Hello

So I'm a college grad who's been drifting around for 5 years, in and out of jobs I never even wanted. I just took the LSAT's and was strongly considering applying to law school, then I realized I wasn't sure if I really wanted to do that.

Anyway, I'm a huge music fan. I'm always going to see live music, I've been managing a band for a few years, I work with bands promoting their live shows, I write reviews of live shows and CD's, etc. Simply put, music is my life.

I'm now thinking I would like to go to school to learn recording, or live sound or both. I'm starting to check out different audio schools, but I'm having a hard time.

So far, the two that seem to be the best that I've found are Full Sail and The Los Angeles Recording School, which both look incredible. What I'm trying to figure out is if they are both reputable, quality schools. I can't find anything on-line that rates these kind of schools, or any kind of reference book either, you know, something along the lines of "The Best 100 Law Schools in the US" or a "Guide to Medical Schools". Is there some kind of book like that? Or a website?

More importantly, does anyone have any firsthand knowledge of either of those schools, or of some other quality schools that have similar programs?
Any and all help would be really appreciated.
OK, so I just checked out Full Sail Exposed . com and read all about Full Sail, does anyone know anything about the LA Recording School?.....but please feel free to comment on Full Sail as well
THanks in advance.

hey headnugg~

i think we are on parallel tracks in life (even including the LSATs). have you learned about any other schools? I'm doing the same research right now. I'm only looking in Los Angeles. Sorry I don't know much about Full Sail. Here's what I've gathered so far:

The Los Angeles Recording School is very expensive and seems light on theory. They do however have a 200 hour internship included in the program and what appears to be state of the art equipment to train on. I guess I feel a bit leary of this school because it seems very slick and flashy. I am having a hard time gauging the substance of the school.

The Recording Connection is purely a mentoring relationship. This would be great if I had any experience at all... but I don't. My concern with this route is that the focus would be too narrow because I'd be with one mentor throughout. On the other hand, if I adapted well and enjoyed the particular situation, it could be a very rich experience. The cost is on the high side of reasonable (for me.)

Sound Master seems to have a solid theory based curriculum with a lot of hands-on training. The cost is reasonable. On the negative side, there is no internship. They say they assist with finding a job, but do not provide bios of former students. Also, compared to LARS, I wonder how up to date Sound Masters equipment is.

I feel like I want to mix LARS and Sound Master for schooling and then go to the Recording Connection to start my career! Please keep in mind that these are just my impressions of three options I have been checking out on the internet and through phone calls with the schools. I'm sure I'm being swayed by marketing at this point. However, I plan on visiting LARS and SoundMaster in the next week or two. Hopefully, this will help me in my decision on how to proceed.

What I really want to know is the reputation of these schools in the industry. How do they rate? What percentage of their graduates are working in the profession?

If anyone can shed any light or a different perspective on what I've said here, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks to all who took the time to read this. Have a great day!

~Abbey

hi abbey

Are you living in LA right now? I would love to go visit LARS but I am in Boston and don't have the time or money right now to do that.....

I made that post more than 3 mos. ago now and for me lots of stuff has changed. From everything I've been told about Recording schools in general, it seems like they are a big waste of money. Basically, the education you're going to get will be outdated because the computer programs you learn on will are always constantly being changed. Of course you will learn the basics but at the cost of most of these schools, I'm not sure it's worth it. Everyone I've spoken with has said to do it yourself, just go out and buy the equipment and teach yourself, or find someone that is doing sound now and just latch on to them.

I would still love to learn sound, but I just started a new job and a move across country just isn't feasible right now(though I do still maintain the dream of packing up my van and just moving across country to Cali) If I ever do get to L.A. I will most definitely at least take a look at LARS, it can't hurt to look.

I haven't found any means of telling whether or not a school is reputable or has any substance to it. I also don't know much about LARS, or any others, internship/placement programs, but again from what I've been told, most schools don't help you out much with finding a job when you graduate and it's a very tough industry to find paying work in.

Good luck.

I've heard it's the hardest industry to get in. what i would say is that in the old daysit was the people that built the studios that were the biggest producers and engineers. They got where they are because they had passion, if you'v got passion and natural talent, you don't need to go to college just get to know the right people. anyone agree?

Groper wrote:

I've heard it's the hardest industry to get in. what i would say is that in the old daysit was the people that built the studios that were the biggest producers and engineers. They got where they are because they had passion, if you'v got passion and natural talent, you don't need to go to college just get to know the right people. anyone agree?

If you, or indeed this thread is talking about purely Studio Recording, i.e. education, or rather college purely for becoming a studio recording engineer, then possibly yes, although many great producers, certainly the grandfathers (Tom Dawd, George Martin) had some kind of degree ranging from music to electronic engineering and physics.

If you look at the employment options for related audio recording in a broader sense then there are a hundred and one reasons to obtain a degree. This is looking at the converging technology and interactive media industries, particularly audio visual, the growth is enormous and the industry will need skilled graduateswho understand the evolving nature of industry.
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Recording Studio Suntans

Hi!

I'm not sure if this will still be relevant, but when I was looking around for advice on going to school for music/engineering, I was recommended this school and site:

Berklee College of Music ... Music Production and Engineering program.

berklee.edu, the school is in Boston.

Also, I was told to take on an internship or be a runner at a studio to get a little experience and to see if I'd really like this as a career.

I hope this information helps!

Amber

Amber wrote:

Hi! I'm not sure if this will still be relevant, but when I was looking around for advice on going to school for music/engineering, I was recommended this school and site: Berklee College of Music ... Music Production and Engineering program. berklee.edu, the school is in Boston. Also, I was told to take on an internship or be a runner at a studio to get a little experience and to see if I'd really like this as a career. I hope this information helps! Amber

And did you do all this, or are sent out to market the school?
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Recording Studio Suntans

AC wrote:

Amber wrote: Hi! I'm not sure if this will still be relevant, but when I was looking around for advice on going to school for music/engineering, I was recommended this school and site: Berklee College of Music ... Music Production and Engineering program. berklee.edu, the school is in Boston. Also, I was told to take on an internship or be a runner at a studio to get a little experience and to see if I'd really like this as a career. I hope this information helps! Amber And did you do all this, or are sent out to market the school?

Actually, I did check it out. It's not right for me as I have no intention of moving to Boston, and I am applying for internships as we speak.

So.......yes I've done all of that and no, I was not sent out to market the school.

Amber

Well I have just got accepted to something called SAE Institute in Liverpool, England. I went there to check it out, and I really liked what I saw, had a big personal touch to it.
They have them all over the world, (LA, Miami and NY i think it is for the US). Check out www..sae.edu
Its not costly either.

I used to study at Berklee College in Boston a couple of years ago, and to be honest I didnt really like it. Very inpersonal, stupid money and the cost of living was to say the least... spicy.

I met a guy in Boston who studied at Full Sail (somewhere in Florida I think it is...), and he seemed to be very happy with it. I remember it being expensive aswell though.

Good luck.

kasper wrote:

Well I have just got accepted to something called SAE Institute in Liverpool, England. I went there to check it out, and I really liked what I saw, had a big personal touch to it. They have them all over the world, (LA, Miami and NY i think it is for the US). Check out www.sae.edu Its not costly either. I used to study at Berklee College in Boston a couple of years ago, and to be honest I didnt really like it. Very inpersonal, stupid money and the cost of living was to say the least... spicy. I met a guy in Boston who studied at Full Sail (somewhere in Florida I think it is...), and he seemed to be very happy with it. I remember it being expensive aswell though. Good luck.

Kasper seems to have studied the major players in terms of school and been to two of them in different parts of the world, how come Kasper? How come Boston then England?

My head tech is a grad of SAE.
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Recording Studio Suntans

I studied on line at a place called www.audiocourses.com, got myself City & Guilds of london 1820 part 3 sound engineering accreditation with two distinctions. Worked for me, and I saved myself a heap of money too. The work was pretty full on, but hey, Audio is about life in the fast lane, right! Highly recommended.

Jules. www.ourgatestudios.co.uk

hi guys
idid a b'tech in the uh- the first year taught us the basics but the second year hsn't taught us anything

however when you talk to the right oeople they will people, they will help you.

anyone from oxford?

AC wrote:

kasper wrote: Well I have just got accepted to something called SAE Institute in Liverpool, England. I went there to check it out, and I really liked what I saw, had a big personal touch to it. They have them all over the world, (LA, Miami and NY i think it is for the US). Check out www.sae.edu Its not costly either. I used to study at Berklee College in Boston a couple of years ago, and to be honest I didnt really like it. Very inpersonal, stupid money and the cost of living was to say the least... spicy. I met a guy in Boston who studied at Full Sail (somewhere in Florida I think it is...), and he seemed to be very happy with it. I remember it being expensive aswell though. Good luck. Kasper seems to have studied the major players in terms of school and been to two of them in different parts of the world, how come Kasper? How come Boston then England? My head tech is a grad of SAE.

Well i am actually Danish, but I live in Spain. When I was 17 i went to study in Barcelona, and then too Boston. When I didnt like I moved back to Spain. And now I am going to Liverpool to study audio. I have developed an unusual interest in it, so I am looking forward to that!
I will be paying about 5500 GBP for 12 months.

Kasper, is that you man? like from The Music Factory?

Jules.

julesf wrote:

Kasper, is that you man? like from The Music Factory? Jules.

Damn dude!

I was just looking at your name... I thought that looked familiar! Jules Freeman you ole grifter!

How are you doing man?
Yeah I am going to study at SAE in September. You better watch it, youll be out of a job soon!