Audio Ear Training vs Tone Ear Training – What’s the Difference?
Jun 1, 2025
What’s the Difference Between Audio and Tone Ear Training?
If you're a producer, you've likely heard of "ear training" — but what kind?
Tone Ear Training (Musicianship)
- Recognizing intervals (major 3rd, perfect 5th)
- Pitch accuracy and sight-singing
- Common in classical or music theory education
Audio Ear Training (Mixing/Production)
- Recognizing frequency ranges (bass, mids, highs)
- Identifying EQ boosts or cuts
- Hearing compression, stereo width, and gain
Why Music Producers Need Both
While tone training helps with composition and harmony, audio training helps you shape sound itself.
🎧 Want to EQ your piano to sit better in the mix? That’s audio training.
🎶 Want to identify the chord progression by ear? That’s tone training.
MixSense = Audio Ear Training
MixSense focuses on the audio side:
- Hear subtle changes in sound
- Practice identifying frequency boosts
- Detect gain and compression changes
Use both types of training to become a complete producer.