Studying Recording

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Dances with Pigs? A foil title for Dances with Wolves?

I can offer you this tip: get a job as a janitor for some recording studio; that way, you get free learning just by being there when you're done sweeping.

Or, Buy an eight track recorder and open its manual; if you can figure out the manual, you don't need to go to college for recording instruction.

Or, call your local Junior College (cheap tuiton) and ask if they offer an electronic music course; we have one here in Grand Rapids offered by our Junior College and the course gets into Roland stuff and sequencing, etc.

If you like what you learn, then apply for all of the scholarship money you can, especially if you're poor like most of us. check the net for scholarships. Then, go for the gold cassette tape and realize your dreams.

Green Hornet

 

[pigwalk]

Hey, I was wondering what everyone else would recommend for someone with very little recording experience and would like to study it. Real colleges are out of the question (good ole G.E.D...). I was seriously looking into Full Sail (close to home, loans, quick, just one year) But i was wondering what everyone elses opinions on the place are and what other recommendations you'd give. Thanks!

 

[mastahnke]

I really looked into Full Sail and I was very imppressed with them. I ended up going to a school where I could get a full degree, but since you seem opposed to college, Full Sail is almost for sure the best place you could be. I think you could learn a ton that way. They have some of the greatest equipment and alumni in the industry, well maybe not best equipment, but really nice. However, you might learn more about it, if recording is just your hobby, by purchasing your own equipment and learning it that way.

MIKE

 

[Grizzly]

Hey There PIG,
In my humble opinion,, Your best bet is to go out and buy some equipment. Recorder, mics, mixer, and cables. Start by reading the manuals and hanging out here. Then you need to start playing with the toys. How do you think the pro's got where they are? It weren't buy total book learnin. Shucks if it were like that we all be still in da first grade. Wouldn't have put any tracks down yet. But you need to decide for yourself what is the correct path for you to follow. We all can help but you have to ask the questions.

GRIZ

 

[pigwalk]

Well, I have access to a Tascam 244 (Which i', reading up on now) but I won't ever be able to get the cash to learn any more advanced equipment, get credentials, and I want to be able to live out on my own (good ole Living Expenses loans.. :-> ) and do pro-work ASAP, and from wha I hear Full Sail has lots of Hands On experience and they pretty much bust your ass for a little a year. Another one which looks interesting is the Recording Connection, hands on, but I don't know what kind of credentials you come out with. How well recieved is a Full Sail degree when applying for work and overseas? I'm planning to go look for work in England (i can get citizenship easy) or elsewhere in Europe and I wonder which would be the quickest and best way to get there. Thanks.

 

[PannyDeters]

As far as schools go there is also The Recording Workshop, The Conservatory in Arizona, RIT (The Recording Institute of Technology) in La, Some other school in LA, and many others. Check the net and check them out.

I asked this question on Recording Techniques and got some really good answers. Go check that out.

 

[pigwalk]

Can you send me some sites to check out?

 

[PannyDeters]

I can't remember them all, but if you have a book store or magazine stand nearby, take a pen and paper and grab EQ, Home Recording, or Recording. Look through them and you'll see a bunch of different ones. Jot down all the 1-800 #s and emails

Or just search the web for "The Recording Workshop," "Recording Institute," "Recording Institute of Technology," "the Conservatory," "Full Sail," etc. Or Search for "Recording Schools."

There are a bunch.

[This message has been edited by PannyDeters (edited 02-10-2000).]

 

[tonyA]

Formal education is always good, but be wary of vocational schools and or studios that would only use you as a gopher as you learn as a student, charge you big bucks but teaches you nothing you can't learn from this forum.

First, find out what you want to do before you decide what course and/or school you need.

 

[hewrec]

Good point Grizzly.

I have been doing it that way by buying my own equipment and practicing all the different recording things. I still have been studying whatever recording studying stuff I can, but I've also been trying to find local singers and musicians to do recording work for and just get doing it too, to get at least a nice small recording business off the ground.

 

[rkmase]

It's like I'm going BACK IN TIME.

Cue Huey Lewis.

 

[wheelema]

Please understand that this conversation, to one degree or another, has taken place over and over and over and...

... anyway...

There is a lot of sentiment that a recording career is a fast path to bankruptcy and the food bank. Full Sail is notorious for promising the world and delivering buptkus. You can verify for this for yourself (unless Full Sail has wised up) but looking at the section where they boast about the students that they have placed. If you look I've no doubt you will see what I saw... very very very few placements to boast about given the number of students that they boast of having. It's like they only accept students with no critical thinking skills.

If you feel strongly about recording there is a high brow path, and a low brow path. The high brow is to get a B.A. as an electrical engineer. Studios that are hiring are reputed to love these guys. The problem with that, of course, is that the high brow path is work!

The low brow path, which Full Sail would fall into if it wasn't so goddamn expensive!!!!!, is to attend a community college. The CC where I go to, Mount San Jacinto in Hemet, has a full recording program. There is also a highly respected CC in Los Angeles whose name escapes that offers a certificate in recording and the added bennie of having hooks into the recording scene in Los Angeles.

I understand the attraction of Full Sail... Hey, babe, don't WORRY! We'll teach you EVERYTHING you need to know, we got ALL of the latest ZOOMY gear. And we go BEYOND just teachin' 'ya the hardware! We teach you the SECRETS of the industry, MARKETING, we even (try... sort of) FIND YOU JOB! I mean... babe!... you get it ALL! NO WORRIES!!!!!

It's bullshit cubed. Don't lap it up.

And by the way, Google is your friend.

Luck.