Dave Moulton Golden Ears Tutorial: The Ultimate Audio Eartraining Course for Sound Engineers and Musicians
Dave Moulton Golden Ears Tutorial: A Comprehensive Audio Eartraining Course for Recording Engineers, Producers and Musicians
Are you interested in improving your listening skills and audio knowledge? Do you want to learn how to hear the frequencies, the signal processing, the compression, the stereo, the distortion and the amplitudes used in your recorded material? Do you want to fine-tune your mixes, create better sound designs, and communicate more effectively with other audio professionals? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might want to check out Golden Ears, a comprehensive audio eartraining course created by Dave Moulton, a Grammy-nominated recording engineer, educator, musician and acoustician. In this article, we will review what Golden Ears is, who Dave Moulton is, what are the contents and features of Golden Ears, how you can get Golden Ears and how much it costs.
Dave Moulton Golden Ears Tutorial Vol.1-4 8CD CDDA SCDS
What is Golden Ears and why do you need it?
Golden Ears is an audio eartraining course that teaches you how to hear the frequencies, the signal processing, the compression, the stereo, the distortion and the amplitudes used in your recorded material. It consists of four volumes, with two CDs per volume, each covering different components of the recording process. The course is designed to help you improve your audio hearing acuity and knowledge, which are essential skills for any recording engineer, producer or musician.
Why do you need Golden Ears? Well, if you work with audio in any capacity, you know how important it is to have a good ear. A good ear can help you make better decisions about your sound quality, balance, clarity, dynamics, and overall aesthetic. A good ear can also help you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls that can ruin your recordings or mixes. A good ear can also help you communicate more effectively with other audio professionals, such as clients, collaborators, or instructors. By using a common language and terminology, you can avoid misunderstandings and confusion.
Golden Ears can help you develop a good ear by training you to recognize and identify various aspects of sound that are often subtle or hidden. By doing so, you can enhance your listening skills and audio knowledge, which can lead to better results in your audio projects.
Who is Dave Moulton and what are his credentials?
Dave Moulton is the creator of Golden Ears. He is a Grammy-nominated recording engineer, educator, musician and acoustician, who has over thirty years of extensive studio and teaching experience. He has worked with many famous artists and bands, such as The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, and many more. He has also written several books and articles on audio production and critical listening, such as Total Recording and Audio Production & Critical Listening: Technical Ear Training.
Dave Moulton has a unique background and perspective on audio. He started his career as a musician and composer in the 1960s. He then became a recording engineer and producer in the 1970s and 1980s. He also studied acoustics and psychoacoustics at MIT in the 1990s. He has taught audio courses at various institutions such as Berklee College of Music, New York University, McGill University, and The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
Dave Moulton has a passion for teaching and sharing his knowledge with others. He developed Golden Ears as a way to help his students improve their listening skills and audio knowledge. He believes that anyone can learn to hear better with proper training and practice. He also believes that hearing better can lead to enjoying music more.
What are the contents and features of Golden Ears?
Golden Ears consists of four volumes, with two CDs per volume, each covering different components of the recording process.
Vol. 1: Frequencies - Trains you to recognize boosts and cuts in all ten octaves of the frequency spectrum.
The first volume of Golden Ears focuses on frequencies, which are the basic building blocks of sound. Frequencies are measured in hertz (Hz), which indicate how many times a sound wave vibrates per second. The human ear can hear frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz (20 thousand Hz), which are divided into ten octaves.
The first volume of Golden Ears trains you to recognize boosts and cuts in all ten octaves of the frequency spectrum. Boosts are increases in level or amplitude of certain frequencies, while cuts are decreases in level or amplitude of certain frequencies. Boosts and cuts are often applied using equalizers (EQ), which are devices or software that allow you to adjust the frequency balance of a sound.
The first volume of Golden Ears contains 24 exercises that progressively increase in difficulty. You will listen to various sounds and music tracks that have been boosted or cut at different frequencies by different amounts. You will then answer multiple-choice questions about what you hear. For example, you might hear a sound that has been boosted by 6 dB at 500 Hz, and you will have to choose the correct answer from four options. The answers are provided on the CDs or in the accompanying booklet.
The first volume of Golden Ears will help you develop a better sense of the frequency spectrum and how it affects the sound quality, timbre, and character of a sound. You will also learn how to use EQ more effectively and creatively in your recordings or mixes.
Vol. 2: Effects & Processing - Teaches you to identify 31 possible signal processing changes, such as amplitude change, distortion, compression, equalization, stereophony, and reverberation.
The second volume of Golden Ears focuses on effects and processing, which are techniques or devices that modify or enhance the sound in various ways. Effects and processing can be used for various purposes, such as correcting problems, adding interest, creating illusions, or achieving artistic goals.
The second volume of Golden Ears teaches you to identify 31 possible signal processing changes, such as amplitude change, distortion, compression, equalization, stereophony, and reverberation. Amplitude change is the alteration of the level or loudness of a sound. Distortion is the alteration of the shape or waveform of a sound. Compression is the reduction of the dynamic range or difference between the loudest and quietest parts of a sound. Equalization is the adjustment of the frequency balance or spectrum of a sound. Stereophony is the creation of a sense of width or space in a sound using two or more channels. Reverberation is the creation of a sense of depth or ambience in a sound using reflections or echoes.
The second volume of Golden Ears contains 24 exercises that progressively increase in difficulty. You will listen to various sounds and music tracks that have been processed or affected by different types and amounts of effects and processing. You will then answer multiple-choice questions about what you hear. For example, you might hear a sound that has been compressed by 4:1 ratio with 10 ms attack time and 100 ms release time, and you will have to choose the correct answer from four options. The answers are provided on the CDs or in the accompanying booklet.
The second volume of Golden Ears will help you develop a better understanding of the effects and processing available to you and how they affect the sound quality, mood, and emotion of a sound. You will also learn how to use effects and processing more effectively and creatively in your recordings or mixes.
Vol. 3: Delays and Decays - Helps you to understand delay settings from tenths of a millisecond to whole seconds; panning / slap / spaciousness effects; and reverb parameters such as predelays and decay times.
The third volume of Golden Ears focuses on delays and decays, which are types of effects that involve time manipulation or modulation of a sound. Delays are effects that create copies or repetitions of a sound after a certain amount of time. Decays are effects that create gradual reductions or attenuations of a sound over time.
The third volume of Golden Ears helps you to understand delay settings from tenths of a millisecond to whole seconds; panning / slap / spaciousness effects; and reverb parameters such as predelays and decay times. Delay settings are the amount of time between the original sound and its copy or repetition. Panning is the movement or placement of a sound from left to right in the stereo field. Slap is a type of short delay that creates a sense of presence or intimacy in a sound. Spaciousness is a type of long delay that creates a sense of width or space in a sound. Reverb is a type of complex delay that creates a sense of depth or ambience in a sound using multiple reflections or echoes. Predelays are the amount of time between the original sound and the onset of the reverb. Decay times are the amount of time it takes for the reverb to fade away.
The third volume of Golden Ears contains 24 exercises that progressively increase in difficulty. You will listen to various sounds and music tracks that have been delayed or decayed by different types and amounts of effects. You will then answer multiple-choice questions about what you hear. For example, you might hear a sound that has been panned from left to right with a 50 ms delay and a 10% feedback, and you will have to choose the correct answer from four options. The answers are provided on the CDs or in the accompanying booklet.
The third volume of Golden Ears will help you develop a better understanding of the delays and decays available to you and how they affect the sound quality, mood, and emotion of a sound. You will also learn how to use delays and decays more effectively and creatively in your recordings or mixes.
Vol. 4: Master frequencies - Challenges you to master advanced EQ skills, such as identifying cuts and boosts to within a third of an octave; and two octave bands simultaneously boosted and/or cut.
The fourth volume of Golden Ears focuses on master frequencies, which are the most challenging and advanced level of frequency recognition and manipulation. Master frequencies are the fine details and nuances of the frequency spectrum that can make or break a sound.
The fourth volume of Golden Ears challenges you to master advanced EQ skills, such as identifying cuts and boosts to within a third of an octave; and two octave bands simultaneously boosted and/or cut. A third of an octave is a very narrow frequency band that requires a high level of precision and accuracy to identify. Two octave bands simultaneously boosted and/or cut is a very complex frequency manipulation that requires a high level of analysis and synthesis to identify.
The fourth volume of Golden Ears contains 24 exercises that progressively increase in difficulty. You will listen to various sounds and music tracks that have been cut or boosted at different frequencies by different amounts. You will then answer multiple-choice questions about what you hear. For example, you might hear a sound that has been cut by 3 dB at 800 Hz and boosted by 6 dB at 2 kHz, both within a third of an octave, and you will have to choose the correct answer from four options. The answers are provided on the CDs or in the accompanying booklet.
The fourth volume of Golden Ears will help you develop a better sense of the master frequencies and how they affect the sound quality, timbre, and character of a sound. You will also learn how to use EQ more effectively and creatively in your recordings or mixes.
How can you get Golden Ears and how much does it cost?
You can order Golden Ears online from KIQ Productions or from other online retailers such as Amazon or eBay. You can also find Golden Ears in some music stores or libraries. The price of Golden Ears varies depending on where you buy it from, but it is generally around $200 for the complete set of eight CDs. You can also buy individual volumes for around $50 each.
Golden Ears is a worthwhile investment for anyone who wants to improve their listening skills and audio knowledge. It is a comprehensive audio eartraining course that covers various aspects of the recording process, such as frequencies, effects, delays, decays, and EQ. It offers hundreds of exercises that are progressive, practical, and realistic. It is suitable for beginners as well as advanced users. It is created by a renowned audio expert, Dave Moulton, who has decades of experience in recording engineering, education, and acoustics.
Conclusion
Golden Ears is a valuable audio eartraining course that can enhance your listening skills and audio knowledge. It is created by a renowned audio expert, Dave Moulton, who has decades of experience in recording engineering, education, and acoustics. It covers various aspects of the recording process, such as frequencies, effects, delays, decays, and EQ. It offers hundreds of exercises that are progressive, practical, and realistic. It is suitable for beginners as well as advanced users. It is available online or in some music stores or libraries for a reasonable price. If you want to improve your audio hearing acuity and knowledge, Golden Ears is a great tool for you!
Here are some FAQs that you might have about Golden Ears:
Q: How long does it take to complete Golden Ears?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question, as it depends on your personal goals, pace, and level of difficulty. However, some users have reported that it took them anywhere from six months to two years to complete the course.
Q: How often should I practice with Golden Ears?
A: Again, this depends on your personal preferences and schedule. However, some general guidelines are to practice at least three times a week, for about 15 to 30 minutes per session. You should also avoid practicing when you are tired, distracted, or in a noisy environment.
Q: How can I track my progress with Golden Ears?
A: You can use the score sheets provided in the booklet or online to record your answers and scores for each exercise. You can also use the progress charts provided in the booklet or online to monitor your improvement over time.
Q: What if I get stuck or frustrated with Golden Ears?
A: Don't worry, this is normal and expected. Golden Ears is designed to challenge you and push you out of your comfort zone. However, you should not give up or lose motivation. Instead, you should review the explanations and tips provided in the booklet or online, and try to understand why you made a mistake or missed a detail. You should also repeat the exercises as many times as you need until you master them.
Q: What if I have questions or feedback about Golden Ears?
A: You can contact Dave Moulton directly through his website or email. He is always happy to hear from his users and answer their questions or address their concerns. He also welcomes any feedback or suggestions that can help him improve his course.
I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about Golden Ears. If you are interested in getting Golden Ears or learning more about it, you can visit the official website at https://www.kiqproductions.com/golden-ears/. Thank you for reading! dcd2dc6462