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Online Audio Production & Recording Degrees

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Audio production and recording is not an easy field in which to make a name or a career. It can take many years of hard work to get established and to really start doing the kind of work that most audio producers or engineers are interested in. However, a determined few, it can be a rewarding and exciting career, but one that will likely never pay very well or provide firm benefits. It is a career for those who are passionate about music and the recording industry, and who are dedicated to the work of an audio producer.

Entry-level audio production is often menial and exhausting. Beginning producers might be expected to put in long hours of mixing and simple recording, while the real production work is completed later. It is also rare for an early audio producer to get a stable job that will last for a long stretch. Most audio producers jump from studio to studio as they develop a name and seek to become more established.

For many in the industry, the ultimate goal is to be able to own and operate a studio of their own. Owning your own studio is a great way to set your own hours and work with only the people that you choose to work with. It is the chance to produce the music you want in the way you want to do it. Before any would-be producer can get a studio or even a job in the industry, he or she must first spend years in training to learn about the equipment and the industry. This training is often over and above a standard bachelor's degree, though it is possible to get a bachelor's degree specifically in audio producing and recording if students are proactive enough to know that is the direction they want to take from the very beginning. 

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  • Associate
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
Accredited Schools Offering Online Audio Production & Recording Degrees
School School Type Annual Tuition Recommend Rate
Full Sail University For-Profit $21,560 Add Review
Academy of Art University Online For-Profit $18,050 44% (9 reviews)

What are some of the specializations within this degree program?

  • Audio Production: This specialization focuses on the overall production of the recording or the album. The producer might come up with a song order, the audio balance on a specific track, or do any of a number of other jobs that create a polished song or album.
  • Audio Engineering: Audio engineers have the very technical responsibility of recording, mixing, and reproducing sounds. Audio engineers have to understand the ins and outs of audio production to create the best quality recording. 

What degree levels are available?

  • Bachelor's Degree: 2-4 years to complete
  • Master's Degree: 2 years to complete

What are the educational and certification requirements?

In order to begin work as an audio producer or recorder, at least some level of education is required. Due to the level of technical expertise that is required as well as the specific knowledge that is used on a daily basis, the bachelor's degree is a necessary first step for anyone interested in breaking into the field. The bachelor's degree is a good all-around training and degree program for students interested in audio producing and recording; it is possible to get work in a studio or with a record company with simply a bachelor's degree. In fact, many students never go further than this degree since it provides the necessary skills to work in the field, and any additional skills or training that might come up may be achieved while on the job.

Despite the possibility of on-the-job training, however, the master's degree does unlock new opportunities for many people. Typically, the master's degree would focus on a specific area of audio production, and it often provides specific information relevant to the production of a specific type of music. For this reason, people interested in getting into audio production in a very specific industry like R&B or rap might have more career opportunities with a master's degree that focuses on that specific career area. Also, with jobs so difficult to find, many people might find it easier to get a good job with more advanced degree training to promote their skills. Applicants with more advanced training may have an easier time applying for and securing professional jobs.

The degree requirements are the only requirements to work as an audio producer or recording engineer. Any technical expertise that is required to work in the field is gained through the degrees and not through additional certifications.

What kinds of classes will I be expected to take?

  • Digital Literacy: This is a foundation course which ensures that you are technologically literate before you proceed to more advanced topics and themes. The terminology for equipment and the culture of audio production are major concepts here. 
  • On-Location Recording: If you've ever wondered how your favorite live albums were recorded with such pristine sound, this course will tell you how it was done. This is an advanced class which heavily relies on your familiarity with audio production fundamentals.
  • Film and Television Foley: "Foley" is the formal term for the live recording of aural effects that are added to films and TV in the editing process. Foley's influence also reaches into radio and video games.
  • Mixing / Mastering: These concepts are the beginning and the end of your worth as an audio producer. While mixing is the formal construction of a record, mastering produces the professional finish and style that distinguishes great sound.
  • Session Recording: This might just be the most fun class you'll take during your audio production education. It teaches you about the actual process of working with recording artist and session musicians to actually produce a track.

Is on-site training required if I pursue this degree online?

This really depends on the online program that you will consider enrolling with. Some audio production programs instruct their students entirely virtually, whereas other demands that pupils come in at some point, in order to learn how to properly handle studio equipment in a live and immediate setting. 

What are some other degrees that are related to this program?

  • Visual Communications: Visual communications programs focus on the ways in which images are presented and interpreted. It is a field that is closely related with marketing and online media presence in order to present information in the most appealing manner at all times. It combines work with images and art alongside typography and other visual communications techniques.
  • Film and TV Production: A degree in film and TV production prepares graduates to work effectively with the nuts and bolts of creating a TV program or film. Individuals in this field contribute to the creation of a finished visual product, with tasks ranging from organizing the labor to creating the studio space and bringing together the various players to work together on the same production. 

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