LIPA Sound Technology

[diogodasilva]

Hello guys.
I am 22. Electronic Musician, Italian, currently living in Brazil.
I have a degree in Advertising/Marketing but my real passion is music.

I currently live from it actually. Tight budget but I am happy.

I always wanted to take my audio career further and study on some audio school in the UK.

After some small research I've found out about SAE Oxford, the new HQ.
At first it seemed like a good idea. 3 years (Diploma, Degree, SAE Tonmeister) Quite expensive.. but their marketing really almost fooled me.

When I deeply searched about it the impression I have now is that almost everyone seems to have one single opinion: sae is not worth it.

Then I recently I bumped into LIPA ...
Now peoples opinions about this one is quite the opposite.

I read people saying they actually read a CV if it comes from a Surrey Tonmeister or LIPA student.

Unfortunately Surrey is not an option as I don't have enough music grades.

I haven't found any topics discussing this SAE x LIPA especifically.

I am not really new to audio.
What I want "now" is to learn as much as I can for my own use actually. I don't plan on working on a studio... But as we never know what will happen in the future, maybe I change my mind... or maybe the electronic music I make turns over and dies.. who knows? I need a course that will get deeply on the matters. not barely scratch the surface of many things (if you know what I mean)

So I would like to know from u guys what do u think about it? Time nor money are concern...
LIPA Sound Technology (3yrs) or SAE Tonmeister (3yrs) ?

Thanks a lot in advance guys!
Looking forward for your replies!

[The Byre]

LIPA is regarded as being one of the better schools here in the UK and an alternative to Surrey Tonmeister.

Right now, the music industry is holding its breath, waiting to see if the coming recession turns into a depression (or slump) and how it will effect the industry. I can only say the we have seen a rise in bookings ever since the finance crisis and the live music scene is busier than it has ever been in living memory!

In Europe, Germany and the UK have been the busiest and in both countries in Summer, not one weekend went by without a major festival. We are really in the middle of nowhere in the Highlands of Scotland and we had two large rock festivals within ten miles of the studio and perhaps 100 festivals or more of all types of music and large and small across Scotland.

But you are right to steer clear of the SAE.

If you are a good musician and are good at maths and physics, Surrey might take you without the formal grades - it really depends on the interview.

[diogodasilva]

Originally Posted by The Byre

LIPA is regarded as being one of the better schools here in the UK and an alternative to Surrey Tonmeister.

Right now, the music industry is holding its breath, waiting to see if the coming recession turns into a depression (or slump) and how it will effect the industry. I can only say the we have seen a rise in bookings ever since the finance crisis and the live music scene is busier than it has ever been in living memory!

In Europe, Germany and the UK have been the busiest and in both countries in Summer, not one weekend went by without a major festival. We are really in the middle of nowhere in the Highlands of Scotland and we had two large rock festivals within ten miles of the studio and perhaps 100 festivals or more of all types of music and large and small across Scotland.

But you are right to steer clear of the SAE.

If you are a good musician and are good at maths and physics, Surrey might take you without the formal grades - it really depends on the interview.

Thanks for sharing.. I will prepare my application to LIPA!

anyone has another point of view?

thanks again!

[burke111]

I wouldn't spend a tonne of money at a school like that. Maybe take some local college courses or a year course at a less expensive school. If you really want to get into this, get into a studio as an intern and maybe even pay them for lessons.

[Jonathan_H]

I am currently a first year studying at LIPA on the Sound Technology course so I can give you any information that you may want regarding the course.

I, like you, bumped into LIPA after looking around at SAE and other UK University sound technology courses. SAE in London does look very impressive on their open days however I decided to do a lot of research into it before paying the massive fee's associated with going there and this is how I even stumbled across LIPA.

I found a lot of people complaining about SAE from all over the world however a lot of the complaints seemed to come from the London school. From what I have read and heard from graduates first hand it seems that while they do have a lot of good equipment however they focus on teaching you how to use it rather than why you are using it and what it can do. One graduate told me that while he can comfortably use a Neve console he doesn't really understand what it is doing during the Signal Flow. This worries me as I feel that you need to understand what is going on to get the best results.

As I said, I also looking into other Universities offering similar courses and found that the majority seemed to think that they could buy a Mac, Logic Pro and some outboard and get away with teaching a sound technology course. One university also told me when I asked about any live sound modules "oh live sound is easy, you don't need to be taught that."

Finally I found LIPA after hearing a recommendation from a writer for SoundOnSound who compared it with the Surrey Tonmeister course. Unfortunately my grades really wern't good enough to even think about applying to it and so I went with LIPA. The only information I had about it what I had read in the prospectus however at my interview my heart became set on the place. It has a amazing collection of equipment that is comparable with SAE, something that I couldn't find at any other UK University offering the same course, along with highly experienced tutors.

Starting the course in September we have been encouraged to get into the studio as much as possible and just to find our way around it. We have 24/7 access and a very fair computer based system. We have lectures every day covering core recording skills, sound tech theory, desktop audio and live sound reinforcement. These all have workshops that we have each week that compliments what we have learnt in the lectures. Overall I am very happy and have learnt so much even though I only started in September.

I have also made alot of contacts so far from being there and as LIPA has other departments specializing in music, acting, signing etc. there is never a shortage of bands or artists that want to be recorded.

I hope this helps and if you have any more questions regarding the course or anything else surrounding it in general just let me know and I will be more than happy to answer them.