Introduction to Music Production: Online Course by Berklee College

Introduction to Music Production is a free online course conducted by the Berklee College of Music. This course helps course takers to learn about the music production process including recording, editing, and mixing and the tools available to you to create contemporary music on your computer.

Course Syllabus

• Lesson 1: Sound and Signal Flow

Propagation, Amplitude, Frequency, Visualizing Sound, Connections Overview, Microphone as a Transducer, Microphone Types, Microphone Frequency Response, Microphone Polar Patterns, Microphone Placement, Line Level and Gain Staging, Cables, Interface, MIcrophone Connection and Gain, Analog to Digital Converter, Pickup Connections, The Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

• Lesson 2: The DAW

Analog to Digital Conversion, Buffer Size, File Types, Project Folder, Project Checklist, Multitrack, Recording Audio, Trimming, Separating and Cutting, The Grid, Fades, Zooming, Cycling, Merging, Naming and Coloring, Markers, Comping, Software Instruments, MIDI Editing: Velocity, MIDI Editing: Quantization, Common MIDI Recording and Editing Functions

• Lesson 3: The Mixer

The Channel Strip, The Bus Concept, Effects Categories, Inserts, The Submix, Sends, Automation

• Lesson 4: Dynamic Effects

Noise, Distortion, Dynamic Range Manipulation, Dynamic Processors Overview, Dynamic Processor Parameters, Gate, Downward Compressor, Limiter

• Lesson 5: Filter and Delay Effects

The Delay Concept, The Delay Spectrum, Modulated Short Delays, Filters Overview, Mixing EQ, Medium Delay: Slap Back, Long Delay, Reverb, Width in Mixing, Space in Mixing

• Lesson 6: Synthesis

Oscillators, Filters, Amplifiers, LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator), A Language of Timbre

Prerequisites
Course takers should be able to perform the following tasks in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), such as GarageBand, Pro Tools, Logic, Live, Reason, SONAR, or Digital Performer:

• Create audio tracks
• Add audio effects (EQ, Noise Gate, Compressor, Delay, and Reverb)
• Create MIDI tracks
• Add a software synthesizer to a MIDI track
• Export an audio file
• Create an MP3 file

Course Sessions

• April 21, 2015-June 15, 2015

Course Duration

• 6 weeks

For further information and to register, click here.