STC or Pulse?

Sarah Belle

Hey all,

I'm very interested in doing a music production course but I'm stuck between the Sound training centre and Pulse. Any current or past students from either of the colleges able to give me an idea on what their like? In Pulse the course I'd like to do is the BA Hons degree in music production. It sounds like it covers everything I want to do, but 8,800 per year is rather steep...

Any feedback is really appreciated

x

Rockshamrover

Sarah Belle wrote: »

Hey all,

I'm very interested in doing a music production course but I'm stuck between the Sound training centre and Pulse. Any current or past students from either of the colleges able to give me an idea on what their like? In Pulse the course I'd like to do is the BA Hons degree in music production. It sounds like it covers everything I want to do, but 8,800 per year is rather steep...

Any feedback is really appreciated

x

That's a lot of cash. How many years does it take you to do the BA?

DamagedTrax

Sarah Belle wrote: »

Hey all,

I'm very interested in doing a music production course but I'm stuck between the Sound training centre and Pulse. Any current or past students from either of the colleges able to give me an idea on what their like? In Pulse the course I'd like to do is the BA Hons degree in music production. It sounds like it covers everything I want to do, but 8,800 per year is rather steep...

Any feedback is really appreciated

x

th degree in pulse is not as heavy on the engineering end. its the higher diploma that covers the more recording side... although the degree does touch on it a bit.

also the degree has quite a tough selection process, with most students being of grade in their respective instruments.

im in my last year in the higher diploma and can recommend it highly.

dont know STC so cant really comment.

theres a very indept thread somewhere here about all the schools. have a search and good luck

Sarah Belle

Rockshamrover wrote: »

That's a lot of cash. How many years does it take you to do the BA?

3 years apparently...

Sarah Belle

DamagedTrax wrote: »

th degree in pulse is not as heavy on the engineering end. its the higher diploma that covers the more recording side... although the degree does touch on it a bit.

also the degree has quite a tough selection process, with most students being of grade in their respective instruments.

im in my last year in the higher diploma and can recommend it highly.

dont know STC so cant really comment.

theres a very indept thread somewhere here about all the schools. have a search and good luck

Thanks for replying, can I ask what you've learned from the course so far?

Seziertisch

That is an awful lot of money for a qualification that won't necessarily guarantee you a job. Ireland is awash with out of work audio school graduates.

That said, if its what you want to do, then go for it. The fact that it is a BA will lend it some weight outside of the direct business. And ultimately 3rd level qualifications mean that you are qualified to learn more and provides the basis that an employer can build on.

bloodwolf

did a course in pulse, have friends in stc, infact one is a teacher you get the same level of training in both usually better live engineers from stc, but better studio engineers from pulse, cos one has you in the button factory every other night and one trains you up with pro tools more. however stc gives a better insight to logic than when I was at pulse cos things came up one has a hugh studio in dublin one has it in another county not sure how much time you get to use the main studio in pulse windmill lane thing, you get a week or two in grouse tho with stc sorry about how its written just rather tired and sick of people compairing the two schools only main thing is in stc you can only get as far as 110 in pro tools whereas pulse offers all the way up normally people stop at 210m/p no where actually looks for those certs in pro tools tho and you have to remember pro tools is just a software/hardware with a lifespan.MOST PEOPLE WILL ONLY COME OUT OF THE SCHOOLS TO FIND THE ODD BIT OF LIVE SOUND WORK GOING
any way they both are equally good

PaulBrewer

Neither ? Just a thought

What do you want to get out of this Sarah ?

Sarah Belle

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Neither ? Just a thought

What do you want to get out of this Sarah ?

Well basically I'm a musician/songwriter and I'm really into electronica/trip hop music and wanted to take my music to a higher level. I'm already recording myself at home and Ive taken such a love to producing music as well as writing it that I wanted to study it properly.

I'm aware that in Ireland the job offers aren't by the ****load, but that dosent bother me. Its not really the job end of it I'm looking for. Its more for myself...and it is of course a nice qualification to have as a fall back, especially seeing as its something I love doing.

I have a good ear for music and all these ideas for my songs that its impossible to do them with the bare knowledge I have already. And sharing ideas with other bands is also something I really want to do. I think I could be a really good music producer, and its definately something I can see myself doing in the future. Be it in Ireland or bangladesh, or just setting up my own studio I'd be happy with the experience and the knowledge. I just want to do it properly and do it to the best of my abilities.

Sorry about the Essay there...hope it made some sort of sense...it does in my warped mind at least!

DamagedTrax

Sarah Belle wrote: »

Well basically I'm a musician/songwriter and I'm really into electronica/trip hop music and wanted to take my music to a higher level. I'm already recording myself at home and Ive taken such a love to producing music as well as writing it that I wanted to study it properly.

I'm aware that in Ireland the job offers aren't by the ****load, but that dosent bother me. Its not really the job end of it I'm looking for. Its more for myself...and it is of course a nice qualification to have as a fall back, especially seeing as its something I love doing.

I have a good ear for music and all these ideas for my songs that its impossible to do them with the bare knowledge I have already. And sharing ideas with other bands is also something I really want to do. I think I could be a really good music producer, and its definately something I can see myself doing in the future. Be it in Ireland or bangladesh, or just setting up my own studio I'd be happy with the experience and the knowledge. I just want to do it properly and do it to the best of my abilities.

Sorry about the Essay there...hope it made some sort of sense...it does in my warped mind at least!

hey again,

sounds like the degree course is exactly what you need. we do very little actual music making on the diploma. it is a lot of money but as you said its not to get a job out of.. so if you can afford it then go for it.

give pulse a ring and ask can you drop in for a chat about the degree with tony or naomi.

PaulBrewer

Sarah Belle wrote: »

Well basically I'm a musician/songwriter and I'm really into electronica/trip hop music and wanted to take my music to a higher level. I'm already recording myself at home and Ive taken such a love to producing music as well as writing it that I wanted to study it properly.

I'm aware that in Ireland the job offers aren't by the ****load, but that dosent bother me. Its not really the job end of it I'm looking for. Its more for myself...and it is of course a nice qualification to have as a fall back, especially seeing as its something I love doing.

I have a good ear for music and all these ideas for my songs that its impossible to do them with the bare knowledge I have already. And sharing ideas with other bands is also something I really want to do. I think I could be a really good music producer, and its definately something I can see myself doing in the future. Be it in Ireland or bangladesh, or just setting up my own studio I'd be happy with the experience and the knowledge. I just want to do it properly and do it to the best of my abilities.

Sorry about the Essay there...hope it made some sort of sense...it does in my warped mind at least!

Indeed it does make sense. Have you considered collaborating ? I can think of one guy who might be able to help ?
8k a year plus the time is a very serious commitment - one would need to be very sure.

My own view is that a forum like this perhaps isn't the ideal place to collect such life changing information reliably.

Sarah Belle

DamagedTrax wrote: »

hey again,

sounds like the degree course is exactly what you need. we do very little actual music making on the diploma. it is a lot of money but as you said its not to get a job out of.. so if you can afford it then go for it.

give pulse a ring and ask can you drop in for a chat about the degree with tony or naomi.

I will! Thanks

i57dwun4yb1pt8

from a player turned engineer/ producer of sorts - point of view ,

you learn best by doing - and by teaching yourself.
with that money you could set up a very very good home studio , and work away , even hiring people with knowledge ( like on this forum ) to come and give you crash courses.

your musicianship and production skills will grow fast and well, if you have to do it all youself , with the odd bit of guidance when stuck .

with everything - you get what you deserve - what you put in.
if you " pay your dues " learning at home first - you tend to be an greater all rounder .

you must first decide do you have the passion to do it your self .
passion and dedication is everything - there are no short cuts or course that can better this.

Sarah Belle

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Indeed it does make sense. Have you considered collaborating ? I can think of one guy who might be able to help ?

I have actually...so far no one has been up to scratch or what Ive been looking for...but I'm still looking so send him my way!

trackmixstudio

€27K:rolleyes:

studiorat

DKIT Dundalk...

New course, huge facility great lecturers, public funding, and up your neck of the woods too!

Sarah Belle

Ah but you need the LC for that. Thats what I'm lacking.

Rockshamrover

27k over 3 years. That's a massive outlay with no guarantee of work at the end of it.

You could have a serious home studio for 27k.

Sarah Belle

Does anyone know if grants cover a cost of these courses? If not then I'm pretty stuck.

Seziertisch

Sarah Belle wrote: »

Does anyone know if grants cover a cost of these courses? If not then I'm pretty stuck.

Possibly for the BA, but for the others no.

As much and all as I hate to say it, if you were serious about going the academic route, doing the Leaving Cert might not be a bad idea (if just for the fact that you would be able to apply for grants in some cases).

Also, I don't know what your situation is, but if it was the case that your reason for not having a Leaving Cert was that you weren't academically able to manage it, then be wary about deciding to go the 3rd level route. You might quickly find yourself swamped under. I know quite a few people that started courses in college that had low entry point requirements that didn't reflect the difficulty of the course. These people ended dropping out after a couple of months.

fitz

You could apply and get a grant from your local county council if you've been living away from home for a year. Most universities will take you on as a mature student from the age of 23.
Between the mature student route and the council grant, Studiorat's suggestion for DKIT is definitely an option. If you're a couple of years off qualifying as a mature student, I'd go with the other suggestions about getting some gear and picking things up as you go, maybe do a Protools/Logic training course. 8.8k a year is a silly amount of money.

PaulBrewer

The venerable Poppyhill should also be thrown into the Mix ...

pgasm

Spend the 27 grand on some good studio gear, learn how to use it by getting stuck in and teaching yourself! You will know as much or even more and you will have a set up of your own aswell. There are NO gaurantee of jobs, i dont know why you would spend that much money on the course with little hope of getting a job. I went to pulse, it was great fun, made great friends and contacts, but as far as my experience as an engineer goes, i learned not a lot. I learned from working in the industry, hands on, and learning the old fashioned way! My course qualification meant nothing. It was good fun and if you have the cash to blow, go for it, if u want the college experience, but do not expect anything out of it job wise. All my friends that i made in pulse now work jobs totally unrelated to the media business, and i know people that thought themselves and they work in RTE and in radio etc.