Audio Engineering Career Path Options! Please Help!

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mainsy02

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My name is Matt Mains, I'm 19 and want to start a career in audio engineering. Ive been going to College for over a year now in order to get a bachelors at Kent in their Music (Recording Arts) program. However, right now im going to Cuyahoga Community College which also has a great Audio Engineering program.



My question is; Is it a better idea for me to:

1) Go to Kent State for the 4 year Bachelors degree in "Music (Recording Arts)

2) Finish at Tri-C with a 2 year Associates in Audio Engineering or

3) Go to Kent State for a Major in something such as Business or Marketing and also get a Minor in "Recording Arts?"



When i say "Better" i mean which option will be most beneficial for me to start my career as an engineer?

Any and All thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Definitely number 3. It's VERY hard for someone with a degree in audio engineering to get a job in audio engineering. You might as well, and would probably be better off, volunteer at a studio and ask, every now and then, for some advice and info.

Plus, if you can't find a job in audio, you have a great backup degree that's pretty reliable as far as the job market goes.
 
You thinking live sound or recording engineer?

I have a two friends who are doing well in the industry (live sound). Only one has a degree in audio from a college. The other learned by doing. Guess which one runs FOH for top artists?

If you have the means to get an education, then by all means use every resource you have. But make sure you have other skills to fall back on, if for some reason, your major does not end up being right for you.

I was planning on being a rock star when I was 19. Didn't quite work out. Now I record other peoples broken dreams. lol!

I have a remodeling business now for over 20 years, that pays for my hobbies and retirement plan.

IMO, make sure you keep your options open, and take classes that can help you to work elsewhere as well.
 
mainsy02 said:
When i say "Better" i mean which option will be most beneficial for me to start my career as an engineer?
Click to expand...

Get a job at Starbucks and learn to make good coffee, serve snacks, clean up and take out the garbage....
...that's usually the first step to being an engineer.

FYI...engineering jobs are dwindling, and a diploma for AE is almost worhtless AFA jobs.
 
Get an education and degree in something useful that has a steady future. In other words, nothing in the audio field.
 
I have to chime in on this. Get a degree from a good institution (University) in a field such as E.E or Accounting. If you want to put food on the plate don't get an "audio" degree. With a proper marketable education you can make $$ and then squander it on audio related things. This advice comes from a person with 3 countem 3 audio related degrees from the most reputable institutions in the U.S. I worked in the audio field for 20+ years and have seen the opportunities dwindle. Heck the high dollar consoles and studios I have worked in are now replaced with stuff you can buy for a lot less. (Please don't blast me about the hasty generalization that hardware/studio is better I am just trying to make a point). Get a proper education and learn audio as a side line. BTW Don't become a lawyer either. :)
 
Yes, Electrical Engineering would be a good option. You'd have a very solid engineering degree that can open the door for many better paying more stable opportunities, and it can also serve you well in the audio field if some luck falls your way. All that vintage audio shit that people think have magical sounds in them won't diagnose and fix itself.
 
Greg_L said:
Yes, Electrical Engineering would be a good option. You'd have a very solid engineering degree that can open the door for many better paying more stable opportunities, and it can also serve you well in the audio field if some luck falls your way. All that vintage audio shit that people think have magical sounds in them won't diagnose and fix itself.
Click to expand...

I would agree with this as well. Maybe some psychology courses as well. Many musicians need some therapy. At least having an understanding of their disorder may help you later, when you try get the most from their performance. Or when they refuse to play to a click track, because it looses it's 'feel'. You will need to address the issue, without breaking their fragile ego. Trust me, this will happen.

:)
 
A good education (that means you try hard) in an area other than "audio" will take you farther along the path to doing what you love. Not bashing audio programs out there, many are quite good but the market has changed so dramatically that the "studio gig" really does not exist anymore. Think about this: Audio program at university 50,000. Business/marketing degree or E.E, chem or other skill masters degree at a public university 75,000. If you do one of those you will be able to gain employment. Heck your starting salary may be 60,000. You will not get an audio job with a staring "salary" anywhere near that number. There are to many guys/girls out there with many years exp. that you will be competing with. Student loans are a bitch. Don't mean to bust your bubble but that is the way it is in today's market. I love MPE but in my market it will not pay the bills. That is why I have other sheepskins.
 
Get an EE. You can learn anything audio-specific on the job or on the internet. If you have a knack for it you'll pick it up easily and if not you can do something else useful with the EE.
 
Pig sloppers too! No joke I know plumbers who make a fortune. Hard work but $$. (not calling plumbers pig sloppers btw) I meant real pig sloppers. They don't have a union. No dues and pigs are always hungry.
 
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