Can I train myself to have ‘golden ears’?

all very well knowing the rules of mixing – how you should apply compression, EQ etc – but, at the end of the day, your ears have to be your guide when it comes to making final decisions. But while there’s some truth in the ‘if it sounds right, it is right’ maxim, you need to feel confident that the decisions you’re taking are the right ones. That’s where so-called ‘ear training’ software can help, and we’ve seen several interesting developments in this area recently.

Firstly, there’s the new (and free) iZotope Pro Audio Essentials course, an online solution that combines games, training tools and videos designed to improve your listening skills. As you progress, you’re presented with different challenges, and the hope is that you’ll end up better equipped when it comes to recording, mixing and mastering.

SoundGym (www.soundgym.co) is another ‘gamified’ experience that’s designed for anyone who wants to improve their core listening skills. Topics touched on include frequency detection, colouration, gain difference detection, spatial impression and more. Once you’ve got your account you can track your progress and measure your stats and scores against other users, adding that all-important competitive element to proceedings.

On a more simplistic level, there’s also Google’s Chrome Music Lab, an interactive selection of activities that teaches the user about the likes of rhythm, chords, harmony, oscillators, strings and sound waves. Designed for kids, it’s an entertaining and addictive experience nonetheless, and even adults might learn something from it.