I'm currently choosing between several college programmes and audio engineering is one of them.
I'm starting to feel really frustrated and helpless in terms of choosing, because I don't really know if that one college I have availabe here would be a good move. Although I like all aspects of music creation, I tend to gravitate more towards being a producer, rather than an audio engineer. Audio engineering programme is the closest thing that we've got here though. It's also probably very time consuming and includes lots of maths, technical stuff and electrical engineering, which doesn't really interest me that much. I guess it's more technically based, rather that art based.
At this point I'm not sure if choosing something like management & marketing college wouldn't be a better choice.
How are you guys feeling about this? Is it even a big thing to have an audio engineering degree, or no one really cares? Any of you working in the music industry and (not) having one? Was it a benefit? Does it help you get an intern studio job abroad or something like that?
Do you feel like Audio engineering college degree is a real benefit anyway nowadays?
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- KVRAF
- 8074 posts since 9 Jan, 2003 from Saint Louis MO
I have heard -- and I don't know how reliable it is -- that even for audio engineering careers, nobody really cares if you have a degree in audio engineering. But it could maybe get you some contacts in the industry, and that could be helpful.
And "producer" is a nebulous thing involving potentially many different skills, and I don't think there's any standard path to get to any of them.
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My own degree (BS in Management Information Systems) has honestly never given me any useful knowledge or insight in my software development career. But my first job came through the college's careers program, and my second job was with one of the first job's biggest clients.
And then for my main career, in the gaming industry, nobody cared about my degree at all (my boss was surprised when I told him I had one). For my current position it's possible that I wouldn't have gotten an interview without a degree, but it's more likely that work experience would have gotten me in the door anyway.
And "producer" is a nebulous thing involving potentially many different skills, and I don't think there's any standard path to get to any of them.
...
My own degree (BS in Management Information Systems) has honestly never given me any useful knowledge or insight in my software development career. But my first job came through the college's careers program, and my second job was with one of the first job's biggest clients.
And then for my main career, in the gaming industry, nobody cared about my degree at all (my boss was surprised when I told him I had one). For my current position it's possible that I wouldn't have gotten an interview without a degree, but it's more likely that work experience would have gotten me in the door anyway.
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- KVRAF
- 16828 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
Nobody cares about your papers if you're really good.
If you have the papers, it's a start but still no guarantee whatsoever.
No succesful producer I know has studied it in college. Mostly hobby that got out of hand.
I'd play it safe. Do plan B to pay for your hobby.
When I was 16 I had two hobbies: playing guitar and programming computers. Guess what I did...
If you have the papers, it's a start but still no guarantee whatsoever.
No succesful producer I know has studied it in college. Mostly hobby that got out of hand.
I'd play it safe. Do plan B to pay for your hobby.
When I was 16 I had two hobbies: playing guitar and programming computers. Guess what I did...
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. 
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
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- KVRAF
- 1786 posts since 29 Sep, 2013
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- Banned
- 2288 posts since 24 Mar, 2015 from Toronto, Canada
hi OP. no one can really help you as its your own choice. FWIW.. when I was your age i went to a college to get a production and engineering diploma. the experience was fun. but back then, there were no such things as DAWs and personal computers or VSTs, so there was no way to get your hands on the gear and equipment. These days its a whole different ball game.
What you may want to think about is, what are going to do and how are you going to go about doing it after you finish and get your diploma and degree? How much building connections and contacts and hustling is going to be required on your part to get a gig and are you able to do that? You *may* also want to consider what are the possibilities that you could teach yourself the tools by using a combination of aquiring them and teaching yourself by using them and using online resources and then putting the money and resources you saved towards hustling and making connections.
good luck
What you may want to think about is, what are going to do and how are you going to go about doing it after you finish and get your diploma and degree? How much building connections and contacts and hustling is going to be required on your part to get a gig and are you able to do that? You *may* also want to consider what are the possibilities that you could teach yourself the tools by using a combination of aquiring them and teaching yourself by using them and using online resources and then putting the money and resources you saved towards hustling and making connections.
good luck
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- Banned
- 133 posts since 26 May, 2020
Very simple - do you have talent or not? By this age you should know. If you don't have talent, choose something else. Real music and 'pro' work with audio (dialogue, sountrack, etc.) is not for hacks.
Do you love "audio engineering" and want to do it at all costs? That's what you want to BE? Or business and management? That's quite a choice of options you have there, buddy. Why not choose literature?
Do you love "audio engineering" and want to do it at all costs? That's what you want to BE? Or business and management? That's quite a choice of options you have there, buddy. Why not choose literature?
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- KVRAF
- 2147 posts since 30 Oct, 2006 from Australia, NSW
The best thing is if you are a complete novice you will learn some important fundamentals but most of all its a chance to make future IRL connections.Loads of my work came about from that.
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- KVRAF
- 2593 posts since 15 Feb, 2006 from Another Green World
I'm not sure where you live, but I would certainly say don't get into debt for an audio engineering degree! If you're thinking you "should probably do managing or marketing" then do that instead.
If you must do music/audio you'll find a way. It is possible to be an effective producer without audio engineering expertise IF you have musical skill, good ears and a knack for working towards goals and getting the best out of people.
If you must do music/audio you'll find a way. It is possible to be an effective producer without audio engineering expertise IF you have musical skill, good ears and a knack for working towards goals and getting the best out of people.