Hey all,

While I've been producing for nearly 10 years now, I've always given serious thought to signing up for one of these music production/recording schools as I'm big on getting any kind of knowledge. I'm sure I'll learn something new from there!

My goal is to be able to make cleaner recordings, further my music production skills and learn techniques, and also to gain a deeper understanding of the music industry - especially the dance music industry as a business. I'd like to understand how record labels work, how studios work, how distribution works, and to understand a studio setup from the ground up. Of course, networking opportunities are also important, as I truly enjoy collaborating with other individuals.

Obviously, my focus will be on electronic dance music.

That said, if you've been to any of these recording schools, I'd love to hear your personal experience and feedback as I'll be making a decision to attend with a friend soon.

Much appreciated!

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I just move to LA from Vegas and will be attending the SAE institue more than likely. I say that because it's a toss up between SAE and the Los Angeles recording school.

LA recording school you have to pay for studio time, with SAE you do not.

SAE is more expensive.

LA recording school is a sister school of Full Sail.

SAE has more options as far as getting into the business I feel. I emailed a guy awhile back asking if people actually get placed into jobs after graduation but we was sorta clueless.

My suggestion. Find a school that you would be comfortable attending and then get a job in a resturant, that sounds stupid I know. But.....I have gotten more than a few business cards by chatting people up and stuff, these are people that are working in the industry and can get you in to do some intern work and eventually get on the payroll.


LA recording school - http://www.recordingcareer.com/

SAE Institute - http://www.sae-la.com/

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quote:

Originally posted by Kevy Kev LA recording school you have to pay for studio time, with SAE you do not.

Bunfight-tastic. Cant speak for all of the sae colleges around the world, but the one I went to was not so good for studio time. yes it may be included in the course fees, but easily available it is not.

quote:

SAE has more options as far as getting into the business I feel. I emailed a guy awhile back asking if people actually get placed into jobs after graduation but we was sorta clueless.

Take the cash you would spend on the course fees, and use that to live off while working in a real studio, (starting as a tea boy/dogsbody/night receptionist as is the norm), and pay your dues. Either that or buy some gear yourself and find a mentor who can teach you everything- its not hard to learn with the right teacher.
You don't get 'placed' in this business - you create your own place. Jobs (at least what normal people would percieve as jobs) dont exist-its all freelance, with short term contracts, bits of work here, bits there, word of mouth and WHO (not what) you know.
If you think having an SAE piece of paper will help you walk into some engineering gig or residency, think again.


If it is electronic music that you are mainly intending to focus on, then multiply my comments x1000.

You may find this interesting- I remember reading back when they were printed and have just dug them out for you.:
part 1 http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr.../b.engineer.htm
part2 http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may...es/engineer.htm
part 3 http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun.../engineers3.htm
part 4 http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep...es/engineer.htm
Yes they are a few years old, but the ideas, principals and methodology is exactly the same today

Yes I went to SAE.
No I wouldn't recommend it (purely my personal opinion of course)
- IMHO there are far more productive uses for the time & money to get you started in the business.

Last edited by Freak on Jun-19-2008 at 02:17

quote:

Originally posted by Freak Bunfight-tastic. Cant speak for all of the sae colleges around the world, but the one I went to was not so good for studio time. yes it may be included in the course fees, but easily available it is not. Take the cash you would spend on the course fees, and use that to live off while working in a real studio, (starting as a tea boy/dogsbody/night receptionist as is the norm), and pay your dues. Either that or buy some gear yourself and find a mentor who can teach you everything- its not hard to learn with the right teacher. You don't get 'placed' in this business - you create your own place. Jobs (at least what normal people would percieve as jobs) dont exist-its all freelance, with short term contracts, bits of work here, bits there, word of mouth and WHO (not what) you know. If you think having an SAE piece of paper will help you walk into some engineering gig or residency, think again. If it is electronic music that you are mainly intending to focus on, then multiply my comments x1000. You may find this interesting- I remember reading back when they were printed and have just dug them out for you.: part 1 http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr.../b.engineer.htm part2 http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may...es/engineer.htm part 3 http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun.../engineers3.htm part 4 http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep...es/engineer.htm Yes they are a few years old, but the ideas, principals and methodology is exactly the same today Yes I went to SAE. No I wouldn't recommend it (purely my personal opinion of course) - IMHO there are far more productive uses for the time & money to get you started in the business.

+1000. I have toured both SAE LA and LA recording school. LARS is the flashest thing I have ever seen but be prepared to kiss $20,000 goodbye and that does not include living costs. It's BS by the way about having to pay for studio time - it's all included (and too bloody right at that money). SAE while good in terms of facilities and tuition, is not worth the certificate either. Employers (studio's etc.) won't hire you because you have a diploma from one of these schools - I know because I now work at a major studio and started right at the bottom as runner, even though I have a engineering diploma and have worked in the recording industry for a number years back in the UK. We have runners now that came from various schools and some of them feel totally out of their depth in a real studio situation even though they finished in the top percentile of their classes.


Studios want to know mainly:

1, that you have a good attitude
2, that you can do the hours (I mean serious hours per week, think 80+
3, have a brain, can follow instructions and can figure stuff out


Don't get me wrong - school was one of the best things I ever did and it prepared me well, but it won't get you a job. If you know the basics of signal flow, a bit of pro tools (at least enough to get around) and some cubase/logic, you're better off saving the money and offering to work for peanuts at a studio to get a foot in the door.

just my 2c.....

Interesting. So it might be better off to say go take some simple classes as opposed to going to school full time? Talking like Logic cert or something.

I met a guy the other day that said the studio he worked for was always looking for interns. Maybe I should give him a call....

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I also went to sae in la, i took the electronic music course which IMO was great, it helps you meet a few people doing the same thing and teaches you logic/ableton/reason

the bad part about the one in la is that parking is a bitch unless your willing to pay 45-120 a month depending on which pass you get...

the studios are all there so if you make friends with the people around you its very easy to get access to them without taking the full $17k program. i only took 3/4 modules and they were 1200 each. you will not learn jack about the business or get a job through this course, but if learning logic is your goal, i recommend it

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quote:

Originally posted by Kevy Kev Interesting. So it might be better off to say go take some simple classes as opposed to going to school full time? Talking like Logic cert or something. I met a guy the other day that said the studio he worked for was always looking for interns. Maybe I should give him a call....

Even after going to one of these schools and getting certified, you'll end up right back here, starting at the bottom trying to get an internship.

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Yes i can agree,

Im currently doing the diploma at SAE Melbourne and have had that opinion before i walked through those doors. I try say to my friends there that you have to keep a level head and be prepared to put hard yards in plus be good at what you do, also to add that time is of the essence.

But im enjoying the course and you got to start somewhere i guess?

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN +1000. I have toured both SAE LA and LA recording school. LARS is the flashest thing I have ever seen but be prepared to kiss $20,000 goodbye and that does not include living costs. It's BS by the way about having to pay for studio time - it's all included (and too bloody right at that money). SAE while good in terms of facilities and tuition, is not worth the certificate either. Employers (studio's etc.) won't hire you because you have a diploma from one of these schools - I know because I now work at a major studio and started right at the bottom as runner, even though I have a engineering diploma and have worked in the recording industry for a number years back in the UK. We have runners now that came from various schools and some of them feel totally out of their depth in a real studio situation even though they finished in the top percentile of their classes. Studios want to know mainly: 1, that you have a good attitude 2, that you can do the hours (I mean serious hours per week, think 80+ 3, have a brain, can follow instructions and can figure stuff out Don't get me wrong - school was one of the best things I ever did and it prepared me well, but it won't get you a job. If you know the basics of signal flow, a bit of pro tools (at least enough to get around) and some cubase/logic, you're better off saving the money and offering to work for peanuts at a studio to get a foot in the door. just my 2c.....

quote:

Originally posted by mysticalninja Even after going to one of these schools and getting certified, you'll end up right back here, starting at the bottom trying to get an internship.

Exactly. The course will help with your knowledge, but not get you a job. And as most studios will want you to start at the bottom (runner/intern) they won't expect you to know everything - just enough to understand the principles and be able to learn the specifics as you go on.

Bamshad - don't complain about parking in LA! Try london - most parking is 5+ pounds ($10) per hour on a street meter and more in a parking facility! But I know what you mean. With these schools, on top of the $20k tuition fees, you have to factor in $150 per month parking, minimum $500 rent (for a cheap share in the LA area), car money (essential in LA), Food and bills. Basically the whole thing will cost you close to $30,000 for one year.

If you are fairly confident in your overall technical ability, My advice is do a basic course, learn the basics of pro tools, logic and cubase, then get an internship at a studio. Even if you work for free for a few months (which I did) it will work out soooo much cheaper.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Exactly. The course will help with your knowledge, but not get you a job. And as most studios will want you to start at the bottom (runner/intern) they won't expect you to know everything - just enough to understand the principles and be able to learn the specifics as you go on. Bamshad - don't complain about parking in LA! Try london - most parking is 5+ pounds ($10) per hour on a street meter and more in a parking facility! But I know what you mean. With these schools, on top of the $20k tuition fees, you have to factor in $150 per month parking, minimum $500 rent (for a cheap share in the LA area), car money (essential in LA), Food and bills. Basically the whole thing will cost you close to $30,000 for one year. If you are fairly confident in your overall technical ability, My advice is do a basic course, learn the basics of pro tools, logic and cubase, then get an internship at a studio. Even if you work for free for a few months (which I did) it will work out soooo much cheaper.

My ultimate goal isn't really to work at a studio, although if the pay is good, I may consider it a full-time job. My ultimate goal is to make marketable records to a variety of markets. My music is electronic music, but I can see my tracks applied in many places outside of clubs.

I looked at LA Recording School, which offers official Pro-Tools certification at the completion of the program. The program is quite costly, but in the end, if it gives me the technical know-how and confidence to expand into several fields, I believe it's worth it.

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Twitter.com/arthurGalestian

"Only after the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."
--- Cree Indian Prophecy

Take this for what its worth... but I started getting EQ Magazine (and a few others) back in college and I learned so much stuff just noodling around through those. You've got some real old school pros like Roger Nichols who write regular columns about really geeky shit that are simply invaluable.

I'd also suggest http://books.google.com/books?id=EB...-with-thumbnail

I'm not saying don't take classes... but with the amount of information available online and on DVD training courses etc... unless school is going to yield you a degree, I'm sorta meh about it. I'd like to hope though that you'd yield a ton hands on experience.

djillicit, I'd ask to see some syllabus' and get some hardcore details about the courses. I'd hate for you to move and find yourself not learning anything at school.

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quote:

Originally posted by djillicit My ultimate goal isn't really to work at a studio, although if the pay is good, I may consider it a full-time job. My ultimate goal is to make marketable records to a variety of markets. My music is electronic music, but I can see my tracks applied in many places outside of clubs. I looked at LA Recording School, which offers official Pro-Tools certification at the completion of the program. The program is quite costly, but in the end, if it gives me the technical know-how and confidence to expand into several fields, I believe it's worth it.

Pay in studios is, to put it bluntly, rubbish, so whatever you do don't go for it for the money.

Making library music, music for commercials and film scoring is far more financially dependable/lucrative.

Be aware that hardly anyone gets the pro tools certification (1 person in the last three years), and it's an extra $3,000 to sit the exams.

A studio will however give you real hands on experience, and nothing teaches you like having to do it in front of clients or a boss. Most studios, at least for the entry level positions, don't expect you to be a pro tools ninja, as they expect to have to teach you.

Go for LARS if you have the money spare and really want just an academic experience - it is the best of the bunch, but if you want to really how to compose or engineer, get a job as a composers assistant or engineering assistant.