MONUMENTAL SOUND
IS MADE
HERE.
Music Production for Beginners is an evening course in San Diego, designed for aspiring producers, musicians, hobbyists, and home engineers who want a clear, practical introduction to audio recording and music production.
This hands-on class focuses on the fundamentals of audio engineering, giving students the confidence to record vocals and instruments using industry-standard tools and professional studio workflows.
Whether you’re recording at home, producing demos, or exploring music production as a potential career path, this course provides the technical foundation you need to get started.
Learn Audio Engineering Fundamentals from the Ground Up
This beginner-friendly music production class starts with the core principles behind recorded sound. Students learn how audio works, how it moves through a studio, and how to capture clean, professional-sounding recordings.
Key concepts include:
The physics of sound and how audio behaves in real-world environments.
An introduction to audio engineering terminology and studio signal flow.
Understanding gain structure and why it matters for clean recordings.
How professional recording studios are organized and operated.
No prior experience with audio engineering or music production is required.
Hands-On Music Production Using Pro Tools
Students work with Pro Tools, the industry-standard Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) used in professional recording studios worldwide. You’ll learn the basics of setting up sessions, routing signals, and recording audio correctly from the start.
Topics covered include:
Recording vocals and guitar into Pro Tools.
Input and output signal flow.
Proper microphone placement for vocals and instruments.
Managing levels to avoid distortion and noise.
Monitoring through studio speakers and headphones.
This practical approach makes the course ideal for home studio beginners and musicians transitioning into recording their own projects.
Microphones, Gear, and Studio Signal Flow Explained
A major focus of this music production course is learning how studio equipment works together. Students receive a clear overview of essential recording gear found in professional studios and home setups alike.
You’ll explore:
Dynamic and condenser microphones and when to use each.
Micro preamps and their role in shaping sound.
Patch bays and studio routing basics.
Speakers, monitoring systems, and headphone mixes.
Introductory use of studio effects and processing.
These skills translate directly to real-world recording environments, including home studios and project studios.
Real Studio Experience with Guided Instruction
At the end of the course, students apply what they’ve learned in one of Studio West’s professional recording studios. Working under the guidance of an experienced instructor, participants record a guest artist while practicing proper setup, microphone placement, gain staging, and session workflow.
This hands-on studio experience helps students:
Build confidence working in a real recording environment.
Understand professional studio etiquette and procedures.
Apply music production concepts in a live session.
Bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Who This Music Production Class Is For?
This course is ideal for:
Beginners with no prior audio engineering experience.
Musicians who want to record their own music.
Hobbyists interested in music production and sound recording.
Home studio owners seeking a stronger technical foundation.
Anyone considering music production or audio engineering more seriously in the future.
If you’ve ever wanted to understand how professional recordings are made, this class is a perfect starting point.
Evening Classes Designed for Busy Schedules.
This evening music production course is designed to fit around work, school, and creative projects. Students gain practical, real-world skills without committing to a full-time program.
Start Your Journey into Music Production
Music Production for Beginners provides the essential skills needed to begin recording with confidence. By learning audio engineering fundamentals, Pro Tools basics, and hands-on studio techniques, students leave with a solid foundation they can build on for years to come.
For those curious about music production, audio recording, or sound engineering, this course offers an accessible and professional introduction in a supportive studio environment.
We live the “professional” in Professional Audio every day. Our love for the process runs deep.
LOOKING FOR FULL-TIME EDUCATION? CHECK OUT OUR DIPLOMA PROGRAM
[We’re really, really proud]
OUR GRADS ARE FINDING SUCCESS EVERYWHERE.
TRAC Diploma graduates enter the world of Professional Audio with the confidence and skills that can only come from an industry-focused hands-on education. Our Alumni have found success across the instrustry, and whether they’re running live sound in major venues or on tour, engineering in some of the best studios in the world, establishing themselves as independent producers, or working on the next big blockbuster film, we couldn’t be prouder of our grads!
Jacob Powell
SIR STUDIOS, NEW YORK
“I didn’t know anything about audio other than the fact that I wanted to do it as a profession. Even though I learned years worth of knowledge and experience at TRAC, I believe the biggest thing I gained from the program was my network. I got the job at SIR Studios NYC literally because a former classmate vouched for me. I even got recording gigs in Brooklyn with an Australian rapper and a Nepali producer as a result of a recommendation made from a former classmate in California. I also recorded an entire album with an artist I worked with as a student who happened to also live in NYC. I cannot say enough to stress the benefits of my time at TRAC. It has been a life changing and career advancing opportunity that I encourage anyone looking to go into this field to pursue.”
After graduating from The Recording Arts Center in May of 2016, Jacob interned at Studio West and at the La Jolla Music Society Summer Fest before landing a job as an audio engineer at SIR Studios in New York City.
Sam McCormick
PLAYSTATION STUDIOS, SONY
“A lot of what we learned at TRAC is stuff that I do every day. I’m editing audio using techniques we learned, and the way we learned to do VO and Post sessions is exactly how we do it here. The classes in Studio A were probably the most profound experience I had in the program. The foundation in analog signal flow that we learned is essential to understanding the business. You can walk into any studio and that stuff is transferable.”
Sam graduated from The Recording Arts Center in January 2016, and interned first with Studio West, then with Hans Zimmer Studios, where he was quickly hired to assist with music for numerous television pilots. Currently Sam is working as an engineer and audio editor for Sony’s Playstation Studios.
Jordan Cantor
EASTWEST STUDIOS, LA
“It was always a dream of mine to work (at EastWest Studios.)You can feel the history here, it’s in the walls. A ton of what I learned at TRAC is stuff that I do every day now. Whether it’s setting up to track drums, knowing my way around Pro Tools, or knowing all of the mics and outboard gear. There’s a certain handfull of stuff that’s in every studio, and when I get an email from an engineer with their room setup, I’m able to know exactly what everything is and exactly how to set it up.”
Jordan graduated from the Diploma Program in 2021, and was immediately brought on as a runner at Larrabee Studios in LA, working under famed mixing engineer Manny Marroquin. She soon moved on to EastWest Studios where she currently works as Assistant Engineer for some of the world’s best engineers and producers.
Steven Groot
TURNING POINT, SD
In October of 2016, Steven graduated from TRAC. A few days later he saw a posting for a Sound Mixer and Editor job at Turning Point, a non-profit Christian organization in Lakeside. The job required 5 years of experience. Without this experience, Steven applied anyway. After a lengthy interview process that required four meetings, he was the top candidate and was offered the full time position of Sound Mixer/Editor. Steven works collaboratively with members of the television, radio, and digital media teams to provide audio mixes.
