(no subject)
It turns out that I went to Florida for a college visit.
For those not in the know (or no in the knot), the college that I really want to go to is called Full Sail, and it's in Orlando. It is an entertainment arts college, so it has film-making, audio production/recording technology, entertainment business, gaming design, etc. I want to get into the recording technology program, and then take the entertainment business class. That would get me a bachelors degree.
However, the courses are extremely comressed, which means I would only need to be there for less than two years. (and still get a bachelors.) Students take two four-hour classes every day of the week and sometimes Saturdays. In order to keep equipment available for everyone to work with, and to get students used to the hours usually worked in the industry, sometimes one might have a class from 5 PM - 9 PM, and then have a lab in the recording booth at 1 AM to 5 AM. With this kind of scheduling, students get more contact hours than at a four-year college in less time. And the maximum teacher:student ratio is 1:6.
And the best part for me is that everyone there absolutely loves what they do. And I would get to spend my college experience (and career) recording bands and mixing audio for movies. How cool is that? I'd love to talk about it more, but I have talked to a lot of people about it, and I feel silly.
In the meanwhile while I was there, I got some fabulous CDs.
1. Coheed and Cambria's new album (I know, I know....)
2. The Doors' first album (totally amazing)
3. A compilation of North American and Scandinavian black metal from the 80's through today. (I KNOW, I KNOW, but there's something cool about labryrinthine architectures of sound. Not to mention sweet band names like Arcturus, Agalloch, and Melechesh. And who would I be if I didn't find value in everything? I just need to get some Swedish doom metal. Hard to find.)
4. The second CD by NY funk-punk-dance group !!!. It's totally impossible not to dance when it's on. I admire !!! because they actually play everything on the album, instead of programming a computer to do it. A live show would be cool.
To further bore you all, I am further preparing my basement to start recording bands this summer. (Let me know if any of you are interested.) So late last night, and probably late tonight, my dad and I have been designing sound-absorbing panels to place around the drums. That way, the sound from the drums won't leak onto other microphones, like the vocal or guitar amp ones. Last night we came up with three connected 4x4 panels, each covered in thick carpet and filled with two layers of absorbent foam. Chances are, these will make the drums and other intruments sound a lot better and keep everything separated. So today, while my dad is at work, I am making the frames for the panels, and cutting/stapling the foam to them. Next, we'll put the carpet on.
Actually, I should be out there now to get them done.
For those not in the know (or no in the knot), the college that I really want to go to is called Full Sail, and it's in Orlando. It is an entertainment arts college, so it has film-making, audio production/recording technology, entertainment business, gaming design, etc. I want to get into the recording technology program, and then take the entertainment business class. That would get me a bachelors degree.
However, the courses are extremely comressed, which means I would only need to be there for less than two years. (and still get a bachelors.) Students take two four-hour classes every day of the week and sometimes Saturdays. In order to keep equipment available for everyone to work with, and to get students used to the hours usually worked in the industry, sometimes one might have a class from 5 PM - 9 PM, and then have a lab in the recording booth at 1 AM to 5 AM. With this kind of scheduling, students get more contact hours than at a four-year college in less time. And the maximum teacher:student ratio is 1:6.
And the best part for me is that everyone there absolutely loves what they do. And I would get to spend my college experience (and career) recording bands and mixing audio for movies. How cool is that? I'd love to talk about it more, but I have talked to a lot of people about it, and I feel silly.
In the meanwhile while I was there, I got some fabulous CDs.
1. Coheed and Cambria's new album (I know, I know....)
2. The Doors' first album (totally amazing)
3. A compilation of North American and Scandinavian black metal from the 80's through today. (I KNOW, I KNOW, but there's something cool about labryrinthine architectures of sound. Not to mention sweet band names like Arcturus, Agalloch, and Melechesh. And who would I be if I didn't find value in everything? I just need to get some Swedish doom metal. Hard to find.)
4. The second CD by NY funk-punk-dance group !!!. It's totally impossible not to dance when it's on. I admire !!! because they actually play everything on the album, instead of programming a computer to do it. A live show would be cool.
To further bore you all, I am further preparing my basement to start recording bands this summer. (Let me know if any of you are interested.) So late last night, and probably late tonight, my dad and I have been designing sound-absorbing panels to place around the drums. That way, the sound from the drums won't leak onto other microphones, like the vocal or guitar amp ones. Last night we came up with three connected 4x4 panels, each covered in thick carpet and filled with two layers of absorbent foam. Chances are, these will make the drums and other intruments sound a lot better and keep everything separated. So today, while my dad is at work, I am making the frames for the panels, and cutting/stapling the foam to them. Next, we'll put the carpet on.
Actually, I should be out there now to get them done.