Recording school???

[Goss-stick]

I'm from the Bay Area and there's a school call "Ex'pressions". You get your bachelors in recording pro-tools certified, logic certified and more during this 2 year program. The only thing is this program cost a total of $71,000 at the end. Do you think its worth it? If i were to do this, I would want to know that its worth it. Thanks

P.S. Google Ex'pressions recording school and take a look for yourself.

[bennychico11]

never heard of it.

there are varying opinions on this board about recording schools. You get what you put into it. Do a search about recording schools on this forum and you'll see mine and many other peoples opinions. But I've never heard of this school...so I can't give an opinion on it.

[Goss-stick]

Originally Posted by bennychico11

never heard of it.

there are varying opinions on this board about recording schools. You get what you put into it. Do a search about recording schools on this forum and you'll see mine and many other peoples opinions. But I've never heard of this school...so I can't give an opinion on it.

Whats the best way to get pro-tools certified?

[Foo-bu]

$71,000 is NOT worth it! I'm all for recording schools but the fact of the matter is that the industry is really shrinking and there aren't many jobs out there. there's tonnes of schools out there though all trying to teach the same things. they're all what you make of them from the info they give you. but $71000 seems very steep when you could certainly get taught the same info at another school. hell you could even call up a studio around you and ask to work for free for a while as an intern and learn way more that what you'd learn at school and its not gonna make you go completly broke in the process

[Foo-bu]

Originally Posted by Goss-stick

Whats the best way to get pro-tools certified?

There's various schools that do the pro tools certification but from what i've been told by countless studio owners is that they really don't care if you've got certification or not. just because you know how to run pro tools doesn't mean you're a good engineer.

[bennychico11]

Originally Posted by Foo-bu

There's various schools that do the pro tools certification but from what i've been told by countless studio owners is that they really don't care if you've got certification or not. just because you know how to run pro tools doesn't mean you're a good engineer.

being a good engineer isn't the point of being certified. learning the program like the back of your hand is.

Goss-stick, to answer your question...look here for schools offering the program in your area: http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?...&categoryid=27

If all you care about is being PT certified, there are lots of schools that offer only just that.

[Goss-stick]

Hey thanks a lot guys!!! I appreciate the info!!

[jmorris]

I have yet to meet anyone that has been to a "school" and was any better than the guy that just plain had a good ear and drive. Also with the studio biz being as shitty as it is I would'nt want to spend 71 grand on that degree. Go for a nurse, big shortage there. If you REALLY want to be an engineer get an intern job at the biggest/best studio you can. Explane your intentions right up front. Go above and beyond what is expected of you. Do Exactly what is asked of you everytime. Keep your mouth shut and your ears and eyes open

[midwesttribune]

if your looking down the road of becoming a music producer engineer ect. then i would look at whose graduated from there, where are people ending up who go there, does it seem a benefit for the people who have gone threw. give em an email with these questions

[lucky13]

Hey there, first of all, I'm biased. I graduated from The conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, and now I work there. So take what I say for what it's worth. I love the program here. We certify in Pro Tools, Logic, Reason, SIA Smaart, Auto-Tune, Waves plug-ins and a lot of other stuff. Tuition for our program is less than 1/4 of what they're doing at Expressions. Plus The Conservatory is the only school that sets you up with an internship before you graduate. And for all the guys saying to go to knock on a studio door and ask them if you can intern there, sorry that doesn't work anymore. That's the old school way, but they want you to have an education before you intern now. Anyway if you want more info, pm me. I don't want to spam the board here......

[semidiablan]

I've heard awesome things about The Conservatory....it seems like all the other interns are coming from there. I got an internship without schooling, but I know my shit since I grew up around it. The "problem" with this industry is that it doesn't necessarily take a degree or schooling...you just have to be good at it one way or another. Getting certified will help you get there but you'll need to train your ear, practice mixing, and know how to deal with clients. I'm still in the process, and unsure where I will be taken this next year.

[Izzy Pop]

The most important thing to ask your self is what are your goals, and then build a roadmap to get there. Becoming certified with make you fast on Pro Tools and give you perspective of it's capabilities as a tool. (I'm am a certified operator in both music an post production V7) Much like an other college degree it will not guarantee you a job by any means. It was stated above, the market is flooded with engineers and some are better than others. I was certified in logic and pro tools like you are considering, and went through an intensive recording techniques course in London (I'm from the States). My course was half the price. I think school are great for fundamentals, but if you want a job in the industry and have some confidence in your ability, and are sure this is what you want to do, here's what I would suggest.

Save your 70K for living expenses, and knock down doors until a reputable engineer will let you volunteer for free. Get in, learn all you can from him/her try and work to the point that they will let you engineer in their studio for acts that you bring in, and do the foot work to get some good talent in, do good work, get some royalty points, and hope for the best. You'll likely blow that 70K in the first year so be careful. Remember anyone can buy gear, not every has great experience and seasoned ears, that's where you want to invest.

www.themixbus.com

[heroics321]

I would invest some money into a nice rig and just start tracking. Start part time, make a name for yourself, the real projects come when people are after YOU, not the studio you work at or the school you went to.

[jndietz]

I almost went to Full Sail in Florida to do Recording Arts. I'm kind of glad I didn't go, actually. It was expensive, very far from where I live, and I've learned a lot just doing stuff myself. Not to mention that probably wouldn't have been as much fun...

[bennychico11]

Originally Posted by jndietz

I almost went to Full Sail in Florida to do Recording Arts. I'm kind of glad I didn't go, actually. It was expensive, very far from where I live, and I've learned a lot just doing stuff myself. Not to mention that probably wouldn't have been as much fun...

oh it's fun


but maybe you had a 96 channel SSL at home to learn on?

[jndietz]

Originally Posted by bennychico11

oh it's fun


but maybe you had a 96 channel SSL at home to learn on?

actually, yeah.

did you know stefan vasa?

[GOODLAND]

Berklee College of Music has a great Music Production and Engineering Department if your really serious about recording/music. It's pretty competitive which is a good thing, cause not just anyone with money goes.

[PokerDude422]

I am currently a student at Belmont University in Nashville which a four year university that has an audio engineering degree, and a music business degree. This is one of the highest ranked schools in the country for it and one thing you will get out of a four year university like this rather an a 'recording school' is the opportunity to intern and get experience in the real world and make connections. They own the highest ranked recording studio in Nashville which you get to take classes in on top of three other studios that are still oustanding studios. I think that paying 71,000 for a two year program is pretty steep when you could pay 25,000 a year for a degree that is much higher accredited along with a full education on top of that.

http://www.belmont.edu/mb/recording_...ies/index.html

there is the link to their studios, its a school that is definetly worth checking out

[Ironklad Audio]

i know a couple of people who are planning on going to expressions...and to me, it sounds like a total rip-off. i also have talked to people who went to other non-degree programs, namely the LA Recording Workshop, and that sounds like a rip-off as well(around 18k for one year). sure, you have the potential to get your hands on some great gear and learn a lot about the recording process, but the chances of making enough later on to pay off $70,000 in student loans is pretty slim...even the chances of paying off 18-20k in loans doing this sort of work is pretty slim.

that being said, since you're from CA, i would recommend scoping out Cuesta College, in San Luis Obispo. The studio there is well-equipped, the teachers know their shit, and the recording program is expanding rapidly. Right now there's only a main studio w/ a D-command console and a couple of 003 stations to do assignments on, but starting next fall they'll be up to 33 003 stations, and will start offering PT certification after those are in.

the recording program is a total of 2 years - 1 class per semester for 4 semesters, and they offer a vocational certificate after you complete the program. the certificate doesn't really mean shit, but i guess it'd be nice to have.

now here's the best part: since Cuesta is a CA community college, you can take the RA program while also taking standard GE units that can be applied to some other major. since you're already in CA, the cost of attendance is also only $27/unit - this makes for $216 for the 4 semesters of recording arts(each class is 2 units).

i can tell you now that this program is well worth the money - a few years back, when the program was only 2 semesters long(this semester is the first for the Rec. Arts III class; Rec. Arts IV will be offered for the 1st time in january), one of the students went on to the LARW, then snagged a job at a commercial studio in LA as an assistant engineer. he came and talked to my class, and told us that the only thing he learned at LARW that he didn't learn at Cuesta was ProTools...but now they're offering courses and certification in PT, so i don't know why anyone would bother with the costlier route.

also, FWIW, he also told us that even though he has 2 platinum albums and a grammy credit to his name as an AE, he's still only getting paid $10/hr, with a retainer of $300/wk in case he works less than 30 hours. imagine trying to pay LA rent, AND pay back massive school loans on $10/hr! not possible!!!