MONUMENTAL
CAREERS START
HERE.
For students and career changers interested in learning music production or learning audio engineering, choosing between a traditional four-year college and a focused trade school is an important decision. While universities offer broad academic education, trade schools like Studio West and The Recording Arts Center (TRAC) provide targeted, hands-on training designed to prepare students for real-world careers in recording arts – faster and with clearer outcomes.
The Traditional College Route: Broad Education, Longer Timeline
Traditional colleges typically require four years of coursework, including general education classes that may not directly relate to audio engineering or music production. While this path can be valuable for academic exploration, it often delays hands-on studio experience and career entry.
For creative fields like recording arts, many graduates leave college with theoretical knowledge but limited real studio experience – something employers increasingly expect.
The Trade School Advantage: Career-Focused, Hands-On Training
Trade schools specializing in audio and music production focus exclusively on industry-relevant skills. At Studio West, students learn audio engineering and begin learning music production inside professional recording studios – not lecture halls.
This hands-on approach allows students to:
Build real technical skills from day one.
Work with industry-standard software and equipment.
Develop a professional portfolio while still in school.
Enter the workforce sooner and with practical experience.
Faster Entry Into Careers in Recording Arts
One of the biggest advantages of trade school education is efficiency. Programs like the TRAC Diploma in Recording Arts are designed to prepare students for entry-level roles and career growth in approximately one year, not four.
This shorter timeline helps students:
Reduce overall education costs.
Minimize student debt.
Start working and gaining experience sooner.
Transition quickly into careers in recording arts, media, and live sound.
Learning That Matches the Industry
Recording arts is a skills-based industry. Employers and studios prioritize what you can do – not just what degree you hold. Trade schools emphasize applied learning, collaboration, and real-world studio workflows, closely mirroring professional environments.
For students who want a practical path to audio engineering, music production, and creative technical careers, trade school education aligns more directly with industry expectations.
Which Path Is Right for You?
If your goal is academic exploration or research-based learning, traditional college may be the right fit. But if your goal is to learn audio engineering, gain hands-on experience, and pursue careers in recording arts, a trade school offers a focused, career-driven alternative.
Studio West’s TRAC Diploma in Recording Arts is designed for students who want practical skills, real studio experience, and a direct path into the creative workforce.
We live the “professional” in Professional Audio every day. Our love for the process runs deep.
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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.
