Are you interested in learning what you can do with an audio production degree? Do you have a passion for music creation, mixing or sound effects? If you enjoy deconstructing music and trying to figure out how to recreate a sound you heard in a song or a beat that intrigues you, you may consider learning more about an audio production degree. With a degree in audio production you can turn your passion into a career.
Turn Your Passion for Music into a Career
Those that are passionate about music have a head start in becoming an audio producer. Having a passion for music is not required. Many students that decide to obtain an audio production degree will learn to have a passion for music at some point throughout their career. As a result, music will become a passion that helps motivate you to be creative. Always challenging yourself to be better.
Maybe you need some time to identify what part of music you are passionate about? You know you like music but are not sure what part of studio work interests you. First of all, start learning more about an audio production degree and find out what makes you love music. Do you enjoy working on music software, playing an instrument, mixing sound or managing music equipment? All of these topics will be covered during an audio production degree program. Find out your passion and make music into a career.
Why Attend an Audio Production Degree Program?
There are many reasons to attend an audio production degree program. While attending a music arts college, you will work with state-of-the-art equipment and software. Music arts colleges create multiple studios and labs for different types of audio recording, including music and voice overs to name a few. Thus, you will gain a wide array of music knowledge and prepare yourself to get your first job in the industry.
Also, attending an audio production degree program gives you the ability to network. Industry experienced instructors will help you meet new people. They will introduce you to industry experts and music professionals. You will also make life-long relationships with fellow classmates. Small classes will facilitate the ability to get one-on-one instruction from teachers and to meet new classmates from diverse backgrounds. Graduating from an audio production degree program is your first step to getting your foot in the door of the music industry.
What Does an Audio Producer Do?
Audio producers record, compose and manipulate voices, sound effects and instruments for songs and musical tracks. For that reason, audio producers work with a large array of recording software and equipment including digital audio workstations (DAW), attenuators, equalizers and mixing boards. Some of the most common music software used in the music studio include Ableton Live and Pro Tools. It is ultimately the audio producer’s job to mix and master a track that is pleasing to the ear.
Furthermore, an audio producer may manage contracts, copyrights, and the finances of the record studio. The audio producer can work with a team to help with marketing and distribution. Business skills are taught during the audio production degree program, therefore if you don’t already have the skills to manage a recording studio you will learn them during the program as well as on the job.
Work in a Recording Studio
All studios use similar sets of recording equipment. However, some studios have more bells and whistles. There are a few essential pieces of equipment that will ensure you get off to a smooth start, even on a tight budget. Here’s a comprehensive list of basic equipment you will work with in a recording studio. There will be a laptop or desktop computer, digital audio workstation, microphones, stands, mixing board, sound baffles, DJ and mixing headphones, studio speakers and instruments.
First of all, a good DAW is essential for you as a beginning audio producer. When choosing a DAW, it’s important to consider what kind of resources it will use on a computer. You may have a less robust machine so consider carefully which DAW you choose and avoid overtaxing your computer’s resources.
Furthermore, a decent quality laptop is a critical piece of basic equipment for you. In particular, it should have a good processor, plenty of RAM and different types of ports to connect audio interfaces, external hard drives and MIDI devices. As a beginner audio producer, you should choose a laptop that offers enough computing power to run all the music software but doesn’t break your budget.
Working in a recording studio can be fun and rewarding. However, as intense as it is working in a recording studio, once all the music equipment is in a room and you are sitting at your DAW recording those first pro-grade tracks, it will all seem worth it.
Work in a Home Studio
After getting an audio production degree, you may choose to create an in-house recording studio. More and more aspiring audio producers and performing artists are building in-home studios, whether to work on their own music and audio projects, to produce music for other artists, or simply for fun. The cost of acquiring music software has decreased in the past decade and now there are digital audio workstations that you can download for a minimal investment. You could be up and running right after graduating with a home recording studio.
Jobs in Audio Production
There are many different jobs available for those that have graduated and obtained an audio production degree. These jobs include music producer, recording studio manager, audio equipment technician, and sound engineering technician.
Music Producer
The music producer oversees the entire process of song’s creation. A music producer is responsible for creating, recording, mixing and mastering musical tracks. They are responsible for managing vocalists, instrumentalists and session technicians. They can also be involved in the business side of the studio and music distribution.
Recording Studio Manager
The recording studio manager works alongside the music producer and secures the recording studio. They will either negotiate studio rates or own the studio and manage the day-to-day operations of a recording studio. A recording studio manager doesn’t spend each day creating music, however they must be well-versed in audio production in order to manage the studio.
Audio Equipment Technician
Audio equipment technicians work to achieve the best sound quality for the music producer. They perform many of the technical tasks to manage the recording studio. Furthermore, the audio equipment technician performs sound checks, sets up equipment, makes copies of recordings, archives recordings, and operates the mixing board to merge audio from different equipment, vocalists and instruments.
As a result, audio equipment technicians set up and operate audio equipment including microphones, monitor speakers, video screens, projectors, video monitors, recording equipment and mixing boards. This equipment can facilitate a concert, sports event, meeting, convention or presentation.
Sound Engineering Technician
Sound engineering technicians operate equipment to record, mix, and reproduce music, voices and sound effects. Most sound engineering technicians work in event centers, theater production, recording and movie production.
Career Services After Graduation
Music arts schools set up career services to help graduates find a job after graduation. Although, they can’t guarantee that you will get a job, it is very likely that these career services will open up many new doors in the industry. These music arts schools have dedicated career services staff to help graduates find a job after graduation. They also work with graduates throughout their career as college alumnus.
Final Thoughts
Getting your audio production degree can open doors. Especially while completing your externship and networking with others at the music arts college. Before you know it, you will be in the recording studio making your first song. After that, the sky is the limit.
Audio Production Program
The Audio Production and Engineering Program at the Institute of Production and Recording is an occupational degree program designed to train producer engineers who are entrepreneurs, musically and technically creative, and proficient in modern recording technology and technique. Throughout the program, students are involved in hands-on exercises and real-world studio projects that enable them to apply their knowledge and refine their skills.
At the end of the Audio Production and Engineering program, each student presents a portfolio — a selection of his or her best work to date. This serves as a demo reel for potential employers and clients — an audio resume with professional content that highlights the graduate’s talent and skill.
Contact us today to learn more about the audio production programs and starting a rewarding career.