Looks like you read my mind...

...because this is my problem too. And I need some advice here... plzzzz :wink:

I've said this many times here, and while I can't and don't intend to answer your original question, let me encourage you to think of other areas of audio. Commercial music recording studios that are not pursuing other areas of audio are really struggling, with many closing their doors for good. If you're young and just starting out, DO NOT box yourself into thinking that recording music is the ONLY way to make a living in pro audio. Sure, it's the pipe dream that we all want to have come true, but the odds are against you just as with being in a band and hoping to make it big.

Take the music blinders off, my friend. Audio for video, audio for film, live sound, audio for multimedia/streaming applications, broadcast (radio & TV). Your chances are much greater in those areas, not to mention the peripheral skills that you inevitably pick up along the way that are excellent supplements to your abilities in audio. I work in pro sports broadcasting for television doing primarily audio, but I also double as a camera op when possible. My initial goal and pursuit was life in some music studio, but the reality of the situation was that that "wall" you speak of was big, tall, and thick, and I couldn't afford to work for free or wait for the right gig to come along. I had student loans to pay and had to pay them NOW. I found a niche and am fortunate to live in a huge sports town, and once I took my blinders off, I was amazed at all the possiblities I found. I encourage you to do the same. Tunnel vision can be dangerous. I have absolutely no regrets and wouldn't trade my career for anything in the world. I get paid to watch sports, man. How awesome is that?

Best of luck.

thanks man...

...I think you're so right. I've never said that if I would not end up in a pro studio I might die. No, I'm right here at the beginning of a long and narrow road. I came from a radio studio. I've done broadcasting for a couple of years, but got bored. I've always been attracted to the production side of the show. When I tried that for the first time, it was a mess. I went on air with a funny mess, but I survived and I didn't give up. Now I LoL thinking at that, but believe it or not, that mess helped me a lot on my way to what I became because I've improved myself a lot since then. And still do. So, my eyes are wide open looking for possibilities. Still, I wouldn't mind to go to a school and have that "lil' piece of paper" if that is a passport for new areas... Anyway, thanks for you replay. Keep up the good work!

jdsdj98 wrote: I've said this many times here, and while I can't and don't intend to answer your original question, let me encourage you to think of other areas of audio.

This isn't meant to sound rude, but perhaps you misunderstood me. That might have helped the person above me, but it hasn't help me much.

Audio Engineering as a whole is not for simply music, but spans from live sound, news, sports, and music. Where there's sound... there needs to be someone to prevent nirvana-esque feedback right? Perhaps I didn't make myself clear, or made my post sound as if I had tunnel vision. My end goal is not to stay just an engineer. I wouldn't be happy doing that no matter what the wage was. This is simply preparing myself for the future to broaden my skill base.

An engineers job behind the console of a tv show, a live event, or a studio mixing board is the same... merely the method changes. I want to know the engineering background in order to have both a firmer understanding of the mechanics behind audio science, and to make myself more independant production-wise. Being in a studio, or performance venue, etc. isn't my number one concern... training from an accredited school is.

I've been fortunate enough to have my hand in live sound via college speakers, live theatre, and local live music venues.

All I wanted to know are a few accredited schools for audio engineering, so that I could do live sound, newscasts, performance venues, etc. until I'm ready to start production on a full scale level.

What kind of accredited schools do you mean? I know people that went to berkley school of music and now teach guitar and i know people who went to a tech school and work in studio's. Pretty hit or miss i think. I think its like the music biz in an entirety, who you know, what you know, and where you are at the time that the moon and all the planets line up and boom lucky break, welcome in.

All i'm saying is that an acredited school is great (all higher learning is) but nothing, i repeat, nothing is guaranteed.
I tried one of the acreddited tech schools, stayed in for about 2 months, 30 kids in each class, didn't see it going anywhere so i left, learned on my own, got a job. i stayed in contact with some of the kids from there and most of em are still doing nothing in the industry because they (like me) are just not capable of learning everything through books and a classroom envirement.

Don't try to get an internship, try to get an apprenticeship. You will learn everything hands on, one on one, doing real sessions, and its most likely that who ever is teaching you will hire you becuase you have formed a relationship over the time of learning.

Cool, understood. I just throw that advice out there based on my own experience, someone who only thought of audio in terms of music. Never in a hundred years would I have pictured myself doing what I do, but I'm glad that I went this route.

I am somewhat in your boat, however, in that I wish that I had a more fundamental background in the technical side of what I do (I majored in music), and I do intend to take some community college level classes to that end, so I'll be watching this thread. I will say, also, that at the end of my day, my little piece o' paper means absolutely nothing. No one's ever asked to see it, no prospective employer has EVER asked ANYTHING about my college education during an interview or subsequent employment, and right now, if I could give that piece of paper back and have my student loans disappear, I wouldn't even think for a second about doing that, FWIW. But that's just me........

I found a few decent schools now, and I believe my choice is going to be CRAS. The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences. For engineering it seems to be one of the best around. With the ability to learn more than one way of doing something... I feel that will give me the variety I need.

http://www.cras.org

I understand that production itself is a hit or miss field... thus why I want to know engineering/recording not only as a way to get into an already brick walled industry (and earn some income)... but to gain the insight, and connections for every part of the industry.

As a plus... I could even get jobs engineering tv, radio, etc. NOT just the music industry (even though that is where my heart lies).

Being a well rounded individual in the music industry has to be a good thing, I'd imagine. So it's about time I started.

Street cred is all I have right now... and in 80% of the cases I've bumped into... it hasn't made a crap of difference. I don't think that having the diploma will make a difference... but the experience, flex-ability, and training will.

mojorison wrote: I've spent 5,000 on courses, worked slave labor for internship scams, recorded locals for training, use Pro Tools at home, enrolling in pro tools certification courses, and helped produce local folk who needed a creative hand.

Yet... I can't find a job in audio recording/production.

After almost 4 years of pushing, and driving myself further... I am still unable to find a true opening in the massive wall of the music business.

Where are you located? Where/how have you been trying to find work? Are you looking for a 4 year bachelor's degree?

I've got that little piece of paper, yet I have never made a dime at recording. There are as many engineeres as there are guitarists. I wish I would have spent the cash it cost for school on gear instead.
Try radio, and try not to fall into the competition of who is the worlds greatest engineer.

lok at full sail they are accredited and im attending there now you learn alot and it is well worth the money you learn alot and dont let these people tell you its a bad idea check it out yourself you can go to http://www.fullsail.com or if you wanna talk to me about it email me at jcornelson15@yahoo.com

I say, use the money to buy gear and start recording people, tuition costs are enough to buy a good console and some mics. You can learn everything by trial and error, and reading textbooks. If you really want to go to school, make sure they have job PLACEMENT not job assistance.