Almost all LA-area audio engineering schools gravitate towards a similar fundamental curriculum aimed at teaching their students industry standard practices and equipment. This curriculum includes topics such as sound theory, audio electronics and DAW software.
For a prospective student of the recording arts, picking the ideal school is dependent upon what role the in the audio industry the student plans to focus on as a career.
Post-production engineer, digital workstation editor and electronic music producer are some of the various careers that students can prepare for at an audio engineering and recording school in the Los Angeles area.
SAE Institute – Los Angeles
Founded in 1976, the School of Audio Engineering has blossomed into a global network of campuses offering Certificates and Diplomas in both Audio and Film Production. The Audio Technology Program Diploma is their flagship full-time course that offers 900 hours of combined instruction and studio time.
This nine-month course covers the gamut of audio engineering and offers job placement assistance upon graduation. For part-time students looking to augment their skill sets, the SAE Los Angeles campus also offers a six-month Electronic Music Production Certificate.
The Los Angeles Recording School
Boasting a total of 19 studios and labs, the Los Angeles Recording School is one of the most well-equipped and consequently most popular recording schools in the entire LA area.
Unlike other schools, the LA Recording School offers aspiring audio engineers and music producers one program option. Touted as “a complete audio education”, this nine-month Recording Engineer Program includes a normal audio engineering curriculum but also adds courses on live sound, audio post-production and the entertainment business.
The Los Angeles Recording School is a branch of the Los Angeles Film School and is a Digidesign Certified Training Location.
Musicians Institute – Los Angeles
Contrary to the curriculum at the Los Angeles Recording School, the recording arts are merely one facet of study available to students of LA’s Musicians Institute. Besides audio engineering and music production, this diverse school offers courses in music performance, music theory, film, music business and even guitar crafting.
Depending on the path of study, students at the Musicians Institute are given options ranging from full 48-month Bachelor of Music Degrees to six-month Certificate programs.
Recording Connection Audio Institute
The Recording Connection Audio Institute claims to be the “audio school alternative” for audio engineering students in Los Angeles and all over North America. This recording school offers focused one-on-one instruction for its students via their mentor apprentice program. These mentors are all studio owners and working professionals.
The Recording Connection Audio Institute also offers job placement from day one and boasts tuition rates up to 75% less than that of other LA area recording schools.
Berkleemusic Online
While not a Los Angeles recording school per se, the online Berklee College of Music (known as Berkleemusic) is another alternative for audio engineering students. Berkleemusic offers a decent range of courses with three levels of college credit certification. Depending on the level, it can take as little as six months or as long a three years to receive a Specialist, Professional or Masters Certificate from Berkleemusic.
Other Recording Schools in Los Angeles and Hollywood
This is by no means exhaustive list of recording schools in the Los Angeles area. It is merely intended to aid students in deciding which school will best prepare them for their recording arts career. No matter which school is chosen, audio engineering students will find that Los Angeles offers no shortage of professional recording schools.
Clayton Worbeck - Clayton is a professional music producer, engineer and musician specializing in electronic and rock music. He has worked as an audio ...
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