Quick answer: You do not need a degree to work as a mixing engineer, but a degree and an online course give you different things. A degree gives you a long structured program, a credential, access to studios and gear, and a peer group. An online course gives you flexibility, a narrow focus and a lower commitment, but you have to supply the practice, the room and the discipline. Neither one replaces the part that actually builds a career: finishing many mixes and getting clients. Choose by your goal. If you want a job that asks for a degree, or you need access to a studio and classmates, a degree can make sense. If you want to mix for artists and learn at your own pace, a focused online path plus real projects is a common route.
A note on bias: Puremix and Campus sell online learning, so we have a stake in this question. This guide tries to be fair to both options, and it says clearly where an online course is not enough.
What are you actually comparing?
"Degree" and "online course" each cover very different things, so it helps to separate four paths:
| Path | What it is | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-person degree or diploma | A multi-year program at a school or university, with studios and teachers on site | Structure, credential, gear, classmates, internship contacts | Long commitment, fixed schedule, and you still need to build a portfolio |
| Online degree | A degree program delivered remotely | Credential with more flexibility | Less hands-on access to rooms and gear, and still a long commitment |
| Online courses and certification programs | Self-paced courses on specific skills, sometimes grouped into a certification | Flexible, focused, lower commitment | Not a degree, and quality and feedback vary a lot between providers |
| Self-directed learning with mentors | Mixing real projects while learning from working engineers' sessions | Maximum flexibility and the most practice | No structure, and it is easy to stall without feedback |
Compare programs by what they include, not by their label. Check the length, the instructors, whether you get feedback on your own work, and what you will have made by the end.
What a degree is good for
- Structure and time. A school gives you a schedule, deadlines and a curriculum, which some people need.
- Access. Studios, consoles and microphones you may not be able to afford, and a space where you can try things.
- People. Classmates and teachers who become collaborators and references. In professional studios, the first step is usually an internship and a relationship of trust. In Ask The Pros: First Internship Lessons, seven top engineers describe how those first weeks went.
- A credential. Some employers, institutions or roles, such as teaching or certain staff jobs, may ask for a degree. Check the job listings for the roles you want instead of assuming.
What an online course is good for
- Learning a specific skill now. Compression, EQ, critical listening or a particular genre, without committing to years of study.
- Learning from working professionals. Many online programs are built around engineers who work in the industry. On Puremix, the free videos and the full library show real sessions with the decisions made in real time.
- Flexibility. You choose the pace and keep your job or your current projects.
- A modular path. You can start small, and add more when you know what you need.
Limits to be honest about: an online course will not give you a studio, it will not push you if you stop, and the feedback depends on the provider. Look for programs with assignments, knowledge checks and some form of discussion, not just videos.
What neither gives you: repetition
The most useful lesson in the Puremix interview with Austin Seltzer has nothing to do with school. He says the growth comes from repetition and real work, and his line is: "Putting in the time doing the craft is the mentorship." At one point in his career he was producing 40 tracks a week, and he says that after 400 tracks you are a light year from where you started. Read the full interview in How to Become a Mixing Engineer.
That is the part a degree or a course can only support. A mixing engineer is paid for finished work, so what counts in the end is a portfolio that sounds good and clients who trust you. We cover that side in how to find clients online and in What Does a Mixing Engineer Do?. For a broader discussion of whether audio degrees and courses are worth it, there is also a Production Expert podcast episode on the topic.
How to decide
- Write down your goal. A staff job in a studio, broadcaster or post-production company? Freelance mixing for artists? Teaching? The answer changes the weight of a degree.
- Check your constraints. Time, money, location, and whether you can leave your current work.
- Look at your target jobs. If listings ask for a degree, that matters. If they ask for a portfolio and credits, put your effort there.
- Be honest about how you learn. Do you need deadlines and a teacher in the room, or can you stay consistent alone?
- Start small if you are unsure. A short course or a few weeks with the free videos costs little and shows you whether you like the work before you commit to years.
- Keep mixing. Whatever you choose, mix real songs every week.
How to judge any program
- Who teaches it, and what have they actually worked on?
- Do you get feedback on your own work?
- Does it use real sessions and real decisions, not only theory?
- What will you have made when you finish?
- What does it cost compared with the alternatives, and what is the refund policy?
Where Puremix and Campus fit
Campus is not a degree program. It offers self-paced courses and certification programs from working engineers. Some places to start:
- Core Audio Certification Program, a four-course foundation taught by Andrew Scheps, covering the people and process of professional audio, the physics of sound, audio electronics, and digital audio, signal processing and microphones. The page lists 40 to 45 hours in total, and the last two courses were marked as coming soon when we checked.
- How To Listen, for critical listening with Fab Dupont.
- Foundations of Compression.
- The Brauerize Mixing Method.
If you prefer to learn from sessions first, see the Puremix plans.
FAQ
Do you need a degree to be a mixing engineer?
No. Many mixers learn through real projects and build a portfolio and a client base, and a degree is one route among several. Some jobs, such as certain staff or teaching roles, may ask for one, so check the listings for the roles you want.
Is an online mixing course worth it?
It can be, if it is taught by working professionals, gives you assignments and feedback, and you keep mixing real songs. It will not replace practice or building a portfolio.
Is an audio engineering degree worth it?
It depends on your goal and your budget. A degree offers structure, access to studios and gear, a peer group and a credential. Compare the cost and the time with what you want to do afterward.
Can you get a job in audio without a degree?
Yes, especially in freelance and studio work, where a portfolio and relationships usually matter most. Some institutional or staff roles may require a degree.
How long does it take to learn to mix?
There is no fixed timeline. Progress comes from repetition: finishing records, getting feedback and learning from engineers who do it every day.
Can I combine a degree and online courses?
Yes. Many people use online courses to deepen a specific skill alongside, or after, a formal program.
Want to test the online route at no cost? Watch the free Puremix videos, or explore Campus.
Disclosure: Puremix and Campus are sister brands that sell online learning, so we have an interest in this topic. Details about Campus programs were checked on their pages in November 2026.
