May not be the right place to post this but very relevant to newbies getting into diy pass projects. Moderators are welcome to move it if they see fit. I was involved in electronics in the automotive field for a living but in a narrow field. I took some electronic courses 50 years ago but much was forgotten or never thoroughly learned especially when it comes to audio circuits. This course was recommended by an electronic engineer online as a beginner course or refresher course. He was taking the course himself reading it in his spare time. The course starts out with just the fundamental basics of electronics and components and ends mainly with digital programing and circuit building of which I really have no or very little interest in. I paid close attention to the hours of instruction on the first part of the course and started skipping parts I had little interest in. Very rewarding for anyone wanting to understand more about what we are building. One can build amplifier projects with the rudimentary skills of soldering and following the excellent instructions and threads on the projects listed under Passlabs but it is rewarding to understand what each component and circuit does. Included in the course is a 919 page book which the instructor teaches from. Sales are run on the course for less than $20. I think I paid like $16 for it. Well worth the $100 cost but a bargain when less than $20.
Providing a link would be worthwhile.
I think I saw something like this and thought it looked very good.
I think I saw something like this and thought it looked very good.
Crash Course Electronics and PCB Design | Udemy
I am sure there are other courses as good or even better but when on sale the price is hard to beat. I really have enjoyed the instructor as well. Made me appreciate how much more intelligent some people are then me. The instructor is Andre Lamothe and his book that is much like the one provided in the course is on Amazon for $65 paperback. Black Art of Video Game Console Design
Where I first heard about the course was a youtube subscriber that I watch all his video's xraytonyb. He has his on company that services X-ray equipment and from my understanding has an electronic engineer degree. Seems to be a very knowledgeable guy that works on audio equipment at home just as a hobby. For the price on sale I say why not buy it. I am 71 years old and have learned a lot more about components and circuits than I knew before taking the course. Being 71 years old I am not sure how much I am going to remember but it was enjoyable taking the course. I watched a course every morning while drinking my coffee. The inspiring young guys that frequent this site will learn much more than myself. Invaluable information for those that are into diy electronic projects. I though sharing this course will be valuable for the members on Passdiyaudio.
I am sure there are other courses as good or even better but when on sale the price is hard to beat. I really have enjoyed the instructor as well. Made me appreciate how much more intelligent some people are then me. The instructor is Andre Lamothe and his book that is much like the one provided in the course is on Amazon for $65 paperback. Black Art of Video Game Console Design
Where I first heard about the course was a youtube subscriber that I watch all his video's xraytonyb. He has his on company that services X-ray equipment and from my understanding has an electronic engineer degree. Seems to be a very knowledgeable guy that works on audio equipment at home just as a hobby. For the price on sale I say why not buy it. I am 71 years old and have learned a lot more about components and circuits than I knew before taking the course. Being 71 years old I am not sure how much I am going to remember but it was enjoyable taking the course. I watched a course every morning while drinking my coffee. The inspiring young guys that frequent this site will learn much more than myself. Invaluable information for those that are into diy electronic projects. I though sharing this course will be valuable for the members on Passdiyaudio.
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Hi wdecho,
I am not an expert but would like to chime in. I am actually having my eye on the course and will snatch it up, once there is a discount again. I would not buy it at 99 USD and have seen it two weeks ago at less thatn 20 USD.
Also note that there are some good free courses from MITx over at edx. -> Circuits and Electronics 1: Basic Circuit Analysis | edX
I am not an expert but would like to chime in. I am actually having my eye on the course and will snatch it up, once there is a discount again. I would not buy it at 99 USD and have seen it two weeks ago at less thatn 20 USD.
Also note that there are some good free courses from MITx over at edx. -> Circuits and Electronics 1: Basic Circuit Analysis | edX
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I don't know anything about this particular course, but I have done some courses from Udemy, mostly in music theory and music application software. Some are very good, some, not so much.
Before buying any course do all of the free sample lessons. Often my issue has been understanding the presenter through a thick accent, or losing focus due to the presenters monotonous tone, or poor presentation. I don't need someone to just read Powerpoint slides. I can do that myself. Some courses are too advanced, or too simple for my abilities. It's best to check this out before buying.
As stated, Udemy runs sales often, so a $100 course, may run $10, $16, $20 or so at random times. I got all of mine at or near minimum price when they were cheap, then did the course, or the parts that interested me when ever I had time.
Many big name schools do put some of their coursework online for free, or a small fee usually through EDX, Coursera, Kadenze, Skillshare, or directly from the college. MIT and Harvard are on the list. Some even offer college credit if you register, take tests and do all that other "school stuff." I got my MSEE at age 47 and don't need another. I'll just pick and choose what I want to learn now.
Again I have not tried anything related to electronics, but trying to learn music production techniques from Berklee College of Music, proved to be way above my comprehension level.
Before buying any course do all of the free sample lessons. Often my issue has been understanding the presenter through a thick accent, or losing focus due to the presenters monotonous tone, or poor presentation. I don't need someone to just read Powerpoint slides. I can do that myself. Some courses are too advanced, or too simple for my abilities. It's best to check this out before buying.
As stated, Udemy runs sales often, so a $100 course, may run $10, $16, $20 or so at random times. I got all of mine at or near minimum price when they were cheap, then did the course, or the parts that interested me when ever I had time.
Many big name schools do put some of their coursework online for free, or a small fee usually through EDX, Coursera, Kadenze, Skillshare, or directly from the college. MIT and Harvard are on the list. Some even offer college credit if you register, take tests and do all that other "school stuff." I got my MSEE at age 47 and don't need another. I'll just pick and choose what I want to learn now.
Again I have not tried anything related to electronics, but trying to learn music production techniques from Berklee College of Music, proved to be way above my comprehension level.
The introduction pretty much covers what is in the course. The first 3 sections covers the basics that anyone on this site should already know. If not they first 3 sections are invaluable. The 4th section is where it gets really into the components and circuits and teaches one how to design a circuit yourself. There is a lot of complicated math involved in some courses in the 4th section. The 4th section is over 33 hours but broken down into 80 courses. I studied the courses I was interested in and browsed through some of the rest. I do not expect to ever design circuits but I wanted to know more about how circuits work and how to fix them when they fail. I am more of a repair technician than a designer but for someone that is interested in designing it is there in the course. One can take the course as far as they choose or just skip through the ones that you have no interest in. I found Andre to be an excellent teacher and I believe most will like him.
Or try your local library for free and get a copy of the ARRL Handbook...first few chapters on basics covers it and then read more to get familiar with circuits.
take it back wen you are done...no cost except time and transportation.
take it back wen you are done...no cost except time and transportation.
Apologies for going off topic, but which ones would you recommend? Looking for such courses as well.
Youtube has a mass of video's on electronic theory for free.
I recently wanted to go back through Kirkchoff's laws and found numerous video's on the subject.
While being a hardware/software engineer, I dont agree with free software or free courses I did take the free route in this instance.
I recently wanted to go back through Kirkchoff's laws and found numerous video's on the subject.
While being a hardware/software engineer, I dont agree with free software or free courses I did take the free route in this instance.
There are a lot of youtube videos on electronics and I watch them everyday but it is nice to have a systematic electronic course instead of a hodge podge of them in no logical order. Books are kinda hard for an old man like myself to wade through at the present time in my life. It is really nice to have an instructor guiding you through the course. The youtube videos on electronics I like are the ones on equipment use and repairs of electronic products. Being a nerd I enjoyed the taking the course learning electronics from the basic level to way over my head. The course for me was a form of entertainment and for less than $20 is was money well spent on my part. Not sure if the course expires at some time in the future but it is nice right now to go back over some sections and the book included is in the price of the course as well. Kirkchoff's law was something new to me. Before taking the course I had never heard of Kirkchoff's law. Learned something new, fun for nerds.
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First off, I am not a typical learner. I have fought ADHD all my life. It was so bad that I was removed from public school at age 10 because I was "disruptive." My parents put a guitar in my hands at age 7, and lessons followed sporadically until I found a teacher who taught me what I wanted to know, how to play the popular music of the time (mid 60's). I could care less about reading sheet music, or playing anything in a lesson book. I have played the guitar off and on for nearly 60 years but my arthritic hands limit my play time today.
The paper clip met the power outlet at age 4 or 5 and I was fascinated with electricity ever since, so much so that I started at Motorola on an assembly line at age 20 and become an electrical engineer by age 32. The college engineering degrees came later.
I have been putting electronics and music together since childhood, building guitar amps, effects, and a PAIA analog music synthesizer in 1971.
In the late 80's I bought a Roland MPU-401 MIDI interface for my PC clone from a large music store. The salesman gave me a pirate copy of a DOS MIDI sequencer called Cakewalk (which became Sonar). It was simple, and did exactly what I wanted. I bought almost every new version as it was released including the famous "lifetime updates" deal from Gibson right before they killed the company.
I had learned what I needed to know in Cakewalk by doing, but with Cakewalk apparently dead, I needed a new DAW. Digging through my big box of floppy disks revealed a copy of Ableton Live Lite 5, so I stuffed that into my PC and tried to learn. Live 5 was a bit too old to use considering anything I could find in a book or online was for Live 8 or 9, so I bought a copy of 9 and set out to learn it. I got books, watched Youtube videos, and bought a few courses from Udemy, all when they were offered cheap, $15 or less.
My Udemy course list goes back to early 2017. All remain in my account for me to use today. I can restart an old course, or start a new one at any time. There are 11 courses, some of which are three course bundles, and I have yet to actually finish any of them. Most of my Udemy courses involved learning Ableton Live.
I tend to pick and choose what I need to learn at the time to solve a problem, or take my "modular mayhem" into a new direction. Ableton Live is a very complex piece of software, and I believe that very few users actually understand and use all of it's features. I have definitely stretched it across several of the usual use models, since I use the built in synths, an external modular synth, some golden oldies from the 90's, connected with 5 pin MIDI, some modern Behringers connected via USB, and several electric guitars.
Music Production in Ableton Live 9 - The Complete Course! by Tomas George
Music Production in Ableton Live 9 - The Complete Course! | Udemy
It is a good start for the rank beginner. He does push nearly button in the program, lots of "how" but very little "why." This is probably OK for the average "in the box" user, but left me with more questions than answers. I got the whole "complete course" for $10, so it was worth the money.
Music Production in Ableton Live 10 - The Complete Course! by Tomas George
Learn Music Production in Ableton Live 10 Course | Udemy
Another $10 spent, but limited new material.
Music Theory for Electronic Producers - The Complete Course! by Tomas George
Music Theory for Electronic Producers - The Complete Course! | Udemy
Again, the basic concepts are presented, but not explained in detail. I didn't get very far into this one. I learned much more from this book (ISBN1598635034):
https://www.amazon.com/Theory-Computer-Musicians-Michael-Hewitt/dp/1598635034/
Ableton Live 10 : Max for Live + Max 8 Essentials
Online Courses - Anytime, Anywhere | Udemy | Udemy
Max is a graphical programming language / environment that can run stand alone or inside of Ableton Live. Live itself was originally written in Max. Max will let you do or build nearly anything, and it does not need to be musically related. Want to program your robot, and sequence it in Live? Max is the way. This Udemy course got me interested in Max, but this Kadenze course got me using it:
https://www.kadenze.com/courses/pro...ng-interactive-software-for-digital-arts/info
Warning, this is a real college level course from Stanford University. It runs on a schedule of 10 one week classes with programming projects. The free version allows you to participate in the group, but not receive a grade or certificate. In my usual style I did not finish this course. I got more than halfway through when life interrupted me and I fell behind the class. I WILL start this one over sometime.
Bundle: Ultimate Ableton Live 10 COMPLETE: Parts 1, 2, and 3, Ultimate Ableton Live 10, COMPLETE: Parts 4, 5, and 6 by Jason Allen
This was a more thorough treatment of Ableton Live, but it does seem to be a commercial message for the "Slam Academy" sometimes. Still, I learned much more about WHY you do things in Live. The six part bundle was on sale for $30 when I got it. Again I have skipped around in several lessons, but not finished the course.
Music Theory for Electronic Music COMPLETE: Parts 1, 2, & 3 by Jason Allen
https://www.udemy.com/course/music-theory-for-electronic-music-complete-parts-1-2-3/
For $10 it taught me quite a bit, and reinforced what I got from the from the book I referenced above.
If you know the basics of running Live, or music theory the Jason Allen courses will teach you more than the Tomas George
I have bought two courses related to Wordpress, and looked at several more. This one is the only one I got very far in. Wordpress has evolved a bit since this class came out. The basics are still the same though:
WordPress for Beginners: Create a Website Step by Step
https://www.udemy.com/course/wordpress-for-beginners-create-a-website-blog-step-by-step/
Ditto Blender and Davinci Resolve. Both are video editing and creation programs. I use Blender for a few tasks that I haven't figured out how to do in Resolve yet. Most of my knowledge of both comes from Youtube videos as opposed to these courses. Both of these programs are VERY COMPLEX and evolving quickly. New versions have rendered these courses less relevant, unlike Ableton Lib=ve where my Live 9 books still work fine with Live 10, and hopefully the new Live 11. I found it best to find one of more Youtube videos on how to do the specific video editing tasks at hand than to wade through a class on the basics.
Complete Blender Creator: Learn 3D Modelling for Beginners
https://www.udemy.com/course/blendertutorial/
Video Editing in DaVinci Resolve 16/17: Beginner to Advanced
https://www.udemy.com/course/davinci-resolve-15-course/
Tubelab_com said, "...The paper clip met the power outlet at age 4 or 5 and I was fascinated with electricity ever since..."
I was 5 or 6. I wonder how many of us did this. 😀
I was 5 or 6. I wonder how many of us did this. 😀
I put a 20 cent coin through one of those sliding potentiometers on a tv in the 70's thinking/hoping the TV might turn into a pinball machine or something.
Something happened................
Hahahahaha
I was 4 years old.
Something happened................
Hahahahaha
I was 4 years old.
That's great. My parents bought me my first electronics kit at 4 years old when they learned I was fascinated with their console 😉
I was always messing around with batteries and bulbs at about 5 years old.
Could never work out why two bulbs in series were half as bright.
I used them to light up my model garage.
Could never work out why two bulbs in series were half as bright.
I used them to light up my model garage.
I bet many of us around here, this kind of sites act like a magnet for certain personality types ... which is fine and good. 😀
I joined a forum and tried to help with some electronic advice.
I was told in no uncertain terms I was talking rubbish.
Was it a highly technical matter ? no, how to work out resistor value for an LED !
In fact a couple of them had a go.
I have been in electronics since 1980 and a fully qualified electronics engineer.
It was then I realised some of group were 70+ and so probably on their way to dementia.
Its hard not to tell them where to go with stupid comments but sometimes its better to have some understanding and refrain.
There are some fantastic resources posted, thanks!
I decided to try a few of the courses on Udemy. They have a few for LTSpice. I've read Mooly's thread, and can get a bit of the way through LTSpice, but I'm still intimidated.
The MITx course and pathway forward looks very interesting.
Slightly OT, but one of the courses on Udemy uses an older Autodesk product called 123D. Specifically, it had a circuits.io. It looks absolutely fantastic, but it seems that it is no longer available. Yes, I like pretty graphics probably intended for teens and under, but it was incredibly helpful. If anyone knows of a reputable source for a download, I would be grateful. Even if Autodesk is no longer supporting it, I can likely manage.
If 123D isn't feasible, does anyone happen to know of an alternative that has breadboard, schematics, and sims? I found Fritzer, but it will not run a simulation. At least I don't think it will. Autodesk's recommendations for substitutions for what was a free product are a bit out of my league both for price and performance. I don't need the capabilities of Fusion 360, and that seems much more focused on physical modeling vs. circuits. I'm certainly willing to pay for the software.
Yep, I'm another one that poked and prodded at too many things when I was younger. I don't remember how old I was when I accidentally stuck a screwdriver into an outlet or just did it for curiosity. I think I was hiding something behind a wall plate at around age 5 or 6. My interests fell toward mechanical and chemical. I took too many things apart to "see how they worked" and mixed all sorts of nasty things to see what would happen. I maaaaaaay have also been fascinated with fire and things that went bang. I tore apart just about every firework to try and make bigger ones. Oh, those poor, poor army men and action figures.
I decided to try a few of the courses on Udemy. They have a few for LTSpice. I've read Mooly's thread, and can get a bit of the way through LTSpice, but I'm still intimidated.
The MITx course and pathway forward looks very interesting.
Slightly OT, but one of the courses on Udemy uses an older Autodesk product called 123D. Specifically, it had a circuits.io. It looks absolutely fantastic, but it seems that it is no longer available. Yes, I like pretty graphics probably intended for teens and under, but it was incredibly helpful. If anyone knows of a reputable source for a download, I would be grateful. Even if Autodesk is no longer supporting it, I can likely manage.
If 123D isn't feasible, does anyone happen to know of an alternative that has breadboard, schematics, and sims? I found Fritzer, but it will not run a simulation. At least I don't think it will. Autodesk's recommendations for substitutions for what was a free product are a bit out of my league both for price and performance. I don't need the capabilities of Fusion 360, and that seems much more focused on physical modeling vs. circuits. I'm certainly willing to pay for the software.
Yep, I'm another one that poked and prodded at too many things when I was younger. I don't remember how old I was when I accidentally stuck a screwdriver into an outlet or just did it for curiosity. I think I was hiding something behind a wall plate at around age 5 or 6. My interests fell toward mechanical and chemical. I took too many things apart to "see how they worked" and mixed all sorts of nasty things to see what would happen. I maaaaaaay have also been fascinated with fire and things that went bang. I tore apart just about every firework to try and make bigger ones. Oh, those poor, poor army men and action figures.