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Audio Education – That Doesn’t Break The Bank

I’d love to go back to school for audio, but I owe a lot of money to the federal government. Okay fine, it’s student loan debt. For a long time, I felt like that huge and haunting sum meant that I could never pursue an education beyond the degrees I already hold. Debt, lack of funds, an overabundance of responsibilities: they all present very real barriers for many of us wishing to acquire new skills. But we can access the internet. And thanks to some incredible free and low-cost organizations that exist to empower women/gender non-conforming folks and allies in the recording industry, I have been learning to competently record and mix music for myself and others, no FAFSA needed.

Women-led organizations

 

Women’s Audio Mission

Women’s Audio Mission (WAM) was the first resource I encountered when I began looking to grow my skills in audio, and it remains dear to me. A nonprofit based in San Francisco/Oakland founded by Terri Winston, WAM offers courses, internships, an afterschool program called “Girls on the Mic,” recording/mixing/mastering services at their women-owned and run studio, and more. I’ve studied all of their on-demand online curriculum, from the science-based SoundChannel content to their YouTube channel WAM Everywhere. Most of the gear that I own I’ve purchased upon their recommendation. The virtual and in-person conferences I’ve attended have introduced me to new perspectives and, in some cases, new-to-me creative fields within audio. Perhaps more importantly, they’ve introduced me to others with similar goals who have become both friends and collaborators since. There is a small annual fee associated with membership, but it’s more akin to the cost of a t-shirt than a textbook, and the perks more than justify the expense.

Omni Sound Project

After having taken classes through WAM, Lisa Machac became inspired to form a community for women+ in Austin, TX, where she lives, and Omni Sound Project was born. The pandemic brought that effort to the virtual sphere, and they now host online one-hour Intro Courses as well as three-hour Workshops. They also offer Signal Gain, a week-long event held in November consisting of panel discussions and other learning opportunities. Omni Sound Project’s classes and events are either no cost or inexpensive, and membership itself is free. Additionally, course attendance may even bring you into possession of a fine piece of equipment courtesy of an Omni sponsor — I myself have been the recipient of a Lauten LA-220 microphone, which I treasure. The real gift at Omni, though, is the highly approachable and experienced faculty. I’m proud to say that one core faculty member, Jam Phelps, has both mixed songs for me and mentored me as I’ve been learning to mix on my own.

Mix Like a Girl

Other than Jam, I have found an excellent mix mentor in Mix Like a Girl founder Caridad Espinosa. During periodic and affordable hour-long sessions with Caridad, I have learned what to listen for in a mix and how to improve the quality of my own recordings through her honest, specific feedback. In addition to private lessons, Mix Like a Girl has offered group courses, including their Summer Boot Camp, Vocal Production Course, and The Art of Film Scoring and Post. They are currently working on a comprehensive guide, created entirely by women, that will explain recording, mixing, beat making, and mastering in beginner-friendly terms.

SoundGirls

It would be ridiculous to write a blog about affordable education in audio in which I don’t mention the very organization I’m blogging for: SoundGirls, co-founded by Karrie Keyes and Michelle Sabolchick Pettinato! You need only click around a bit to see what an amazing resource SoundGirls is, from its newsletter to its virtual conference to articles my fellow bloggers contribute to this website. Really, that just scratches the surface of what it offers. There is so much more. And if you’re reading this but hesitating to commit to membership, there’s no need — it’s free!

Editors Note – Michelle Sabolchick Pettinatio has developed an online course Mixing Music Live and SoundGirls members received 50% off, email us for a discount code. soundgirls@soundgirls.org

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it’s a worthy start. At the very least, it’s a bit of direction in the rudderless realm of the internet. At best you’ll embark upon a path, follow it with ever-increasing satisfaction, and look back to see that each step has brought you where you’ve always wanted to go: into mastery and the arms of an affirming audio community. And with far less debt.

You can find more options for audio education here

Pros and Cons of Formal Audio Education 

I remember seeing a tweet a couple of years ago from Grammy-winning producer Finneas O’Connell about going to school for music production. He believed that it wasn’t necessary to succeed in the music industry. While he proves his own theory, my first instinct when I read this was to defend my own education. At the time, I was studying audio engineering at Berklee College of Music, and I knew it was one of the most valuable programs for audio education in the country. Now that I’ve stepped out of academia and into the professional world of audio post-production, I thought about O’Connell’s tweet again, and how my perspective on his opinion has evolved.

I chose to study audio engineering and sound design at the undergraduate level for a number of reasons. First of all, it was my goal to earn my undergraduate degree, which isn’t particularly common for students where I went to school. Berklee’s latest statistics show a 67% graduation rate, and this is mainly because most students start working in the music industry before they even need to graduate. Nonetheless, I found an academic space to study music production and audio engineering to be really beneficial for my style of learning and for the previous experience I had. I started my first semester with no background or knowledge of audio technology, recording techniques, sound design, or music production. I only knew how to write songs and record in GarageBand. So going to classes to learn these fundamentals and having assignments and deadlines really served what I needed as a student. I also knew that I wanted to take the time to absorb all the information, so I didn’t feel rushed to enter the industry immediately.

Being a part of music production or audio education program provides step-by-step guidance and access to a huge amount of resources. I had the chance to connect with professors who specialized in my interests and to connect with other students who wanted to practice the concepts we tackled in classes together or plan out future networking opportunities. Having access to equipment and studio facilities meant that I didn’t have to buy my own until I graduated. Once I did purchase my own gear, I had some ideas of my own opinions on the gear I wanted like which equipment I liked the most or didn’t need. Furthermore, the variety of classes gave me insight into different fields, histories, and techniques, which led me into post-production sound editing, even though I started the program wanting to focus on producing my own music.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I submitted many job applications, received some interviews, and ultimately the job searching process was long and grueling. It made me think about how the process would have changed if I didn’t pursue a bachelor’s degree, and what kind of cons balance out the pros. The first and most considerable disadvantage of studying audio at the undergraduate level is the enormous financial decision it entails. Not everyone has the financial support to complete a degree, especially when audio engineering and music producing involves purchasing expensive gear such as software like DAWs, synthesizers, and plug-ins, an audio interface, headphones or monitors, a microphone for recording, and any make-shift room treatment to name some valuable home-recording equipment. Paying tuition or student loans on top of all of this equipment is really overwhelming, and most likely will impact your view of which expensive items or programs to prioritize. Also, for some producers or engineers, learning while working on the job can be a better method for learning than lectures, homework, projects and quizzes. Not all starting positions at recording studios require a college education, and starting out earlier in the music industry and in the right city where interests align is a great way to get started and build momentum. Even though I like to learn by viewing lectures and reading manuals, many people are stronger kinesthetic learners who will pick up on recording consoles and signal flow by working through the physical movements of setting up a recording at a studio. Furthermore, like any other field, improvement in music production or audio engineering comes with practice. However, in a college program, practice is assigned in the form of homework and projects. While it’s possible to cover concepts of interest in a syllabus, having the freedom to choose what you practice in your own home setup lets you focus on specific skills to achieve your own goals in the music production industry.

From what I’ve learned since graduating from college, it doesn’t really matter how you acquire your experience and abilities as an audio engineer or music producer. What does matter is that you choose the process that best suits your style of learning and your own goals, and that you can see improvements as you practice and continue to work on recordings or sound edits or MIDI programming. There is no pressure to follow anyone’s path to education but your own because the right method will serve your needs as you step into the industry. I don’t think Finneas O’Connell is wrong to say that formal audio education is unnecessary. However, I do think it’s too narrow of a belief for the diverse, creative minds that want to begin a career in music production.

Choosing the Right University 

By the time I was in the twelfth grade I had some idea of what I wanted to do… but no idea how I wanted to get there.

If I was aiming for a doctor, an office job, or a lawyer it would have been a no-brainer that I would go to university. However here I am on SoundGirls, so as you can imagine I was aiming for a path a little unconventional.

Now, not to say that those jobs are bad careers, by no means. However, when it comes to wanting to have your profession in the arts? Getting a degree from an educational institution may or may not be the way to go.

If you are aiming to become the next Beyonce for instance. You could go to NYU and major in vocal arts, network, and meet some people that can help you record an EP, and BOOM! Instant success! Unfortunately, however, while this scenario is possible it isn’t always subject to replication. Not everyone that majors in NYU’s vocal arts program are going to be the next world sensation, some might not get the opportunities or work with others that would elevate them to that megastar status.

The entertainment business is surely creative, but it is also still a business. It needs a lot of people to keep the machine well oiled. So the people factor is extremely important, who you impress and who you don’t can change where you might be months or years into the future.

So the question I posed is, choosing the right university? Well, I’m pretty sure you can predict what I’m going to say. What are you roughly aiming for? Want to be an engineer?  Want to be an entertainment lawyer? Or maybe a music journalist? Which path to follow, university, tech school, or a hands-on mentorship? University is an option but not the only one. So this September when you are pouring over state and private universities, think about where you roughly want to go and then what options you can look into.

One last quick tip. If you are not sure where you want to go but know you want a career in the music business, you can always take quick courses online. Coursera and Berklee Online have free and paid-for options on a number of different classes that you could take. While you could go to university undeclared, it still will charge you tuition which could be pricey depending on where you are and if you are receiving scholarships or some kind of financial aid. With online classes, you can get a taste of what you might be in for in your profession and for way less than college tuition.

Find more educational programs from online to four-year universities

Do I Really Need to Go to School

But, Do I Really Need to Go to School

Should You Go to School for Audio Engineering?

Hello, I’m Susan. Educator. Microbudget Film Producer. Ginger.

As with most of us working in entertainment, I’ve had (and still have) many different jobs in my career. At this moment, I teach video & audio production at the university level, and I freelance at the Orlando Repertory Theatre as a sound technician for events. In the past, I have worked in film, television, theatre, corporate events, theme parks, and science centers. The plan for this blog is to share my experiences and research with a broad audience as we advance through 2019 with new technology, media, and ideas.

“As with anything in life, you get out what you put in.”

Many of my jobs in theatre included working with YA kids doing theatre, showing them how to run sound cues and basic mic settings. I helped run workshops in college for fellow film students to help get better audio. My teaching career officially began five years ago when I was fed up with the freelance struggle. The university where I work is year-round, which brings its own set of challenges for both the faculty and students. As an accelerated program, we teach one class each month and then rinse & repeat.

I’ve lived in central Florida for over a decade, so I’ve already heard it all about students who graduate from the program. Personally, I genuinely believe in my program and the content we teach. As with anything in life, you get out what you put into your experiences. Where you went to school doesn’t matter, what counts is what you were able to absorb and put into practice. A couple of times a year I will have a student question my background, how could I possibly know audio production/recording without having attended this school? My patience is tested, and I remind myself that many people do not research a damn thing before making a decision. There are many, many places that teach audio and most of us learn things on the job anyway.

SoundGirls EXPO 2018

My colleagues are a mix of FS and traditional college grads from all over the country. However, I am one of two women in our faculty of over 30 teachers. Both of us have backgrounds in theatre, and we are both named Susan. The female perspective is severely lacking in the department, so I do my best to represent and volunteer for as much as possible. At graduation, I am the only woman standing up on stage, and I make a point to be there. The university does attract some women, but most months are predominately male. There’s nothing wrong with this; it’s just an observation.

SoundGirls has allowed me to participate in more community events, the best one this year was with Girls Rock, an organization in St. Petersburg, FL that promotes teaching music to young girls. The Orlando SoundGirls went down to represent female involvement on the tech side, as many young people do not even know this career exists.

My hope for the future of women is more representation in general, not just in this industry but in life in general. We are your mothers and sisters, teachers, doctors, engineers, wives, and fellow humans. I joined SoundGirls to support women in my community and to be a mentor to those who need one. Here’s to the new year, SoundGirls.

 

 

A Sound Education

Last week the GCSE results were published in England. These qualifications mark the end of key stage 4 and are increasingly feeling like a relic left behind from old-style O-levels which, in the past, marked the end of formal secondary education. In the future, England is looking to working towards a ‘Baccalaureate’ system that aims to draw together three features:

What should assessment look like in 2025’ AQA 2015?

By including ‘personal development’ it is recognised that this is a key element in the needs of future employment.

Why is this important to those of us working in the sound industry?

A hot topic on the SoundGirls Facebook page is the need (or not) for formal qualifications in our industry. Putting student debt aside, a large majority of those against formal qualifications would cite on-the-job training as a far more effective means of achievement. In fact, this is a well-researched area. Carr (1999) says,

‘It is possible for someone to have a mental grasp of procedural knowledge, but no ability to perform the given task’.

I’m sure many of us can recall a course or training programme we’ve attended whereby at the end of the day we have understood all of the procedures being demonstrated but have very little idea of how to apply it in a real-life situation.

The issue that we recognise here is that we are being assessed on one topic and being expected to perform another. Therefore the assessment needs to reflect the practical nature of our industry.

When looking for a course it goes without saying that you need to be as thorough as possible when checking out the credentials. Importantly, check that the assessment opportunities being offered are intrinsically linked to the teaching.

Choose a course where the outcomes fit with your future plans. Even if these plans change, a good course will allow you to develop the skills to continue lifelong learning.

Student Debt

Going back to the issue of student debt, if you speak to any teacher about their students they will without fail at some point speak of inclusion.

Affordability of undergraduate courses in the UK ( and elsewhere) has shot through the roof in recent years. This has naturally increased the doubt surrounding if a course in sound is actually needed or not.

There is no straightforward answer to this other than to say that you need to seriously consider the opportunities that you will be afforded. Would you have the same networking opportunities if you didn’t do the course? Will you receive a rich and rounded mentorship away from the structure of an institution? You are quite likely to find that there are as many professional sound engineers that followed an academic route as followed an amazing mentor or mentors within the industry. The decision of which route to take can only be decided by you.

Community Support

Living in a country that has seen an enormous leap in the availability of public education, highlights the importance of grassroots support and encouragement for young people joining the workplace. Music is one area where traditionally, Oman is rich in heritage.

Whichever path you decide to take, ensure that you have taken every opportunity around you. The number one piece of advice I’ve always given to students wanting to get into sound is… get into sound! Find your local amateur dramatic society/ a band/ music venue/ recording studio and get involved as much as possible. If a group doesn’t exist then create one.

In Muscat, there is a huge variety of musicians from different backgrounds and cultures. They are often brought together on my ‘open mic’ nights. This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to showcase their skills but also to learn new insights. Look hard enough and there will always be a way forward and it doesn’t have to involve spending any money.

Huddleston, Prue. “Http://Www.aqa.org.uk/about-Us/What-We-Do/Policy/the-Future-of-Assessment-2025-and-beyond/How-Should-We-Assess-Vocational-and-Practical-Learning.” Http://Www.aqa.org.uk/, filestore.aqa.org.uk/content/about-us/AQA-THE-FUTURE-OF-ASSESSMENT.PDF.

The Future of Assessment

Student Loans – Student Debt

I was approached with this question from a student: “I’m about to graduate and I have a lot of student loan debt. Any advice on what I can do?”

Loans can be a pain in the ass especially right out of school. I remember times looking at my bank balance, cursing my loans, and regretting ever going to school. That changed as I got a handle on finances, had a payoff plan, and started to see loan balances go down.

Here’s some information and ideas to help tackle student loans (it’s specific to the US but the general idea is the same no matter where you’re at). If you’re considering a degree or are still in school, see the later sections about how to minimize what you need in loans.

Putting together your financial picture

Check your credit report (US)

You can get one free credit report a year from each of the three major credit companies. Your credit report will give you student loan information and credit cards, car loans, etc. Tip: Check your credit every four months (only check one company each time).

Make a list of each of your loans, when you have to start paying them (grace period end), subsidized/unsubsidized, the interest rate (and if it’s variable or fixed), monthly payment amount, and whether it’s federal or private. If you took out any government loans, you can find those here 

When you see the total, it’s ok to curse, yell, or sigh in relief (if you’re lucky). Then remind yourself it’s an investment that you made in yourself intended over a long period of time. It also gets easier/more manageable with time.

Making a plan

Get in the mindset. Your income will likely grow as your student loan balances shrink. The beginning is the hardest. You may not have any spare money right now but in a few years you might have a lot extra to put towards loans. The important part is that your loan payments are manageable; if they’re not, contact your lenders to look at other options (like income-based repayment or deferment).

Make a system for bill paying. Make sure lenders have the correct mailing address (so you don’t fall behind by accident). Some lenders offer an interest rate discount if you use autopay. Setup reminders or use a service like Mint Bills (bills.mint.com), which can keep track of your loans, payment due dates, and send reminders (Disclosure: I use Mint/Mint Bills).

Look into consolidating or refinancing your loans to save money. You may be able to combine some of your loans into one payment and also lower your interest rate.

Consolidating:

Refinancing: Get quotes from companies like Nelnet.com or SoFi.com (Disclosure: Nelnet has been my servicer for 10 years.)

Set a budget (to ensure you can pay your loans). You can use something as simple as this or a budgeting website. Mint.com is a great free site to monitor spending and set a budget. “You Need a Budget” is another popular budgeting website (it has a yearly fee or is currently free for students).

Decide how you want to tackle your loans. There’s a lot of different techniques to pay down loans (especially if you have other types of debt like car loans and credit cards). The general rule with student loans is to prioritize private loans first, then variable-rate loans, then highest-interest rate. You may want to change the order depending if a loan is subsidized or unsubsidized. This article has a good breakdown of what order to pay off. 

Find ways to make extra cash where the money can be dedicated to paying a loan. It’s a lot easier to take a crappy side gig or work overtime hours if you have a purpose. There’s a huge sense of accomplishment to get even one loan off your plate and that can keep you motivated to work towards the rest.

Remember there’s a tipping point. Not all debt is bad debt. Once you put out the fire on your most demanding loans, it might make sense to shift focus to other financial goals. If buying a computer or piece of gear will increase your workload (and salary), it might be worth investing in that before paying down a subsidized loan. Putting money in a retirement fund or saving for a house might benefit you more in the long run than paying off a low-interest loan. In time, you’ll have options.

If you’re not in school yet

If you’re considering audio school, here it is straight: You don’t need a degree to get a job in audio. Do your odds of getting a job go up with a degree? 95% of time – No (it takes just as much hard work as someone without a degree). Are there good reasons to get a degree or certificate? Absolutely (but that’s a whole other topic.) Life Lessons and Audio Education. 

One very important detail that a lot of audio schools don’t advertise is that it can very realistically take one to two years after graduation to earn a paid position. That’s a year or more working for free likely followed by a minimum wage job (up to $15/hr). That’s a difficult wage to survive on – even more so with student loan payments. Most people pursue an audio degree to work in music, film/tv or video games but a lot of graduates end up working elsewhere – jobs like academics/research, sales, IT/tech, or not in the audio industry at all. When you see the bigger picture, is it worth spending $150k+ for a full-priced 4-year degree?

There’s value in an audio degree and there’s money-saving ways to getting one. For example, take as many classes as you can at the cheapest school possible (community college, in-state school, or somewhere you’re offered a good scholarship). There’s no reason to pay a music or film school $1,000/credit hour for a general ed class when a community college offers the same class for $50/credit hour (check first that it’ll transfer to your audio school). You can earn college credits without having to take the course by passing a CLEP exam, which is $80/exam, offered in a lot of topics, and accepted at thousands of colleges and universities.

Ask a lot of questions about the audio program you’re interested in: What percentage of graduates are employed in the field 5 years out of school? After 10 years? What kind of work are they doing? Where are they located? A school on the opposite side of the country (or out of the country) may not be the best choice if most of its graduates stay local and aren’t working in the field. If it’s affordable, pick a school where you might stay after graduation (this accelerates the process of meeting people, doing internships and low paid work, etc).

If you’re already in school

I recommend having 3-6 months minimum of living expenses saved up for post-graduation (a year is even better). The more money you have to cover expenses means the more time you can spend interning or working a low-paying job.

For everyone

Student loans, like any loans, can quickly become overwhelming if you don’t manage your money wisely. It’s unfortunate to see someone have to leave a job they love because he/she couldn’t pay the bills. The first couple years out of school can be really tough – which is why it’s even more important to be organized, diligent, and careful with your finances. The habits you form now can affect the rest of your life and career.

 

Investing In Your Education

 

Nelson Mandela once stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Wise words from someone with extraordinary life experiences.

Continuing education in life is important, and it is vital in any audio professional’s career. The learning curve is large, the technology is always changing, and to continue improving your craft it will be important to keep studying. Surprisingly, there are many avenues to learn and expand your horizons that will make you a well-rounded professional. There are educational opportunities for everyone at any level of knowledge or career, from beginner to veteran.

Here are some continuing educational opportunities to keep you at your audio best!

Attend a conference or convention

Usually a weeklong or so, InfoComm and NAMM offer seminars, courses, vendor booths, training, networking, and so much more.  These are some of the biggest gatherings of audio professionals each year, where the vendors introduce many new pieces of equipment and you can learn about the next big audio trends.

Take a class online or in person

Classes are a great way to get some advanced hands-on training. Groups like SynAudCon and Harman have many online and in-person courses available. Many companies also offer in-person demos by partnering with sound companies to showcase their newest products. Demos, like DiGiCo offers, are a great chance to learn about the product directly from the developer.

And don’t forget the awesome opportunities that Soundgirl provides, like the Live Sound Camp for Girls, Live Sound Workshop, the Resources page, and articles by fellow bloggers.

Do some casual reading to brush up on your skills:

There are many places online to find quality articles and information to start or continue your education. Yamaha offers a great beginners guide; FOHonline and ProSoundWeb offer a wide variety of articles and update their content regularly.  There are also webinars like the ones offered at Live Sound Advice and books such as Paul White’s series that covers topics such as MIDI, studio design, mastering, mixers and more.

Learn one-on-one or network with colleagues in the field

Another way to learn is through hands-on training and watching others work. Opportunities to experience all of these options are to shadow someone at an event, develop a mentorship, and network with colleagues in the field.  Attending the classes and conventions listed above is an excellent way to network and develop relationships that could lead to mentorships and shadowing opportunities. You could also consider joining an association such as the Audio Engineering Society (AES)  or the Production Music Association (PMA).

Expand your knowledge to other show topics

knowledge2You can also continue your education by expanding your horizons through gaining knowledge in other areas of event planning and technology by taking courses such as CM Entertainment Training or by reading about or attending an Event Safety Alliance event.

With so many opportunities to continue learning, we can keep ourselves forever young and employable by keeping up with the times. For each opportunity we take, we invest in ourselves, build our skills (and resumes), and put ourselves one step ahead of the competition. So keep learning, because as Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

 

 

Cuyahoga Community College Recording Arts and Technology

Cuyahoga Community College based in Cleveland, Ohio offers a Recording Arts and Technology program. Students that complete the five-semester program receive an Associate Degree in Applied Science. The program prepares students for a diverse array of entry-level jobs in the audio industry. The program covers studio and on-location recording, live sound, music business, and audio electronics. Students are exposed to a broad range of music production and audio engineering techniques, skills, and styles through theory, practice, and hands-on/real-world training. (more…)

Britannia Row Training Program

SoundGirls.Org spoke to Mike Lowe, Director of Britannia Row’s training program in London UK.  Below is our interview with Mike regarding the program.

Britannia Row Productions is one of the top live sound companies in the world.  This has been achieved by having some of the very best engineers and technicians. Training has always been central to our ethos. As an employer, Britannia Row Productions have always known that college and university courses still do not fully cater for our particular niche.  And we know from our colleagues and counterparts in Live Sound throughout the industry and across the globe, that we are not alone in this view. (more…)

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