4-week practical studio engineering course | Deep Grain Studios, Stockton-on-Tees
Interested in getting behind the desk and learning how a recording studio actually works?
This four-week, hands-on course at Deep Grain Studios is designed for anyone looking to develop their recording and studio engineering skills, whether you’re a musician wanting to understand the recording process, an aspiring producer, a recent graduate, or considering a career working in a recording studio.
Across four sessions, you’ll learn the fundamentals of recording, studio equipment, mixing, software and session preparation before putting it all into practice by running your own recording session with a live band.
The course offers a practical opportunity to get hands-on with professional studio equipment, build your technical knowledge and develop the skills needed to work confidently in a studio environment.
What you’ll learn
The course combines creative practice and technical skills with the business and interpersonal side of working in a recording studio.
You’ll explore:
- Studio equipment, software and maintenance
- Recording, tracking, mixing and mastering
- Setting up microphones and recording instruments and vocals
- Working with analogue and digital mixing desks
- Understanding channel strips, inputs, outputs and signal flow
- Using DAWs and working with recording software
- Preparing a studio for a session
- Working with clients and understanding client care
- Running a recording session
- Health and safety and good studio practices
- Building professional relationships and interpersonal skills
Week 1 – Introduction to Studio Engineering
The course kicks off with an introduction to running a session in a studio and the process of recording a band.
You’ll get to grips with different types of studio equipment, what it does and how it’s used, before exploring the basics of recording, tracking, mixing and mastering.
You’ll also get hands-on experience setting up a microphone and recording an instrument or vocals to a click track.
You’ll develop an understanding of:
- Studio equipment and best practices
- Setting up a recording session
- Microphone setup
- Recording instruments and vocals
- The different stages of the recording process
Week 2 – The Mixing Desk
This session focuses on the mixing desk, exploring the differences between analogue and digital desks and how they’re used within a recording environment.
You’ll learn about channel strips, inputs and outputs, faders, soft key assignments and additional desk features before putting your knowledge into practice.
You’ll develop an understanding of:
- Different types of mixing desks
- Signal flow and connections
- Faders and channel controls
- Desk functions and workflows
- Skills that can be transferred across different recording facilities
Week 3 – Software & Session Preparation
You’ll explore Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), looking at what they are, how they’re used and how to approach choosing and working with recording software.
The session will also focus on what happens before the recording starts — from preparing the studio space to working with clients and understanding their needs.
You’ll practise using sample tracks while developing your approach to preparing and organising a professional studio session.
You’ll develop an understanding of:
- DAWs and recording software
- Basic software workflows
- Preparing for recording sessions
- Client care
- Preparing a studio space for different clients and sessions
Week 4 – Running a Recording Session
The final session brings everything together.
You’ll put your new knowledge into practice by running your own recording session and working through the process of recording a band from start to finish.
This longer practical session will give you the opportunity to experience what it’s like to work within a real studio environment and apply the technical, creative and interpersonal skills developed throughout the course.
You’ll develop an understanding of:
- Setting up for a full recording session
- Working with a band
- Recording from start to finish
- Managing a studio session
- Applying your technical knowledge in a live environment
Who is it for?
This course is aimed at people who are looking to develop their knowledge and experience of working in a recording studio, including:
- University students and recent graduates
- People considering a career change into the music industry
- Aspiring studio engineers
- Musicians looking to develop recording expertise
- Musicians interested in moving into production
- Aspiring musicians and producers wanting to build their technical knowledge
You don’t need to be an experienced studio engineer — this is a practical opportunity to build your knowledge, develop your confidence and get hands-on experience in a professional studio environment.
Course details
Location: Deep Grain Studios, Stockton-on-Tees
Tuesday 10 November – Tuesday 1 December
4 sessions across 4 weeks
Free to attend
Session dates
Tuesday 10 November — 12pm–3pm
Tuesday 17 November — 12pm–3pm
Tuesday 24 November — 12pm–4pm
Tuesday 1 December — 12pm–6:30pm
The final session will include a live band recording, giving attendees the chance to put everything they’ve learned into practice.
Interested in developing your studio engineering skills? Apply for your place.