Do you love making music? Want to do more than get behind the mic or play an instrument? If so, attending an audio engineering school (or becoming a sound engineer, if you prefer) might be a great option.
Of course, you’ll need to learn a lot. An audio engineer understands audio mixing, compression, EQ, room acoustics, bussing, and many other topics. You’ll find a ton of DIY videos on YouTube that promise to help you master these areas, but it won’t take long before you realize they’re not what they claim to be.
If you really want to embark on that career path, you’ll need to get a solid education. That means attending one of the audio engineering schools in Philadelphia. Why go the formal education route rather than taking the DIY path? We’ve listed seven of the top reasons below.
Why Consider Audio Engineering as a Career?
Before we touch on why you should consider audio engineering school, let’s explore why attending an audio engineer is worth your time. According to the US BLS, the median pay here is $22.80 per hour, but qualified, trained audio engineers can earn much more. The upper 10% of audio engineers bring in almost $90,000 per year. The industry is also growing much faster than other segments of the economy, which means more job opportunities and plenty of growth in the future.
1. You Get Real-World Experience
When you go the DIY route, you might be able to get a good idea of what’s going on in an instructional video, but there’s a world of difference between seeing someone do something or watching them explain processes and concepts, and actually doing those things yourself. Even if you have some audio equipment or software at home, it’s unlikely to be professional-grade, which means that you’re still going to be missing one of the key ingredients of success – hands-on experience with real equipment carrying out real processes. Theory-related work is great, but it’s no substitute for experience.
2. Speaking of Equipment…
Building on the last reason, let’s talk about equipment. Audio engineering schools in Philadelphia will provide you with access to modern sound equipment to help you learn how to record, mix, and master. Learning industry-standard gear helps ensure that you’re as employable as possible, too. Employers want to see that you know how to use a modern DAW from Pro Tools, FL Studio, Pro X, and other top brands. You’ll also get hands-on experience with other equipment, from mics to amps and everything in between to ensure that you’re familiar with the tools of the trade. Any respectable audio engineering program would have you getting hands-on experience working with the best software and equipment.
3. Interactive Guidance
When you go the DIY route, you’re pretty limited in terms of what you can and can’t do if you don’t quite get something. With audio engineering schools in Philadelphia, you’ll work with expert instructors (who are also seasoned, well-known audio engineers themselves). Attending an audio engineering school means you can ask questions, get more information about topics, ask for examples, and so much more. That sort of experience isn’t possible with video-based learning options. Not only will you learn from their knowledge, but also from their experiences, giving you the knowledge necessary to overcome hurdles in your own career.
4. The Chance to Network
So much in life is about who you know. Audio engineering schools in Philadelphia give you the chance to connect and network with seasoned sound professionals and other aspiring audio engineers, but also with musicians, venue owners, and so many others. Building your network helps you cast a wider net when it comes to seeking out jobs, and you might be surprised at how many opportunities you receive simply because of who you know.
5. Better Employability
Who do you think is going to land the job first: the person who tells a hirer they learned their audio engineering knowledge on YouTube or the one who completed an industry-recognized audio engineering course with a school? The one with the certificate will get the most credibility and the job. Not only that, but you’ll find completing an audio engineering course can also help improve your earning capability and will even affect the number of job offers and promotions you receive.
6. Improved Knowledge
The measure of any professional is their degree of expertise. Audio engineering schools in Philadelphia provide you with in-depth knowledge that goes beyond what buttons to push and when. Anyone can push a button at a certain point. However, it takes an expert to know why these processes are important and what might happen if they were altered. With that knowledge, you can go beyond merely “pushing buttons” to being able to exercise creativity and technical expertise to help musicians and others create amazing audio experiences.
7. Go Beyond the Music Industry
Audio engineers are certainly required in the music industry. However, you have so many other job opportunities available. With the right skills, knowledge, and experience, you can also find career paths and job options in the video game industry, in TV and movie production, live sound design for events, and so much more. Audio engineering has applications in radio, in live concerts, and many other industries, and the right school will help you explore those options.
Why Choose Lil’ Drummaboy Recordings?
Why choose us from the available audio engineering schools in Philadelphia? We’ve trained creatives and entrepreneurs for over 15 years and offer classes designed for virtually anyone. Whether you’re a college student or you’re already out in the workforce, you’ll find that our classes fit your schedule and provide the hands-on experience and knowledge you need. You’ll learn from some of the most experienced audio engineers in the Philadelphia area to help you focus on building your career.
We invite you to explore our audio engineering course offering to learn more about what we can offer. If you’re ready to embark on a brand new career, go ahead and contact us today.