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Audio Engineering Degrees

Table of Contents

In this day and age, more and more audio schools are springing up left and right, and go by many names, so it can be a bit confusing when trying to narrow in on a college that’s right for you. Audio Engineering, Sound Engineering, Music Technology, Audio Production, Music Production, Recording Technology are, more or less, synonymous titles for degrees that focus on the craft of engineering, recording, mixing and mastering.

Audio engineers work on everything from recording bands, solo artists and rappers, to producing original compositions and scores for film, TV, podcasts, webisodes and more. They work in state of the art recording facilities and/or home studios and venues, where they capture audio in the best way possible and mix and master those recordings to come across as sonically correct as possible. With the advent and rise of affordable recording equipment, home studios have made audio production much easier to compete against the larger A-list studios, because of this, the vast majority of modern-day recording engineers work freelance and aren’t typically offered jobs upon graduation in music studios anymore…so this profession isn’t for the faint of heart…something to keep in mind. That being said, we’ll dive into the types of schools and credentials you’ll receive should you decide to venture into this artistic and fulfilling vacation…I mean, vocation–yer gonna work, bruh!

Degrees Awarded

  • Certificate
  • Associates
  • Bachelors
  • Masters

Classes and Prerequisites

The demands for each degree, certification and school varies, but most require similar recommended courses or prerequisites. Core classes will differ in name from school-to-school, however, they generally cover a similar spectrum of principles and practices. Below are a list of classes you will commonly need to take:

  • Business
  • Aural Training
  • DAW (digital audio workstation) classes
  • Studio engineering concepts
  • Mixing and Mastering techniques
  • Four year schools typically make students fulfill general coursework in humanities, science, foreign language, English and mathematics

Salary Info

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average salary per year for this occupation is $41,780.

Possible Careers

  • Mix Engineer
  • Mastering Engineer
  • Recording Engineer
  • Producer
  • Studio Owner
  • Musician
  • Film Scorer