12 Weeks
Level 2
3-Credit Tuition
$1,545Non-Credit Tuition
$1,290If you ever want an established artist to cover one of your songs, you need to have a demo that shows just how much potential your composition has. This course is designed for the songwriter interested in production and engineering high-quality demos at home using Pro Tools. The course acts as a springboard for the novice producer/songwriter to jump into the world of producing, recording, and mixing songs to a professional level.
The curriculum begins with active listening, analysis, and exploring the producer’s role in recorded music. Next, we explore Pro Tools techniques, drum programming, synthesis, and sampling, alongside guitar and vocal recording techniques. The course concludes with you assembling all musical elements together with mixing; EQ, Compression, Reverb, and other effects will be explored. The course will be taught via a combination of listening and analysis, discussion, and video demonstration. The projects are hands-on and include recording other instrumentalists/vocalists.
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- Analyze productions and apply active listening to them
- Identify various genres for stylistic study and influence
- Apply basic to intermediate Pro Tools techniques for self-production
- Identify and use synthesis techniques and develop electronic patches
- Apply drum programming and electronic textures realistically
- Apply sampling and create realistic-sounding instruments using the computer
- Apply guitar recording and production techniques
- Apply vocal recording and production techniques
- Identify EQ basics for mixing purposes
- Apply basic compression for mixing and for effects
- Apply reverb and ambience to set a listening environment for the mix
- Identify mastering basics to make mixes louder for radio
Syllabus
Lesson 1: Course Introduction and Review of Pro Tools Operations
- Finding Your Production Voice
- The Three P’s of Active Listening: Pieces, Placement, Processing
- Review of the Pro Tools Interface, Making Templates, and Track Types
- Review of Tempo Operations, Markers, and Recording In
Lesson 2: Starting the Process: Where Do We Go From Here?
- Genre Exploration
- Types of Producers
- Same Song, Different Productions: Remixes
- Production Timelines and Game Plans: “Beyond The Demo”
Lesson 3: Drum Writing and Drum Programming
- Introduction to Drum Samplers (BOOM and XPand!2)
- Choosing the Right Samples for Your Song
- Drum Programming, Writing, and Arrangements
- Programming Styles for “Acoustic” and “Electronic” Samples
- Creating More Realism with Advanced Quantization and Groove Quantizing
Lesson 4: Synthesis and Synthesizers
- The Role of Synthesizers in Production
- Choosing the Perfect Preset (in Vacuum and XPand!2)
- Adjusting Presets to Make Them Work for You: Oscillators, Filters, Envelopes, and LFOs
- Beefing Up the Arrangement with Layering Synth Techniques
Lesson 5: Samplers and Realistic MIDI Programming
- Synths vs. Samplers
- The Role of Samplers in Music
- Adjusting Sampler Presets, MIDI Controls, and Velocity for Realism (XPand!2)
- Sampler Layering and Creating Motifs
Lesson 6: Guitar Recording and Production
- Acoustic Guitar Recording Techniques
- Electric Guitar Recording Techniques
- DI vs. Amp and Bass Recording
- Amp Simulators and Layering Your Recordings
Lesson 7: Vocal Recording and Production
- Vocal Recording Setup
- Problem-Proof Your Recording: Preventing Plosives and Proximity Effect
- Compiling Vocal Takes
- Modern Vocal Processing and Effects
Lesson 8: Intro to Mixing (EQ)
- Creating the Right Balance with Volume and Pan
- Tweaking Frequencies to Get the Perfect Mix: EQ Basics (EQIII)
- Targeting and Eliminating Troublesome Frequencies: “The Peak and Sweep” EQ
- Adding Brightness and Eliminating Boominess: Filters and Shelving EQ
Lesson 9: Mixing Part 2 (Dynamics)
- Evening Out Louds and Softs: Compression Basics (Dyn-3 Compressor)
- Controlling Varying Dynamics: Compression Techniques
- Eliminating Background Noise: Noise Gates
- Reducing Breaths and Targeted Volume Changes: Volume Automation and Clip Gain
Lesson 10: Mixing Part 3 (Ambience)
- Types of Ambience Techniques
- Choosing the Perfect Room: Reverb Types and Setup
- Reverb Components (D-Verb)
- Delay and Doubling Techniques (Mod-Delay)
Lesson 11: Advanced Production Techniques and Mastering
- Changing Your Effects Over Time: Plug-In Automation
- Making Room for the Kick Drum with Sidechaining
- Creating Groups and Submixes to Process Similar Instruments Together
- Getting It Loud!: Using Limiters to Make Songs Radio-Ready
Lesson 12: Course Roundup
- Self-Promotion Techniques
- Using SoundCloud Tags, Album Art, Networking, and Distribution
- Forming Your Production Style
- Review of the Course and Self-Evaluation
Requirements
Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements
Prerequisite Courses, Knowledge, and/or Skills
Students should have knowledge of songwriting, arrangement, and basic Pro Tools skills. They should also be comfortable recording themselves. If you have no prior experience with Pro Tools, consider taking Berklee Online’s four-week Pro Tools Basics course on Coursera. Or, if you already have some experience with Pro Tools and would like to further expand upon your skill set, consider taking Berklee Online's 12-week Pro Tools 101 course, which is not a prerequisite, but does provide a deeper understanding of Pro Tools.
Textbook(s)
- No textbooks required
Software
- Pro Tools 10 or higher (Intro or Artist editions not sufficient)
Hardware
- MIDI controller
- Audio interface
- XLR condenser microphone and cable
- iLok USB required to use Pro Tools offline. iLok Cloud (free) may be used instead, but requires a continuous internet connection while using Pro Tools.
Other
- Pop filter
- Microphone stand
Student Deals
After enrolling, be sure to check out our Student Deals page for various offers on software, hardware, and more. Please contact support@online.berklee.edu with any questions.
General Course Requirements
Below are the minimum requirements to access the course environment and participate in Live Classes. Please make sure to also check the Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements section above, and ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for all software needed for your course.
Mac Users
PC Users
All Users
- Latest version of Google Chrome
- Zoom meeting software
- Webcam
- Speakers or headphones
- External or internal microphone
- Broadband Internet connection
Instructors
Author
Chrissy Tignor is a producer, songwriter, recording engineer and vocalist with a super-synthy pop style fused with EDM and hip-hop influences. She is a full-time faculty member in the Contemporary Writing and Production department at Berklee College of Music, and has worked with the likes of Alex Clare, Gary Go, Bastille, Lauren Hashian, and Notting Hill Music. Her music has been synced on Discovery Channel and TLC, and she currently produces, writes and remixes under the pseudonym Data Child.
Instructor
Renato Milone is a multi-instrumentalist music producer, sound engineer, performer, and educator. Renato started his career in Europe, performing with many renowned artists and covering different styles and gamers as drummers. In early 2000, he won a full scholarship to attend Berklee College of music and later obtained a Diploma in Contemporary Writing and Production, a Bachelor Degree in Composition for Film, TV, and Games, and a Professional Achievement as Best producer 2009. In the states, Renato began in an intense career as a songwriter and jingle writer collaborating with international artists such as Uku Suviste (Eurovision), Luisa Sobral (Eurovision), Mariam John, Joel Waldman (Colombian Songwriter), Mogol (Italian Lyricist) and also working with national musicians such as Melissa Aldana, Matthew Nichol, Andrea Pejrolo, Joe Carrier, Dan Moretti, Michael Beker, Adi Yeshaya and writing, producing and engineering for artists such as Whitney Huston. Renato is now part of the faculty staff at the Contemporary Writing and Production Department of Berklee College of Music and is the Co-Founder of “TheBoomHouseProductions”.
What's Next?
When taken for credit, Producing Songwriting Demos with Pro Tools can be applied towards the completion of these related programs:
Related Certificate Programs
Related Degree Majors
Related Music Career Role
Employers look for skills learned in this course, when hiring for the following music career role:
Questions?
Contact our Academic Advisors by phone at 1-866-BERKLEE (U.S.), 1-617-747-2146 (INT'L), or by email at advisors@online.berklee.edu.
