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Hi I was wondering if anyone knows or took any classes at college that have had to do with a recording studio (DAW's / MPC / Keyboard / mixer etc.) and what they are called. Or any schools online that teach you. Also what degree that would be ..Audio Production..? Recording Arts?
Thanks.

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BobRogers Sat, 11/27/2010 - 08:52

My daughter is a music major at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She is in a "Music Technology/Performance" track. In addition to the usual liberal arts core courses, the curriculum is a pretty traditional music major with individual lessons, ensembles, and recitals on her primary instrument (sax); sight singing, theory, music history, piano. On the music tech side she learns recording, mixing, live sound, a bit of acoustics. These are all taught in courses with non-descriptive names like Audio 1, Music Technology 3, etc. I can't keep track. The courses are pretty good, but I think she learned as much at her internship as she did in any of them. I also think that the straight music courses have been as helpful as anything. I know a lot of people who know their way around a DAW better than she does. I know far fewer with better ears.

These programs vary widely from school to school - both in emphasis and in the names of courses. Do your research and be very careful. The music tech side of a program can get out of date very quickly. Universities were designed to teach old, established knowledge and create new knowledge. They aren't naturally set up to give an overview of the current state of an evolving industry.

Big K Sun, 11/28/2010 - 00:49

Get yourselves some sleepless nights..lol... but don't panic..
This kind of madness is probably only spread in Europe...
;-)

http://www.mdw.ac.at/studium/infoblatt/englisch/studien/Tonmeister%20education.pdf

After this study you are a different person and still underpayed.
The admission requirements and entrance examination by themselves are rather steep, already.
I admit, I have not completed these study, but followed the more technical way as grad. Toningenieur.
I was just not good enough with instruments and music history & music art theory ( classic and church stuff ) was a constant struggle
and just not the way I wanted to go with the job as a self-employed studio owner in mind.

TheJackAttack Wed, 12/01/2010 - 21:22

What? The differences between Gesualdo and Notre Dame Organum didn't light a fire for you? The interrelationships of the Italian mafia (ahem, I mean Medici family) and his Holyness the Pope? Gargoyles and cathedral construction?

I don't blame you. You see what it did for me. I ended up going mad and becoming a Marine by the grace of God. Mad mad mad mad mad mad mad mad mad mad..........................................

Big K Tue, 12/07/2010 - 01:58

TheJackAttack, post: 357994 wrote: What? The differences between Gesualdo and Notre Dame Organum didn't light a fire for you? The interrelationships of the Italian mafia (ahem, I mean Medici family) and his Holyness the Pope? Gargoyles and cathedral construction?

I don't blame you. You see what it did for me. I ended up going mad and becoming a Marine by the grace of God. Mad mad mad mad mad mad mad mad mad mad..........................................

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Exactly that... madmadmadmad...

I actually lost weight when I took those classes and that has never been a good sign with me.
I wanted to do hands on music production and engineering. That was too close to art and esotheric science for me. Well, you learn stuff others never ever needed to know and I guess not 10 % of all grammy winner have even heard of. I have forgotten most of it over the years.... and don't miss it either. The interesting part of it was very intense and demanding.
The engineering study after that was a breeze, since I come a long way from apprenticeship at a TV repair shop in the '70s... No VCR, no CD, no DVD, no PC stuff. I started out with valve-driven TV sets. Once, I was looked at rather strangley on a seminar, when I did not know the answer to the question why there can never be any Stereo Television. As it turned out, I gave the only right anser to that: a few year later Stereo TV arrived....lol... In that time it was all the same to me..I was happily making music with my band and that reasonably successful. There hadn't been that many bands around, these days, at may area....

BobRogers Tue, 12/07/2010 - 06:10

There have been only a few "trades" that have been taught in universities for a long time. Here at Virginia Tech we taught three: farmer, engineer, and soldier. At a school somewhat east of here they specialized in two others: doctor and lawyer. One of these was considered disreputable because it involves picking over dead bodies. The other dispenses pills.

BobRogers Tue, 12/07/2010 - 06:28

kmetal, post: 358001 wrote: My boss majored in "music production" at berkley college of music, in boston mass. i'm pretty sure they have online classes. although when he started tape was the bee's knees, so he's had quite a bit of 'on the job' training as technology has evolved.

What did your boss think of the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.berkleem…"]Berklee courses[/]="http://www.berkleem…"]Berklee courses[/]. When I was considering my first DAW I looked at them pretty seriously. I was impressed with the way they were put together as online courses. I've been involved with teaching math with technology and putting together an online course is not easy. I'd be very interested in hearing the reaction of someone who went through the program (either on line or in person).

kmetal Tue, 12/07/2010 - 22:58

Bobrogers- i'm sure he'd be happy to talk to you on the phone about his experience. He didn't take the 'online' classes tho, if i was unclear. I'll ask him tommorrow at the studio. I'll have to figure out how to contact you w/ out spamming. He's not a member here.
I'll venture to say that he's quite happy with his education/internship. He's got a fully booked studio, and just opened another one, which is where i'm involved. Been at it for like 20 yrs.