Recording Arts Canada

At a Glance
Name: Recording Arts Canada Contact: Admissions department Major Courses of Study: Audio Engineering, Computer-Assisted Sound Design and Post-Production Degree Offered: Diploma Program in Audio Engineering Accreditation: Ontario Ministry of Education and Training, Quebec Ministry of Education, U.S. Department of Education Tuition: $8,950 to $13,000, Canadian Financial Assistance: Yes.

Since its establishment in 1981, Recording Arts Canada has offered a practical and intimate approach to audio education. With two major locations—one just 40 minutes from Toronto, the other a newly renovated facility nestled in the heart of old Montreal—Recording Arts Canada offers a comprehensive curriculum in audio engineering and sound design compacted into a fun, stimulating and intensive 26-week program.

At Recording Arts Canada’s world-class facilities, students benefit from a creative and progressive atmosphere that includes a generous 60:40 ratio of “hands-on” studio instruction, along with a seasoned staff of award-winning educators and lecturers who work in many facets of the music and media industries.

Students learn the science and art of music scoring, sound for film and television, interactive media, live sound, MIDI and hard disk digital editing—the core elements of album, radio, television, film and multimedia production.

“It’s important for our students to be adaptable to any situation, especially in light of the continuous expansion many of our related industries seem to be going through,” says John Keca, Recording Arts Canada’s program director. “Our well-rounded curriculum is geared to help students develop their professional skill sets. We’re constantly installing the latest technologies to reflect changes in the marketplace so we can equip our students with the tools they need to learn and succeed. At the same time, we’re reinforcing the basics to provide a concrete foundation of knowledge.”

That knowledge isn’t restricted to studio applications. Courses in music aesthetics, product manufacturing and the business of music immerse students in real-life situations. “There’s no substitute for occupational know-how,” notes Keca. “We help them develop the highest degree of professionalism and technical competence. And, by showing students that there is an interrelated life outside the studio, it allows them to think outside the box, allotting them more options and better preparing them for the future.”

RAC is one of the few schools that boasts a trio of vintage large-format Neve studio consoles, but students can complement their analog skills with the latest digital technologies. They include Yamaha 02R and Mackie Digital 8-bus consoles, Tascam MX-2424 hard disk and modular digital multitrack recorders, Macintosh G3 and G4 computers, and such industry-leading workstations as Pro Tools and Digital Performer 3.0. Classes max out at 15 pupils and a one-student-per-digital-audio-workstation ratio, ensuring each individual an opportunity to master their newly acquired knowledge at their convenience. Throw in a high job-placement rate, and Recording Arts Canada is confident that its well-rounded curriculum provides its graduates with the proper professional skills needed to succeed—and flourish—in today’s dynamic and competitive audio industry.

“By the time a student leaves Recording Arts Canada, we will have imparted him or her with the knowledge to make them an instant fit with their potential employer’s needs,” promises Keca. •