Audio Education Question

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keilson

keilson

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Alright......I haven't posted in a while. I'm currently at The State University of New York at Buffalo. I'm in the middle of my sophmore year. I haven't been to happy at this school and have been considering changing to a school where I can pursue my true love of audio production. I am willing to take our ridiculous loans and eventually pay them off. I am looking at these current schools....Berklee (Boston), American University, Northeastern University, Univ. Miami, and NYU. All expensive as I said. Which of these would be most promising in a good eduction in production and help me eventually attain a job. Most I have spoken to say Berklee, but I'd like to hear other opinions. Also if you can think of any schools that would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
 
Audio Education

keilson,
I went to the Univ. of Miami for a year and the program was great. Miami, on the other hand, sucked. At least it did for this country bumpkin. It was a big (H U G E) culture shock. I should have stuck it out but I didn't. I transferred to another school that didn't have near the recognition of Miami's nor was the program as deep. Miami's program expects you to play a primary and secondary instrument that you will take lessons on in addition to the Recording, Advanced Mathematics, and Electrical Engineering courses that you will have. When you leave there though, you will have a Major in Recording Engineering and a Minor in Electrical Engineering. And, you'll be playing your axe better too. That's a very powerful combination. After that type of education you are very versatile and able to apply for jobs that may not be in a studio environment. Their placement program from what I have heard is very good also. The head of the program is Ken Pohlmann and if you aren't familiar with him, you'd better start reading. He's published several books on digital audio that are industry standards. Here's the link:
http://www.music.miami.edu/programs/mue/sitemap.html

Oh yeah, and it is EXPENSIVE.
Do yourself a favor. If you haven't worked in a professionally run studio find one that you can get your foot into. That will help you tremendously no matter where you go.
 
If you really want to spend money to learn audio engineering then cut out the middle man and just buy the gear. You will learn more by doing it and you will actually have some equipment to show for your investment.

If you want to go to school then major in Electrical Engineering, Communications or something usefull.
 
Tex,

> If you really want to spend money to learn audio engineering then cut out the middle man and just buy the gear. You will learn more by doing it and you will actually have some equipment to show for your investment. If you want to go to school then major in Electrical Engineering, Communications or something usefull. <

You win for best post of the week! Excellent advice.

--Ethan
 
Tex has it right, except for his terminology.

From everything I've read, going to school for Recording Engineering isn't worth the time and money. True Audio Engineering, where you actually learn about designing circuits and/or software, acoustics, and the like - now that's another story. With this kind of background you can readily find a job. It probably won't help you get a job as a recording engineer, but if you do land such a job you'll have a significant technical advantage over somebody who came out of a recording program.

Penn State and the University of Miami have excellent Audio Engineering graduate programs, but I'm not certain if they offer undergraduate degrees. Otherwise, study EE and gear all your classes towards subjects like filter design and DSP.

barefoot
 
Barefoot,
Yes the U of M program is a 4 year undergraduate program. They probably do have a graduate program also but the one I was enrolled in was the 4 year undergrad prograrm.
Here's the blurb from the U of M website linked above:

Undergraduate students from the United States and overseas combine the study of music recording, music theory and performance, electrical engineering, computer engineering and computer science in a unique interdisciplinary program.
Click to expand...

And I would have to agree. I really don't think it is worth the time and the money. We aren't talking about Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering. Those disciplines absolutely require a degree and what school that sheepskin is from is going to, in some way, determine your career. Not so with recording. Now, if you want to get a degree in performance you can probably do something with that. But after having graduated from a recording school, I would honestly say that if you REALLY, REALLY want to do this, either do what Tex suggested or find a studio that you can work at and learn it from the ground up.
But if you are still set on going to a school I highly recommend the University of Miami. A college education isn't going to go to waste no matter what you study but you may not end up where you think you want to be by going the recording (music/audio) engineering route. Practical experience will carry you much farther.
 
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Alright....I don't want to be an engineer alone. If I did then I'd go to a tech school. I already have the equipment. I want to be a producer. I want to organize as well as engineer. I want more of a musical education than a tech education.
 
I had a whole litany of things written out, then I decided to see where you are from and it was gone when I came back. Anyway, you've got a good start Jon. You can do a whole lot with what you have already. And, you are making the right move by interning at that studio. How did that go btw? Are you still working there? THAT, is where you will learn how to produce. Damn, you live in NYC for cryin out loud. You have access to ALL KINDS of producers. Join NARAS (the Grammy people) or SPARS; The AES. Shmooz, kibitz, interact, network with people in the industry.
Check out this thread on the difference between engineering and producing from prosoundweb.com
http://recpit.prosoundweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=3340
Be patient. Watch, Listen, Shut Up (and I mean that in the nicest way possible). What I mean is, be seen and not heard when you are in a session.
You don't really want school. Not for record production anyway. Go to school and get the education for the possibility that you won't be making a living in the music industry. Away from school, focus on your goal and work for it. Good Luck
 
Hey Keilson... take a look at Ithaca college just down the road from you. Ithaca is not a SUNY school itself but transferring to it wont be a big hassle. They have a top notch perfoming arts ciriculum there. Pretty much every aspect of music is available.
 
TexRoadkill said:
If you really want to spend money to learn audio engineering then cut out the middle man and just buy the gear. You will learn more by doing it and you will actually have some equipment to show for your investment.

If you want to go to school then major in Electrical Engineering, Communications or something usefull.
Click to expand...



Touche'

The equipment costs have come down.

Tuition, on the other hand, has not.

Buy the equipment, and seek out a community college that offers the courses that you wish to pursue.

I went to Houston Community College, and the cost was so low, I can't even recall the figure. (Well, it was fifteen years ago...)

We had a 16 AND a 24 track studio, and some pretty good instructors, as well.

After we got through the first semester basic engineering principles, we could sign up for a weekly studio slot for unsupervised sessions. (I picked the midnight to 6 a.m. slot :D )

I am currently learning video production... pretty much on my own. The equipment is fairly expensive, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than taking a full course at some of these colleges. I've seen some that charge $60K for the course! :mad:

And when all is said and done, you'll have something to auction off on eBay.:cool:
 
thank you all for your responses. But once again I do not want to be an engineer alone. I want to organize. I have spoken to some friends at Berklee and some graduates and looks like that is the top school for what I want to do.
 
keilson said:
.....I want to be a producer.....
Click to expand...
You just need to realize that having this as your goal is almost as much of a lottery ticket as saying you want to be a rock star. Not to say you can't do it, or you shouldn't shoot for your dream. But it's always good to lay a solid foundation before you star reaching for the stars. An engineering education will give you that. And you'll be much more technically savvy than most others when you finally do become a producer.

barefoot
 
Even said:
Hey Keilson... take a look at Ithaca college just down the road from you. Ithaca is not a SUNY school itself but transferring to it wont be a big hassle. They have a top notch perfoming arts ciriculum there. Pretty much every aspect of music is available.
Click to expand...


I DO NOT RECOMMEND ITHACA.

I go here, it sucks =/ Currently, I am a Physical Therapy major, and like you I wanted to pursue Audio Prod. instead...to no avail....they won't let anyone outside the Communications school take the classes...and what's worse...the program isn't all its cracked up to be. I've learned through my own experimenting, and know shit better than much of the Audio Prod. students...hell, I do mixdowns for some of the groups around the school...its a waste of $32000/year...
 
thanks to everybody for all the responses. I'm trying to decide right now if I want to believe Buffalo next semester or next year. I'm leaning towards next year. I'm going to attmept to get into some media studies classes here and see if I like that. I was originally doing business....which I hated. I will be applying to most of the schools discussed, and/ or checking out what they have to offer. I'm not going to rush into anything just yet. And I realize that my goal is not an easy one, and that the odds are against me, but I feel like doing this is what will make me happy. I don't want to be stuck in a job that I will hate for the rest of my life. So I am gonna try a few things here at Buffalo and experiment to see where else my interests may lie. THanks once again
 
32 THOUSAND? you did mean to type that many zeroes, right? prices for tuition are harsh. i'm sure state schools are much less, but :eek: good god, man!
 
http://www.colum.edu/

Columbia College in Chicago

A media specific school with the variety you seek located in a big city so you don't miss out on the opportunities that can afford.

I'm also willing to bet it's less expensive than berklee...

stone :)
 
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