BEST EAR TRAINING METHOD for AUDIO ENGINEERS (Recording, Mixing, & Live Sound)

[@AudioUniversity]

Download the free Ear Training Guide to get a quick start practicing this method... audiouniversityonline.com/ear-training-guide/

[@StoryTimePlace]

Good work!

[@mikechek_1_2]

So, maybe something like this already exists, BUT I may have just created a really helpful memory tool for this concept. The sentence goes “yOU dOn’t wAnt bEnnY's Song To Suck”. Each syllable represents the vowel sound (or sibilant sound) and all you have to remember is that you start at 250 and double the value every syllable (250, 500, 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k, 16k). The last sound "TS" uses 2 syllables, but that's the only exception you have to remember.

[@AudioUniversity]

Nice, Mike! Thanks!

[@robertgarciaortegadinoseni3886]

mike, sorry you said this but if you had created this channel maybe your comment might have some bearing. not saying your term line is not correct, although why if you know certain facts, why create turmoil in an instructional video who is trying to share valued info?

[@rdean150]

@@robertgarciaortegadinoseni3886 Turmoil? His comment augments the information in the video, it's a mnemonic device to help people remember the associations described in the video. The comment wouldn't even make sense if one does not watch the video first. Frankly I find it a very useful companion tool to the content presented here. And so did the actual producer of the video, apparently. Surprised you didn't notice that before bashing the commenter. Cheers!

[@flownaut]

@@rdean150 Turmoil across the battle stricken wasteland, no stone left unturned, no soul unshaken, benny's song emanates a forlorn melody, doomed to suck forever

[@ts4gv]

250Hz “OO” 1:19 / 1:21 500Hz “O” 1:30 / 1:32 1kHz “AH” 1:42 / 1:44 2kHz “EH” 1:53 / 1:55 4kHz “EE” 2:05 / 2:07 8kHz “S” 2:22 / 2:25 16kHz “TS” 2:39 / 2:42 1st link: includes unfiltered pink noise 2nd link: straight into the EQd version (Each frequency timestamp in description includes 5 seconds of talking. This comment is intended to solve that problem.)

[@tiborreszegi6185]

Hungarian vovels: 250Hz “U / Ú” 1:19 / 1:21 500Hz “O / Ó” 1:30 / 1:32 1kHz “A / A” 1:42 / 1:44 2kHz “E / E” 1:53 / 1:55 4kHz “I / Í” 2:05 / 2:07 8kHz “S / SZ” 2:22 / 2:25 16kHz “C / C-SZ” 2:39 / 2:42

[@ts4gv]

@@tiborreszegi6185 Neat

[@christopherharv]

In his more recent videos on this same technique, he uses "A", as in "Bad", instead of "eh" for 2 kHz , which I think makes much more sense.

[@ts4gv]

@@christopherharv good point def works better

[@terrymorton4314]

I've been employed in the sound industry since 1979 before Kyle was built, and this has been an amazing knowledge share of updated real-world education and live-sound that many wish we had. Speak up if you didn't learn at least one thing in each video in a subject you "had down" and IMO there's been no better refresh of the fundamentals with excellent AV production that breaks it down with audio and DAW examples for the rest of us mortals. I love learning.

[@AudioUniversity]

Wow! Thanks for leaving this comment, Terry! I’m glad the videos are helpful.

[@acreguy3156]

Agreed, Terry. Liked and subscribed.

[@KeliaFields]

it's so hard for me to learn more about mixing when it's not direct and technically explained so this was so helpful

[@AudioUniversity]

I’m glad it was helpful! I feel the same way. It’s so nice to get an understanding of which frequencies relate to which sounds or tonal qualities. Please share with other audio people who would find this channel helpful! Thank you!

[@williampetty9813]

It sure is a long journey. I had no choice but to learn it because I wanted my music out there but didn’t have the means to a proper mix. And it is eventually what I fell in love with. Nothings more satisfying than a smooth mixing session

[@zakyraihannn]

I just want to ask, what the meaning of parts when 1 parts blablabla 2 parts blablabla? Thanks bro, this video can helpful me so good🙏

[@AudioUniversity]

If you mixed 2 liters or oil and 1 liter of water, it would be 2parts oil and 1 part water. This is what I mean with the vowel sounds too. 800 Hz is a blend of “o” and “ah”, with slightly more “ah”. Does that make sense? Good question!

[@zakyraihannn]

@@AudioUniversity ok i got it man. Thanks a lot, god bless u!

[@timoheinrich8763]

For someone like me who studied phonetics this is a really interesting approach. What you are using here is the frequency of the second formant or third harmonic. (Usually you would use three harmonics to really properly identify a vowel.) If you have a bigger vowel-inventory than English you might also want to think about other vowel-sounds that can help you associate frequencies. There is only one thing that I don't agree with: The distinction between the (voiceless) s-sound and the ts-sound. The transcription here is actually right which means that 's' is a single sound that is usually centered around 5-8kHz. But 'ts' is exactly the same just with a plosive (t) in front. However 's' is already the consonant with the highest frequency center - so I can't think of any alternative for this.

[@AudioUniversity]

These are really interesting insights, Timo Heinrich! Thanks for sharing your expertise on this subject!

[@kyaudas1549]

this is straight up blowing my mind right now.

[@AudioUniversity]

It blew my mind when I learned it too! Consistent practice with this method will SIGNIFICANTLY improve your mixing skills! Thanks for watching, @K Yaudas!

[@6Iack]

I wished I tapped into my passion for music when I was younger . Now I’m 26 , just got out of an 11 year relationship , and spending all my minutes awake trying to learn the technical side of music . I would kill to go back in time and focus it when I was a teenager but I was either skateboarding , getting high , or getting drunk at parties . Now I feel like it’s to late for a career , but I am dedicating my energy to atleast learn it. Music will always be my reason for living. When I was in my relationship , I didn’t care if I died the next day because it was so toxic , and I had no purpose in life other then working , and trying to make a miserable person happy. Now I don’t want to die until I master this shit . Thank you for this bro

[@jbr84tx]

It's never too late. Go for it!

[@haac503]

hey is never too late there are people that starts their career at 30 40 and still they succed you are only 26 go for it bro!!

[@6Iack]

@@jbr84tx gonna do my best and keep my chin up the whole way !

[@6Iack]

@@haac503 even if I don’t make it as a career , just knowing I committed to something I am passionate about , will be a good last thought on the death bed some day. I got to learn this cuz I’ll be damned if my last thought alive is “oh I wish I could go back and actually commit to that music dream I had when I was younger” ishhh what a miserable last thought that would be 😭 I know we don’t get redos in life and we’ve got to grab the NOW while we still got time . Just crazy to think where life would be if you did start at a time in life that you just wasted away anyways . Haha thanks for your positive comment . EVERYDAY (since the breakup two weeks ago)from the second I wake up, to the second I go to bed , I’ve been watching tutorial videos and applying what I learn. From the first thing I made in FL studio , to what I just made last night is an insane difference . I’m far from where I want to get to , but I definitely see the work speaking for itself . Reminding myself that you’ve got to crawl before you can walk has helped me a lot .Knowing what you want to say but not knowing the words to say it and be understood makes you just want to be quite . Can’t think like that tho so I’m still growin haha

[@atomicleaf]

You are way to young to be thinking you're too old! It's good to get a fire under your a$$ at an early age though. Don't worry about "making it" or whatever. Enjoy music as an art form and as a way to express yourself. Music isn't necessarily linear - you can experience the fruits of what it has to offer on day one just the same as when you're on day 10000. From a life long musician who is working on finishing his first album, who happens to be 38 yrs old : ).

[@jaijeffcom]

Talk about coincidence. I just pulled off the shelf my copy of Corey's book which I bought at the AES convention the year before the Pandemic. I'm not an engineer, but I want to be able to produce decent demos out of my own studio. While thumbing through the book I looked on your channel for ear training, and this is what I found!

[@BenCaesar]

This is actually a cool way of interpreting audio for producing - especially drums. Essentially the oo is the kick, ah is the snare and ts is the hat. For me visualising it like this adds a dimension to drum programming and even a parallel for beatboxing and isolating EQ frequencies for drums. Really cool! 🙌🏾

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you liked it, Ben! Thanks!

[@VenieceSession]

Prof Corey def changed the game with this one. Got to go through this book with him during my time at U of M and it continues to be a reference and tool that I come back to often. Glad other folks are enjoying this greatness too!

[@AudioUniversity]

That's awesome that you got to train with Prof Corey, himself! I'd love to hear him explain this process in person!

[@keimaari]

This is really cool! I don't see anyone in the comments asking this so I guess it's just not clicking for me yet, but what do you mean by parts? "Two parts" "One part" Not really sure how to apply that to my listening process

[@AudioUniversity]

I’m trying to describe the ratio. One part “ah” to two parts “o” would have a 2:1 o-to-ah ratio.

[@atreyfall3812]

Now I understand something related to this. When I was a kid I discover that if I put music in my phone and then I put my mouth in the speaker, when I changed the shape of my mouth the sound changes ( the Wahwah used on living on a player works that way ). Now I realize that by moving the shape of the mouth I just EQ the sound like if I'm using a bell filter. That a wah pedal does this too. I did feel that some sound had a vowel shape because of the EQ.

[@AudioUniversity]

That’s right! It’s the same principle for a talkbox. Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpfGnISChrybm5I

[@kcynerbt741]

Dude did I get value? Yes I did, this was amazing - mad knowledge so important for vocal mixing/mastering

[@AudioUniversity]

I'm glad you found it helpful, Kcyner BT! Thanks!

[@Fretbed]

Legend has it he still hasn't blinked. Great video! Super useful.

[@AudioUniversity]

I laughed out loud at this one, Alex! Literally. Thanks for watching.

[@wesl5359]

Thank you for the video ! I thoroughly agree with the need to technically train our ears although I’m not that sure if we should aim for a « scientification » of audio engineering (haven’t found a better word for it), as it is still based on subjective choices. Furthermore, the apparent lack of precision of usual words used to describe sound such as muddy, bright, warm, deep etc etc might also be a strength from an artistic point of view as it leaves room for interpretation by each person involved in the sound making process and can lead to unpredicted, surprising effects and sounds that might be liked and kept! All of this to say that randomness, subjectivity, lack of control, misunderstandings etc are to a certain extent both unavoidable and desirable, especially in art and even for us sound engineers! Great video, cheers :)

[@jonnymak1079]

Great video All your videos are Honestly... You explain good and easy Thank u

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you like them!

[@twitcheyspleen]

this is slick and heavy! so great, and very cool. Thank you

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, @twitchey spleen! Glad you like it!

[@briancase6180]

Cool!. This is worth exploring. Thanks!

[@Loozmee]

Quality videos. Thank you, this helps me. Studying audio engineering! Keep going please!

[@AudioUniversity]

I’m glad the channel is helping! More videos are coming! Thanks for watching! Please share with others who study audio engineering!

[@Loozmee]

@@AudioUniversity I will for sure!

[@kinglikeshamar4426]

This is incredible for real! Woow

[@gemmaatroxxibox5322]

Literally, the best video I've watched on audio engineering ever!

[@reggiedavis4961]

This is the sickest thing ever

[@CoinOperatedJunge]

Those tips have great value. Thank you very much for the quality content!

[@AudioUniversity]

I’m glad you’re finding them valuable! Thanks for watching, Rammstein Orchestra.

[@TheViken1]

very useful for video for me. had one for my first live performances today, and this will help me alot for th upcoming performances

[@AudioUniversity]

I'm glad to hear that! Don't forget to grab the free Ear Training Quick Start Guide: audiouniversityonline.com/ear-training-guide/ I also posted another ear training video recently on KZbin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6O8o5ajlMRmqc0 Thanks for watching!

[@mickioannisguitar9355]

Fantastic. Simple explanation that I understand. Thanks for this. A massive help

[@AudioUniversity]

I’m glad it’s helpful. Thanks for watching, Mick!

[@BasilJoseOfficial]

I'm an Audio Engineering student and this video really helps me. Thank you You've got one more subscriber 🙂

[@floofmusic]

This was really useful :)

[@willjones2772]

This is literally what I been trying to figure out. Nobody ever knew what I was talkin about

[@pakfumejia6951]

Thank you thank yo so much for your content man. Its been very hard to look for resources regarding audio engineering.

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching! I’m glad to be helpful! What other subjects would you like to see in future videos?

[@pakfumejia6951]

@@AudioUniversity I apologize... I don't know much about audio engineering to specifically tell you sir what I would like to learn. Someone told me I should start with EQ and compression. I've bought cheap recording equipment so I can record at home. Maybe that could help? Also it is very hard for me to hear EQ and compression. How about a video on how to make your mixes better and what you should learn as a beginner? Again, thank you so much for your content!

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks! Have you watched my Audio Basics videos?

[@pakfumejia6951]

@@AudioUniversity I've found a playlist of your audio basics Sir. I'll be watching them all today.

[@AudioUniversity]

Enjoy! Thanks again! Let me know if you have any questions.

[@418a5150]

i assume this video as most usefull in the segment

[@mikerimi3092]

Another useful video, good job

[@jacquelamontharenberg]

Very well done video. Great reference for producers and mixers. Thanks

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@kamranzamanl3482]

Very useful. Thank you very very much

[@kdauniverse]

Great teaching, thank you

[@FlatplanetFilms]

Consistently exceptionally well articulated concepts in your videos. Thank you! Just one question. In this video you mention 2kHz as having an "EH" sound. In others you mention it having an "A" sound. I'm probably missing something, but can you please explain the discrepancy? Thanks so much!

[@AudioUniversity]

Good question, FlatpanelFilms. Which vowel sound do you hear for 2k?

[@alivemusic1164]

thank you! this technique seems really interesting

[@AudioUniversity]

I found it really powerful. Just like anything, it takes practice. After awhile, I felt much more confident using EQ. Thanks for watching!

[@heartless3914]

Very useful sir.... thank you so much ♥️💯💥🙏

[@Echo-kw1sp]

Thanks!

[@leetingler619]

This is very interesting information worth checking out. May l submit for your consideration another way of learning how musical instruments sound is getting out of the control room and actually sitting along side of the actual musical instruments and learning their tembre and variations of frequency. ie the sound of a Chello or a set of drums or a triangle or piano or a trumpet or a Sax.. My background tought by my background in music theory classes and live orchestra etc. gave me the art form not just the technical. A scene from the old TV show M.A.S.H where Charles Emerson Winchester speaks to an injured soldier who played piano. He states you have the ability to play the music bringing it alive. Where l can merely play the notes. As Engineers we must know the art form not just how to move sliders and adjust controls. Wouldn't you agree?

[@AudioUniversity]

I agree, Lee. It's important to balance the art and science! Well said. Thanks for mentioning this.

[@paolopantaleo7135]

Great info

[@jozefmuziek]

With these tips it is easy to recognize when there is too much of a certain frequency. I was wondering, is there an easy way to recognize when some frequencies are lacking?

[@AudioUniversity]

The same principle applies. As you get deeper into the program, you’ll learn the signs of dips at these frequencies.

[@lucaslutzerler5429]

Thank you so much !

[@gazicj]

earth shattering! ty

[@AudioUniversity]

Pretty cool, right?! I was amazed when I learned this for the first time!

[@heartless1645]

Really helpful.✌️

[@chrwrd2960]

Which sense does it make to listen to noise? Why not listen to filtered music in the first place?

[@La-Musca]

The goal is to train your ears to quickly identify a frequency on a generated sound (a pink noise) that represent the whole frequency spectrum (equal energy across octaves) before being able to make decisions on something more complexe like music. If you cant do it on pink noise, you will not be able to do it on a track or an instrument that all have their own characteristic timbers. The same exercise can be applied to music later on. This trick served me well in live sound engineering when I have to calibrate a system. Now I can listen to music and identify room tones by hearing those vowels.

[@christopherharv]

In his more recent videos on this technique, he uses "A", as in "Bad", instead of "eh" for 2 kHz , which I think makes much more sense.

[@robertmulokozi8280]

Thank u so much bro i am from tanzania i have being struggling about this important think for sometime now.

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to help! Thanks for watching!

[@praneethdhanushka207]

Dear Sir, your demo is so valuable! I am interesting on Audio engineering and wish to follow a course under your supervision. I need to know the possibility. I am looking for a school in reasonable price. Please direct me to the best. I am a Sri Lankan. Thanks.

[@AudioUniversity]

Currently, all of my content is free. There are many other great channels available, too! Do you wish to primarily learn about recording or live event sound reinforcement?

[@praneethdhanushka207]

@@AudioUniversity The both recording and live music reinforcements. Thanks

[@EDa5thLetta]

Omg thank u

[@beckmilo993]

Great freakin video man

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, Beckmilo! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@iscuryashadowbeneaththecro8988]

hmmm i like this and i need more learnith skills cool and good job yo

[@AudioUniversity]

Thank you!

[@boloki72]

Similar to a wah-wah sweep response

[@AudioUniversity]

True! Good point.

[@CrestIsMuzik]

I’m a beginner and I’m trying to learn how to hear the Hz and different frequencies I clicked a link in one of your videos to do so, and it brought me to a video talking about a speaker I was so confused. I was looking for the ear test and training so that I can hear how to roll of hz and mix my song better.. please help

[@AudioUniversity]

Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6O8o5ajlMRmqc0

[@poalotesta7743]

Yeah it was a bit technical but its getting easier to understand upon multiple viewings, as a 60 year old novice I need to do that alot. Will this ear training help me with frequencies I may not be able to properly hear anymore because of aging?

[@AudioUniversity]

This method won't restore any hearing loss, but it will allow you to listen more critically which will improve your hearing at any age!

[@ps-zs3wt]

Sorry I watched this video, but I still don't understand how this is meant to help me mix things. When I am mixing a song what does the oo and o sound have to do with helping me mix? Am I meant to go use some pink noise of an oo and compare it with what? Its an interesting video but I don't understand the practical application, please help.

[@AudioUniversity]

This video might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWbbm2uQfaaihdE

[@javsnmusic]

Good stuff!

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching, JAVSN!

[@NicolasStephensen]

This was really helpful, however, the fact that you didn't blink even once really stressed me out :O

[@sammiller9855]

In this video, you pronounce 2khz "eh" as the short vowel sound "e" is in left whereas in the Audio University downloadable handout, the example given is the long vowel sound "a" as in "face". It would make more sense to include all the Italian pure vowels, using "eh" as in "face", as in the handout. Which one is it? Thanks?

[@mattsager914]

this is like a color wheel for sound

[@brandonbuxton8960]

What about when cutting frequencies and high pass

[@joshuabecker325]

Whats the best way to identify the frequencies when they cut instead of being boosted?

[@AudioUniversity]

Sometimes you can hear too much of the frequency below the frequency that needs to be boosted. Too much 2kHz? Maybe add some 4kHz… This is more advanced, so I teach subtractive EQ first. Great question, Joshua.

[@joshuabecker325]

@@AudioUniversity do u have a video on subtractive EQ by any chance?

[@jonaswang3936]

Goat

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, Jonas!

[@TheJammerman]

Can you explain how you're doing this? How would I get pink noise and do I then just pull up an EQ and practice hearing the phonetics?

[@PatPeliz]

Thanks great video! One question is what do you mean by filter? What is considered a filter?

[@AudioUniversity]

You can think of a filter as a device that changes the frequency balance of a signal between its input and its output.

[@TheComicChild]

Very cool!

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, @TheComicChild! I’m glad you enjoy the video!

[@outrora1]

muito bom !

[@AudioUniversity]

Obrigada!

[@topchartvideo3776]

I don't understand how this method can be used on mixing and using the eq in a song. Can you explain it?

[@AudioUniversity]

After practicing this method of listening, you'll start to associate these vowel sounds to the corresponding frequency bands. While you're mixing a song, you'll hear too much (or too little) energy in one of those vowel sounds. Because you can now associate that vowel sound with the corresponding frequency band, you know exactly (or roughly) where to boost or cut with an EQ. Does that explanation help? Good question.

[@topchartvideo3776]

@@AudioUniversity Yes it help me. But I have some question about it: Can I hear the frequency without the pink noise? Can I try to hear the vowel sound with music too? And Is it works? Or after long time I could impress me to hear the vowel sound in a range where the vowel sound there isn't?

[@AudioUniversity]

Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWbbm2uQfaaihdE

[@jarjarbinks9937]

What do you mean by parts here?

[@heythere6983]

I wonder if you can break down what the main vocal on a song has mostly highlighted frequency wise. Like the song by Shawn mendes there’s nothing holding me back. Or Ed sheerans shape of you. Iv been looking into mics for vocals and am curious as to what the main frequencies are for their voices. I feel like Shawn mendes’ vocals are highlighted by 2-6 k ish. But I don’t know, it’s from gut feeling I haven’t really looked deeply into it. Often cheap microphones have highly diligent sounds though pop singers like that because their producers tell them it’s good, nowadays producers and mixers give ugly silibant sounds because I think they are too lazy to eq the silibsnce out. You can think of Demi levatos sorry not sorry or post Malone’s Motley Crue . A lot of songs from a band like blink 182 in enema didn’t have these issues

[@drillgirl718]

dayummm

[@AudioUniversity]

What do you think? Tho method of training really helped me and my classmates in college!

[@swish775]

You lost me at the 2 parts 1 parts bit. I liked this method up til then aha

[@jubat1989]

I can't hear any difference when hitting the bypass button on the Technical Ear Training website. Anyone else having this issue?

[@ry.0]

Interesante

[@naudiovisual2014]

Hi send me delay taping video

[@armaanbanga5007]

I don’t think the hz matter tbh because it’ll sound the same for the listener either way

[@AudioUniversity]

I've found learning to identify frequencies to be very beneficial for mixing. Thanks for watching, Armaan Banga!

[@joshfrate7208]

hey Kyle! is there a vowel sound to associate with the frequency responses of 125 hz and 63 hz?

[@AudioUniversity]

Good question! 60Hz is a very low “rumble”. 125Hz is very low too. Almost like a space shuttle take off. Neither are really related to vowel sounds, but you can learn to associate with the haptic feeling of each. Try the tool at webtet.net to experiment with these frequencies.

[@joshfrate7208]

@@AudioUniversity thank you for these tools. my ears have gotten alot stronger since I began to associate the frequency spectrum with vowel sounds. and the S's and Ts's.... I have a question. Kyle, are you able too differentiate boosts on a frequency spectrum from 1/3 of an octave? you gave me the tools in the video to do it. but you think it is possible to really tell a frequency down to a third of an octave?

[@AudioUniversity]

It’s absolutely possible, especially in the mid range! In fact, my instructor was able to get us to the point where we could identify multiple 1/3 octave frequencies at once! It all comes down to the curriculum you’re following. I was lucky enough to study with someone who organized a series of quizzes with the webtet.net software. My teacher studied with Jason Corey (the author of the book in the description), so I would guess that you could get a lot of the same value out of Corey’s book! I’m glad this way of thinking is helping you! Thanks for your support and comments, Josh!

[@cryptout]

I don't hear the difference does that mean I'm tone deaf?

[@davidcottrell1308]

no

[@50000DSI]

🦾✍️💰🏆🎁💲🦾

[@HK_Musician]

I guess cos I just watches some horror video, these sounds are kind of creepy

[@AudioUniversity]

HAHA! They are kind of unsettling.

[@Djent7779]

too much mud on the bass, too much wood in the mids

[@Sashik]

sssssssssss

[@gergovagyok4191]

This is stupid. Good hearing doesn't require university knowledge. And building the sound around english words and pronunciation is just simply fool.