Is Audio Engineering or Something Similar a Wise College Major Choice?

iamchipsmith · #1 07-09-2007, 09:43 AM

Ok I'm in the same situation as many people here, I want to play bass for a living. I know that this is extremely hard to do though and know that theres a good chance that I'll be unable to do it. I was planning on going into some kind of engineering in college. I recently thought of working in audio. I don't know that much about it but I think that I'd enjoy it and it would give me many opportunities to play bass. Give me any information or advice you guys have to offer. Thanks

Tony G · #2 07-09-2007, 09:45 AM

What about electrical engineer? They are far more in demand, pay better, and give you a much more solid engineering foundation. From that degree, you can pretty much do anything you want in the electrical field, and likely that includes audio.

tycobb73 · #3 07-09-2007, 09:58 AM

Back around 15 years or so ago my HS prof said that the local collge offered degrees in acustical engineering and all of their graduates were employed in the feild, most at Yamaha.

zac2944 · #4 07-09-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xgabriele

What about electrical engineer? They are far more in demand, pay better, and give you a much more solid engineering foundation. From that degree, you can pretty much do anything you want in the electrical field, and likely that includes audio.

+1

Going to school to for recording won't make you a great or in demand engingeer. That come with years of experience, hard work, and some good luck. The drummer in my band went to Berklee for engineering and now sells houses (I might add that he's doing very well $$$ these days).

You also don't need a degree to be a good recording engineer. Most of the best tought themselves.

An electrical engineering degree will open many more doors then a recording engineering degree.

Dave Martin · #5 07-09-2007, 10:38 AM

Yep - get your EE degree; Full Sail and SAE are turning out thousands of kids with 'recording degrees'; and most of them can't find a gig. Even the 4 year colleges that offer a recording degree (we have two in Nashville; MTSU and Belmont) are turning out kids who have spent 10's of thousands of dollars and still can't get a paying gig...

iamchipsmith · #6 07-09-2007, 02:18 PM

Assuming I did get a degree in Electrical Engineering would that help me get a career involved with music compared to Audio Engineering? If it were just a normal career to make money I wouldn't bother because I could be in anything to do this. Will an Electrical Engineering degree get me closer to music?

**Mickey Shane** · #7 07-09-2007, 02:33 PM

It's really all about levels of higher education. Any BS degree is going to be a 4 year college degree and will allow you to go into most any field as a college graduate.

A BSEE degree is a specified field and carries more weight than a BS degree in, say accoustics, or audio.

I have an ASEE which is a 2 year degree specializing in electronics.

So the levels are:
AAS
ASEE or ASME
BS
BSEE or BSME
Masters
P.H.D.
and on up.

People will hire you based on your level of education, not always coinciding with your chosen field of study.

That's been my experience anyway. YMMV

Dave Martin · #8 07-09-2007, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamchipsmith

Assuming I did get a degree in Electrical Engineering would that help me get a career involved with music compared to Audio Engineering? If it were just a normal career to make money I wouldn't bother because I could be in anything to do this. Will an Electrical Engineering degree get me closer to music?

Sure - you could be a 'real' engineer; As a studio owner, I'd be far happier hiring and training an engineer who could repair the gear he works on... Remember, back in the 50's ad 60's, most engineers designed and built the gear that they then used to record music...