MONUMENTAL
CAREERS START
HERE.
If you’re a recent high school graduate passionate about music, sound, or technology, Studio West and The Recording Arts Center (TRAC) offers a direct path to turn your creativity into a career.
Our TRAC Diploma in Recording Arts is designed for students who want to learn audio engineering, begin learning music production, and explore real-world careers in recording arts – without taking a traditional four-year college route.
Located in San Diego, Studio West combines professional studio facilities with hands-on education, giving graduates a practical, career-focused start in the music and audio industries.
A Hands-On Alternative to Traditional College
The 12-month Diploma in Recording Arts through The Recording Arts Center (TRAC) at Studio West is ideal for recent high school graduates who want to start building real skills right away. Instead of sitting in lecture halls, students learn inside professional recording studios, gaining hands-on experience that prepares them for real-world creative careers.
01
Learn by Doing in a Real Studio
Students train in an active, professional recording studio – not a simulated classroom. This immersive approach allows you to learn audio engineering and begin learning music production using the same tools, workflows, and environments found in the industry.
02
Build Confidence with Industry-Standard Equipment
Students gain hands-on experience with professional software and studio gear, helping them transition smoothly from high school into a focused, career-driven learning environment. Working with industry-standard technology builds confidence, technical fluency, and studio professionalism.
03
Develop Job-Ready Skills for Creative Careers
The program emphasizes practical skills that translate directly into careers in recording arts. Through collaboration, real sessions, and guided instruction, students develop discipline, communication skills, and creative problem-solving – essential traits for success in music, media, and audio production fields.
We live the “professional” in Professional Audio every day. Our love for the process runs deep.
FEELING LIKE YOU BELONG HERE? LET’S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
[We’re really, really proud]
OUR GRADS ARE FINDING SUCCESS EVERYWHERE.
TRAC Diploma graduates enter the world of Professional Audio with the confidence and skills that can only come from an industry-focused hands-on education. Our Alumni have found success across the instrustry, and whether they’re running live sound in major venues or on tour, engineering in some of the best studios in the world, establishing themselves as independent producers, or working on the next big blockbuster film, we couldn’t be prouder of our grads!
Jacob Powell
SIR STUDIOS, NEW YORK
“I didn’t know anything about audio other than the fact that I wanted to do it as a profession. Even though I learned years worth of knowledge and experience at TRAC, I believe the biggest thing I gained from the program was my network. I got the job at SIR Studios NYC literally because a former classmate vouched for me. I even got recording gigs in Brooklyn with an Australian rapper and a Nepali producer as a result of a recommendation made from a former classmate in California. I also recorded an entire album with an artist I worked with as a student who happened to also live in NYC. I cannot say enough to stress the benefits of my time at TRAC. It has been a life changing and career advancing opportunity that I encourage anyone looking to go into this field to pursue.”
After graduating from The Recording Arts Center in May of 2016, Jacob interned at Studio West and at the La Jolla Music Society Summer Fest before landing a job as an audio engineer at SIR Studios in New York City.
Sam McCormick
PLAYSTATION STUDIOS, SONY
“A lot of what we learned at TRAC is stuff that I do every day. I’m editing audio using techniques we learned, and the way we learned to do VO and Post sessions is exactly how we do it here. The classes in Studio A were probably the most profound experience I had in the program. The foundation in analog signal flow that we learned is essential to understanding the business. You can walk into any studio and that stuff is transferable.”
Sam graduated from The Recording Arts Center in January 2016, and interned first with Studio West, then with Hans Zimmer Studios, where he was quickly hired to assist with music for numerous television pilots. Currently Sam is working as an engineer and audio editor for Sony’s Playstation Studios.
Jordan Cantor
EASTWEST STUDIOS, LA
“It was always a dream of mine to work (at EastWest Studios.)You can feel the history here, it’s in the walls. A ton of what I learned at TRAC is stuff that I do every day now. Whether it’s setting up to track drums, knowing my way around Pro Tools, or knowing all of the mics and outboard gear. There’s a certain handfull of stuff that’s in every studio, and when I get an email from an engineer with their room setup, I’m able to know exactly what everything is and exactly how to set it up.”
Jordan graduated from the Diploma Program in 2021, and was immediately brought on as a runner at Larrabee Studios in LA, working under famed mixing engineer Manny Marroquin. She soon moved on to EastWest Studios where she currently works as Assistant Engineer for some of the world’s best engineers and producers.
Steven Groot
TURNING POINT, SD
In October of 2016, Steven graduated from TRAC. A few days later he saw a posting for a Sound Mixer and Editor job at Turning Point, a non-profit Christian organization in Lakeside. The job required 5 years of experience. Without this experience, Steven applied anyway. After a lengthy interview process that required four meetings, he was the top candidate and was offered the full time position of Sound Mixer/Editor. Steven works collaboratively with members of the television, radio, and digital media teams to provide audio mixes.
