Brian,

Usaully I'm not a big proponent of school for this gig. But I have found a school in Cleveland I think is totally happening. Contact Tommy Wiggins (info below) and he'll fill you in on the details. Trust me on this one, it's a winning concept.

Mixerman

tommy wiggins
recording artist
director, recording arts & technology
cuyahoga community college
media center
2900 community college ave.
cleveland, oh 44022
tel: 216 987 4252
email: tommy.wiggins@tri-c.cc.oh.us

Brian - perhaps I can share a few things that might be of help.

I at one time did consider school - It appeared that there were so many things to learn, and that it could not be accomplished solo. Please stick things out for a while until you understand all the fundamentals, then things will start looking smaller. You may then want to learn all there is to know about computer audio - or MIDI - or tape maitenance, etc. The next stage is when you realize that there are so many folks out there that know what you know - and so many people that have money to buy riddiculous amounts of gear - and that it then comes down to vision, and skill of using tools, and creativity - and the songs!

I am at a point where there is still a bunch of shit I want to learn, but I am the kind of person that will always feel like there is something else to know - yet at the same time, I am very glad I did'nt go to school - since In the last year, I've educated myself (and have been taught as well by some I consider mentors).

Be the guy recording to 2-track if you can only afford a DAT, be the guy recording small bands in bars with a cheap stereo mic, be the guy writing songs every day, and string/horn sections for them - and going back other days to fuck with the arangements.

basically - school is going to teach you that you need to learn what they cannot teach

Originally posted by MicrophoneMan:
basically - school is going to teach you that you need to learn what they cannot teach

I love that! :)

Brian, is the college tuition thing like a one-shot deal? If so...

Be warned - between 80-90% of all applicants and graduates of audio schools discover it isn't their cup o' tea before completing their first year of gainful employment.

You may want to consider full college programs that offer recording as a minor. That way if you find it isn't your cup o' tea, you have a major you can fall back on, and you didn't just blow away your tuition opportunity.

(I guess I should try to dig up that schools thread...)

I'd recomend OIART (OIART.org) It is the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology. It is a one year Hands on Emersion program. Before you consider any of the schools, make shure that it is what you want to do, because it is a huge commitment and a very demanding field, but if it is truely what you want to do, it is a very fun career.

I think audio engineering is one of the few 'guild' style jobs left out there. Regardless of any classroom schooling you recieve you almost always end up being an apprentice (intern?) in a studio or with a sound company unless you have the wherewithal to set up your own studio and learn on your own. Not to say that having a bit of the technical background in recording technology would hurt at all. In fact you might find that there is more demand for someone who knows how to set up, maintain and repair the gear than to run it. I took classes at Omega studios in Maryland. Most of the students there really didn't get a clue as to what was going on. I just wanted to get my hands on the gear (API, Studer, Neve etc.) and fill in the blanks in my knowledge. I was already making my living in live sound. Just know that it's a bit expensive and you don't walk out with any kind of guaranteed job possibilities. You'll likely still end up working for peanuts or for free as an intern somewhere for a while.