Music/Audio production

C

cope+

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Im considering persuing audio production in college next year but I have some questions I though I'd ask here along with other forums.

1. Are there any Universitys where I can get the 4 year college experience with audio production programs? (PNW is where I'd like to stay if possible)

2. What types of jobs could I go into with an audio production degree?

+k for help (on mobile)
 
its true. You could also look at berklee they have a pretty high acceptance rate but its just expensive as fuck.
 
Ah.. yea, I don't do studio work. Its not my style. I love the atmosphere of arenas, convention centers, venues, late night load outs, etc.. its great..

But as far as schooling, I wouldn't put too much emphasis on that.. you can really go anywhere and get a two year or a 4diest year. But in the entertainment business, its all what you know, your experience, what you can do, and who you know or worked for.. and it really is starting from the bottom up. Even if you go get a degree, you still will start at the bottom.

If you do go to school, start working for a stagehand company, working early load ins or late night load out/strikes. It'll get you familiar with the industry and a look at it. To really see if you want to do it the rest of your life.
 
Depends what the program offers. There are lots of different programs out there for lots of different stuff, you should figure out what you're interested in and go from there.

Mixing engineer, mastering engineer, session musician, producer, are a few of the different jobs involved in the process. There's tons of other stuff too, I don't know a ton about it. I think the most important thing is to have a skill that's marketable. A lot of these jobs are pretty entrepreneurial, people set up their own studios, sell their work online, etc... What are you good at, what are you interested in?
 
I'm going to school in lethbridge (canada) for audio production, it's a four year program too. We've had some guest lectures from people in the business and they all say your success is based off what you know and who you know. Also the degree I'm doing gives you many options when you leave, it focuses on the general study of everything and it does not focus on specific jobs like a 2 year diploma probably would.
 
Just a word of advice: there are plenty of people that can be good at something, but there are few people that have an expertise at one thing.

those are the people that make it in the business. Those are the people that get rehired and get put on the big shows or big studios. Just find out sooner rather than later what exactly you want to do, and stick to it. You'll be far better off.

I know too many guys that have just been professional stagehands their whole lives. They're decent at some audio, know some lighting or camera work, but they never just picked one thing and stuck with it do they're stuck working for stagehand wages their whole lives.

Me personally, I've been working as an audio system tech/A2 for two different companies the past almost three years, and now I'm doing the freelance route in hopes of picking up a crew spot on a touring gig, and hopefully in the next few years start selling myself as an A1 audio/FOH engineer. I started from the bottom with no degree and have just been working my way up. Getting paid to learn and gain everything I would've learned at a four year school in less time as well.
 
Thanks for the advice man, I'm 90% sure I'll end up in studio work. I'm just finishing my first semester and I have already produced and recorded three artists in my free time. How long have you been in the industry? I've heard it takes a long time to actually get somewhere and colleges and university are not very necessary.
 
UC Santa Cruz has an amazing program. They also have a really dope ski club that goes up to tahoe on a lot of weekends.

Two notable graduates from the UCSC program include Lorin Ashton (Bassnectar), and Steve Duda (recorded Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Christina Aguilera, Sugar Ray, and is Deadmau5's studio buddy currently). Steve Duda also makes some of the dankest plugins known to man like LFO Tool and Nerve.

Santa Cruz is a dope town with a lot of surfing and skateboarding to be had as well as an awesome music scene. Their bars are absolutely insane as well.

I would consider UCSC if I were you.
 
I've been in the business about 3 years. And yea, it can take a little while before you get up higher in the business. Every audio engineer I've worked with started out what im doing, so its nice ro know that.

Also, try to work with as experienced of recording engineers as possible. That's where you learn the most. I can't appreciate enough the engineers of 25the years that have taken time to show me tricks and such of the trade.
 
Found this great PDF with pay scales for various music industry careers:http://www.berklee.edu/pdf/pdf/studentlife/Music_Salary_Guide.pdf

Keep in mind if anyone making like 50k or more out of the music industry is an absolute fucking boss at whatever they do.
 
making 50 grand a year is pretty easy if you become an audio engineer, whether its live audio, recording, or a monitors engineer.

all it takes is getting in with the right people, networking and being good at what you do. if you work on a freelance basis and work for 500 a day for a minimum of 10 days a month, you're already at 60 grand a year. Granted theres a lot of variables, and you'll have your busy months and slow months. but it is very doable.
 
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