11 Best Sound Design Courses, Certifications & Training Programs Online In 2023
Discover the top 11 sound design courses, certifications, and training programs online in 2023, expertly curated to help aspiring producers and experienced engineers enhance their skills, unleash their creativity, and reach their full sonic potential in the music industry.
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Are you ready to elevate your sound design skills and create unforgettable audio experiences? Look no further, as we have meticulously researched 231 popular sound design courses from various providers, considering a staggering 773,542 enrolled students who left 27,647 ratings and reviews. Our comprehensive evaluation process included not only ratings and reviews but also the quality and engagement of the course content, curriculum, release date, affordability, and our own expertise.
After this in-depth analysis, we have compiled a list of the 11 best sound design courses, certifications, and training programs available online. Whether you are an aspiring music producer or an experienced sound engineer looking to expand your knowledge, these handpicked courses will help you master techniques and tools, enhance your creativity, and unlock your true sonic potential. Read on to discover the perfect course for you and begin your journey to becoming a top-notch sound designer.
Enroll in the Ultimate Sound Design Complete course and master the art of sound design for music production, game audio development, film scoring, composition, and more. This comprehensive course aims to equip you with the necessary skills to create original, compelling, and memorable sounds for your music, regardless of your chosen genre or software. From the basics of sound generators and filters to more advanced synthesis techniques and audio tools, this course will be your swiss army knife for sound design.
The Ultimate Sound Design Complete course covers a wide range of topics, including essential tools of sound design, physics of sound, wavetable synthesis, and working with game audio and sound design. In addition, you will learn the art of home recording, sound engineering principles, and how to create bass, drum, and lead synths. With nearly 100 courses and over 300,000 students, Dr. Allen, a university music professor, is a top-rated Udemy instructor who will expertly guide you through each step of the process. Get started today and unlock your full potential in sound design.
User review:
Très bonne introduction aux différents types de synthèses avec une présentation générale au départ des exemples concrets dans un deuxième temps. Permet au débutant de disposer de bonnes bases et aux niveaux intermédiaires de bien structurer ce qu'ils ont pu découvrir au fil de leurs expériences. J'ai trouvé certains passages peut-être un peu longs une fois compris compris le principe exposé... Mais difficile de trouver un rythme qui s'adapte à tous...
De mon point de vue, il est préférable de disposer de live, de fm8 et de serum pour expérimenter la plupart des concepts exposés mais ils peuvent être adaptés à d'autres synthés de même type (synthèse soustractive, additive, Fm, à table d'onde, à modélisation...).
Un grand bravo au formateur pour avoir construit cette somme de connaissances et la partager. [1]... Read More
Laurent WALLEZ
Best for:
This course is ideal for those looking to become skilled in a wide range of sound design techniques and applications, including music production, game audio development, film scoring, and composition, with an emphasis on mastering essential tools and synthesis techniques.
Master the principles of sound design and synthesis by exploring the capabilities of Native Instruments' Massive, the popular and powerful VST plug-in. This comprehensive training course offers high-definition screencasts that guide you through every aspect of the software, enabling you to create earth-shaking basses, lush pads, screaming leads, and even some crazy FX presets. Learning the principles of true sound design will open up a world of possibilities for your productions, and Massive can help you get there.
The course is divided into various modules covering the essential elements of sound design, taking you from a complete novice to an expert in the field. The course is designed for students with no prior experience in sound design or synthesizers, as well as for those who are already experienced but would like to deepen their knowledge. The first third of the course covers topics like the user interface, navigating presets, and controlling parameters. The middle portion delves into sound design techniques and modulation assignments, while the final part offers in-depth tutorials on building specific sounds. This well-rounded course will help you master sound design and become a Massive expert in no time.
User review:
I normally don't take time to write reviews like this. But the course is so damn good that I felt that it would be injustice not to write a review.
What do I say? I'm really happy that I stumbled upon this course. The content is great, the author goes like really deep and starts explaining right from the basics. This course is suited for everyone who has an interest is learning how to design sound. Even for someone who doesn't know anything about music or music production. The author goes right into the basics.
Additionally, his voice is pleasant to hear and you will feel generally good listening to the lectures. Also the author replies promptly to doubts posted in the discussions.
All in all, it's a great course and I highly recommend it. And btw, I liked his course so much, that I bought three other courses of Dylan. Thanks a lot for these courses Dylan. They really helped me take my music production skills to the next level :) [2]... Read More
Rohan Thakker
Best for:
This course excels in providing a comprehensive understanding of Native Instruments' Massive VST plug-in, helping students create a diverse range of sounds from basses and leads to FX presets while enhancing their overall sound design abilities.
In the Sound Design 102: Using Synthesis for Music Production course, students dive into the fundamentals of sound design with a focus on synthesis techniques for enhancing their music creation abilities. Through the use of popular digital audio workstation software like Ableton Live and Reason, course participants will gain hands-on experience in crafting unique sounds and textures, utilizing synthesizers to build dynamic and engaging audio landscapes. The course is suitable for individuals at any stage in their musical journey, from beginners to seasoned musicians looking to expand their knowledge of sound design.
This comprehensive course covers essential sound design topics such as synthesizer programming, audio processing and manipulation, and synthesis techniques for generating drum sounds and dynamic patterns. Drawing from real-life experiences and not just academic theory, the curriculum is designed to make complex concepts easily digestible and accessible for all learners. Course participants will benefit from the knowledge of a professional musician, top-rated instructor, and university professor, who is also-committed to answering any questions that may arise throughout the class. As an investment in your musical growth, this course offers an extensive and thorough approach to the world of sound design through the powerful medium of synthesis.
User review:
Ok, I promised I'd change my review after seeing everything and here I am.
Turns out the whole "beating around the bush" thing was only in one video. The rest of them were straight to the point, and it was explained in a way I could understand pretty well. Of course I have some questions, since It's just a basic understanding on the matter, but I'm motivated to keep studying and experimenting, and I can say that I've learned enough to create something on my own, and that's amazing. Another thing I liked was the fact that I could actually identify the functions in most of the synths I saw so far, and that was exactly what I was expecting from this course.
The only thing I felt was missing was actually seeing the wave shape changing while modulating, like an oscilloscope, but that's just me.
I'm pretty satisfied with the results! Good job! [3]... Read More
Carlos Frank
Best for:
This course is ideal for individuals who want to improve their skills in sound design, particularly focusing on synthesis techniques for music production. It provides an extensive and thorough approach to the world of sound design through the powerful medium of synthesis.
Delve into the world of sound design with this comprehensive course that focuses on KONTAKT, a cutting-edge sampler developed by Native Instruments. Expert instructor Evan Sutton guides you through advanced techniques for customizing instruments and crafting unique sounds using KONTAKT's powerful features. By exploring how to load and route instruments in the Multi Rack, you'll unlock the potential to shape and mold your audio projects with impressive and intricate detail.
Throughout the course, you'll be exposed to a variety of sound transformation capabilities including customizing your samples with a range of FX and modulation, time stretching audio, and syncing and slicing loops to optimize your sonic creations. Additionally, you'll learn the ins and outs of working with automation, as well as how to efficiently save and archive your sounds for future use. This advanced course equips you with the skills and know-how to unleash KONTAKT's full potential and elevate your sound design to new heights.
Best for:
This course is ideal for individuals seeking to enhance their sound design skills and proficiency in using KONTAKT's powerful features for customizing instruments and crafting unique audio projects.
Sound design is an essential skill for any musician looking to create unique beats and tracks. The Sound Design 101: Using Sampling for Music Production course offers a comprehensive guide to dive into making music with synthesis, regardless if you are a beginner or an experienced musician. Utilizing the powerful software platforms of Ableton Live and Reason, this course focuses on the fundamentals of sound design using principles of sampling. During the course, you'll learn various techniques and best practices, such as generating sounds using samples, creating new sounds with manipulation and synthesis, and using samplers to control drum sounds and sequence dynamic drum patterns.
Offered by a professional musician, top-rated instructor, and university professor, this course ensures that you'll learn the most effective and practical techniques for sound design. The instructor is readily available to provide guidance and answer any questions, ensuring that you get the most out of the learning experience. The course content is based on real-life experiences and incorporates all the tools needed to master sound design. By enrolling in this course, you'll also receive exclusive content and discounts for future classes, helping you to enhance your skills even further. Whether you're looking to launch your music career or simply take your experience to the next level, Sound Design 101: Using Sampling for Music Production will prove to be an invaluable resource.
User review:
A little heavier on setting up key zones, and a little lighter on sound design, than I had expected given the title. Which was a bit disappointing because I had bought it hoping to get some more insight into developing that latter skill. To be more specific, I wanted to learn more about creating instruments out of samples. However, he did in fact spend a few minutes demonstrating enough of how to do that for me to understand how to develop that skill on my own, with creative experimentation. Solid intro course overall and definitely recommended if you don't know the basics of how multisample instruments work, since that's what this course mostly focuses on. [4]... Read More
Jeremy Hatch
Best for:
This course is ideal for individuals aiming to become skilled in using sampling for music production and enhancing their abilities to create unique beats and tracks through synthesis.
Master the art and science of subtractive synthesis with this comprehensive course focused on sound design using Lennar Digital's Sylenth. Tired of being a "preset-picker"? This course will help you break free from the limitations of factory presets and empower you to design your own unique sounds from scratch. Featuring 55 high definition screencasts, users will gain a deep understanding of every aspect of Sylenth's software, and learn how to quickly and effectively create sounds by imagining and designing them from the ground up.
Whether you are new to sound design or have some experience with synthesizers, this course promises to provide valuable techniques and insights for your productions. After walking through each aspect of the software, a cookbook approach will be used to build custom sounds that can be applied to a variety of genres. Develop the confidence and creativity to create rich, warm sound patches for your own soundbank, taking your musical productions to the next level. By the end of this course, not only will you become a master of Sylenth, but you'll also gain a better understanding of analog synthesis that can be translated to a wide range of other virtual analog synthesizers.
User review:
Completion Update:
Fantastic course overall, I might come back for reference from time to time, but I've definitely improved with Sylenth.
Halfway Update:
Still a great class thus far, I've learned alot and have been able to apply my knowledge learned so far and apply it with ease. My rating will not change, as the course still remains very detailed as to leave almost no questions to be asked at this point in time.
So far this class has been fantastic. I had general knowledge about Sylenth coming into, but decided to watch everything so that I could do the class as a whole. Everything thus far has been explained in great detail, which leaves me to have almost no questions. I'll update the review as I continue among the class, but great job thus far! [5]... Read More
Jamie Allfrey
Best for:
This course is excellent for those who want to become skilled in sound design using Lennar Digital's Sylenth and gain a deep understanding of subtractive synthesis, breaking free from the limitations of factory presets and empowering users to create unique sounds for their music productions.
Master the art of sound design for EDM kick drums with this comprehensive course, which teaches you how to create exceptional kick drum samples from scratch using any synthesizer. You'll discover how to transform a simple sine wave into a powerful kick sample and learn how to perfectly match your custom drum sounds with melodies and loops. By understanding the intricacies of kick drum synthesis, you can elevate your tracks and save time by not having to search for the perfect sample amongst hundreds.
Furthermore, this course dives deep into mixing and processing techniques, including EQ, compression, distortion, limiting, transient control, and tube saturation. Learn how to enhance your custom kick drum samples using these effects and plugins to achieve professional-sounding drums that blend perfectly within your mix. The skills and techniques you'll acquire in this course are applicable to any software or hardware synthesizer you own, making it an invaluable resource for producers and sound designers of all levels.
User review:
Recently I have been seeking out a ton of feedback on my work and in almost every critique and review of my work includes that my kicks are not well formed, or not well mixed. It's been a problem I've actually been hyper aware of for a long time.
Watching random YouTube videos always just seemed to confuse me further. I have some great mentors, but with our busy schedules and the difficult nuances of eq'ing and blending a kick has just been too tall of an order for anyone to fill.
This lessons were fantastic, and the differences I was able to make in one of my tracks almost instantaneously was phenomenal. The instructor does a great job of exemplifying how to find the sound you are looking for...and honestly that's just incredible.
Links to my project before and after below.
Before: https://tinyurl.com/Bee4Class
After: https://tinyurl.com/AfterCl4ss
I mean the commission still needs some work.. but the difference in the Kick is A++ Still not quiiiite perfect.. but I'm definitely getting somewhere now. [6]... Read More
Ashley Lynn Watts
Best for:
This course is ideal for learning how to create exceptional kick drum samples from scratch using any synthesizer and mastering mixing and processing techniques, including EQ, compression, distortion, limiting, transient control, and tube saturation. The skills acquired in this course are applicable to any software or hardware synthesizer, making it a valuable resource for producers and sound designers of all levels.
Embark on a comprehensive journey to master sound design and music production with the Xfer Serum Synthesizer. This course, brought to you by audio engineer Christopher Carvalho and music production instructor Tomas George, aims to teach you the essentials of sound design, synthesis, and music production using Serum. By the end of the course, you'll be able to confidently edit presets and create your own sounds using this powerful tool.
In this course, you'll dive into the key features of Serum, including oscillators, wavetable editing, creating your own wavetables, filters, envelopes, LFOs, FX, the modulation matrix, and the global settings. With detailed guidance from experienced instructors, you'll gain a solid foundation in sound design and music production that will elevate your creative potential. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and unlock the full capabilities of the Xfer Serum Synthesizer.
User review:
As someone who already understands the basics of sound synthesis, this course was very helpful in teaching me how to use Serum to get the sound I want. I found the first half of the course to be the most helpful, the second half could probably be skipped for those who understand how basics effects work (reverb, delay, chorus, etc.) but was still a little helpful to watch.
The instructors were pretty much right to the point and were easy to follow. Would recommend this course to anyone who owns Serum and isn't 100% sure how to operate it! [7]... Read More
Ryan Audy
Best for:
This course is ideal for those looking to become skilled in sound design and music production using the powerful Xfer Serum Synthesizer, as it provides comprehensive education in essential features and techniques needed to create professional-quality sounds.
In the Mixing and Sound Design: Modulation Effects course, experienced producer Evan Sutton shares his valuable knowledge and insights on effectively utilizing modulation effects for a wide range of musical projects and sound design applications. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of delay- and filter-based modulation techniques, as well as learn the fundamentals of low/high-pass frequency theory. Additionally, the course delves into strategies for adding depth, dimension, and movement to synthesizer sounds, as well as creative methods for using flangers, phasers, and auto filters.
This course is perfect for musicians, producers, sound engineers, and anyone else involved in the creation of music or sound designs. Evan Sutton also provides specific guidance on mixing vocal tracks and how to combine modulation effects with spatial processors to create even more compelling and immersive audio experiences. By the end of the course, learners will have a wealth of practical and innovative ways to elevate their mixing and sound design techniques, propelling them to the next level of their creative endeavors.
Best for:
This course is perfect for those looking to master delay- and filter-based modulation techniques, as well as gain a comprehensive understanding of low/high-pass frequency theory. It also offers practical guidance on mixing vocal tracks and combining modulation effects with spatial processors for immersive audio experiences.
This comprehensive course in sound design delves into the theory, practical applications, and innovative uses of multimode filters. Guided by experienced producer and instructor Evan Sutton, students will explore the fundamentals of low-pass and high-pass filter theory, learning how to effectively use these filters in a variety of sound design and musical projects. By the end of the course, participants will have developed a solid understanding of high and low-pass filters, mid/side filtering, band-pass filters, hybrid filters, and filter effects.
Building upon the fundamental principles, the course takes a step-by-step approach towards applying multimode filters to create captivating soundscapes and design impactful musical elements. Through studying practical examples and engaging in hands-on exercises, students will not only learn the technicalities of sound design with multimode filters but also gain invaluable experience in harnessing their creative potential. This course is sure to empower individuals - regardless of their level of expertise - with the knowledge and skills required to elevate their sound design abilities to new heights.
Best for:
This course is ideal for individuals looking to become skilled in using multimode filters for innovative sound design and enhancing their techniques in musical projects.
Embark on a journey to discover the powerful tools and techniques of sound design for music composition, where you will learn how to create unique sounds that inspire and enhance your musical productions. This course covers both foundational concepts and practical applications across various styles, such as ambient pads, ominous drones, dark pulses, magical pings, and massive sub drops. By mastering the art of sound design, you will gain the ability to shape any preset into something new or even create entirely original sounds from scratch. This not only saves time in searching for the perfect preset but also allows you to develop a distinctive sonic signature that sets your music apart from others.
With a comprehensive curriculum led by an experienced composer and sound designer, this course delves into the foundations of sound design, exploration of sounds and colors, practical tips and insights, as well as live examples and demonstrations. By the end of the course, you will have acquired the skills and knowledge to become a master of sound design for music composition, unlocking endless creative possibilities in your journey as an artist. The skills you learn will empower you to create your own unique sounds and presets, confidently shaping your musical landscape to match your vision.
User review:
Personally I had the background to follow this but on the first section is the foundations of sound design a beginner will be absolutely lost already on the first lecture learn the core fx of sound design. To understand this you must have prior knowledge of adsr, wet/dry and a lot of other basic consepts. A beginner would drop out right here.. It should be sold as skill level intermediate and some requirements of prior knowledge should be stated. Further on the content gets a lot better and the "How to sound design" chapter has lots of useful tips and really gave me value for money. [8]... Read More
Geir Thorvaldsen Breimo
Best for:
This course is the best for learning how to create unique and inspiring sounds for enhancing music compositions and developing a distinctive sonic signature that sets your music apart from others.
Finding the perfect sound design course that suits your professional needs can be a daunting task. This learner's guide will help you choose the best course based on several key factors. Firstly, analyze your learning goals and determine which specific aspects of sound design you want to focus on, such as mastering synthesis or sampling techniques for music production, developing EDM kick drum mixing skills, or gaining proficiency with advanced tools like KONTAKT or Xfer Serum synthesizer. Secondly, consider any requirements for earning a certification or accreditation in your chosen field.
Identify your focus area in sound design.
Consider the importance of earning a certificate or accreditation.
Research each course's content and quality through reviews.
Compare course features such as duration, cost, and delivery format.
Evaluate the instructor's experience and expertise.
Ensure the course material is up-to-date and relevant.
Verify any prerequisites, software, or equipment needed.
Explore any support resources or community offerings.
By following these guidelines and focusing on your specific interests and career objectives, you can confidently select a sound design course that will enhance your skills, knowledge, and expertise in this dynamic field.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the sound design courses listed in this article have been specifically curated to cater to a variety of needs, from those looking to improve their music production skills to professionals seeking certification or accreditation. There has never been a better time to invest in yourself and take your passion for sound design to new heights.
Whether it's mastering techniques for EDM kick drum mixing or gaining proficiency with cutting-edge tools like Xfer Serum and KONTAKT, these courses will help you become a versatile and highly skilled sound designer in no time. Do not hesitate; embark on your learning journey today, and unlock the limitless creative potential that sound design offers. Your music production career is waiting for you to make the next sonic breakthrough.
How much does a sound design course cost?
The cost of a sound design course can vary depending on the platform and the specific course content. Prices can range from free to around $90. Some platforms offer subscription plans, such as LinkedIn Learning, which provides access to their courses at $19.99/month (annually) or $39.99/month (monthly) after a one-month free trial.
How long do sound design courses take?
The duration of sound design courses can vary based on the course content and the learner's pace. Courses can range from as short as 27 minutes to over 8 hours. Typically, learners can complete these courses at their own pace and revisit the material as needed.
What topics are commonly covered in sound design courses?
Sound design courses usually cover topics such as synthesis, sampling, mixing, using virtual instruments, and sound design techniques for various genres of music production. Additionally, courses may focus on specific software or synthesizers, such as Massive, Sylenth, Serum, or Kontakt.
