for sure. Yes, a job isn’t guaranteed, but you have the tool to create your own job.

Sound engineering is an excellent choice of career path if you intend to go into television or focus on producing live music. Should you be more geared towards the direction of electronic dance music, sound engineering will not be of any use.

Live Music Requires Engineering

Live music is the one area of music production that still requires sound engineering. The use of electronic and synthesized instruments is not frequent in live entertainment and the sounds require human editing and engineering. This differs from EDM in that synth sounds are always used where electronic music is concerned. These are easily edited using music production software.

The Differences Between A Music Producer and a Sound Engineer

It is important to understand the distinction between the two if you are to pursue a career in the industry. While they may have certain functions that overlap, they are different faculties of the music industry. A producer is usually put in charge of helping the artist to realize the dream that they have created in the minds.

The producer will make the decision on the best direction to go with any given track and the sound that would be best suited. A sound engineer uses his technical abilities to make what the producer and artist want become a reality. The sound engineer will ensure that the equipment used is correct for the work at hand and that it is correctly setup to maximize the sound quality.

Different Strokes

It takes different personalities to fulfill different positions and these two are no different. While a music producer is really the person managing the project, he/she needs to have the ability to take control of any given situation. A producer needs to have artistic and creative flair in order to bring artists’ dreams to reality. They need to adapt easily to people and situations. Due to the nature of the industry, they may be tasked with working with a variety of artists at any given time.

A sound engineer is a more practical and technical position. It is the job of the sound engineer to handle the technical and mechanical side of the project. In this day and age, most sound engineers are also expected to understand how to function DAW’s.

The sound engineer will often be part of the final mixing and editing of the final version of any track. Engineers are characteristically meticulous and their attention to detail is what makes them stand out in their field. It must be realized that the music producer is unable to complete a successful project without the assistance of a sound engineer, and a sound engineer is unable to operate without the direction of a music producer.

Online education is extremely popular in this day and age. This does not refer to self-taught tutorials and YouTube videos, but rather legitimate schools which provide a learning schedule, lessons, assignments, and examinations. These courses are offered by reputable production schools and the certification achieved is worth its weight in music gold.

What Are The Cost Implications?

Online studies in music production are often the lower-priced option when compared to physical, class-attending courses. While the information and lessons learned are the same, there are a number of factors that aid in reducing the fee. There is no overhead to be paid in order to maintain the building in which normal classes take place, there are no lecturers to pay salaries to, and as most of the information is provided in soft copy, there are no charges associated to printing hard copies.

The Social Experience

Whereas physical course attendance provides a social experience, online study does not. Social experience refers to actual, physical contact with other like-minded individuals. Open discussions, debates, and information sharing are other very important avenues for learning. With an online experience you miss out on the physical contact Yes, you can create virtual friendships, but the effects are far from the same.

Who Would Benefit From Online Courses?

There are many people who would love an opportunity to follow their dreams in music production but their lot in life has not allowed it. For instance, someone may have foregone the chance to study full time because they have to work, earn money, and support a family. Should these people lose out on their dreams? Certainly not!

Online courses provide people in such situations the opportunity to study in their own time outside working hours. They can still pursue their lifelong goals without neglecting their personal responsibilities.

The Downside To Studying Online

While the format for an online study is not that much different to a physical class course, they may have slight differences in duration allowed for completion of the course. Online courses often simply provide a date by which each module and assignment must be completed. If you are someone who is unable to manage your time or becomes complacent when left to your own devices, you may end up dropping out, not because you lack the skill, but rather because you lack the drive and discipline to get it done.

The Music Industry in a Nutshell

Online music production courses take a huge amount of self-exploration and research. You really have to want to pursue this career and have the passion it requires to make it in the business if you hope to have any chance of successful completion. The music industry is not an easy nut to crack. If you don’t have self-belief in your abilities and perseverance as your finest qualities then you are sure to be eaten up by a world that has the ability to drain the life force from you, leaving nothing but an empty shell.

Music production is a rather involving subject. If you are starting off on this study path with no previous knowledge or experience in the field, the road is a fairly long one. This is a career path you choose because you have a passion and an aptitude for it.

Diverse Course Topics

There is so much that goes into the finished products that you hear on a

newly-released CD or on the radio. The process is physically and emotionally draining, but well worth the rewards once your ears first hear the finished product. A certified course in music production covers a range of subjects which include things like equipment knowledge, entertainment laws, recording and editing of audio tracks, how to create beats, marketing, music theory, effects, mixing, mastering, and how to select your equipment. Of course, that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Crash Courses – Is It Possible?

Many institutions do offer crash courses or weekend courses. These only brush the surface of what there is to learn on the topic. You will, however, leave with basic knowledge of how to move forward. For some, the basics may be enough to set them on a path to success. However, those who do take the time to go the route of the full course will definitely be better equipped to pursue music production as a business. Music production requires passion, drive, and the pursuit of the perfect melody. It is not for everybody, but you will know deep down if you are built for it.

Pro Tools is a software application used by many music producers. It has all the required tools right at your fingertips. In order to master what Pro Tools has to offer, there are courses available in many different learning facilities.

What Are The Requirements?

There are of course basic requirements that must be met before you can consider taking part in the classes. Basic computer knowledge is a must as the software is computer based. It is preferable that you have some audio recording knowledge and an understanding of recording techniques, processes, and equipment.

What Will You Be Able To Achieve With Pro Tools?

Once you have graduated from the course, you will be well equipped to do music production projects from start to finish using Pro Tools. Voice recording, the use of live instruments, MIDI sequencing, correct usage of software synthesisers, and audio looping are all part of the lesson plans. Become a master music producer with the right tools at your disposal.

Music production is a creative process that requires time, patience, and passion. With the knowledge of the available tools, you will achieve the perfect tunes.