Should Music Producers go to Audio Engineering school?
Published at 10/31/2022
Should you go to audio engineering school?
In one of our recent HITMKR Virtual Coffee Chats, the question came up about whether or not producers should attend an audio engineering school. Before we dive into this frequently asked question, let’s get full transparency! I personally went to an audio school for my background in audio engineering and for ME, it’s been incredibly helpful. I started with little to no experience recording anything and I was able to learn the foundational technical information that has helped guide ME on my personal journey in and around music. That being said and out of the way, is it the right decision for YOU?? Let’s pro and con this sucker, shall we?
The TL;DR answer is… it depends!
That’s it folks, there you have it, thanks for stopping by, stay safe… Alright, I’m kidding of course, but we live in an age of short attention spans so I took a shot. While you can find countless information with varying opinions on the matter, I’ve asked some close friends and peers who currently work in music their thoughts and there were a variety of responses. In trying to be concise as possible we’re just going to focus on aspiring or current music producers and how this question applies to ya’ll (artists/songwriters, don’t hate me, we’ll do a follow up from that perspective soon!)
So drumroll, music producers, should you absolutely go to school for audio engineering to supplement your creativity… Nah, not really.
That’s the real TL;DR answer, and it ultimately comes down to NO you don’t HAVE to go to an audio engineering school to be great at production, if we are talking about the general process of making music. My audio school would hate to hear that response, but we’re here to break it down to the reality based on your circumstances and not on enrollment rates for the myriad of music and audio schools that exist out there. So while that’s the immediate answer, let’s be clear the super in-depth reality is much more complex, but we live in the internet age, and ain’t nobody got time for that. If the short answer is all you came here for, I feel you, you should get back to figuring out the actual process of making music in whichever capacity you want to go about it. If you want a little bit more of a breakdown, please keep reading just a little longer, and thanks for even making it this far!
The Pros and Cons:
For the sake of time and attention I’m only going to boil it down to a short few pros and cons in going to audio engineering school for producers. Let’s dive right in!
1. You get to learn the foundations of audio from a technical standpoint.
Learning the technical basics of audio can help you in so many other capacities when it comes to sound, not just as it applies to music.
2. You can learn how to record, mix, and maybe even master the music you work on.
Having to wait on someone to record you, or when they have time for you to do so can be a hassle. Why not learn how to do it independently and save money at the same time.
3. You could earn the credentials that verify your education, e.g. a degree or certificate.
Some audio schools offer Bachelors Degrees upon completion of their programs, a must if you need to satisfy the parents or just to have an official document that can prove you did the school work.
4. You’ll get hands-on time with professional level equipment and software.
How often can you get to learn how classic analog gear, microphones, consoles, etc. works and functions? Most of these schools have industry quality equipment to learn on in person.
Now, for the not-so-Pros or Cons as they call them.
1. School isn’t the only place you can learn the basics of audio.
This is the internet age, there are resources online that can help you learn the basics of things like signal flow, eq, compression, etc. You don't even have to dig too deep to find it, what it does take is a willingness to take the time to learn and apply that info.
2. Everything costs and education that’s audio specific doesn’t usually come cheap.
Like any education for any industry, that knowledge comes with a cost. Tuition prices for audio engineering schools range from the low 5 figures to almost 6 figures in some places! My advice to anyone is don't go into debt chasing your dreams if you absolutely do not have to.
3. You don’t need to know how that hardware functions to make the music you want to make.
Let’s be honest, you’re probably not going to have an SSL Console right in your living room when you’re first starting out. Most music these days is made on laptops and even phones, ask Steve Lacy! Master those tools first, because it really is the ear not the gear!
4. When it comes to music, it’s rare that anyone really cares if you went to audio school.
If you can produce music and do it half way decent, it’s very rare anyone will ask where you went to school to do that. The general assumption for most people is that you just figured out how to do it and kept at it. It may come as a bit of a surprise, but it’s the truth.
The Wrap-up:
Please keep in mind this is very concise and we could spend hours and days discussing every last detail about whether or not producers should go to audio engineering school. The most important thing to remember is what your goal is on your musical journey. Right now you may just want to have a fun hobby, or you might be just getting going and want to express yourself through music. Patience is the key to creativity and if you’re making music now or want to start, just put in the reps. Audio engineering schools are plenty and the concepts haven’t changed in a few decades, so you can learn it when you need it. As music producers, focus on getting better at being creative, maybe learn music theory, or a few instruments, dissect your favorite songs, learn what makes them your favorites. Music is about feeling before it’s technical, don’t forget that part. Not to mention there are number of great audio engineers you can partner up with already in the world. Most of them have gone to these audio schools and can help take your music to higher levels sonically. At some point you will most likely have to work with a few anyway, you can always check out hitmkr.com and collaborate with them as you’re figuring out what your next step could be. Most of those engineers would be happy to share tips and ideas that can help you make your music better. You won’t have to spend an arm and leg to get that tailor made info.
Keep in mind, it’s always great to add to your skillset and having more knowledge about a variety of concepts can be very useful. When it comes to making music and production, you have to just keep creating!
We regularly have these conversations and Q&A on our Discord, you can join us here.