DHI DARK HORSE INSTITUTE

DHI DARK HORSE INSTITUTE School of Audio Engineering and Music Production

Get The Competitive Edge! 4Reasons To Study With Us 1. 2. 3. 4. You will be learning in Nashville One of the most important music centers in the World. Classes are taught in a real working studio Recording today s hit records IS our business. Our instructors are successful engineers Who record major label projects day in and day out. 100% hands-on instruction in our studios 14 weeks of total immersion.

What You Really Need to Know In our focused 14-week program, we GET TO THE POINT. We don t spend a lot of time talking about the history of microphones or music theory. We concentrate on the essential elements and core concepts of what you really need to know in order to start a career in music production. You will be trained on professional gear that is currently being used today to create chart-topping records. We do not use student equipment. You will learn how to set up complex recording sessions and record in a variety of settings, using state-of-the-art consoles, mics and outboard gear. Everything we do is aimed at one goal to prepare you for a career in the recording industry.

You ll Be Learningin the same studios Biggest where some of the selling albums in the world were recorded GOLD Amy Grant - Behind The Eyes Trace Adkins - Big Time Michael W. Smith - Healing Rain Alison Krauss - So Long So Wrong Jaci Velasquez - Jaci Velasquez Relient K - MMHMM Tim McGraw - Southern Voice PLATINUM Neil Diamond - Tennessee Moon Jaci Velasquez - Heavenly Place Eli Young Band - Life At Best Trace Adkins - Dreamin Out Loud Montgomery Gentry - Tattoos & Scars Terri Clark - How I Feel Keith Urban - Defying Gravity Martina McBride - Wild Angels PLATINUM X 3 (3 Million Sold) Big & Rich - Horse Of A Different Color PLATINUM X 4 (4 Million Sold) Faith Hill - It Matters To Me PLATINUM X 5 (5 Million Sold) Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift Taylor Swift 5 Million Sold and Counting keith Urban Defying Gravity Platinum! RELIeNT K MMHMM Gold Matchbox twenty North Entered Billboard Top 200 at #1 Hunter hayes Encore Album to be released Summer 2013 Tim McGraw Southern Voice #1 Billboard Album

COURSE DESCRIPTION Weeks 1-2 Introduction to Recording Our audio engineering program teaches the essentials that EVERY engineer needs to be competent, starting with topics such as: Understanding Sound, Console Signal Flow, Types of Microphones, Near-Field Monitors, and Basic Music Theory. Also, in this first course we are going to teach you the need to knows of audio connections, soldering, trouble shooting and studio maintenance. Finally, this section will introduce you to the role of the assistant engineer and his/her role in the recording process. Weeks 3-4 Weeks 7-9 Pro Tools For you to succeed as an audio engineer, it is essential that you master the industry standard Pro Tools. By week 7 you will be immersed into the world of Pro Tools and begin learning all the tips and tricks that the professionals use on a daily basis. You will learn how to set up the hardware, configuring the software, the various editing modes, the automation modes and the importance of file management. Also in this course you will be getting first hand knowledge of the industry standard plug-ins like Beat Detective, Elastic Audio, Auto-Tune, Melodyne and others. We will show you first hand how the professionals integrate them into their workflow. We will not only show you how to use these programs, but we will spend countless hours with hands-on instruction. Analog Recording With a good foundation from weeks 1 & 2, this part of the audio engineering program will focus on analog recording and equipment. We will cover such topics as critical listening, analog tape machines, analog alignment, compression, equalization and many different types of outboard gear. You will also start learning the fundamentals of microphone placement, (hands-on in the studio), and what it takes to get world-class sounds with various hands-on recording labs. Towards the end of this course we will go over analog mixing and Neve Flying Fader console automation systems. Week 10 Weeks 5-6 Weeks 11-14 Digital Recording With a solid grasp of signal flow and gain staging under your belt, you will now tackle the fundamentals of Digital Recording. You will begin learning the ins and outs of various digital machines like the Otari Radar II and Pro Tools HD. You will also learn the basics of the Apple Computer and how to properly maintain the computer. Weeks 5 and 6 are designed to insure that you move forward with additional topics such as: various types of digital formats and sample rates, the fundamentals of Work Clock and how to transfer audio from various digital formats. Business and Leadership Week 10 will focus on the music business and how it relates to becoming a successful recording engineer. This course includes studio etiquette, client services and becoming an independent contractor, which covers invoicing, taxes and scheduling. In our continuing lecture series, we will also cover life skills - the management of personal affairs. This course includes time management, discipline, responsibility and long term vision. Studio Recording Weeks 11 through 14 bring your educational experience full circle, as you continue the process of recording this album from beginning to end. You will be tracking the drums, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, keys, as well as all the other instruments. You ll be engineering the vocal overdubs and lead solos. You ll be mixing all the songs, finally master the project and deliver the band a final product. You ll be doing all this on the same gear that is used to record some of the biggest selling albums in the world.

your experience Our Campus The Factory at Franklin is positioned to become the new entertainment mecca of the south, complete with motion picture sound stages, television studios and recording facilities. We are thrilled to be part of this historic location which boasts an eclectic variety of shopping, dining and amusement opportunities. Audio studies and labs at the Factory will be enhanced with multiple trips to Dark Horse Recording (the birthplace of DHI), for workshops, recording sessions and industry networking opportunities. The best way to learn, is to surround yourself in an environment that inspires creativity.

Our Mission at Dark Horse Institute OUR HISTORY Dark Horse Institute is a dream realized. It s been an extraordinary journey from RCA recording artist to entrepreneur, from best-selling author to CEO. But all those experiences were simply a precursor to creating this school, which I believe offers the most comprehensive audio engineering program in the country. Nineteen years ago, Dark Horse Recording began as a dream that I had to create a refuge where recording artists, producers, and engineers could escape from their day-to-day distractions and focus on the creative process of recording. Since opening our doors in 1994, Dark Horse has attracted some of the world s most successful and famous artists such as Taylor Swift, Matchbox Twenty, Jewel, Tim McGraw, Ashley Judd, Keith Urban, Neil Diamond, Alison Kraus and many others. Then I founded Dark Horse Institute. As a veteran in the entertainment industry, I knew traditional teaching models wouldn t properly equip our students for a recording career in such a competitive industry. So we made a commitment to provide them with a hands-on, real-world, full-immersion learning experience that would give them a competitive edge. I hope you will join us, and jumpstart your career as a successful audio engineer. To provide an extraordinary educational experience to each student through hands on training, experiential learning and character building.

Caroline Trbovich Colin Heldt Troy Hepler Institutional Director Director of Technology/ Instructor Operations Manager MEET OUR Before joining Dark Horse as school Director, Carolan worked at The Art Institute Nashville as admissions director. Prior to a role in education management, her career spanned 30 years in the entertainment industry in multiple roles for EMI and Warner Brothers Nashville labels, the film industry in LA and PR for Broadway in New York. Colin graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor s Degree in Audio Production and Technology. He began as an intern at Dark Horse Recording and for the past six years has been a full time Staff Engineer. During his time with Dark Horse Recording, Colin has worked with Tim McGraw, Wynonna Judd, OneRepublic, Emery, Michael W. Smith and many others. Dave Hagen Jason Mott Instructor/Staff Engineer Instructor/Staff Engineer Dave graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor s Degree in Audio/ Electronic Arts. He interned at Dark Horse Recording, became an assistant to producer Mark Lee Townsend and worked with bands on Sony, Capitol, Gotee, and Tooth and Nail. Dave became a staff engineer in 2011 and has worked with Ashley Judd, OneRepublic, Relient K, Matthew West and many others. Jason is a Full Sail University graduate with an Associates Degree in Recording Arts. He has worked with Metallica, Johnny Cash, Faith Hill, Usher, Rihanna, Slayer, Sean Lennon, Shooter Jennings, Ani DiFranco and Bozs II Men, as well as films and T.V. shows such as, Desperate Housewives, Shameless, The Life and Times of Tim, Gigli and various shows for Disney. Troy graduated from Full Sail University with a Bachelor s Degree in Recording Arts. He worked for Cirque du Soleil conductor, Benoit Glazer, as video editor/assistant. After graduation, Troy moved to Nashville to intern with Dark Horse Recording. Troy has worked with Frank Turner, Matthew West, Mark Schultz, Victor Wooten, Eli Young Band, John Oates, The Jersey Boys and many others. Tony Bostic Admissions Tony graduated from Cedarville University with a Bachelor s Degree in Electronic Media Management & Sales and is a graduate of Dark Horse Institute. He has worked as a choir director, vocal producer, vocal coach, and guest worship leader. As an intern at Dark Horse Recording, he was an assistant engineer for groups such as The Jersey Boys and For King & Country. S TA F F Charlee Lakoduk Admissions Charlee s passion for the technical side of recording others brought her to Dark Horse Institute from North Dakota. As a graduate of the program, Charlee is in a great role to assist new students through the admissions process. She also works on independent projects, using her flair for vocal tuning to help others get the best sound out of their recordings.

YOU WILL LEARN The different types of microphones, from condenser, dynamic, tube, ribbon and which ones to use for a specific sound. How to handle signal routing and patching. How to use compression, EQ and digital effects. How to align an analog tape machine. How to synchronize a 24 track machine to Pro Tools HD. The fundamentals of digital audio. Transferring between different digital platforms. How to record various instruments and achieve quality sounds. How to set up complex tracking sessions. How to use the industry-standard software Pro Tools HD. How to use software plug-ins including Auto-Tune, Melodyne, Elastic Audio and Beat Detective. Soldering and studio repairs. Working with MIDI. The role of the 2nd engineer and assisting on sessions. The business of engineering. Advanced editing techniques. How to record a real project from beginning to end.

D H I G R A D U AT E S Within the first week here we were setting up for a string recording session with expensive microphones that I had only dreamed about getting my hands on! The people that were recording that night had come from recording a Jason Mraz session. When I heard that, it was kind of like, WOW! Networking in this industry is crucial, and the networking opportunities this program has offered have proved invaluable to me. The hands-on experiences and one-on-one contact with teachers make this program great. DHI Graduate Andy Hill, Oaso, OK Dark Horse Institute is a wonderful place for students to begin in the world of recording. The studio allows us, the students, the opportunity to learn in the real world environment within a studio and meet the pros inside the classroom. DHI Graduate Tia Gebhard, Manheinm, PA Being able to come in here on the first day, work on the mixing board and with Pro-Tools was awesome! By day two we were sitting in and observing session musicians recording in a real studio. It s a priceless experience seeing professional recording artist and producers who are actually on a time schedule and have a budget, do what they do in such a professional setting. In other words, we re seeing how this business actually operates on a daily basis, from the inside out. We re also getting to observe first hand, the type of personality traits which make for successful engineers. The whole experience simply exceeded my expectations. DHI Graduate Taylor Bauerle, DeLand, FL Dark Horse Institute is great because everybody gets their opportunity to work and do a mix the way they think sounds good, while working one-on-one with each piece of gear. My favorite part about this experience so far has just been learning how to mix and record on a large format console in a real-life recording studio every day. Many of Nashville s biggest artists have recorded here. It s great that we are getting to experience something of that magnitude. DHI Graduate Max Moon, Cincinnati, OH I don t believe I could have learned as much as I did as fast as I did at any other place than Dark Horse Institute. Being able to track live recording artists in an actual studio really broadened my experience and level of engineering. DHI Graduate Justin Mickles, Omaha, NE Spending 14 weeks going to Dark Horse Institute has been an eye opening experience into the music industry. I have gained the knowledge and experience to further my career in the industry from hands-on training and how-to instruction from engineers that work day in and day out on some of today s top selling artists and albums. From all the research I have done prior to coming here, and now going through the program, I can say without a doubt there is not another program like it. DHI Graduate Chris Oswald, Nashville, TN

STUDENT SERVICES Dark Horse Recording Contact List Career Development Assistance is pleased to offer our graduates a unique listing of Dark Horse Recording s professional contacts which we have cultivated over many years. This list includes many personal relationships we have with recording studios, record labels, production companies, performance halls and gear manufacturers. We hope this will enhance your job search and allow you to get your foot in the door of the industry-related businesses we respect and value. Designing your new resume and cover letter Career Development Assistance is here to help you design a professional resumé and cover letter, explaining in detail the equipment and software you have worked with, as well as the new skills you have acquired while studying in our studios. Industry-related Opportunities Board Career Development Assistance networks with many music and audio industry businesses that are happy to send us job openings they are looking to fill within their companies. As these opportunities come to us, they will be posted on our Opportunities Board and open to any student who wishes to apply. Should you see a position that catches your attention, please let Career Development Assistance know you wish to apply. We will set up a time for you to be interviewed. Pre-interview session Prior to your interview, you may meet with Career Development Assistance to help you better prepare. Interviewing etiquette, such as posture, vocal intonation and eye contact will be reviewed. Typical interviewing questions will be posed to you so you can become familiar with what questions may be asked and have answers in mind that will represent you well. Follow-up to the interview Follow-up skills after your interview are just as important as the preparation for the interview itself. Career Development Assistance can help you create a follow-up campaign that will keep you in the forefront of your interviewer s mind. There is a lot of competition out there. Let us help you rise to the top and stand out from the crowd. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Live Music Engineer Concerts Corporate Events Front-of-House Mixing Monitor Mixer Recording Engineer Music releases Advertising Soundtracks Record Producer Game Audio Designer Video games Apps Radio Production Location remotes Live radio Corporate media tech Hotels Conference centers Boardrooms TV/video scoring engineer Background music Voice over/narration WELCOME VETERANS Cinema Audio Sound effects Foley engineer Dialog replacement Manufacturer s specialist Product rep Product specialist Environmental sound design Malls Churches Airports Public spaces Live stage/theater sound Musicals Drama Lectures Dark Horse Institute is proud to offer a unique audio engineering program to our Veterans. You will find that the disciplines you have learned while serving are traits that will help you take your career to the next level. Set up a time to visit with us, tour the studios and sit in on a class. Find out how we can assist you in attaining your educational needs in our 14-week audio-focused program. In addition, Career Services will provide portfolio review, internships, and employment assistance.

When we say hands-on, we mean HANDS-ON! Check out the equipment at your disposal... THE CABIN AT THE FRANKLIN FACTORY CONSOLE Yes, this is the twin sister of the Trident Series 80 desk in The Lodge - another Series 80 console modified by Bud Wyatt, with many of the same modifications; EQ, mix, summing amp, IC chip upgrades, solo safes, etc. It features a 40-input, 24 monitor and 24-bus custom external patch bay. Input and monitor sections can be linked for a total of 64 channels during mix-down. This console has lived all it s pampered life in a smoke-free environment. AUTOMATION AMS / Neve Flying Faders 40 channels plus Master Fader and one group fader PRO TOOLS SPECIFICATIONS Apple Mac Pro 2.26Ghz 8 Core Digidesign HDX System Total Inputs: 32 Total Outputs: 24 HD I/O 16 Inputs x 16 Outs 192 I/O 16 Inputs x 8 Outputs Digidesign Sync I/O 37 LCD Display or 22 LED Display Available MONITORING Mackie HR 824 Yamaha NS10M (Hafler Amplification) CUE SYSTEM Formula Sound Q-8 system Crown Microtech Amplification Two separate stereo cue systems (Very Quiet, Lots of Headroom) PROCESSING (6) (4) (4) (4) (3) Aphex EQF-2 Equalizer Aphex CX-1 Compressor/Expander API 312 Mic Pre Amps Brent Averill 1073 Mic Pre/EQ Summit Dual Tube Pre-Amp Summit EQF-100 Full Range Tube EQ UA 1176 Limiting Amplifier SPL Transient Designer 4 Amek 9098 Mic Pre/EQ Amek 9098 Stereo Compressor ADL 1000 Compressor/Limiters Apogee AD-500 DBX 786 2-Channel Mic-Pre DBX 903 Compressor/Limiters DBX 904 Noise Gates DBX 902 De-Essers Eventide H3000 SE Ultra Harmonizer Apogee AD 500 Empirical Labs EL8 Destressors TC2290 Dynamic Digital Delay (4) Lexican PCM 80 Digital Effects Reverb Lexicon PCM 90 Digital Reverb Roland SRV-330 Digital Space Reverbs Vintech Audio X-81 Mic Pre/EQ Yamaha D1500 Digital Delays THE LODGE AT DARK HORSE RECORDING CONSOLE The Lodge features a 48 input Trident Series 80 desk married to a Martin Sound ACX 24-channel side car for a total of 72 channels of AMS / Neve Flying Faders automation. This Trident is heavily modified by Bud Wyatt: EQ, mix, summing amp, and IC chip upgrades with functional modifications, e.g., solo safes, 8 auxiliary sends, nine 2-track send / returns, 24-buss, and custom external patch bay. AUTOMATION AMS / Neve Flying Faders 72 channel plus Master and 3 group Faders PRO TOOLS SPECIFICATIONS Apple Mac Pro 2.26Ghz 8 Core Digidesign HDX System Total Inputs: 40 Total Outputs: 40 HD I/O 16 Inputs x 16 Outs 192 I/O 24 Inputs x 24 Outputs Digidesign Sync I/O 37 LCD Display or 27 LED Display Available MONITORING Midfield: Genelec 1031A Nearfield: Yamaha NS10 In Wall: Genelec 1039A (3-way with dual 15 woofers) CUE SYSTEM Formula Sound Q-10 system Crown CE1000 amplification Two separate stereo cue systems (Quiet, Clean, Powerful) MOBILE CUE SYSTEM (4) Mobile Cue Stations with Mackie 1604 Crown D75 Amplifier PROCESSING (8) (4) (4) (3) ADL 1000 Compressors Alan Smart C2 Stereo Compressor Amek 9098 Mic Pre / EQ Amek 9098 Stereo Compressors Aphex 104 Aural Exciter Aphex 662 Gates API 312 Preamplifiers API 550a Equalizer API 560 Graphic Equalizer Apogee AD-500 BBE 862 Sonic Maximizer Brent Averill 1073 mic pre / eq Daking 52270 Mic Pre / 4-band EQ Daking 91579 Compressors DBX 165a Compressors DBX 902 De-essers (4) (8) (4) DBX 903 Compressors DBX 904 Noise Gates Empirical Labs EL8 Distressors Eventide DSP 4000 PCM 91 Digital Reverb PCM 81 Digital Reverb Roland SRV-330 Digital Reverb Roland SDE-330 Digital Delay Studio Projects 828 Mic Pre Amps SPL Transient Designer 4 TC 2290 Digital Delay Telefunken V72 Preamps Tubetech CL-1B Compressors Tubetech PE-1C Equalizers UA 1176 Limiting Amplifier Vintech Audio X-81 Mic Pre/EQ THE BAREFOOT STUDIO DARK HORSE RECORDING CONSOLE Digidesign C 24 24 channel control surface with 16 inputs, housed in an Argosy Series 90 Studio Desk PRO TOOLS SPECIFICATIONS Apple G5 Dual 1.8 GHz Digidesign HD2 Accel System 192 I/O for 8 Inputs and 8 Outputs 27 LCD Monitor MONITORING Mackie HR-824 Monitors Stereo Cue System Mackie 1604 Mixer for Headphone Mixing PROCESSING Brent Averil 1073 mic pre/eq DBX 160S Stereo Compressor MICROPHONE POOL AKG C-451EB AKG D-112 AKG 414 TLII Audio Technica 350 Audio Technica 4033 Audio Technica 4050 Cascade Fat Head Cascade X-15 Stereo Crown PZM Electrovoice RE-20 Microtech Gefell M200 Microtech Gefell M-70 Microtech Gefell M-900 Microtech Gefell UM-92 Tube Microtech Gefell M-71 Neumann M-147 Tube Neumann U-87 Neumann M-582 Tube Royer R122 Sennheiser e835 Sennheiser MD 441-U Sennheiser MD 421 Shure Beta 52 Shure Beta 57 Shure Beta 58 Shure SM-7 Shure SM-54 Shure SM-57 Shure SM-81 Shure KSM-44 Shure KSM-32 Shure KSM-141 Shure KSM-137 Sony ECM-33F

awful truth about student loans American student loan debt now exceeds credit card debt in the U.S. Roughly two-thirds of college students are graduating with an average debt of about $24,000. Two out of five student loan borrowers fall behind on payments at some point in the first five years of repayment. People in the 18 to 24-age bracket spend nearly 30% of their monthly income on school debt repayment. Student loan debt will not be excused even if you file bankruptcy. Up to 15% of your paycheck can be garnished for student loan repayment. 92% of undergraduates use credit cards to pay for educational expenses the That means students covering tuition on credit cards are paying 3-5 times more for their education. Acquiring a great education is arguably the most important thing you will ever do. It s a time you should be conserving not taking on mountains of student debt. Consider the benefits of getting your education without taking on the burden of financial aid. This is why we re committed to offering a program that will not only give you the skills you need to enter the work place, but at a price that is affordable. APPLICATION FEE: $250 Tuition: $9,750 for 14 week program 3 Month Plan Payment Installments Due Date Amount Due Interest 1 of 3 Due before class begins $3,250.00 0% 2 of 3 Due by the 5th week of the program $3,250.00 0% Due by the 9th week of the program $3,250.00 0% 3 of 3 12 Month Plan Payment Installments Due Date Amount Due 1 of 12 Due before class begins $1,500 2 of 12 Due by the 5th week of the program $1,500 3 of 12 Due by the 9th week of the program $1,500 4 through 12 Due the first day of the calendar $599.25 / Month month following graduation 24 Month Plan Payment Installments Due Date Amount Due 1 of 24 Due before class begins $1,500 2 of 24 Due by the 5th week of the program $1,500 3 of 24 Due by the 9th week of the program $1,500 4 through 24 Due the first day of the calendar $273.31 / Month month following graduation Interest 0% 0% 0% 6.5% (included in payment amount) Interest 0% 0% 0% 9.9% (included in payment amount)

in music city you are One degree of separation from the Pros! 140 record labels Over 150 live music venues 100 recording studios 230 music publishers 150 management companies 50 booking agents 10 top gear manufacturers Located on the Cumberland River, Nashville is the state capital of Tennessee and nicknamed Music City, USA. The downtown area of Nashville features a diverse assortment of entertainment, dining, cultural and architectural attractions. Nashville boasts several large events such as the Nashville Film Festival, The Country Music Marathon, the CMA Music Festival and many sporting events. Notables born in Nashville include Dinah Shore, Miley Cyrus and Hank Williams. Nashville has the highest per capita concentration of music industry related businesses in the world!

Next Class Starting SOON For more information please contact us at: Dark Horse Institute 230 Franklin R., Building 14 Suite 14A Franklin, TN 37064 Telephone: (615) 791-5030 FAX: (615) 791-5800 E-mail: info@darkhorseinstitute.com www.darkhorseinstitute.com

What it takes to be a Successful Audio Engineer in the Music Industry DARK HORSE INSTITUTE WWW.DARKHORSEINSTITUTE.COM If it is your goal to be an audio engineer, you certainly don t want to be unsuccessful in your endeavor. The music industry is very competitive, and to succeed requires many personal, as well as technical, proficiencies. The good news is that most of these traits can be developed. Be A Lover Of Music All Of It. First of all, a true love of music is necessary to sustain a difficult career in music production. So you really love pop, rock, jazz, R&B, country, or rap? We all have our favorite genre of music, but if you want to be a successful audio engineer, you ll probably need to be willing to work with, and even enjoy, all kinds of music and musicians. Over the course of your career, you will spend countless hours working with a range of musicians: from the very bad to the remarkably talented. A love for music and playing your part in making every project the very best it can be is what will sustain you and make you a sought after addition to any project. Personality Traits Have you taken a career assessment? An audio engineer s results might list him/her as analytical and logical, patient, and perfectionist. You will need to be able to take quick, logical steps to troubleshoot gear and connection problems under occasionally intense pressure in order to keep a session flowing smoothly. If you can imagine trying to completely rewire your home entertainment center while you pay hundreds or thousands of dollars an hour for house guests to sit around and watch you work, then you might have a glimpse into what an unprepared engineer s day can feel like. An engineer must also be patient and have a perfectionist s spirit to truly excel as you spend countless hours listening to and recording music, dissecting the recording techniques and production styles that make one song a hit and another a flop. You may record the same few measures of a song 10, 20 or even 30 times to get it right, and only those who are naturally predisposed have the patience to work at it until it is perfect. Be An Entrepreneur As is the case with many career choices, successful audio engineers need to be selfstarters. From the beginning of your career, you will be making connections and working hard to prove that you even deserve a chance at helping artists create their music. Even after you ve become established, you may continually be searching for new musicians to work with, and if you are not willing to take responsibility for finding new work on a regular basis, you won t succeed. If you are in the unlikely position of working full time for a studio, you will still need an entrepreneurial spirit, treating the business as if it were your own. Be A Customer Service Champ!

Music production is a service-based business. Whether you want to engineer or produce, you must constantly work to provide not only the best product for your client, but also a great experience. Since music is a creative product, the process and vibe you create while you make it will play a huge part in the quality of your output. One of the great things about the music industry is that it is full of people who are following their dreams and hope to enjoy every day they are at work. That usually means they are going to hire the engineer or producer who they want to hang out with on the weekend, but can still give them a product that sounds fantastic. The music industry is flooded with technically proficient engineers, but without the hang factor you may not be a valuable addition to the session. You must also be organized in both the studio and the office. Keeping your files, calendar, and workspace organized is essential to not losing track of all your clients and work. Be Creative It goes without saying that you have to be technically proficient, but it might be your level of creativity that will set you apart. Are you the kind of person who thinks outside the box? Sometimes it s a unique and fun approach to recording a track that inspires the entire team to push the boundaries of their genre. The Beatles off-the-wall approach to recording their Sgt. Pepper s record altered recorded music forever. New studio techniques like close-miked drums, reversed tape effects, and running vocals through rewired rotary speakers created a new attitude for many musicians about how music was supposed to be made and enjoyed. Most engineers will have their own go-to techniques for recording various instruments, but relish the opportunity, as time and budget allows, to experiment and take their time working on interesting new options. Be A Diplomat As an audio engineer, you will be working with all kinds of people. On some projects, you may have a huge impact on the way the music is recorded. On the other hand, in some situations, you will have little to no say. You may only be doing exactly what the musicians or producer want you to do and no more. The ability to be diplomatic and get along with all types of personalities and fit in to any role is essential to being successful. Studio etiquette is a big part of life in the music industry, and it s important for each member of the team to understand his/her role and stick to it. That way nobody will get offended or be put in any sort of awkward situations. Master The Basics A few traits are requirements to being successful at anything, including audio engineering. It could be argued that they don t even need to be mentioned because everyone should know how important they are. But a wise person said, don t assume anything, so here are a few: self-discipline, reliability and perseverance. If you endeavor to do anything important in life, you must have these qualities. I won t kid you, becoming a successful audio engineer is not easy. There is a lot of competition to get the really good gigs. But someone WILL be doing those jobs, and if you want it to be you, then these traits are non-negotiable. Be A Learner There is an awful lot to learn to be a successful audio engineer. It can take years to learn and get a firm grasp on the basics, and even the best engineers are always adapting and learning new ways to capture an exciting and emotive performance.

First, it is valuable to have some music theory knowledge. Next, how are you going to produce the best music without knowledge about a wide array of musical instruments? Of course you will also need to keep up on all the technical aspects as well, including new innovations in studio gear. If you are not a life-long learner, you ll find yourself quickly out of the loop in this industry. Be open to learning from industry pros, either in person or by reading articles they write. Trade magazines (Mix, Tape-Op, Sound on Sound, etc ) are full of tips and tricks, so be sure you are subscribing to at least a few. Possibly the best way in to the industry is to find a mentor. Very few of the most successful engineers are completely self-taught because it is vitally important to work with somebody who can help you to raise your standard of excellence beyond the hobbyist or amateur s level. You might be surprised that most successful people are open to sharing their knowledge with someone who is genuinely interested in learning, who isn t afraid to pay some dues and jump in to help with the grunt work for a while. Most new engineers make these connections by working as an intern in a studio. To meet the people doing the work, you need to go where they work. If you can be helpful and prove yourself as an asset, a client may take you on as a full-time assistant. It s all about networking until you find someone who is a good fit for you. Be creative and do whatever you have to do to find a mentor. Just Do It Finally, it s not what you know that is important, but what you DO. Doing audio engineering is the best way to perfect it. Your ears are your most valuable tools, and without putting them to the test in the real world you will never develop as an engineer. Record for your friends, for your mom s friends, for bad bands, anyone who can get started. Every mistake is valuable to the new engineer because once you recognize them, you will rarely make the same one twice. When you start out and record for a bad band, it s alright because you won t be very good yourself, but the more that you record, along with having a good mentor you can learn from, you will improve. With a stroke of luck and lots of hard work, you will perpetually hone your craft and become a successful audio engineer. Someone is out there right now recording the next big hit record. Do you want that to be you?