ProMedia or SAE?

[saxophonepraise]

hey guys,

I am trying to decide which of the 2 I should go to. I have heard good things bout SAE, but i have heard EXCEPTIONAL things about ProMedia.

SAE -- 9 mts....Audio technology Diploma...Great job Placement Program - $18-20,000

ProMedia--3 mts....5 certifications....Not sure bout job placement. - $12,000


What ya'll think? Any help would be appreciated.

[audioboy6]

Hey saxophonepraise

Thats a lot of money for a useless diploma or certificate. Nobody cares what school you choose, except the people getting rich off of these scam programs. You can't teach someone how to be an engineer in 9 months.

Job placement!!

I would recommend a local technical college that has an audio program, or better yet, get a BA degree. If these don't appeal to you I would find a pro studio and learn the old school way (This option is getting pretty slim these days). Trust me this will be of more use to you than some expensive audio school designed to take advantage of you.

good luck,
jared

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

[AudioFocus]

I went to SAE after about 3 years of freelancing on my own, and about 4 years of being a runner part time in local project studios before that. While the student loans paid for my relocation to Nashville, I didn't learn "that much."

The whole upside to SAE Nashville was internship placement in some killer studios. Also a good deal of their program was tailored to working in Nashville, and the way sessions generally work here. Sessions in Nashville generally are run differently than some other cities.

Now that I am successfully running my own studio, only 1 or 2 of my interns are recording school guys. I like to get interns who are interested in learning. Guys that I can teach. That way when I teach them how I work, I feel much more comfortable hiring them down the line because I know what they know, and that they will accomplish a task the way I taught them.

My point is...

$20,000 give or take for SAE. That's an HD rig, monitors, a couple mics and some good pres. Buy yourself some gear and find a studio or independent producer/engineer willing to teach you in exchange for bullshit busy work. That's the route you want to take.

As far as learning the large format consoles goes... Book out some time in a studio that has one and have the engineer explain everything to you. This is way cheaper than "schools", especially when it's one on one.

As far as "job placement", that's kind of a joke. The only way to get jobs is to do it yourself. Meet people, network, be a cool relaxed guy to be around, and be good at what you do. Don't kid yourself, this business is a hustle. You always have to be looking for work. It's long thankless hours just to get to the point where you are doing what you really want. It takes a special kind of crazy to want to be in this business.

I'm not trying to turn you off to it. But I've found that most people in your position expect something that doesn't really exsist and then get all pissed off and jaded when it doesn't work out in 2 or 3 years.

I hope that helps. Sorry for ranting, just been one of those days.

Cheers,
Creston

[StarfishMusic]

Originally Posted by AudioFocus

My point is...

$20,000 give or take for SAE. That's an HD rig, monitors, a couple mics and some good pres. Buy yourself some gear and find a studio or independent producer/engineer willing to teach you in exchange for bullshit busy work. That's the route you want to take.

As far as learning the large format consoles goes... Book out some time in a studio that has one and have the engineer explain everything to you. This is way cheaper than "schools", especially when it's one on one.

As far as "job placement", that's kind of a joke. The only way to get jobs is to do it yourself. Meet people, network, be a cool relaxed guy to be around, and be good at what you do. Don't kid yourself, this business is a hustle. You always have to be looking for work. It's long thankless hours just to get to the point where you are doing what you really want. It takes a special kind of crazy to want to be in this business.

I'm not trying to turn you off to it. But I've found that most people in your position expect something that doesn't really exsist and then get all pissed off and jaded when it doesn't work out in 2 or 3 years.

I hope that helps. Sorry for ranting, just been one of those days.

Cheers,
Creston

I agree whole heartedly, the best experience you can get is learning from someone that makes a good sounding Cd, if you get the chance, and save your money to get your own studio. It doesn't even have to cost that much anymore. Charge cheap at first when you can record at a demo quality, till you get better and can charge more. Actually I teach engineering freelance in my area. It's really like the mentor system. I just get people going and keep them on the right track, but since engineering is an art, you really just have to get into it and spend the time.

[audio syndicate]

promedia...period

you can listen to naysayers if you want to, but everybody doesn't cant and wont learn fumbling through trying to use expensive gear on their own. truth be told if you can learn in a fast environment and can make critical decisions on the fly, promedia is gonna be right for you.

i have taken courses in atlanta at stankonia studios (which alone is worth it because you NEVER know who will be recording there)

i have taken courses in new york (midtown manhattan with access to many studio sit-in sessions)

its based around pro tools, so if you dont like it or are uncomfortable with it, it might not be for you, but i will say this..

while i was in atlanta especially, SAE and full sail grads were mopping floors, we were in sessions all day and got invited back for night sessions because we (golden rule) SAT DOWN, SHUT UP, and STAYED OUT OF THE WAY.

the pro media certificate programs are designed to cut out the fluff and get to the core of what you need to know and why you need to know it. as with anything else, you have to network, exploit the opportunities provided and practice outside of your school space.

will you learn how to master vintage consoles? no, but realistically when will you have access to them??

will you learn to crush kids coming out of full sail, sae and schools like that in pro tools, get jobs editing, and fight your way in as a pro tools operator? HELL YES!

oh and another thing,

when you go to any school, you have access to professionals working in the industry, you have access to prepaid mentors.

a lot of engineers will not even humor you, or want you to kiss their feet to get information they probably arent even sure of themselves. for those of us who dont live in nashville or ny or la, its important to have access to anybody who can help you.


well, the promedia instructors are at least WILLING to help you, WILLING to listen to your crap songs as youre developing, give you advice on the fly even when the last payment is made.



also and even more important: people need to stop suggesting people buy gear instead of going to school like its either or, many times its both, but sallie mae will not fund your studio, but they will allow you to take an EDUCATIONAL loan and maybe some on the back end. its something...

3 years later i have an HD rig and work. if i would have taken the save approach id have mediocre gear and a lot of experience on the mediocre gear

[nickolo]

The school way might suite some but there is no substitute for entering a working studio at a tea making level!Simple!..Sadly there are not as many studios anymore..
I think its best to dedicate as much time to recording all sorts of bans and music.Read up on basic theory and listen,listen.....
Those schools charge so much for their courses and yet the true history/ background to becoming an engineer was to first learn to make tea,learn what not to say and do,watch and listen during sessions [and many would soon find it was not for them,and move on to..]build a good working relationship with clients and engineers and ask when time allowed and then get to practice during downtime once you know the basics...
You do hear of people doing well who have started off in sound schools etc..but i bet they are people who are not waiting for 40 days to touch a flying fader!! and spent their spare time recording,checking out records,making contacts,asking if they could sit in on a serious sessions in exchange for making tea and fetching food when needed at 0$$-just to learn..and learning to adapt to a strange way of life ...
Schools can be good,but i am skeptical of all these places that claim to make you into a pro!!!

[nickolo]

BTW-what school did Jules,Steve Albini,Dave bascombe,etc etc... go to..

[skatingbasser]

Originally Posted by nickolo

BTW-what school did Jules,Steve Albini,Dave bascombe,etc etc... go to..

Albini went to Northwestern University for journalism.