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How To Train Your Ears For A Better Mix

Headphones resting on a MIDI keyboard next to a laptop with text overlay How to Train Your Ears for a Better Mix

Training your ear is crucial in mastering electronic music production. A sharp ear helps you balance sounds, pick out details, and create resonate mixes.

Ear training apps make this easier, offering exercises to improve frequency recognition, tonal balance, and overall listening skills.

Templates are another powerful tool: by studying expertly designed tracks, you’ll learn production techniques firsthand, making ear training even more effective.

Here are five free and five paid apps to help you hone your ear.


Free Ear Training Apps

  1. TrainYourEars EQ Edition (Free trial)
    A powerful tool for frequency ear training, focusing on teaching you to identify frequencies within a mix. It’s ideal for learning how to correct imbalances and make precise EQ adjustments.

  2. Perfect Ear
    Perfect for beginners, this app provides a range of exercises, from interval recognition to chord training, which builds a foundation for recognizing tonal qualities in electronic music.

  3. Tenuto
    Tenuto offers an intuitive platform for ear training exercises, including frequency and interval training. It’s widely popular for its user-friendly design and versatile exercises.

  4. Quiztones
    Quiztones is a fun app that uses quizzes to test your ability to identify frequencies and EQ changes in real time. This is helpful for quick, daily training sessions.

  5. Complete Ear Trainer
    A comprehensive app for interval and chord training, it also provides theoretical insights that reinforce your ear training. Great for learning how different tonal relationships work in electronic music.

Paid Ear Training Apps

  1. SoundGym
    SoundGym offers an immersive experience with dedicated exercises tailored to producers. With modules covering EQ, dynamics, and stereo imaging, it’s one of the top apps for serious ear training.

  2. Meludia
    This app approaches ear training through interactive exercises, focusing on helping users build a more intuitive understanding of musical relationships.

  3. EarMaster
    EarMaster is a feature-rich app designed for serious learners. With options to focus on intervals, scales, chords, and rhythms, it’s a valuable tool for improving your musical perception.

  4. Singscope
    For producers interested in vocal elements, Singscope is a unique app that analyzes pitch and frequency, offering insights into tuning and vocal accuracy.

  5. Auria Pro
    Auria Pro is a full-fledged DAW with built-in ear training modules, ideal for electronic producers who want to integrate their training directly into a music production environment.

Why Templates Help

While these apps provide solid foundations, learning through templates can enhance your ear training by letting you experience real-world applications.

Templates allow you to understand how professional producers manage EQ, balance layers, and arrange sounds for maximum impact.