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flyswatter · 05-03-2009, 21:07

I believe there is a music technology course in Maynooth. I would be interested in doing it. What's it like from the perspective of those who have done it or who have it completed?

Aridstarling · 06-03-2009, 00:10

"Doing" it. Bored out of my mind. Slowest course in the history of the world. Get yourself a few magazines and read the Sound On Sound forums, same result after first year anyway.

redenemyjoe · 06-03-2009, 17:45

Yeah, all my mates do it and are baffled by its sluggishness.

You have to do unnecessary modules like comp. sci and discreet structures (perhaps necessary but at a totally different level)

There is very little practical work involved because studio time is so limited. Also, I believe a lot of the gear is obsolete or broken. The new American guy seems to know his stuff.

I would recommend going to Kairos if you want the hands on thing. Radio & Television is a main part of the Communications course you can do. It's normally a post grad course but you can get in if you apply.

P.S. My friend that did it last year is now a team leader in Australia setting up rigs and events for the likes of Groove Armada.

funky penguin · 07-03-2009, 12:37

Is it true you can't touch protools till second year?

I'm in 2nd year BMus and we had a module on "Computer Music" last semester.

First lecture: "right, here's protools.."

Aridstarling · 07-03-2009, 13:14

Yes that is unfortunately true. I haven't been inside the studio since open day!

flyswatter · 07-03-2009, 15:03

The third poster mentioned doing computer science as part of the course. I wouldn't mind doing this as it is an interest of mine. As for not touching pro tools till second year, that doesn't bother me. All in good time as far as I'm concerned.

ScissorPaperRoc · 07-03-2009, 19:06

I'm doing it at the moment. If you're looking for pure studio hands-on work only then this might not be the course you want. But I personally think it's good in that it covers all bases. If too much time was spent in the studio your skill base would be pretty narrow for a degree course, but this opens up more windows such as software development, signal processing, acoustics, composition and even some image and video processing. It's a technology-based degree, and therefore requires that one does more than learn to use a mixing desk and record some songs.

So it really depends on whether that's all your after. If all you want is to learn to use a studio you probably will find it a little slow.

flyswatter · 07-03-2009, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScissorPaperRoc

I'm doing it at the moment. If you're looking for pure studio hands-on work only then this might not be the course you want. But I personally think it's good in that it covers all bases. If too much time was spent in the studio your skill base would be pretty narrow for a degree course, but this opens up more windows such as software development, signal processing, acoustics, composition and even some image and video processing. It's a technology-based degree, and therefore requires that one does more than learn to use a mixing desk and record some songs.

So it really depends on whether that's all your after. If all you want is to learn to use a studio you probably will find it a little slow.

Sounds good to me. As you said yourself, I would like it to cover all bases.

Aridstarling · 07-03-2009, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScissorPaperRoc

So it really depends on whether that's all your after. If all you want is to learn to use a studio you probably will find it a little slow.

I disagree but I'm not going to get into an argument with you!

winnie the poo · 08-03-2009, 16:30

Dropped out of this course there last year. Rubbish if you ask me, was bored out of my trolley..

flyswatter · 09-03-2009, 20:05

Any more feedback would be great thanks.

mp3guy · 09-03-2009, 20:29

From what I hear is that most people go into this course expecting the wrong thing. I know 3 years of people who're in this course.

It's music technology, not studio time. That means a lot of computer related stuff (Since analogue methods for modern music are dying off). I think a lot of people going in expecting to be producing albums for 3 years, but that's not what the course is about.

On a side note, first year multimedia students get to use protools

Aridstarling · 09-03-2009, 22:09

Thats not the problem though. I'd have no problem with the course if I was learning something, but I'm not. I mean nothing at all. Anyone with basic knowledge (basic MIDI sequencing, the odd bit of synthesis, foundation theory) of the subjects at hand would be bored after these last 6 months. You literally could pick up the same info in a few magazines and online forums.

ScissorPaperRoc · 09-03-2009, 23:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aridstarling

Anyone with basic knowledge (basic MIDI sequencing, the odd bit of synthesis, foundation theory) of the subjects at hand would be bored after these last 6 months. You literally could pick up the same info in a few magazines and online forums.

What would you have them teach?

Aridstarling · 10-03-2009, 12:16

Well I'd start with what they've done so far, an introductory course in the basics for anyone who isn't familiar. That might last 6 weeks (not 6 months). I would increasde the hours per week to maybe 12-16 at least (25 if that was possible), up from 4. Then I'd move into actual practical work. A couple of classes of synth programming (as opposed to a one hour lab), a course acoustics (which we are doing and I have no problems with this part of the course), a few hours of basic studio work (mic placement, signal chains, some Cubase and ProTools work) and some live-style work (theres a venue in the university that would be perfect). We could also do some foundation in programming, allowing people to choose to continue in that field in second year. That would be first year to me.

05-03-2009, 21:07	#1
flyswatter Closed Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,673 Adverts \| Friends	Read this before asking: "What to expect from [subject]?" ALL COURSE INFO HERE! I believe there is a music technology course in Maynooth. I would be interested in doing it. What's it like from the perspective of those who have done it or who have it completed?

07-03-2009, 19:06	#7
ScissorPaperRoc Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,339 Adverts \| Friends	I'm doing it at the moment. If you're looking for pure studio hands-on work only then this might not be the course you want. But I personally think it's good in that it covers all bases. If too much time was spent in the studio your skill base would be pretty narrow for a degree course, but this opens up more windows such as software development, signal processing, acoustics, composition and even some image and video processing. It's a technology-based degree, and therefore requires that one does more than learn to use a mixing desk and record some songs. So it really depends on whether that's all your after. If all you want is to learn to use a studio you probably will find it a little slow. Last edited by ScissorPaperRoc; 07-03-2009 at 19:12.

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06-03-2009, 00:10	#2
Aridstarling Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dublin Posts: 642 Adverts \| Friends	"Doing" it. Bored out of my mind. Slowest course in the history of the world. Get yourself a few magazines and read the Sound On Sound forums, same result after first year anyway.

06-03-2009, 17:45	#3
redenemyjoe Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 258 Adverts \| Friends	Yeah, all my mates do it and are baffled by its sluggishness. You have to do unnecessary modules like comp. sci and discreet structures (perhaps necessary but at a totally different level) There is very little practical work involved because studio time is so limited. Also, I believe a lot of the gear is obsolete or broken. The new American guy seems to know his stuff. I would recommend going to Kairos if you want the hands on thing. Radio & Television is a main part of the Communications course you can do. It's normally a post grad course but you can get in if you apply. P.S. My friend that did it last year is now a team leader in Australia setting up rigs and events for the likes of Groove Armada.

07-03-2009, 12:37	#4
funky penguin Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5,739 Adverts \| Friends	Is it true you can't touch protools till second year? I'm in 2nd year BMus and we had a module on "Computer Music" last semester. First lecture: "right, here's protools.."

07-03-2009, 13:14	#5
Aridstarling Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dublin Posts: 642 Adverts \| Friends	Yes that is unfortunately true. I haven't been inside the studio since open day!

07-03-2009, 15:03	#6
flyswatter Closed Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,673 Adverts \| Friends	The third poster mentioned doing computer science as part of the course. I wouldn't mind doing this as it is an interest of mine. As for not touching pro tools till second year, that doesn't bother me. All in good time as far as I'm concerned.

08-03-2009, 16:30	#10
winnie the poo Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 33 Adverts \| Friends	Dropped out of this course there last year. Rubbish if you ask me, was bored out of my trolley..

09-03-2009, 20:05	#11
flyswatter Closed Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,673 Adverts \| Friends	Any more feedback would be great thanks.

09-03-2009, 20:29	#12
mp3guy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,902 Adverts \| Friends	From what I hear is that most people go into this course expecting the wrong thing. I know 3 years of people who're in this course. It's music technology, not studio time. That means a lot of computer related stuff (Since analogue methods for modern music are dying off). I think a lot of people going in expecting to be producing albums for 3 years, but that's not what the course is about. On a side note, first year multimedia students get to use protools

09-03-2009, 22:09	#13
Aridstarling Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dublin Posts: 642 Adverts \| Friends	Thats not the problem though. I'd have no problem with the course if I was learning something, but I'm not. I mean nothing at all. Anyone with basic knowledge (basic MIDI sequencing, the odd bit of synthesis, foundation theory) of the subjects at hand would be bored after these last 6 months. You literally could pick up the same info in a few magazines and online forums.

10-03-2009, 12:16	#15
Aridstarling Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dublin Posts: 642 Adverts \| Friends	Well I'd start with what they've done so far, an introductory course in the basics for anyone who isn't familiar. That might last 6 weeks (not 6 months). I would increasde the hours per week to maybe 12-16 at least (25 if that was possible), up from 4. Then I'd move into actual practical work. A couple of classes of synth programming (as opposed to a one hour lab), a course acoustics (which we are doing and I have no problems with this part of the course), a few hours of basic studio work (mic placement, signal chains, some Cubase and ProTools work) and some live-style work (theres a venue in the university that would be perfect). We could also do some foundation in programming, allowing people to choose to continue in that field in second year. That would be first year to me.