We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Introduction to Audio Engineering

Are you just starting out in audio engineering? This course will cover what an audio engineer is, does, and much more. Audio engineering is a very competitive field. But don't let that discourage you if you have a passion for audio engineering. There are a ton of skills and experience needed to become a good audio engineer, and this course will get you started on some things you need to know. If you've been going about audio engineering blindly this course will help you see things clearer. Sharing some of my 15 years of experience working in the audio industry, I will help you get started in your career in audio engineering. Not knowing audio terms and basic knowledge in audio can make engineering very intimidating. This course is for those who are just getting into engineering and need some help getting on their feet. It focuses on the ins and outs (pun intended) of audio engineering on a beginner level. This is a power point presentation from the MIA conference I spoke at in Dallas, TX a few years ago. Everyone enjoyed it so much I thought it would be a great idea to put on Udemy for everyone to learn from. My method of teaching is straightforward and simple to make sure everything is easily understood. After this course you should be able to understand enough to take you to the next step in engineering. If you have blindly jumped into engineering this course will help you see things clearer. This course has over an hour of content and will teach you the following and more:

What is an audio engineer
Different types of audio engineers
DIfferent types of audio files
Sample rate
Signal flow
Audio converters
Different types cables
Troubleshooting tips
Recording tips
Choosing gear for your studio tips

Enroll now

Or start a personal plan

And upskill with Udemy

What's inside

Learning objective

Understand basic functions and concepts needed to be an audio engineer

Syllabus

Introduction

Learn what an audio engineer is

learn the different types of audio engineers

Audio FIles

learn the difference between stereo and mono files

learn the different types of audio files

learn how mp3 conversion works

learn what sample rate and how it effects the quality of your recordings

Signal Flow

learn what signal flow is

learn advanced signal flow

learn signal flow in the daw

learn advanced signal flow in the daw

Audio Converters

learn what audio converters are

this lecture easily explains the difference in a/d and d/a converters

Audio Cables

learn the different types of audio cables

learn about inputs for cables

What do you need to start recording

learn about microphones

learn about mic preamps and the different types

learn about audio interfaces

learn what daw is, and the populars ones used

Tips

this lecture discusses choosing gear for your studio

this lecture will go over troubleshooting tips when in the studio

this lecture will give you tips for when your recording

Conclusion

this lecture contains my contact info

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides an overview of essential audio engineering concepts, such as signal flow and audio converters, which are fundamental for beginners in the field

Covers different types of audio engineers, which helps learners explore various career paths within the audio engineering industry

Explores the differences between stereo and mono files, which is crucial knowledge for understanding audio formats and their applications

Discusses microphone types, mic preamps, and audio interfaces, which are essential components in a recording studio setup

Includes troubleshooting tips for studio environments, which can help beginners overcome common technical challenges during recording sessions

Uses a PowerPoint presentation from a conference, which may lack the interactivity and hands-on experience typically found in modern online courses

Save this course

Save Introduction to Audio Engineering to your list so you can find it easily later:

Save

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 Introduction to Audio Engineering with these activities:

Review Basic Acoustics

Show steps

Reviewing basic acoustics will provide a solid foundation for understanding audio engineering concepts like signal flow and microphone techniques.

Browse courses on Acoustics

Show steps

Read articles or watch videos on acoustics.
Practice identifying frequencies and amplitudes.

Read 'Modern Recording Techniques'

Show steps

Reading this book will provide a comprehensive overview of modern recording techniques and industry standards.

View Modern Recording Techniques: A Practical Guide... on Amazon

Show steps

Read a chapter each week.
Take notes on key concepts.
Experiment with the techniques in your DAW.

Read 'The Mixing Engineer's Handbook'

Show steps

Reading this book will provide practical insights into mixing techniques and industry best practices.

View The Mastering Engineer's Handbook 5th Edition on Amazon

Show steps

Read a chapter each week.
Take notes on key concepts.
Experiment with the techniques in your DAW.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Practice Signal Flow Exercises

Show steps

Practicing signal flow exercises will reinforce your understanding of how audio signals travel through different components in a studio setup.

Show steps

Draw signal flow diagrams for different scenarios.
Trace signal flow in your DAW.
Troubleshoot signal flow problems.

Follow DAW Tutorials

Show steps

Following tutorials for your specific DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) will help you become more proficient in using the software and its features.

Show steps

Find tutorials for your DAW online.
Follow along with the tutorials step-by-step.
Experiment with the techniques in your own projects.

Create a Short Audio Engineering Glossary

Show steps

Creating a glossary of audio engineering terms will solidify your understanding of key concepts and terminology.

Show steps

Compile a list of important terms.
Write clear and concise definitions.
Share your glossary with other students.

Record and Mix a Simple Song

Show steps

Working on a recording and mixing project will allow you to apply the concepts learned in the course in a practical setting.

Show steps

Record a simple song using basic equipment.
Mix the song using EQ, compression, and other effects.
Get feedback on your mix from other engineers.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Audio Engineering will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Audio Engineer

An audio engineer works with the technical aspects of sound, involved in recording, mixing, and mastering. This course provides a foundational understanding of the essential concepts and terminology that every audio engineer needs, including audio file types, sample rates, signal flow, and audio converters. Knowing how different audio files work, as well as signal flow, are foundational parts of the job. This course introduces these concepts, as well as the different types of audio engineers, which may help one decide on a specialization. The course may help an aspiring audio engineer to begin their career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Engineer

Recording Engineer

A recording engineer specializes in the technical aspects of capturing sound during recording sessions. This course is a useful starting point for a recording engineer, as it introduces the fundamental concepts of audio engineering, including signal flow, audio converters, and different types of audio files. Gaining familiarity with these concepts helps build a foundation for working in recording studios. The course also includes tips for recording and choosing gear for a studio, which may be directly applicable to a recording engineer's daily work. Aspiring recording engineers should take this course to gain an understanding of basic audio engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recording Engineer

Audio Technician

An audio technician provides technical support for various audio equipment and systems. This course may be useful for an audio technician because it covers the basic concepts and terminology in the field, including different types of audio files, signal flow, audio converters, and audio cables. This foundational knowledge is essential for troubleshooting and maintaining audio systems. The content on signal flow and the different types of cables may be particularly relevant. An audio technician may benefit from this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Technician

Sound Designer

A sound designer creates the auditory elements for various media, including films, video games, and theater. This course may be useful for an aspiring sound designer because it introduces core audio engineering concepts, such as signal flow, audio files, and different types of cables. Understanding these technical aspects is key to creating effective and cohesive soundscapes. The course touches on the differences between different audio file types, which may be helpful for sound design, where one needs to take into account the final output of the material. Sound designers also need to understand studio gear and signal flow, which this course introduces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Designer

Live Sound Engineer

A live sound engineer manages the audio at live events such as concerts, performances, and conferences. This course may be useful for a live sound engineer because it introduces the fundamentals of audio engineering, specifically signal flow and audio cables. Understanding these topics is essential when setting up and troubleshooting live sound systems. The course also touches on gear, which may be helpful to a live sound engineer. This course can help someone who wants to work in live sound to get started.

See salaries and explore the career path for Live Sound Engineer

Broadcast Engineer

A broadcast engineer works in the technical aspects of audio and video transmission for radio and television. This course may be useful for a broadcast engineer as it covers the core audio engineering concepts including the different types of audio files, signal flow, and audio converters. Broadcast engineers work with different formats, and the course discusses these. Understanding these concepts is critical for ensuring that audio is transmitted correctly and effectively. The course provides a basic understanding of the terms and concepts that a broadcast engineer will deal with.

See salaries and explore the career path for Broadcast Engineer

Mixing Engineer

A mixing engineer balances and blends individual tracks of a recording into a cohesive whole. This course may be useful as it provides an introduction to signal flow, audio file types, and audio converters, all of which are essential for creating a good mix. While the course does not focus specifically on mixing techniques, it helps build a foundation by covering core concepts for audio work in general. A mixing engineer may find that the discussion about different types of audio cables is helpful, as is the section on troubleshooting tips. This course provides crucial basics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mixing Engineer

Podcast Editor

A podcast editor is responsible for editing and assembling audio content for podcasts. This course may be useful for a podcast editor because it introduces core audio engineering concepts, such as different types of audio files, sample rates, and signal flow. Understanding these technical elements will allow a podcast editor to make informed decisions. Podcast editors also deal with audio cables, and this course provides an overview. The course is a basic overview of audio engineering concepts that may help a podcast editor in their job.

See salaries and explore the career path for Podcast Editor

Studio Manager

A studio manager oversees the operations of a recording studio and needs to know the basics of the equipment and procedures being used. This course may be useful for a studio manager as it introduces the fundamental concepts of audio engineering, such as signal flow, audio file formats, and sample rate. Even though a studio manager is not usually making mixes, a basic understanding of this technical material is useful. The course may allow a studio manager to be more knowledgeable. Understanding of the different types of audio cables and troubleshooting will also help a studio manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Studio Manager

Mastering Engineer

A mastering engineer refines the final mix to optimize it for distribution on various platforms. The course may be helpful for a mastering engineer as it provides core knowledge on topics such as audio file types, sample rates, and audio converters. This course provides a primer on all of these, and how they affect the sound of a recording. Mastering engineers need a deep understanding of audio processing, and this course begins that process. While only a starting point, this course will provide a general background to understanding the specifics of mastering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mastering Engineer

Game Audio Designer

A Game Audio Designer creates audio for video games which involves a mix of technical knowledge and creativity. The course discusses key topics such as difference in audio files, which is important when a game audio designer is optimizing file size. This course provides an overview of the basic audio engineering principles. It introduces basic concepts, such as signal flow and audio converters, which may be useful to a game audio designer. This course introduces the concepts needed to move into a specialty in game audio design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Audio Designer

Audio Post Production Editor

An audio post production editor works on audio elements for film, television, and other media. This role involves editing and mastering. This course may be useful for someone wishing to go into audio post production, because it provides a foundation in basic audio engineering principles. Post production deals with different audio file types, which are discussed in the course. It also covers the concept of signal flow. The course will be a helpful starting point, though more advanced knowledge will be needed for a job in audio post production.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Post Production Editor

Music Producer

A music producer is responsible for overseeing the creation of a song or album, from initial concept to final master. This course introduces fundamental concepts of audio engineering, such as sample rate, signal flow, and audio cables, all of which are important for a music producer to understand. The course provides useful foundational knowledge. A basic understanding of this terminology and subject matter prepares someone for more advanced study. The recording tips in the course may be particularly relevant.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Producer

Acoustics Consultant

An acoustics consultant analyzes and addresses sound problems in various environments, from recording studios to architectural spaces, and this typically requires an advanced degree. This course may be useful for an acoustics consultant because it covers the fundamental aspects of audio engineering, including audio file types and signal flow. This may help build a foundation for understanding sound and how it is processed. The course is a basic primer, and further education would be helpful to a consultant, but these basic terms and concepts may be useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Acoustics Consultant

Audio Archivist

An audio archivist is responsible for preserving and managing collections of audio recordings. This course may be useful for an audio archivist because it introduces key concepts such as the different types of audio files, sample rates, and audio converters. Proper understanding of recording formats and their limitations are important to making good decisions about preservation. This course may be a good place for a future archivist to start. The introduction to file formats may be particularly relevant to this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Archivist

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Audio Engineering.

The Mastering Engineer's Handbook 5th Edition

Save

Comprehensive guide to mixing techniques used by professional audio engineers. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic EQ and compression to advanced stereo imaging and automation. It serves as a valuable reference for understanding the practical application of concepts discussed in the course. It is commonly used by audio engineering students and professionals.

The Mastering Engineer's Handbook 5th Edition

Paperback

Modern Recording Techniques

Save

Comprehensive guide to modern recording techniques, covering everything from microphone placement to mixing and mastering. It provides a detailed overview of the entire recording process. It useful reference for understanding the technical aspects of audio engineering. It is commonly used as a textbook in audio engineering programs.

Modern Recording Techniques: A Practical Guide to...

Paperback

Modern Recording Techniques: A Practical Guide to...

Kindle Edition

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

Facebook

Copy Link

Similar courses

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

Effort

1.5 total hours

Via

Udemy

Instructor

Christopher "Czar" Smith

Language

English

Good to know

Provides an overview of essential audio engineering concepts, such as signal flow and audio converters, which are fundamental for beginners in the field

Covers different types of audio engineers, which helps learners explore various career paths within the audio engineering industry

Explores the differences between stereo and mono files, which is crucial knowledge for understanding audio formats and their applications

Discusses microphone types, mic preamps, and audio interfaces, which are essential components in a recording studio setup

Includes troubleshooting tips for studio environments, which can help beginners overcome common technical challenges during recording sessions

Uses a PowerPoint presentation from a conference, which may lack the interactivity and hands-on experience typically found in modern online courses

Share and help others discover this course.

Facebook

Link

Don't miss out

Enroll today to gain access to this course

Enroll in this course

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.