Mixing & Mastering
Build end-to-end skills in audio engineering for studio and live environments
Duration
3 weeks
Start
Apr 2026
Difficulty
Beginner
Award
Certificate of completion
Course overview
This intensive combines the essential stages of post-production — mixing and mastering — to help students achieve professional, release-ready sound. You will learn to balance, process, and finalize your tracks for various formats and platforms, developing both the technical precision and creative sensibility required in modern music production. Through practical in-studio sessions, you’ll work on multitrack projects, apply EQ, compression, and spatial processing, and prepare final masters that meet commercial standards.
How will you learn
- Work on real-world projects in a professional studio environment
- Practice the full workflow: from mixing balance to final master delivery
- Receive one-on-one guidance from industry professionals
- Analyze and reference commercial mixes and masters
- Get feedback on your individual and group projects
Learning outcomes
- Understand and apply the complete workflow from mix preparation to mastering
- Use EQ, compression, and effects creatively and technically
- Balance frequency spectrum and dynamics across genres
- Calibrate loudness and deliver masters for different formats
- Build a personal project portfolio of mixed and mastered tracks
Upon successful completion, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, verifying your professional skillset.
Course structure
Overview of the complete post-production process. Understanding how mixing and mastering connect, their distinct roles, goals, and creative responsibilities. Exploring the sonic journey from raw multitrack to release-ready master.
Setting up your DAW for an efficient workflow. Track grouping, labeling, color-coding, and routing. Gain staging principles, reference track integration, and maintaining clean session structure for professional mixing results.
Establishing a clear and cohesive mix balance. Working with volume, panning, and automation. Using compression and dynamic tools to enhance groove, movement, and punch without sacrificing natural feel.
Deep dive into frequency shaping and dynamic control. Applying subtractive and additive EQ, identifying frequency masking, and understanding compressor types and attack/release behavior for different sound sources.
Building spatial depth and emotional atmosphere in your mix. Using reverb, delay, modulation, and automation creatively. Exploring parallel and bus effects for cohesion and character.
Hands-on session focused on clarity and impact in the low end. Mixing kick, sub, and bass elements with precision. Exploring stereo width, phase alignment, and spatial imaging tools for professional dimension.
Preparing a finished mix for the mastering stage. Managing headroom, checking frequency balance, printing mix stems, and setting up file formats. Understanding the key differences between mixing decisions and mastering adjustments.
Building a complete mastering signal chain. EQ, compression, limiting, stereo enhancement, and metering explained. Understanding LUFS, true peak, and dynamic range for streaming, vinyl, and broadcast formats.
Applying professional mastering strategies: multiband compression, mid-side EQ, harmonic saturation, and hybrid analog/digital workflows. Advanced loudness management and creative tone shaping for modern releases.
Independent project work under instructor supervision. Students mix and master their own track or EP, applying the full process from start to finish. Includes peer review, feedback loop, and final presentation of deliverables.
Requirements
- Basic to intermediate knowledge of audio production
- Familiarity with any DAW (e.g., Ableton Live or Pro Tools)
- Open ears and attention to detail
- All studio equipment and software provided in class
Fees & scholarships
Academic Year 2026
| Registration fee | — |
| Resources fee | AED 1,000 |
| Tuition fee | AED 3,000 |
| Total cost | AED 4,000 |
|---|
All prices listed are exclusive of VAT.
From time to time, we offer individual scholarships to newly admitted students. These scholarships are awarded through a competitive application process and may cover either partial or full tuition fees.
How to apply
Step-by-step process
Ready to apply? Here’s how the process works:
- Complete the online application form below.
- Pay the course fees upfront to reserve your spot. You’ll then receive a confirmation email with your schedule and all the necessary instructions.
- Attend your first class!