- So where do we go from here?…I hope you come away from this course…with a bird's-eye view of the main aspects…of digital audio and inspiration…about where to explore next.…Nothing can take the place of experience.…If you don't already have a DAW,…find one that appeals to you and experiment with it.…Check out the courses on other aspects…of audio and music, such as Getting Started…in Audio and Music Production…and the Foundations of Audio series.…Also check out the courses on your audio software of choice.…
Do lots of active listening, find things you like…and don't like, and listen intently.…Work to understand every control…on every common audio processor…and explore how those processors sound…on lots of different material.…Record and mix everything you can.…As an exercise, try imitating a recording you admire.…Learn the shape of the box really well…so you can intelligently think outside it.…Find a friend and quiz each other…on which frequency ranges are which…using an EQ or a tone generator.…
Do the same for various volume differences in decibels.…
Author
Matt Mayfield
Released
4/22/2016The course starts with explanations of what sound really is and how we hear it, including discussions on frequency, amplitude, phase, and psychoacoustics. Matt explores analog audio signal path, explaining connections, gain staging, and metering. Next, he brings the audio signal into the digital domain, discussing analog to digital conversion, digital gain staging, file formats and compression, and dither.
Then the course digs into digital audio workstations (DAWs), explaining the concepts and misconceptions involved in digital recording systems. Matt describes how memory, CPU speed, and storage affect your DAW's performance, as well as how to manage computer resources and understand the plethora of file formats associated with digital recording. He follows with an overview of MIDI: how to generate, store, process, and communicate MIDI data. He wraps up with the audio processors that are often used for mixing in a DAW—including EQ, compressors, reverb, delay, and many others.
- What is sound?
- The three domains of sound: acoustic, analog, and digital
- The analog vs. digital signal paths
- Converting analog audio to digital
- Digital formats and data compression
- Understanding the five types of DAWs
- Recording performances with MIDI
- Mixing and processing audio with EQ, compression, and other effects
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
Views
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Introduction
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Welcome2m 2s
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1. Concepts of Sound
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What is sound made of?2m 51s
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Frequency and amplitude8m 21s
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Phase and time4m 37s
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How do we hear?6m 16s
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2. The Signal Path: Acoustic and Analog
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Overview of a signal path4m 20s
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Types of analog connections7m 54s
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Metering5m 52s
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3. The Signal Path: Digital
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Adding the digital domain3m 54s
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Analog to digital conversion7m 11s
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Dither6m 59s
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Digital to analog conversion9m 13s
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4. Digital Audio Workstations
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Introducing the DAW4m 51s
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Managing computer resources8m 57s
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5. MIDI
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How MIDI is communicated6m 18s
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Storing and processing MIDI3m 22s
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6. Mixing and Processing Audio
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Levels, pan, and automation6m 54s
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Types of EQ components7m 48s
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Reverb5m 55s
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Conclusion
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Next steps2m 15s
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