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Audio Engineering Fundamentals

Marco Galvan

Learn the foundations of Audio Engineering.

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Learn the foundations of Audio Engineering.

Using a sound system properly for recording or for sound reinforcement is not as easy as it seems. Many elements are involved: the physics of sound, the acoustics, the characteristics of the equipment, its connections and the way it's operated. All of this has to be understood to get a proper result: good sound.

Sadly, it's very common to find systems out there that sound "bad". It is not normal for a sound system to create feedback or distortion. Neither is that a system should hurt our ears or sound with a lack of clarity.

With the proper training, we can learn to use a sound system to avoid all these annoying problems. Besides that, we can extend the life of our audio equipment for years.

In this course, you will learn the Fundamentals of Audio Engineering. This will be your first step to understanding any kind of sound system. You will know the basic "blocks" or stages in any audio system, its function and its applications.

You will know the logic to connect and adapt a sound system according to your needs. For example, how to connect microphones, instruments or music players; how to expand a sound system or what's the next piece of gear that you may need to improve the sound.

Sound systems evolve, brands and models change but fundamentals don't. The basics of sound engineering remain the same, if you learn these concepts you will understand any audio system: analog, digital, vintage or modern.

You will learn topics, like:

  • Sound and audio

  • Frequency, hertz and decibels (dB)

  • Sound pressure level and its importance

  • Types of microphones

  • Preamplifiers and audio processors

  • Systems and mixers

  • Power amplifiers and crossovers

  • Kinds of loudspeakers and their applications

  • Cables and connectors

  • Loudspeaker arrays, pros and cons

You will also identify the causes and solutions of common problems in sound systems:

  • Feedback

  • Noise

  • Distortion

  • Misuse of microphones

This will help you to avoid damage to the equipment (or people. ) and to improve the audio quality.

Sound systems are very important in the modern world. We can find sound systems in many different situations, like:

  • Concerts

  • Recitals

  • Schools

  • Theatres

  • Home studios

  • Houses of worship

  • etc.

This course is an ideal start for anyone who wants to learn about audio engineering and operate pro-audio equipment properly. The course is also useful for technical staff that already have practical knowledge but lack the basic theory of sound and audio.

Current students comment:

"Such a clear explanation of the sound and its energy, it will definitely be useful to music producers & of course for all the audio enthusiasts. Thank you for this material." Shanjay K.

"The course is very comprehensible, I've taken other beginner-level courses on audio engineering but I couldn't completely understand how crossovers worked until I took this one, along with a couple of other concepts that I just couldn't fully grasp before. I'm very satisfied with the course and will for sure take other ones if they are available. Thank you for your hard work Marco. " Andrea Mendoza.

"Perfect for giving you a good foundational understanding of basic audio concepts and sound systems before diving deeper into the world of music production." Kyle S.

The course has been carefully designed to be a self-paced, step-by-step process right from the beginning, so you won't need any previous knowledge. You can even study a pair of lessons in just 15 minutes a day.

You will be guided by a certified audio instructor (Meyer Sound, Avid, Yamaha), with more than 18 years of teaching experience at all levels, from seminars to college-level classes and a top instructor on Udemy, so academic quality is guaranteed. Join more than 15,000 students worldwide and learn more about audio.

If you want to enter the world of audio engineering from the ground up, this course is for you.

*Este curso también está disponible en español.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • You will understand basic concepts of audio and sound engineering
  • You will understand the structure of sound reinforcement systems
  • You will know the types of connectors, mixers and speakers used in sound reinforcement
  • You will know the causes and solutions of common audio problems, like: distortion, noise, equipment damage, etc.
  • You will understand how audio levels work and how to interconnect audio equipment properly
  • You will learn basic procedures to use audio equipment safely

Syllabus

An introduction to the course

An introduction to the course.

Understand basic concepts of audio and signals

You will learn how sound is created and the difference between sound and audio.

Read more

You will know important properties of audio signals and sound.

You will understand the decibel in a practical way.

Feeling the decibels

You will know the different "kinds" of decibels in the audio world.

Fundamentals
Understand what kind of audio equipment is available and how it works as a system

You will know the general objectives of a sound system.

You will know important characteristics that a good sound system should have.

You will know the different stages or components that every sound system has.

You will understand a sound system based on modules.

You will know different kinds of sound systems that use integrated elements.

Some graphical examples of sound systems.

You will understand basic concepts of electric circuits applied to audio

You will learn basic concepts of electricity.

You will understand Ohm's law and the electric power.

You will understand the two types of electric circuits.

You will know how to calculate different impedances in parallel.

Circuits and electricity
You will know the signal levels and connectors used in audio

You will know the 3 basic audio levels

You will understand microphone and instrument levels

You will learn the 2 types of line levels in audio

You will know the loudspeaker level

You will know the most important audio connectors

You will know other common audio connectors

You will know the recommended cable types for audio applications

Levels and connectors
Gain structure

You will learn principles to set the gain in an audio system

You will understand the concept of headroom in audio

You will know what distortion is and how it's produced

You will hear the sound of distortion.

You will understand the dynamic range and the signal-to-noise ratio in a system.

You will know the kinds of microphones for pro audio

You will know the types of microphones.

You will know the different polar patterns and their characteristics.

Microphones
Understand the use of crossovers in 2 and 3-way systems

You will understand the properties of a 2 and 3-way sound systems

You will learn what crossovers are and their importance in an audio system.

You will understand the difference between active and passive crossovers.

You will understand the differences between conventional loudspeakers and line array loudspeakers

You will know the source of common problems in sound systems

You will know bad practices that should be avoided when using microphones

You will know the causes of feedback in an audio system

You will know the sources of noise in audio systems

You will identify the sound of different kinds of noise.

You will learn some tips to improve speech intelligibility in a sound system.

You will understand the importance of a proper ground (Earth) connection in an audio system.

Common problems
Final thoughts about the course

Final comments of the course

Other courses available from the same author

Other courses available.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores foundational electric circuit concepts used in audio engineering, which is standard in industry
Examines audio signal levels and connectors, which is useful for selecting the appropriate equipment for a given application
Taught by a seasoned instructor with over 18 years of teaching experience and industry expertise
Covers microphone types, characteristics, and applications, which is important for selecting the most appropriate microphone for a specific sound source
Provides a comprehensive overview of sound systems and their components, which is helpful for understanding system design and integration
Includes interactive materials and hands-on exercises to reinforce learning, which can aid in skill development

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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 Audio Engineering Fundamentals with these activities:
Review Basic Electronics And Ohm's Law
Having a solid grasp of electronics and Ohm's Law will help you understand how audio systems work and how to troubleshoot problems.
Browse courses on Ohm's Law
Show steps
  • Review your notes or online resources on basic electronics, including concepts such as voltage, current, resistance, and Ohm's Law.
  • Solve practice problems involving Ohm's Law, such as calculating voltage, current, or resistance given the other two values.
  • Apply Ohm's Law to practical audio engineering scenarios, such as calculating the correct load impedance for an amplifier.
Find Helpful Audio Engineering Tutorials
Searching for tutorials is a great way to reinforce your learning on topics that are still causing you confusion.
Browse courses on Audio Engineering
Show steps
  • Decide what aspect of the audio engineering that you want to learn more about.
  • Use a search engine such as Google to find tutorials on that topic.
  • Choose reputable sources and watch or read the tutorials.
  • Take notes of any concepts or techniques you want to remember.
Create A Diagram Of Your Favorite Audio System
By diagramming out your audio system and thoroughly describing it, you can show what you have learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Choose a sound system, such as your home stereo, a live sound system, or a recording studio setup, that you are familiar with.
  • Draw a diagram of the system, including all the components such as speakers, amplifiers, mixers, and signal processors.
  • Describe each component in the diagram, including its function and how it is connected to the other components.
  • Discuss the overall design and purpose of the system
  • Share your diagram and description with others to get feedback and improve your understanding.
One other activity
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all four activities
Write A Blog Post About A Specific Audio Engineering Topic
By writing a blog post about an audio engineering topic, you will not only solidify your own understanding but you will also have an opportunity to teach others.
Browse courses on Audio Engineering
Show steps
  • Choose a specific audio engineering topic that you are interested in writing about.
  • Research the topic thoroughly, making sure to consult reputable sources.
  • Organize your thoughts and ideas into a logical and coherent outline.
  • Write a draft of your blog post, making sure to include clear and concise explanations, examples, and illustrations.
  • Edit and proofread your blog post carefully before publishing it.

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