From reading this thread, i gather that most of you guys are from the U.S. but i'll ask anyways: In the fall I will be takin the course at The Audio Recording Academy (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), and i just want to know if it will be a good starter course to use as experience/education to get into a good college.
Here is the link to the audio recording academy's website:
I went to New England School of Communications. Great school, great teachers. You just have to put up with being in the middle of Maine. At least there are less distractions, right?
_________________ Admit nothing; deny everything; make counter accusations. - "I didn't do it. Nothing happened. What did YOU do?!"
It's a good enough school but you need to work on spelling first. no offense intended if English isn't your first language, but if it is then take it personally!
lol... english isn't my first language. Im learning it by myself so i know its not good but hey...atleast im trying
I don't know how others feel about this school but the one that I went to was The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences. It is a 9 month program and I enjoyed it. it all depends on how much you put into it. the school offers a lot to those who put fourth extra effort. I learned a great deal there however, a lot of people manage to slide by and graduate doing the bare minumum and make us all look bad. The internship program was great and the teachers are cool enough to answer questions when I call years later. I must warn that the school was for my knowledge and made me better at what I do. It is not like harvard in the sense that the name alone has people beating down my door to have me work for them.
Crankitup Recording Org Pro Audio Group
Joined: Apr 14, 2007
Posts: 137
Location: Oakland, California
It seems most people don't feel that these recording schools are worth the money. To these people, do you recommend some type of music major at a four year university, or would a degree in some other subject be equally applicable? I am just beginning my college search, and I don't want to limit myself with such a specific degree in such an unstable market
this is my take on it. I am 17 and just finished all my college apps for recording programs
from what i've heard, full sail and SAE (and those types of schools) aren't worth the money you are paying for. and also, those are 2 year programs with an associate degree or certificate.
from my research and personal opinion, schools that offer a 4 years bachelors of music degree are the best options. you will be most musically rounded which is important in a producer/engineer and can give you a big advantage. this way you come out knowing the technology of producing, but also as a musician as a producer. Also going to a music school gives you awesome connections, because you are going to be recording musicians, and what better place to meet musicians than at a music school. Schools like Berklee, SUNY Purchase offer music degrees in recording/music production.
there are other 4 year universities that have recording programs that offer a bachelors of arts degree. Schools like NYU, Indiana U, Miami U, USC, Columbia College (chicago), American U. These schools give you a full college education with a degree in recording and I think are still better than full sail.
those are the 3 main categories i see from all the recording programs. find the one that works for you. i'm not saying which is best, but i personally find the music degree most appropriate for me, because i think being a producer and a musician adds a lot more to your production than just a person who knows how to work the boards.
also keep in mind if you want to go to college for the college experience as well, then you may want to choose the last 2 of the 3 types.
you also want to keep in mind the connections (and location of the school) you will be making at the school you choose to go to, because after all, connections are one of the most important things in being successful in the music industry. Schools like Berklee that has huge alumni networks can get you a lot of opportunities (Quincy Jones went there). Schools like NYU and SUNY Purchase are right in New York. USC is right by Los Angeles. Full Sail is in the suburbs of Orlando....
FullSail and SAE are both great schools, and both offer bachelors now too. Im positive FS does, and almost positive that SAE does too. They are alot of money, not gonna say they are not. And pro audio is an unsatable market. Id almost go as far as to say the whole media industry is as well. With exceptions such as gaming and broadcast? N E ways, make sure you really know what your getting into b4 you get into a recording oriented degree. I attended FS 5 yrs ago b4 the prices got astronomical, and dont know if I would pay what they're asking for now. I learned a hell of a lot there, but there are other ways to go about learning stuff too if you're determined. They have all the best gear there to train on, but who gets to really use most of that stuff in the commercial world except for the best of the best and the rich, right?? lol
On a side note, the Chillicothe Recording Workshop in Ohio is only a 4-6 week program i believe. Ive had multiple people intern under me at a commercial studio, and at my private one, and I'd have to say that im far less than impressed with the knowledge they leave that school with. Not that there aren't some people that learn a lot there, but I've had bad experiences with the grads i've worked with from there This could be a cool place to go if you just want a general crash course in audio?
This is a great topic and have read some very insightful replies. I am39. I started in the business in 1986 but never had the opportunity to go to a Full Sail type school. I've never worked on an SSL or a Neve console. I've never recorded a major artist or worked in Nashvill, LA or NY. I have had the opportunity to work in television, live sound, mastering, music recording, voice overs, broadcasting and more. And I've also had a dream job for the last 6 years in audio that only comes once in a lifetime. There's a lot I don't know. But there's a lot I do. My point is that you can be successfull without having to dish out 35 grand. But at the same time, I would have loved to have had the opportunity to attend one of those schools, and sometimes still would like to. I have seen grads come out of Full Sail with the confidence that took me a much longer time to aquire on my own. So I don't think we should dis those schools so quick.
I aslo believe that what this industry needs more than anything is continuing education opportunities from the manufactures. For example specific education on SSL products, Neve, Yamaha or the latest digital board. Protools is the only one that does that and it's over the top expensive.
Any suggestions on what a resident of Michigan should do?
I wanted to attend a college for the experiences... but I did not want to spend 4-6 years their learning general ed. and sciences behind things that I can not apply. I want to get into the field. I've been told time and time again that this is a skills field, not a degree field. My experience will carry me further.
So, this fall, I plan to get to the Recording Institute of Detroit and take both the Recording Engineer and Producer program. As I do not know where I'm going to end up in this field, I do know it lies around their.
And a year from this fall, I want to go to Recording Workshop. It was personally recommended to me by someone who went there. I have more trust in Rec. Wks. than RID. But I want to stay in state for now as I have a business to run...
I may also go toward a business degree at a small college. Hopefully just 2 years there. When I do that, I don't know. But I can figure that out. It's the recording schools that I'm really concerned about.
_________________ - - - - -
Alec Bretzloff
Co-owner of Anomaly Records out of the Flint, MI area.
Drummer.
Aspiring recording engineer.
Ok I chose to use the Recording Connection, its like 3 or 4 grand.. At least it was like 8 or 9 yrs ago...They get you in touch with a studio in your area. You then go interview with the head engineer, and if your not a complete moron you most likely get the internship. They provide you with all the books and curriculum you need and it takes as long as you need it to. Most of the time it is a revolving door because many people don't understand that at a real studio you have to do things like clean up and get people food. BUT, don't get me wrong you will learn all you need to get goin and when your done with the program and you've proven to be a good assistant you will get hired on to work there.
I personally didn't finish the program because I had to work longer hours at my real job and had to take time for my family because I was having a child..But I've talked to the studio I worked at and they are totally cool with me coming back and learning more.
If you can come up with the 4 grand up front I highly recommend it, but definitely be prepared to do a lot of bitch work.
Chris
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This could be a cool place to go if you just want a general crash course in audio?
