Pro Tools Certification courses

[bigtoe]

does anyone know if these prices are in line with the market? I'm curious. I just got this spam in my inbox.

I posted this over at RAP as well. I'm curious.

"Recording Enthusiasts,


Thanks for your interest in Pro Tools Certification courses at Cuyahoga
Community College in Cleveland, Ohio. You've been sent this email
notification because you previously inquired about our Pro Tools
certification course offerings.


Our instructors are Digidesign Pro Tools certified from 101-210M level
courses. Our prices are as follows:


Protools 101/110-combined course (two 8-hour days)$1100 course fee
includes books Protools 201 (two 8-hour days) $1100 course fee includes
book Protools 210M (two 8-hour days) $1100 course fee includes book


Please call if you have any questions.


Regards,


XXXX XXXXX
Recording Arts & Technology
2900 Community College Avenue
Media Center 58A
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
216.987.XXXXphone
XXX...@tri-c.edu"

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

It was similar over in the Bay Area.

Also not worth the money, IMHO. If you have clients that are asking if you are PT certified then it might be to have the resume item, but...

I looked over the curriculum a while back. Its ALL Pro Tools specific. You learn how to opperate Pro Tools and its various peripherals- and that's it. Software and workflow, but not real RECORDING stuff.

Great if that's what you're looking for, though. And you'll get hands on experience with all the latest toys from Digi. And a piece of paper that people who don't know much about recording might be impressed with.

Most of what you need to know you can easily figure out with a little time and the manual for your system.

Take care,
Chris

 

[studiomaster]

I think that's a rip off. Why not just get a diploma/degree on Sound/Audio Engineering? much more worth it....

 

[bigtoe]

I guess there are courses across the country that charge this much. I'm trying to find out who they are. i think the price is nuts...but you know...it could be that's what the kids are paying these days.

I certainly would never...but it's about 1000X the cost of a normal program at that school. I'm currently enrolled in two of those classes with labs and both of them for 16 weeks cost 600 bucks.

sheezam when you break it down it's more than Harvard's tuition.

Mike

 

[bennychico11]

Great if that's what you're looking for, though. And you'll get hands on experience with all the latest toys from Digi. And a piece of paper that people who don't know much about recording might be impressed with.

many larger studios (particularly post production) are interested in guys who can run just Pro Tools for them. I know of people who've gotten jobs in music sessions just running the computer. I've even started to see more and more credits in movies as "Pro Tools operator"

The courses are very intense and you are forced to learn every single thing in the program. The very basic ones, 101/110 and even some of 201, are just that...the basics. Learning where stuff is and the correct names for them (no students, that tool isn't called the "A/Z button"). The 210M and more importantly the 210P concentrate more on music and post production. You SHOULD get some more hands on time during those classes and will be able to craft your skill in mixing with PT. The post production one is nice if you are interested in learning about frame rates and such in the film industry.

The more advanced courses found at some schools (220 on up) can get into more of actual mixing/recording. In fact ProToolsTraining.com offers these courses with teachers like Roger Nichols and Ed Seays. I don't know about you...but the cost might be worth it right there to learn under these guys.

I'm certified in both music and post and can say it definitely helped me get a job where I'm at. I came in here to replace the previous engineer and if I knew nothing about Pro Tools I would have probably been fired within the first week. Luckily everything was second nature to me after having it drilled into my head during the certification courses...so I was able to concentrate on the job and not reading the help menu.

So I say, if you've got the money and want to learn PT because you plan on applying for a job somewhere that uses it....go for it. There's no downside. You'll make your money back by working.
But if you just want to get better at the program for your own purposes (home studio), you may just want to purchase some tutorials/books/DVDs.

More info on schools that offer it can be found here: http://training.digidesign.com

 

[bigtoe]

thanks for the input benny, why is your signature the protools forum? are you affiliated?

don't worry, i'm not anti protools or anything.

i'm honestly trying to figure out how this course can cost more than my anatomy class.

Mike

 

[bennychico11]

thanks for the input benny, why is your signature the protools forum? are you affiliated?

don't worry, i'm not anti protools or anything.

i'm honestly trying to figure out how this course can cost more than my anatomy class.

Mike

yes, I moderate and run the main page of the site.

I'm not sure the cost reasons. I had it built in as part of my classes for recording when I took it...so I can't tell you what the cost of it would be. Of course there is Digi's costs (which basically gives you a "degree" of sorts at the end of it all) and the school probably tacks on it's own fees. Sorry, can't help you with that...it does seem high when you compare to other classes, but then again that might have been how much I paid for it.

 

[Ironklad Audio]

fuck paying that kind of money for 2 days...

my local community college just installed a Control 24 console, so i'll be getting certified soon enough for $54($27/unit x 2 units)

 

[TuoKaerf]

Those prices are way high.

I was certified in Music Operation, and it counted towards elective credit for my degree program. However, my classes lasted 2 months each, so we had much more time to actually discuss what is going on and work on real world applications.

The courses go over much more than what you think they will.

 

[fraserhutch]

I'm certifyable.

 

[bennychico11]

oh wait...is that saying it's two, 8 hour days? And thats it?
I guess I originally thought it read it was two days a week classes, for an entire semester or something.
Yeah, only two days isn't going to do anything. I'd be surprised as to how many people actually pass the Digi Certification tests after that. Way too much money if that's true.

Now if they are eight hour days, twice a week...for a semester. Then maybe I could see that.

 

[MessianicDreams]

I wish I could just do the exam part rather than have to do all the courses. I know tools pretty damn well, have already taken a uni course in it, but unfortunately they don't give the certificate at the end


I don't think I'm gunna learn much from it, but I think it would be a nice thing tohave on my CV anyways..



i've also noticed that you can't just jump in, for example, at 210P which is what I'd be interested in. In terms of Pro Tools knowledge 101 and 110 are pretty much a joke for me, and would be a complete waste of time and money.


But no, of course, Digidesign force you to cough up the money for all of it

 

[ecktronic]

The Pro Tools courses are a rip off.
I did Pro Tolls 101 and cant even be bothered to sit the test now as it was a joke. I spent about $600 for a big shiny book and around a 1 week course. The content was stupid. It was all so easy and I knew most of it already.
I think Pro Tools is like the Tesco of the audio world.

Eck

 

[bigtoe]

oh wait...is that saying it's two, 8 hour days? And thats it?
I guess I originally thought it read it was two days a week classes, for an entire semester or something.
Yeah, only two days isn't going to do anything. I'd be surprised as to how many people actually pass the Digi Certification tests after that. Way too much money if that's true.

Now if they are eight hour days, twice a week...for a semester. Then maybe I could see that.

well actually i think your being connected with that site is a big plus so thanks for your responses. i very much appreciate it.

are you connected with digidesign? I'd be very interested as to whether they think this is approriate prcing for their classes. I'm not on a crusade or anything but my market doesn't see too much of this type of thing...and at 1,100 bucks i think it's somewhat out of line. i'm pursuing why it is that much.

i could see if this were sanfrancisco or a place where there are jobs right out of the box. we're talking cleveland here. and this is our state funded community college which should be making classes somewhat affordable.

anyway, thanks again, any insight you may have is appreciated.

Mike

 

[whjr15]

Bigtoe, I'm from the Cleveland area as well, and I also went to tri-c for a semester.

That 1100 price tag is that high because it is one of their certificate granting courses, rather than just an average science class. You don't walk out of that science class with a degree. I do agree with you about how ridiculous tuition is these days though.

Also, when I went there (eastern campus) I learned that nobody in the "offices" (admissions, advising, fin. aid...etc) knows their ass from a hole in the ground about anything, so take what they say with a grain of salt.

From my understanding, that whole "2 day" thing really means 2 days a week for a semester....Kinda like "2 credit hours" isnt just 2 total hours, but 2 hrs per week. Definitely dont quote me on that though, as I dont know for sure.

What I would do is look up the person(s) who teach the class and give em a call, or meet with them. Ask THEM, and not the retards who work in advising.

Just curious, which campus do you go to?

 

[bigtoe]

whyjr! what's shakin? nice to see someone here from cleveburg.

yeah trust me - i've been there with the admin...it's kind sad. there are some great people at tri-c...there are some real knuckleheads. I've taken probably 20 classes at tri-c. great place for the $. some outstanding profs donate their time there for not much $...

i called the guy who sent me the letter and will wait to hear back from him. tommy wiggins is the program guy there. i've already got my degree in radio production so i never saw the need to attend the program but these classes look interesting...which is why i wrote them about there. it looks to me that they are 1,100 bucks for 16 hours...but perhaps i'm reading it wrong. still...it's expensive...you can go full time there for that much.

this certification thing is not based on any type of academic standard, it's based on the product manufacturer, no? i mean fine. if that's what the manufacturer wants to do...more power to em...computer software folk do that from what i'm told.

i dunno. i'm not exactly calling foul play but whoa there i can't afford that...and i'm going to try to figure out why that is. i've been in the field for 12 years and have never seen anything like that...short of these recording with this 'superstar X' engineer for a week for 5 grand things...

Mike

 

[bennychico11]

it looks to me that they are 1,100 bucks for 16 hours...but perhaps i'm reading it wrong. still...it's expensive...you can go full time there for that much.

my guess would be what whyjr said. two classes a week for 8 hours each...for an entire semester. When I took the classes I think they were 4 hour lecture classes 3 days a week, and then an extra 4 hour lab class 3 days a week. So that was about 24 hours a week for 4 weeks...that would be just one of the classes (101). Then of course I took the 110, 201 and 210M/P. But like I said these were lumped into the rest of my classes so I'd be learning PT and how to do post production audio at the same time. I can't think that a school would gouge the price too much...but tuition does seem to be getting steeper and steeper.

That 1100 price tag is that high because it is one of their certificate granting courses, rather than just an average science class. You don't walk out of that science class with a degree. I do agree with you about how ridiculous tuition is these days though.

Exactly, this I think is the key reason. Some people come to the school just to take these classes and nothing else.

well actually i think your being connected with that site is a big plus so thanks for your responses. i very much appreciate it.

are you connected with digidesign?

No, I am not. Just an avid PT user.
I think it's just like anything. Since Digi doesn't directly offer the courses at their headquarters, they probably charge the schools a certain fee and then the schools tack on a little percentage to help pay for the teacher, the lights, the equipment, etc.
Also note that as student and one who is taking certification at the same time, you are eligible for discounts through Digi...so be sure to check into that if you take the classes. I got about 25% off Digi gear and still did for awhile after I graduated. Just a side note.

 

[bigtoe]

Also note that as student and one who is taking certification at the same time, you are eligible for discounts through Digi...so be sure to check into that if you take the classes. I got about 25% off Digi gear and still did for awhile after I graduated. Just a side note.

thanks for the tip.

i'll keep ya posted on the amount of time it is...to me - that says two 8 hour days not 2 8 hour days for 16 weeks...that sounds well worth it come to think of it.

appreciate all y'alls input...anyone else, and - more i'd love to hear it.

Mike

 

[MessianicDreams]

thanks for the tip.

i'll keep ya posted on the amount of time it is...to me - that says two 8 hour days not 2 8 hour days for 16 weeks...that sounds well worth it come to think of it.

appreciate all y'alls input...anyone else, and - more i'd love to hear it.

Mike

Had a chat with the leader of the Sound Tech course at my Uni - he said he's had numerous discussions with Digi about getting some sort of Certificate for the Desktop Audio modules we do. They've got a lecturer who's now going thru the training process - but he says that every time he comes away from the meetings with Digi he always feels they're just trying to make more money rather than anything else.


We'd also have to pay extra money just to sit the exam, something in the region of £150-200. This is because of the price of sitting the exam - most of the content up to and including 201 is part of the basic 1st DA module, so very little would need to be changed in terms of curriculum content.

 

[heroics321]

Look at all us Cleveland folk... that tuition looks about right for a semester at tri-c. I'm contemplating whether to attend or not, most likely for electrical engineering or small business management. They do have a nice Trident for the recording program though... hmmm. Most kids I know that go there only do what the teachers tell them, and from some of the equipment choices they make... erm. If you go in there with a good head on your shoulders, and not being completely self-relient on the teaching staff, it could be a good experience. You could always get a job at that god-aweful place known as the Lava Room.