Recording School

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bukk50

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I would like to find a good recording school to attend. I live in Maryland. But really I want to know what type of degree I should be getting. Any certifications I should have. Just some good jumping points Any help is apprieciated
 
Just make sure you know Pro Tools software in/out and can run it quickly.

Apparently, no one takes you as a serious pro engineer if you don't know how to do that.

Sorry, I'm a bit bitter with the industry about that. If you can't tell, it hits very close to home with me!
 
i agree recording engineer

i come from the old school . a senior engineer who took me under his wing several years ago taught me one very important lesson.
when starting out , yes maybe take a recording course, but to be one of the best just record every instrument from A to Z listed in a musical instruments book. and put in thousands of hours work doing so. i'm still learning.
 
In Maryland, look up Sheffield School for the Recording Arts. The reality though, is that once you graduate, you find yourself in a job market that is already over saturated.

What part of Maryland are you in?
 
Education isn't limited to the classroom. I find most of those schools to be insanely overpriced and only as valid as your passion for the artform. Start buying books and renting gear on weekends to record bands. After a few years of learning everything you can on your own, think about going to a school. But really, the diploma isn't going to mean anything if you're not passionate about what you're doing.
 
There's a thread in the newbies section about Full Sail. You can get what most people think about recording schools in there.
 
Well I went to school for four years...

And where am I now? Writing in a message board from my deskjob!

I went to Columbia College Chicago for four years.
Columbia has a GREAT sound program, IMHO better than Full Sail and all the other tech schools. If you are thinking of real college and a real degree (Bachelor of Arts) then think Columbia: Real studios, real gear, real pros teaching EVERYTHING about audio.
From the physics of sound waves to live sound reinforcement to post-production sound for films to sound contacting to (everyone's fav) ProTools.

So, I took the classes, did an internship (work for free at a place you would normally never get hired at) and realized I have no interest in trying to make money off of recording. Really, it didn't seem like fun, it felt like work and I didn't dig it. What do I dig? Recording my own stuff or bands I know and like. And my college degree got me an office job that pays the bills with plenty of "me time".

Like the previous posters have said, the field is saturated, and you sure as heck won't find an ad in the classifieds. Schooling and whatever degree is associated with it is no guarantee. Some of it really is "who ya' know" or who gets to know you and hear your good work. Network! Meet people!
If you are thinking about college, take a look at Columbia, or else check out the tech schools.
 
I would say about 85% Recording Arts students are artists themselves and whether or not they admit it the only reason they go to school for Recording is because they think that if the learn how to record their music they will be the next big thing. While focusing on THEIR music they fail to learn anything that would help other peoples music sound better and become very one Dimensional. About 10% are just unfocused following a dream they really don't care about (yeah sounds weird but I see it every day) they do nothing outside of school to learn more about recording and don't try hard or even show up for class.

Know here is the part that gives most recording schools a bad name. If you do the math that’s 95% of students who don't really have much of a chance for success in the industry. That 95% starts to complain that the school sucks and is overpriced blah, blah blah blah. (See Fullsailsucks.com)

That was just me venting but here is my advice. (This is what I did and its been working well so far)

Spend about 6 months working 2 jobs and buy some medium quality gear. I suggest a Powerbook and digi002 rack. Portable gives you more opportunities to record. Then spend another 6 months recording anyone you can find and reading anything you can get your hands on.

If after that your still into it then go for it tour some schools take out a loan and work hard.

I have an internship and get a lot more opportunities then the other interns because I know pro tools very well and I am still in school!!! One month to go at full sail www.fullsail.com

Peace
 
Jimbo Jones said:
So, I took the classes, did an internship (work for free at a place you would normally never get hired at) and realized I have no interest in trying to make money off of recording.
Click to expand...

Sounds like me.
I came to the same realization myself and have since abandoned the idea of working in a commercial studio. Full Sail didn't provide me with what I needed - a way to pay back my loans. Breaking into the industry through commercial studios really requires no ties. The more ties you have, the harder it's going to be to get anywhere.

I guess that's what some people call dedication - having no ties. Still, I always come back to the need for schools like Full Sail. Everyone's argument is that if you are dedicated, focused, determined, driven (and whatever other "power" words a person can think of to describe their interest) then school will be worth it and you'll get your dedication out of it.

*in my best Lewis Black impression*
THAT'S THE POINT, ASSHOLE!!

If you give anything that kind of dedication then it's going to pay off in some way. That's not the point. The point is that I'm making is that if you are so damn dedicated to succeeding then you don't need a crutch like school to justify your own desire. Those who have made their choices have made their choices and have to live with it. I know I'm not where I hoped I would be all those years ago, but I've found a new path and that is what I am following. As long as there is breath in my body I will preach on. Recording schools are NOT necessary for ANYTHING. The least I can do is impart the knowledge I gained from my recording school experience with others. Many of them are young and naive and don't want to listen to anything but their own heart. That's fine, they'll just end up making all the same mistakes as thousands of their predecessors before them. For those who are in the market of truth and look at both sides of the coin, I'm here.
 
rvdsm said:
Recording schools are NOT necessary for ANYTHING.
Click to expand...

I only had to work my free internship for about 40-60 hours until I started getting paid. Something that would have taken a lot longer if I had not gone to school for recording. NO school is going to get you to the top they just give people who are willing to TRY the tools to move to the top quicker then those without
 
Recording schools are not necessary, but I was able to learn things much faster after going to Berklee's Music Production and Engineering program. It will give you a set of knowledge which makes it much easier to learn the practical stuff, as you understand the theory behind it. Could I have learned how to engineer without school? Sure, but it would have taken me much longer.

The other thing I have found is that I am much less intimated by new gear than many of my friends who do not have a formal audio education. I understand the basic principles of audio (time, amplitude, and signal path), so I do not have to fight to understand what any piece of gear is doing. I only have to focus on the particular user interface. I know live audio guys who still have trouble with the learning curve on something like one of the big Midas consoles. I look at any console, and I understand the layout. All I need to worry about is the computers, and when that is all you are thinking about, it is easy.

For me, Berklee’s Engineering program was a good thing.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
sk8ingsnowman said:
Spend about 6 months working 2 jobs and buy some medium quality gear. I suggest a Powerbook and digi002 rack. Portable gives you more opportunities to record. Then spend another 6 months recording anyone you can find and reading anything you can get your hands on.

If after that your still into it then go for it tour some schools take out a loan and work hard.
Click to expand...

I think that's some good advice. It seems the theme here is that it takes a lot of work whether you choose to go to school or not.
And like sk8ingsnowman said, the success ratio is messed up because people go to school who have no idea what they are getting into.

I hope my post before wasen't too bitter, I don't want to discourage anyone who is interested in making a career out of audio.

Happy Holidays!
 
my position

it takes years and years of hard work to understand audio engineering properly. when i started i was lucky to have some engineering friends to kick me at the appropriate times.
i quickly learnt there is nothing better than just recording lots of acts year in, year out. there are NO QUICK ROUTES.
sure - take a course, but that will only get you started on the road. which stretches to infinity. anyone can learn recording, but very few ever master it.
 
ummm berklee school of music in boston is probably your number one bet for a music school, only problem is the amount of money it cost to go there lol.. its about 3 times as much as colombia becuz of their name.. Only problem with that is when you get out you still have to prove yourself and work for beans.. This is my problem.. I planed on attending fullsail, one of the few schools with state of the art studios in the US.. Now dont listen to most of the guys here about school becuz they didnt go to school lol.. They are all slammin engineers though probably masters at their trades im not doubting, but school will help you grow in all aspects beyond an engineer, it helps you grow as a person and puts more responsability on your shoulders to get something done.. Now they tell you dont go to school because they had the oppurtunity to learn from some of the best themselves or they simply studied on there own reading books and such.. If that is something you think you can do then Id supposed it would be smarter to do that. Im currently looking at going to school for business because thanks to some of the people here they've helped me see

1 the job market for engineers

2 The things I can learn on my own from reading books

3 Theres no rush

I still dont believe anyones thoughts that schools are bad, I believe down to my heart that anyone who graduates and is sour isnt dedicated to what they do, rsvm or wateva his name is swears he graduated from fullsail and says their no good.. I dont believe him Ive talked to students that went to that school and they enjoyed it as well as learned alot, I also spoke to the head engineer above those students and he says there awesome interns that know there stuff.. If your dedicated plain and simlpe you will learn and go far, if your not.. you'll end up on a board complainging about it when your 35 or however old he is lol.. anyway hope you make the right choice..
 
Originally posted by sk8ingsnowman
Spend about 6 months working 2 jobs and buy some medium quality gear. I suggest a Powerbook and digi002 rack. Portable gives you more opportunities to record. Then spend another 6 months recording anyone you can find and reading anything you can get your hands on.

If after that your still into it then go for it tour some schools take out a loan and work hard.



Jimbo Jones said:
I think that's some good advice. It seems the theme here is that it takes a lot of work whether you choose to go to school or not.
And like sk8ingsnowman said, the success ratio is messed up because people go to school who have no idea what they are getting into.

I hope my post before wasen't too bitter, I don't want to discourage anyone who is interested in making a career out of audio.

Happy Holidays!
Click to expand...

i cant even begin to tell you how much I agree with both your statements.. Im going to print this out and tape it on the wall.... You Are My Hero... CHEEERRRSS.. lol
 
thirst, looks like you're in another 'school' thread too.
the thing is there is no "school sucks/school is manditory" answer you can give everyone. Everyone learns different and picks up stuff in different ways.
Columbia never promised me anything except an internship.
I knew it would be hard to try and get a job in a studio.
And for the most part I am lazy!
I basically fell into this office job I have now, and its not glamorous but the people I work with respect me and once I got this job I stopped looking for pro audio gigs because I could pay my bills and just used my home studio for MY projects.
And you know what? I don't think I'm missin out on a thing.
Building my own home studio (as weak as it may be) has been one of the most rewarding things I can think of, and thanks to years of learning physics and signal paths, I feel comfy trying to piece this project studio together.
Life a journey (I know it's a cliche) but the moment I got away from dreaming of my own chair in a studio and got focused on my art, I started having more fun.
 
sk8ingsnowman said:
I only had to work my free internship for about 40-60 hours until I started getting paid. Something that would have taken a lot longer if I had not gone to school for recording. NO school is going to get you to the top they just give people who are willing to TRY the tools to move to the top quicker then those without
Click to expand...


Why would it have taken longer if you had not gone to a recording school?
 
what kind of job you have now jim? I am a supporter of school.. I very big supporter.. Im just confused as to the point where I dont want to pay 30k for an education and have no way of paying for it.. I mean music is my life but I also need to pay bills. I am only 20 so this is a pretty important decision.. Im reading 2 books right now.. I want to study music in school but I keep thinking about the day i graduate and have to get a job at a studio for 2 years makin 10.00 an hour.. My job now pays me 12.75h lol.. So what should people like me do.. ?
 
Your gonna love this...
I work for Columbia College.
I was a student worker for 2 years as an undergrad and was a temp for a little while after graduation, then a position opened up and they hired me full time. funny huh?
So I guess Columbia did get me a job, he he he.
I didn't pay my tuition, my folks just wanted to send me to a 4 year school, and columbia was the only one in the area that offered an audio degree. If tuition is a factor, you could always go somewhere part time, like one class a semester.

Well that's it for now, the best thing about working for a school is having xmas off!!!

talk to you guys next year!

Peace.
 
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