Recording Arts - Distance Education

The Recording Arts Distance (RAD) Program consists of four terms and two academic years via 100% distance education. The first Academic Year (AY1) provides students with fundamental skills as an audio engineer or music producer. They will learn to record, edit, mix and master sound recordings using Avid's Pro Tools Digital Audio Workstations in order to realize an artist's or producer's creative vision by completing our project requirements. They will learn the fundamentals in the operation of mixing consoles, microphones, signal processors, digital audio workstations, sequencing software and speaker systems.

The second Academic Year (AY2) prepares students for a career as a Freelance Audio Engineer, Commercial Radio Engineer, Television Audio Engineer or Recording Studio Owner/Operator. Students will master Digital Audio Engineering Techniques, Analog Audio Engineering Techniques and Pro Tools software to create the desired qualities for sound recordings. All AY1 courses must be taken first before the following AY2 course subjects.

48 credit hours. The program is 48 credit hours total. It's a sixty (60) week program comprised of four fifteen (15) week terms. Students satisfactorily completing the program will be awarded a Recording Arts Distance Education Certificate of Completion.

A music production career path. The Recording Arts Program is designed to take you directly on a music production career path. During the program you will be seeking out what will be potential clients, bringing them into the studio, and doing single full production songs with them. In the Advanced Term you will do as many as 10 music production projects like this (10 single songs with the intent to create a client).

Distance education. Screen sharing is a form of teleconferencing in real time using both an audio and a data connection. The computer screen is shared by more than one site, and used as an electronic blackboard, overhead projector or still video projector. Distance programs require the Distance Education Supply Package, and distance learning is not available for VA funded students.

One-on-one mentorship. TRCOA provides mentorship training combined with exposure and access to a professional recording facility. Students work in a fully functional, world-class recording studio, Stinson Recording Studios. The difference between TRCOA and most everyone else is that our students have daily interaction with professional producers, composers, writers, and musicians.

Real working studios. You will learn in a place where real products are created for real clients everyday.

Building clients. This business is very reputation oriented. You have to be working for anyone to notice you. You will practice building clients right here, right now while you are in school at TRCOA.

Your own company. Here you will literally start your own music production company while you are in school. Our curriculum doesn't just tackle the idea of learning how to turn knobs but we also tackle the tough question of creating professional radio-ready music and the even tougher question of actively creating real sustainable business.

Flexible schedules. The timing of your weekly schedule is entirely up to you. This makes it perfect if you need to hold a part time job or attend another school at the same time.

Screen-share. Most of our one-on-one mentor-ship recording arts program can be experienced via screen-share. All of the One-On-One attention you would experience here in person at our Austin campus you will experience with our screenshare classes.

Who can apply. Enrollment at The Recording Conservatory of Austin is open to people who are seriously interested in the field of professional audio production and music recording. No previous musical or recording experience is required for admission.

All Certificate Program applicants must be beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in Texas, provide a high school diploma or equivalent (ie- GED, evidence of passing a state certified high school equivalency test, an academic transcript showing successful completion of at least a two-year program acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor's degree), and all official post-secondary transcripts, as well as proof of a tour of the institution and enrollment agreement. Each candidate must complete an Enrollment Application and conduct a personal interview with the School Director before enrollment.

Distance education tests. All students that apply for our distance education programs must also complete our distance education aptitude test and our distance education learning style test before enrollment to determine if the student has the technical skills, competencies, access to technology, and if the student's learning style is conducive to TRCOA's distance education teaching style. If a student fails the aptitude or learning style test twice, the student will have to wait a month to attempt a retake of the test.

Before classes start. A working computer and an aptitude test is required before starting classes.

Transfer credit. All official transcripts from previous institution(s) must be received prior to enrollment so TRCOA can determine transferable credits. Credit may be granted if the previous institution is accredited, the course description is comparable to our catalog description, and the course is at the same grade level or higher. TRCOA only accepts course credit grades equivalent to C and above. We do not accept credit for music courses from other institutions.

Home-schooled applicants. An applicant who has completed a home school program must submit either a transcript or its equivalent, signed by the applicant's parent or guardian, that lists the courses completed and documents completion of high school, or a high school completion credential for homeschool provided for under state law.

Monthly starts. Classes start every month on the 15th: January 15, February 15, March 15, April 15, May 15, June 15, July 15, August 15, September 15, October 15, November 15 and December 15. If the starting and/or ending date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the date will roll to the following Monday.

Sixty weeks. The program is a sixty (60) week program comprised of four fifteen (15) week terms over two Award Years of thirty (30) weeks. The maximum time allowed for completion of each Academic Year is forty five (45) weeks and ninety (90) weeks for both Academic Years. The Recording Arts Program lasts approximately 16 months.

About 20 hours a week. You will need a minimum of 20 hours per week (approximately 4 hours of one-on-one course instruction, 2 hours of class events, and 15 hours of project or studio lab time). All classes are taught one on one and they can be scheduled for evenings or weekends.

Your weekly schedule. At the time of orientation, a weekly schedule is established between the student and instructors. Terms and courses will be extended on a day-to-day basis to make up for holidays.

By screen share. Classes are held by screen share: each class is typically taught one-on-one and can be taken from anywhere around the world, and you work with instructors to get the best day/time to accommodate your schedule.