4.7
stars
350 ratings

Prince Charles Alexander

35,420 already enrolled

Offered By

The Art of Vocal Production

Berklee

About this Course

13,808 recent views

This course addresses recorded vocal performances and the technologies used to highlight and support them in modern record production and mixes. Most of us know that vocals serve as the focal point of modern recordings but many do not know the tools used or when the tools are used best in modern record production.
The course begins with simple vocal placement in a mix, where you will also learn the fundamentals of compression and equalization. You’ll further study delays and reverbs before moving to advanced concepts in audio editing, synthetic processing, automatic & graphic pitch correction, time compression, time expansion, flex and elastic audio. 

Through analysis and/or hands on projects that the students will post for peer review, the student will gain an understanding of the many choices available to modern record producers as they record and mix with a modern tool set. You’ll see, in action, the Vocoder, Auto-Tune, Melodyne, Elastic Audio, Flex Time, VocAlign, tempo based editing and a host of other file modification protocols that are readily available on most Digital Audio Workstations. This course gives students a thorough look at the expanded choices that have risen in the art of vocal production as a result of these modern tools.

The goal of the course is to help interested novices understand the recordings they are listening to, performers find an expanded language for their recorded voices and for vocal producers to be able to create musically artistic visualizations using singers as their paintbrushes.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

There is no prior experience or knowledge needed to enroll in this course.

Approx. 12 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Discuss the various types of dynamics processing and when to use each and apply equalization to a vocal track to enhance and improve the quality
Define, describe, and apply time based effects and use them to enhance the sound of a vocal track
Compare audio editing techniques, including time based and tempo based
Discuss how technology has changed the music recording industry

Skills you will gain

Audio Recording
Music technology
Music
Music production
Singing

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

There is no prior experience or knowledge needed to enroll in this course.

Approx. 12 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.85/5 (49 Ratings)

Prince Charles Alexander

Professor

Music Production and Engineering

35,420 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

Berklee

Established in 1945, Berklee is at the forefront of contemporary music education, bringing its award-winning curriculum to more than 3.5 million students around the world. Currently comprising Berklee College of Music, Berklee Online, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee NYC, Berklee Summer Programs, and more, Berklee is shaping the key players of tomorrow’s music industry. With innovative programs in performance, production, business, theater, dance, and more, students come away from their Berklee experience with a professional portfolio, practical job skills, and a strong sense of community.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(5,440 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Welcome To The Art of Vocal Production

2 hours to complete

6 readings

3 hours to complete

Natural Vocal Design: How Vocal Producers Create

By the end of this lesson you will understand vocal placement within the stereo field and how recording a vocalist multiple times can create various types of listening experiences. You will understand level, phase, phantom center, panning, balance, equalization and compression concepts used in modern recordings. Your ability to listen to music will be expanded and you will probably never listen to vocals in music the same way ever again once you have been exposed to these simple concepts

3 hours to complete

19 videos (Total 80 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

19 videos

Singing3mVocal Range2mVocal Registers2mVoice Type3mEqualization (EQ)13mDynamics Processing8mVocal Mix Placement2mVocal Mixing in a DAW4mNatural Doubling3mMultiple Vocals1mA Single Vocal Copied3mTwo Vocals in Phantom Center3mNatural Widening1mTwo Vocals Panned2mThree Vocals Center Panned4mFour Vocals Panned3mFive Vocals Center Panned Cascaded3mSix Vocals Center Panned Cascaded3mFour Stack Harmony10m

1 reading

Join Your Study Group10m

2 practice exercises

The Voice30mWorking with the Voice30m

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Artificial Vocal Design: How Vocal Producers “Sweeten” the Creation

2 hours to complete

16 videos (Total 79 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

16 videos

Introduction to Time Based Effects2mTime Based Effects in a DAW12mIntroduction to Artificial Widening2mArtificial Widening in a DAW7mIntroduction to Artificial Doubling1mArtificial Doubling in a DAW2mIntroduction to Slapback59sSlapback in a DAW3mIntroduction to Echo2mEcho in a DAW9mIntroduction to Mono and Stereo Delays2mDelays in a DAW7mIntroduction to Reverb2mReverb in a DAW8mMore Effects2mAnd More Effects10m

1 reading

Join Your Study Group10m

1 practice exercise

Vocal Effects30m

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Vocal Time Compression and Expansion: Tools of the Trade

In this lesson the nature of the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) will be demystified and simplified. You will understand time as an absolute concept, time as a relative concept and further grasp the utility of the sample rate and bit depth parameters in your audio software. You will be shown tools that can change a song from a ballad to a dance record and vice versa. Many modern vocal production tools exist in software that might already be on your computer; but if you do not have such tools, you will document the use of these concepts via in-depth analysis of current and emerging music.

2 hours to complete

14 videos (Total 69 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week4

Week 4

4 hours to complete

Vocal Pitch Correction and Tuning: More tools of the Trade

4 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 49 min), 1 reading, 3 quizzes

Reviews

4.7

119 reviews

5 stars
81.76%
4 stars
11.96%
3 stars
3.70%
2 stars
1.13%
1 star
1.42%

TOP REVIEWS FROM THE ART OF VOCAL PRODUCTION

by EPAug 29, 2018

Great course, which gives the basic knowledge on the most important vocal production techniques.

by VIAug 14, 2019

Course was great! I was able to learn a lot of new things and the lecturer was so on point! I recommend this course to anyone who is interested in vocal production!

by EGSep 7, 2021

I thoroughly enjoyed this course. It was so clearly explained and the information presented has improved my knowledge and ability in music production. Thank you very much!

by RMJul 23, 2020

It's really a great opportunity to be in this course. Learnt a lot. The way the basics were taught is awesome

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
What do I need in order to submit recording assignments?
During the course, you will be asked at times to submit recorded examples of your song ideas. In order to do this, you will need your computer's built-in microphone or an external microphone plugged directly into your computer (via built-in ports or an external audio interface), in addition to basic audio recording software, such as Audacity or GarageBand, that will allow you to record yourself and save the recording in MP3 format.
Will I be working on my own music?
Although working with your own original music is not required of this course, you are welcome to use your compositions and songs for some class work.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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The Art of Vocal Production

The Art of Vocal Production

About this Course

What you will learn

Skills you will gain