We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
J. Anthony Allen

Welcome to the Ultimate Sound Design

➜ Now a UDEMY *Best Seller*, and UDEMY *Hot and New*.

This course is "5-Star Certified" by the International Association of Online Music Educators and Institutions (IAOMEI). This course has been independently reviewed by a panel of experts and has received a stellar 5-star rating.100% Answer Rate. Every single question posted to this class is answered within 24 hours by the instructor.

This class is for anyone who has wondered what sound design is all about. Especially:

Read more

Welcome to the Ultimate Sound Design

➜ Now a UDEMY *Best Seller*, and UDEMY *Hot and New*.

This course is "5-Star Certified" by the International Association of Online Music Educators and Institutions (IAOMEI). This course has been independently reviewed by a panel of experts and has received a stellar 5-star rating.100% Answer Rate. Every single question posted to this class is answered within 24 hours by the instructor.

This class is for anyone who has wondered what sound design is all about. Especially:

  • Producers: If you are making tracks that rely on presets, and you want to learn how to craft your own sounds, this is the course for you.

  • Aspiring Producers: If you are just getting started with music production, this course will be the swiss army knife that you will keep in your belt forever.

  • Musicians: If you have wanted to improve your compositions by understanding how the physics of sound and partials work, this class is for you.

  • Songwriters: Improve your compositions by understanding how to make unique and memorable sounds to use in your songs.

In this class, we start with the very basics of sound design and work all the way up to working with complicated plugins like Xfer Serum, Native Instruments FM8, and others. I'll walk you through every step of the process and explain the logic behind every decision I make.

The goal of this class is for you to learn how to make original, compelling, and memorable sounds for your music.

Software:This course is NOT specific to any DAW program.

I'll be using Ableton Live Suite 10 in this course as my main DAW, but if you are using any other program you will be able to follow along just fine. That includes Logic, FL Studio, Pro Tools, Reaper, Reason, Cubase, or any of the others. My method in this class is to teach concepts, so whatever I do, you will be able to do it in your own software.Genre:I'm best known for working with electronic music, but I've designed this course to be as inclusive as possible when it comes to genre. We will talk about sound design techniques for all genres, sounds, and styles. All genres are welcome here.

Topics Covered: 

  • The Essential Tools of Sound Design

  • Physics of Sound

  • Timbre

  • Harmonics

  • Partials

  • Overtones

  • The Oscillator

  • Sine Waves

  • Square Waves

  • Triangle Waves

  • Sawtooth Waves

  • Waveshapers

  • Noise Generators

  • Subtractive Synthesis

  • Filters

  • EQ

  • Low Pass Filters

  • High Pass Filters

  • Bandpass Filters

  • Notch Filters

  • Signal Flow

  • Envelopes

  • ADSR

  • Building Thick or Thin Sounds

  • Building High or Low Sounds

  • Building Short or Long Sounds

  • Building Motion or Still Sounds

  • The LFO

  • FM Synthesis

  • The Native Instruments FM8 Plugin

  • Modulators

  • Ableton Live's Operator

  • Additive Synthesis

  • Wavetable Synthesis

  • Xfer Serum Plugin

  • Wavetables

  • Creating Wavetables

  • Physical Modeling Synthesis

  • Analog Instruments

  • Moog Mother 32

  • Plugins: Serum and many more.

  • Working with game audio and game sound design

  • Sound Design Recipies

  • Creating Bass Synths

  • Creating Drum Synths

  • Creating Lead Synths

  • Software: Using Cakewalk, Garageband, Ableton Love, FL Studio, Logic Pro X, Cubase, Reaper, or any other application.

  • Principals of sound engineering

  • The art of home recording

  • And much, much more.

If you are ready to start making professional sounding tracks, this is the class that will start you on that journey. Get started today.

Dr. Allen is a university music professor and is a top-rated Udemy instructor - with nearly 100 courses and over 300,000 students.

In 2017 Star Tribune Business featured him as a "Mover and a Shaker," and he is recognized by the Grammy Foundation for his music education classes. 

I guarantee that this course is the most thorough sound design course available ANYWHERE on the market - or your money back (30-day money-back guarantee)

Closed captions have been added to all lessons in this course.

Praise for Courses by Jason Allen:

⇢  "It seems like every little detail is being covered in an extremely simple fashion. The learning process becomes relaxed and allows complex concepts to get absorbed easily. My only regret is not taking this course earlier." - M. Shah

⇢  "Great for everyone without any knowledge so far. I bought all three parts... It's the best investment in leveling up my skills so far.." - Z. Palce

⇢  "Excellent explanations.  No more or less than what is needed." - A. Tóth

⇢  "VERY COOL. I've waited for years to see a good video course, now I don't have to wait anymore. Thank You. " - Jeffrey Koury

⇢  "I am learning LOTS.  And I really like having the worksheets. " - A. Deichsel

⇢  "The basics explained very clearly - loads of really useful tips. " - J. Pook

⇢  "Jason is really quick and great with questions, always a great resource for an online class. " M. Smith

Students who register for this course will receive ongoing exclusive content and discounts for all future classes in the series. 

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Fundamentals of sound design
  • Physics of sound
  • Manipulating overtones
  • Sound generators
  • Filters
  • Envelopes
  • Fm synthesis
  • The fm8 plugin
  • Additive synthesis
  • The operator synthesizer
  • Wavetable synthesis
  • Serum plugin
  • Physical modeling synthesis
  • Analog synthesis
  • Moog mother 32
  • Making leads with synthesis
  • Making drums with synthesis
  • Making bass with synthesis
  • And much, much more!
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Introduction
My Approach to Sound Design
Tools You Will Need
Physics of Sound
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Starts with sound design's basic principles to help students learn synthesis with ease
Instructors are rated highly, putting students in good hands
Covers essential sound design tools and concepts, giving students much-needed ground support
Teaches filters and envelopes to give students' sounds shape and movement
Provides an in-depth look at FM synthesis, a widely used yet often mysterious technique
Addresses techniques for creating leads, drums, and bass in synthesis to acquaint students with some industry standards

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Mastering sound design: comprehensive & practical

According to students, this course provides a comprehensive and deep dive into sound design, from the fundamental physics of sound to advanced synthesis techniques. Learners consistently praise the instructor for clear and engaging explanations, making complex topics easily digestible. The course is highlighted for its practical application with industry-standard plugins like Serum and FM8, while remaining DAW-agnostic, allowing students using various software to follow along. While ideal for beginners and intermediate learners, some more experienced students found the pacing occasionally slow in initial sections.
Concepts are applicable regardless of software used.
"I use FL Studio and could follow everything perfectly, which is rare for such a detailed course."
"My method in this class is to teach concepts, so whatever I do, you will be able to do it in your own software."
"It was great to learn principles that aren't locked to Ableton Live; I can apply them across my different projects."
Hands-on application with popular industry plugins.
"The Serum section was particularly useful for real-world application, helping me craft my own unique sounds."
"I now feel equipped to create original, compelling, and memorable sounds for my music using various plugins."
"I’ve always wanted to know how to use FM8 properly, and this course guided me through building my own patches step-by-step."
Instructor makes complex concepts easily digestible.
"The explanations are incredibly clear, even for complex topics like FM synthesis. Dr. Allen's teaching style is fantastic."
"I appreciate how the instructor breaks down concepts without being tied to a specific DAW."
"It seems like every little detail is being covered in an extremely simple fashion. The learning process becomes relaxed."
Provides a thorough understanding from basics to advanced.
"This course is truly an ultimate guide! I learned so much about synthesis from the ground up."
"The segment on the physics of sound was unexpectedly brilliant. It laid a solid foundation for everything else."
"Finally, a sound design course that doesn't just show presets! I now understand the *why* behind sound creation."
Pacing may vary for different experience levels.
"Good overall, but sometimes felt a bit slow for me as someone with some prior knowledge."
"While comprehensive, I wish there were more advanced examples for certain synthesis types, particularly for pushing the boundaries."
"For a complete beginner, the pace is probably perfect, but I was looking for a faster dive into advanced techniques."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ultimate Sound Design: Mastering Sound Design with these activities:
Review 'Sound Design' by Francis Rumsey
Review the essential concepts and techniques of sound design to ensure a strong foundation for the course.
Show steps
  • Read Chapters 1-3 to understand the basics of sound and sound design.
  • Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter to test your understanding.
Develop a sound design concept
Explore and articulate your creative vision for a sound design project.
Browse courses on Sound Design
Show steps
  • Define the purpose and goals of the project.
  • Research and identify the sonic elements that align with the vision.
  • Create a mood board or playlist to convey the desired atmosphere.
Build a Synthesizer Patch
Understanding how to build a synthesizer patch is a crucial skill for sound designers. Building a patch from scratch will help you learn the basics of synthesis.
Browse courses on Synthesis
Show steps
  • Choose a synthesizer and learn the basics of its interface.
  • Start with a simple patch and gradually add more components.
  • Experiment with different waveforms, filters, and effects.
  • Save your patch and share it with others.
Ten other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 13 activities
Experiment with different synthesis techniques
Enhance your understanding and mastery of various synthesis approaches.
Browse courses on Synthesis
Show steps
  • Explore different synthesis types in your preferred software.
  • Create patches with unique timbres and textures.
  • Experiment with modulation and effects to shape the sounds.
Follow Tutorials on Advanced Sound Design Techniques
There are many great tutorials available online that can teach you advanced sound design techniques. Following these tutorials will help you expand your knowledge and skills.
Browse courses on Sound Design
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial that covers a technique that you are interested in learning.
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step.
  • Experiment with the technique and try to apply it to your own projects.
Create a sound library
Build a collection of your own custom sounds to enhance your future sound design projects.
Browse courses on Sound Design
Show steps
  • Record or find sounds from various sources.
  • Process and edit the sounds using your preferred tools.
  • Organize and categorize the sounds in a logical manner.
  • Name and tag the sounds for easy retrieval.
Participate in a sound design critique session
Receive constructive feedback on your sound design work and learn from others.
Browse courses on Sound Design
Show steps
  • Prepare a sound design project to share with the group.
  • Attend the critique session.
  • Present your work and receive feedback.
  • actively listen and provide feedback to other participants.
Follow tutorials on advanced sound design techniques
Expand your knowledge and skills by exploring tutorials from industry experts.
Browse courses on Sound Design
Show steps
  • Identify specific areas in sound design you want to improve.
  • Search for reputable tutorials online or on platforms like Udemy.
  • Follow the tutorials and apply the techniques in your own projects.
Attend a sound design workshop or masterclass
Engage with experienced practitioners and learn advanced sound design techniques.
Browse courses on Sound Design
Show steps
  • Research and identify upcoming sound design workshops or masterclasses.
  • Register and attend the event.
  • Actively participate and engage with the instructors and attendees.
  • Follow up with the organizers or instructors for additional resources or insights.
Collaborate on Sound Design Projects
Collaborating with others can help you learn from different perspectives and improve your sound design skills.
Browse courses on Sound Design
Show steps
  • Find a partner who is also interested in sound design.
  • Choose a project to work on together.
  • Divide the work and set deadlines.
  • Meet regularly to discuss your progress and give feedback.
  • Present your finished project to the class.
Compose a soundscape for a short film
Apply your sound design skills to create an immersive and evocative soundscape.
Browse courses on Sound Design
Show steps
  • Analyze the film and identify key scenes and moments.
  • Design and produce sound effects, ambiences, and music.
  • Mix and master the soundscape to enhance the narrative.
Design Sound Effects for a Video Game
This project will give you the opportunity to apply your sound design skills to a real-world scenario. You will learn how to create sound effects that are both realistic and effective.
Browse courses on Sound Design
Show steps
  • Choose a video game to work on.
  • Identify the different types of sound effects that are needed.
  • Create a library of sound effects.
  • Integrate the sound effects into the game.
  • Test the game and make adjustments as needed.
Compose a Song Using Only Synthesizers
This project will help you develop your songwriting and sound design skills at the same time. You will learn how to use synthesizers to create a wide range of sounds and textures.
Browse courses on Music Composition
Show steps
  • Choose a theme or concept for your song.
  • Create a chord progression and melody.
  • Design the sounds for your song using synthesizers.
  • Record and mix your song.

Career center

Learners who complete Ultimate Sound Design: Mastering Sound Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser