The Art of Vocal Production

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/vocal-production

Introduction

### Course Review: The Art of Vocal Production If you’re passionate about music production or aspiring to enhance your skills in recorded vocal performances, **The Art of Vocal Production** on Coursera is a course you shouldn’t miss. Offering an in-depth exploration of how to effectively use technology to create and enhance vocals in modern music, this course caters to both beginners and experienced producers looking to refine their craft. #### Overview The course provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of vocals in music. It sets the foundation by discussing the significance of vocals as the centerpiece of modern recordings, addressing both the technical aspects and artistic insights required for outstanding vocal production. From the basics of vocal placement in a mix to advanced concepts involving compression, equalization, delays, reverbs, and tuning, this course is designed to equip you with essential tools and knowledge needed for effective vocal recording and production. #### Course Structure The curriculum is thoughtfully structured into several engaging modules that guide you through the intricacies of vocal production: 1. **Welcome To The Art of Vocal Production**: This introductory module lays out what to expect from the course, preparing you for an enriching learning experience. 2. **Natural Vocal Design: How Vocal Producers Create**: Here, you will learn about vocal placement within the stereo field and the various elements—like phase, panning, and balance—that contribute to creating immersive listening experiences. By the end of this lesson, you’ll develop a heightened awareness of vocal arrangements in your favorite tracks. 3. **Artificial Vocal Design: How Vocal Producers “Sweeten” the Creation**: This module shifts focus to the tools of the trade, introducing you to the critical effects of delays and reverbs on vocal tracks. Understanding their relationship to time and tempo will inspire you to explore these effects in your own productions. 4. **Vocal Time Compression and Expansion: Tools of the Trade**: This lesson demystifies the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), presenting concepts related to time and audio parameters. You’ll discover how versatile tools can transform a track's style, enhancing your production flexibility. 5. **Vocal Pitch Correction and Tuning: More Tools of the Trade**: As you delve into industry-standard pitch correction tools, you’ll recognize the balance between technological assistance and the innate skills of performance and placement, crucial for effective vocal production. #### Recommendations **The Art of Vocal Production** is not just a technical course; it invites you to develop a deeper appreciation for the art and science of vocal production. Here are a few reasons why I highly recommend this course: 1. **Hands-On Experience**: The course encourages experimentation with vocal production tools, allowing you to apply what you've learned practically. This hands-on approach solidifies learning and enhances creativity. 2. **Expert Instructors**: The material is presented by experienced instructors who have a wealth of knowledge in the industry. Their insights and practical examples make complex concepts more accessible. 3. **Flexible Learning**: As an online course on Coursera, it offers flexibility to fit around your schedule. You can learn at your own pace, revisiting complex modules as needed. 4. **Community Interaction**: Coursera provides an interactive platform where you can engage with fellow learners, discuss techniques, and share challenges, enriching your learning experience through collaboration. 5. **Valuable Skills**: The skills acquired from this course are relevant and applicable across various genres of music, ensuring that you can produce vocals with confidence in any context. In conclusion, **The Art of Vocal Production** is an excellent resource for anyone interested in enhancing their audio production skills. Whether you are an aspiring vocal producer or an experienced artist seeking to refine your craft, this course offers invaluable knowledge that can transform the way you approach vocal production. Enroll today, and you may find yourself listening to and creating music in an entirely new light!

Syllabus

Welcome To The Art of Vocal Production

Welcome to The Art of Vocal Production! In this module, we will cover all the details about how this course works and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your course experience.

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

In this lesson, we will lean less on the vocalist and more on tools that can be used to change the way we listen to vocals in music. You will now understand how delays and reverbs have been used in the music you love and their relationship to time and tempo. Your desire to try out some of these techniques will be piqued by the time you finish this lesson.

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.

In this lesson, you will learn some of the industry standard pitch correction and tuning tools. Although you will gain an understanding and appreciation of how easy the job of a vocalist can be when these tools are used, you will also learn that your first lesson in simple performance and placement is still the most potent skill in your art of vocal production arsenal.