Schools and colleges are growing and providing a better means for all students to gain an education by offering online programs. Students who are interested in pursuing a career in the exciting field of recording may look to an online sound technology program. With an online education students will train for employment in the entertainment or music industry working with equipment to produce DVD’s, CD’s, and sound for television and more. As a sound technician student you can learn the use of technology and the various types of equipment needed to create recordings. Technicians and other degree holders in this field utilize computer software and other equipment to mix and record music and sound effects. Degrees in sound technology are available at several levels including associates, bachelors, and masters.
There are a number of online schools that offer training for associate degree programs. Online instruction in sound technology can provide students with the training and experience they need for a career in engineering technology and audio recording. An accredited associate’s degree program for sound technology usually includes somewhere around 72 semester credit hours that can be completed in one to two years. Coursework for a student pursuing an associate’s degree may include the study of:
- analog and digital recording devices
- audio mixing techniques
- digital recording, audio mastering
- analog tape recording
- post-recording engineering
and more. Students can train to become sound engineers, CD mastering engineers, audio recording engineers, or continue their education and receive a bachelor’s degree.
A bachelor’s degree in sound technology usually takes four years for completion and requires students to complete 120 to 130 credit hours. Students can train for a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) which is the most desired degree in the field of sound technology. Those looking to earn a bachelors degree in this field should have strong skills and academic records in areas such as math and science. Some online educational programs may require students to study:
- physics of acoustics
- audio production methods
- sound mixing
- recording technology
and other areas of study. With an accredited degree at this level students can expect to start a career as a sound engineering technician, or pursue a master’s degree.
Students who wish to earn a masters degree in sound technology must hold a bachelors degree in the field in order to be accepted into a program at this level. There are a variety of online schools that offer a Master of Fine Art in sound technology. With online training students will be required to complete around 60 credit hours, which may take six semesters to finish. Study at this level allows students to focus on specific areas of sound technology including creative sound strategies and psychoacoustics. Coursework will also include:
- Multitrack audio recording
- advanced sound synthesis
- digital audio recording technology
and much more. With a masters degree from an online school students can train to become a record company executive, senior sound engineer, or record producer.
Students who choose to obtain an associate’s, bachelors, or master’s degree can earn a desirable income. The United States Department of Labor states that the median annual salary for an audio or sound engineering technician was around $38,110 in the year 2004, and the median annual salary for an audio equipment technician was $32,570. This income level is rising and will continue to rise as the entertainment industry grows.
With an accredited degree from an online school you can train for an exciting new career in the field of sound technology. Full accreditation is provided to various schools and colleges that meet certain criteria. Agencies like the Distance Education and Training Council (http://www.detc.org) are approved to accredit online educational training programs.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.
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