Where does one learn how to be an audio/studio engineer

[halo206]

Your getting a free ticket for education. I am a student at Umass and in the process of getting my BA in Sound Recording. The program here is directed by many professionals who have been doing this for a very long time. I think you cant and wont learn many things by studying this through a college, but you have to start somewhere, and being around other engineers and producers is a great way to learn. I believe the odds are better at getting into a program through Umass, then getting an internship at Hit Factory or even a very small studio with no experience. Even if that door to the recording industry isnt within sight after you graduate, you have a gen ed college degree as well, you have many options to generate income while you find a great job as an engineer.

Buying gear isnt free, and learning on your own isnt either. What is free? School. Why wouldnt you?

- Just another opinion!

Good Luck!
- Mike

 

[audioholic]

I went to school for Audio production. I have to say the experience was worth while. Possibly not the best thing I could have done with my money but here's some thoughts. I'm also not your typical guy when it comes to recording. I was reading books on progear before I could walk and was recording bands in my basement in junior high. So you could say I was a bit more expreienced than most entries into these schools who cant grasp the concept of signal flow. Some schools are good and keep the class size down others are packed to the gills. You need a place thats as hands on as you can find. Most people enter these schools with 1)the wrong attitude and 2)the belief that they'll score a job at the hit factory when they are done. I agree 100% with what everyone else has said. If I could do it again I would have spent my money on electrical engineering or possibly some computer classes. The electrical engineering degree will get you working in a studio as a tech. Not a job I'd want after interning with a studio tech but its a way to get your foot in the door. Almost all studios are looking for good (huh)"reliable" techs. Many great engineers over the years have used this rout. Computer knowledge would be usefull too in a studio. The best thing about the school I went to was the connections in the industry I made. If you can find a way to network and become friends with some industry insiders on your own than don't bother with spending the money on school. Like everyone has said get an internship! I pretty much learned nothing recording wise I didn't already know or could have learned on my own at school. The good thing is if you do go to school and work your ass off to finnish at the top of your class you can get offers from the hit factory upon graduation. Pending a year or 2 interning at a studio for free. Then think about this....You've made it you have a paying job at the hit factory. Great right? No its not...You are the lowest sludge on the totem pole. You're getting coffee and making runs to record companies. believe me nothing even remotely close to fun. So all the wonderful knowledge you got on thos expensive consoles goes to waste for another 2 years until you make it to general ass. engineer. Touching the console yet? Nope....3 more years down the road ass. engineer if your lucky and you make it that long. Think your mixing something? Nope.....Just patching gear and keeping track of take sheets keeping one step ahead of the engineer so he doesn't do something dumb with that new fangled thing protools. Sorry about my tangent but this is all true. This industry is not easy and I wouldn't recomend it to anyone who isn't completly insane about this stuff. Not trying to scare you I'm just being honost. So to some up my tangent....Go to school but not for audio recording. Get into it through electricl engineering or maybe cpu knowledge....Intern Intern Intern....Don't be affraid to call up your local studio or radio station and ask for a non paying internship....the worst they can say is no...If all else fails and you dont heed my warnings work your ass off and read everything you can get your hands on. Meet everyone you can in the industry and don't piss anyone off higher on the audio ladder than you because this is a much smaller industry than you think and you'd be suprised how quick you can find yourself on a literal audio desert island. DONT BURN YOUR BRIDGES! Jump at the opportunity to get your hands on a sweet console and love it cause it doesn't last long. DON'T Think about FullSail! Not worth your money. Oh and if you can go to AES and talk to some professionals. If your interested in what School I went to PM me cause I'm not advertising here.

 

[Fletcher]

Your getting a free ticket for education. I am a student at Umass and in the process of getting my BA in Sound Recording. ---snip happens--- I believe the odds are better at getting into a program through Umass, then getting an internship at Hit Factory or even a very small studio with no experience.

The kids that come out of the U-Mass / Lowell program seem to really have their shit together. In addition to 'how to operate a studio' they seem to be given a good bit of studio theory and MUSIC theory. Any moron can learn how to use an SSL, it takes someone with a damn good grasp of theory to sit down behind and SSL and understand the flow of the desk... how to use the "monitor" and "line" paths on the same sound, etc.... Music theory is absolutely invaluable any time you're working with music... think about it, you can't break the rules unless you know what they are.

Yeah, the whole intern thing is great, but you have to hit on the right joint and the right teachers along with reading everything you can about theory.

I realized my previous post was that school was a waste of time... and in most cases it is, especially the "trade schools"... but if my tax dollars are offering you a pretty much free education from a University... and being reminded that the U-Mass program is pretty damn good... I think that it might be in your best interest to investigate that.

Hell, if you have a decent attitude and a car we'll let you intern at M-A while you're in school [and if you're really nice to me maybe I'll even help you with your homework... I don't mean doing it for you, but making sure you know the theory stuff like inside and out].

Best of luck.

 

[BrettB]

The kids that come out of the U-Mass / Lowell program seem to really have their shit together. In addition to 'how to operate a studio' they seem to be given a good bit of studio theory and MUSIC theory. Any moron can learn how to use an SSL, it takes someone with a damn good grasp of theory to sit down behind and SSL and understand the flow of the desk... how to use the "monitor" and "line" paths on the same sound, etc.... Music theory is absolutely invaluable any time you're working with music... think about it, you can't break the rules unless you know what they are.

I'm glad you quoted the importance of music.

I went to a five year producers course at a conservatory. It gave me all the musical courses of the jazz department, but instead of learning to play an instrument wwe got studio techniques, sequencing,...

I'm not going to comment on the USA situation, 'cause I don't know that one, but over here it is pretty damn hard to find a professional recording job. The recording industry seems a small group of ppl who know eachoter well and have many experience, and it isn't easy to get in as a newbie.

Experience is the keyword in getting engineering or producing jobs, but if you don't have much experience in big studio's it starts to be a circle difficult to get out.