Are you trying to mix music but wonder why it is so difficult? You are not alone. Many people the audio production find the mixing stage of music making difficult. If you are trying to learn audio production on your own, you may consider attending a formal Audio Production diploma program at University of Silicon Valley. We understand the difficulties that you face when learning audio production. We have industry experienced instructors that have been in your shoes and know what you need to succeed as an audio producer. So, why is mixing music so difficult?
Why is Mixing Music So Difficult?
There are many reasons why mixing music is so difficult. There might be a few questions that you can ask yourself to better understand your difficulties. Are you unsure about the type of audio or genre you want to work in? Have you trained your ears to hear the nuances within the music? With lots of practice, you can make mixing music easier and more attainable.
Not Knowing Where to Start
There are many different genres of music, and you may like a wide variety. So, what type of audio do you want to work with? The best advice is starting from scratch and learning the fundamentals about music theory, music creation, desktop audio production and studio production techniques. There will be plenty of time to experiment during your Audio Production diploma program. Take the time to try new ideas and allow the instructors to mentor you through the process.
Practice, Practice, Practice
While a select few people have a natural ability to mix music, must of us will need practice to master the skills of mixing music. The more you practice your skills, the better you will become. Try using deliberate practice to utilize your time wisely. You can achieve audio production mastery with the help and immediate feedback from your instructor to improve your performance through repetition and refinement. Set attainable goals and measure yourself in small increments so you understand when you are improving and will have more incentive to practice.
Train Your Ears
It can take awhile to train your ears to music. At the beginning, everything may sound the same but over time your ear will identify and focus on specific frequency ranges. A great way to train your ears is by playing the same note over and over while trying to hum it at the same time. This will allow your mind to associate the sound with its name. The better you can hear the sound in your head, the better you will be able to identify it when the time comes to mix music. With additional ear training, you will be able to identify pitches, melodies, chords, intervals, and rhythms just by hearing them.
Understand and Mastering the Main Elements
While music theory might be straight forward, understanding and mastering the main elements of audio production is paramount. These elements include gain staging, level balancing, EQ, compression, and panning.
Gain Staging – the process of keeping audio set at an optimal level to minimize noise during mastering. This can be achieved through both analog and digital systems, to offer the best possible sound.
Level Balancing – the distribution of music across the range of frequencies using bass, midrange, and treble faders.
EQ – equalization, used to manipulate the frequency of audio content and help the elements work together.
Compression – narrows the difference between loud and soft audio within the track to create a more consistent audio level.
Panning – used to position sound in the left to right spectrum of stereo playback.
What Diploma Should I Get for Audio Production?
A great way to prepare for a career in audio production is by completing a diploma in Audio & Music Production. This diploma will prepare you for entry-level employment in digital audio production and recording.
Upon completion of the diploma program, you will be able to apply the foundational knowledge of music theory and audio technology to your music creations. You will also be able to demonstrate technical and artistic skills in audio recording and mixing at an entry level.
What Do You Learn During an Audio Production Diploma Program?
There are a few important classes that you will attend during your Audio Production diploma program at University of Silicon Valley. They include:
Music Theory
Music theory will help you better understand, analyze, and create music. During this course, you will learn about harmony, melody, and rhythm. You will also review the compositional elements of song form, tempo, notes, chords, key signatures, intervals, and scales. Finally, you will learn about the qualities of music including pitch, tone, timbre, texture, and dynamics.
Audio, Technology, and Innovation
You will be introduced to the history, culture, and aesthetics of music and sound through the lens of technological innovation. You will explore the development of recording technology, sound synthesis, sound design and interactive audio in music and audio. This course will also include hands-on projects in a digital audio workstation.
Desktop Production Fundamentals & Audio Production
This course will introduce you to professional desktop audio and music production. You will get hands-on experience with recording, editing, arranging, mixing, and production of audio and MIDI files.
Principles of Room Acoustics
This course will instill you with the practical knowledge of acoustics needed to be a professional audio producer. You will learn about wavelength, frequency, complex waves, and wave motion. Then you will learn about comb filter effects, reverberation, absorption, and modal resonance. Finally, you will get hands-on experience measuring and managing room acoustics using a diffuser, absorptive panels, acoustic isolation, and the management of acoustic distortion.
Studio Production
This course will offer an introduction to the recording studio environment. During the course, you will use digital audio workstations and practice the basics of recording and editing.
What are the Benefits of a Formal Education?
While you can learn audio production watching YouTube videos, you may not know which bad habits you are picking up. These bad habits may hurt your chances to succeed in your new career. If you are serious about making a career of audio production, it is important to learn it within a formal education. The benefits of a formal education include:
A Complete Curriculum
Self-learning audio production can leave a lot of knowledge gaps, that you may not even be aware of. You may only find out that you learn something incorrectly or watched an outdated video after you have started your career. During an Audio Production diploma program, instructors will teach you one class at a time, and each class will build upon the next until you understand the fundamentals of audio production. During this diploma program, you will get a well-rounded knowledge of music theory, desktop production, studio production, principles of room acoustics and many other important skills that will help you succeed as an audio producer.
An Opportunity to Make Mistakes
Once you start working in your new career, you may not have the opportunity to be creative and try new things because every mistake will equate to money lost. During an Audio Production diploma program, you can try new things and make mistakes. Your instructor is there to guide you through the curriculum and help you identify the genre of music that you are passionate about.
Industry Experienced Instructors
Our instructors have worked in the music industry and will bring their important knowledge to the classroom. Our smaller class sizes allow you to get personal attention from instructors. They will be able to answer any questions you may have and help mentor you through the learning process.
Networking Opportunities
In addition to meeting many instructors that have industry experience, you will also make friendship with your fellow classmates. Some will be starting out in the audio industry and others may already have experience working in Silicon Valley. You will work with fellow audiophiles as well as animation, game designers and other creatives. This will give you a wide range of networking opportunities as you traverse your career. You never know when you will need to find a new opportunity and your network can help.
Career Services
The best benefit of attending University of Silicon Valley, is our strong ties to the community. We have placed many graduates at large and small organizations in Silicon Valley and will help you find the job you are passionate about. We will also help you with resume building, interview preparation and job matching. We take pride in matching our graduates with a life-long career at an organization they will enjoy working at for many years to come.
Final Thoughts
Music mixing may be difficult, but the challenge is worth the work. If you want to start a career in audio production, let University of Silicon Valley help. Our diploma program will prepare you for entry-level opportunities in audio production. Take the time to learn your craft with the help of University of Silicon Valley.
Want to Learn More?
Are you ready to get a job in the audio industry? The Diploma of Audio and Music Production prepares students for entry-level employment in digital audio production and recording. Through courses in music technology and audio production using industry-standard tools, students will develop aesthetic and technical skills vital to the current audio production workplace.
University of Silicon Valley is uniquely poised to offer a meaningful and valuable education for 21st century students. We believe in an education that directly correlates with the work you’ll be doing after you graduate. Interested in learning more? Contact Us today.
