Comments on: Is learning at the SAE Institute worthwhile? http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:20:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: staff http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/comment-page-3/#comment-7028 staff Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:19:36 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/?p=1429#comment-7028 As a former member of staff at SAE in London, I want to just say that what students write about college is true. Sae is not about students but about money, making money, so take a good look at the advertisement and go and see what they actually offer. As soon as you have signed up you are stuck in an endless circle of bad management and your dreams will soon be broken by the poor knowledge of your teacher. Since the day Tom Misner said he recorded the Beatles hes mission wass never been to educate anyone, before SAE he was a cleaner, not a producer or engineer of the Beatles. it's all in his book and the use of illegal software, stolen equipment. Don't waste your money, it's far from the only audio engineering option As a former member of staff at SAE in London, I want to just say that what students write about college is true.
Sae is not about students but about money, making money, so take a good look at the advertisement and go and see what they actually offer.
As soon as you have signed up you are stuck in an endless circle of bad management and your dreams will soon be broken by the poor knowledge of your teacher.
Since the day Tom Misner said he recorded the Beatles hes mission wass never been to educate anyone, before SAE he was a cleaner, not a producer or engineer of the Beatles. it’s all in his book and the use of illegal software, stolen equipment.

Don’t waste your money, it’s far from the only audio engineering option

]]> By: jason http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/comment-page-3/#comment-7002 jason Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:41:35 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/?p=1429#comment-7002 The degree is only validated by middlesex, you don't actually get to go in middlesex uni and get some lectures from their staff. i've studied at sae for the past two years and it was a big mistake, waste of money. The degree is only validated by middlesex, you don’t actually get to go in middlesex uni and get some lectures from their staff.

i’ve studied at sae for the past two years and it was a big mistake, waste of money.

]]> By: Jon http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/comment-page-3/#comment-6998 Jon Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:45:04 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/?p=1429#comment-6998 NICE ONE and so true, this so called college is only after your money. the employ students to "teach" you because it's cheaper than getting someone pro from the industry. As you said their studios are not even build for the purpose of recording but build the cheapest possible way. Furthermore if anyone believe the degree from Middlesex is worth anything then you are fooled by them as you will never attend one single class at middlesex, no the same former students will teach you the degree stuff and SAE simply pays Middlesex for the piece of paper and the right to use their name in advertising. You made the right choice to quit, all the best of luck Jon NICE ONE and so true, this so called college is only after your money. the employ students to “teach” you because it’s cheaper than getting someone pro from the industry.
As you said their studios are not even build for the purpose of recording but build the cheapest possible way.
Furthermore if anyone believe the degree from Middlesex is worth anything then you are fooled by them as you will never attend one single class at middlesex, no the same former students will teach you the degree stuff and SAE simply pays Middlesex for the piece of paper and the right to use their name in advertising.
You made the right choice to quit, all the best of luck

Jon

]]> By: Dman http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/comment-page-3/#comment-6847 Dman Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:30:25 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/?p=1429#comment-6847 I'm am a graduate of SAE (Australia). I had a live sound job within 3 months (live sound is abundant in oz!). I got a studio job within 12 months. Travelled the world. Opened my own studio 5 years later. Unless you are completely focused you will not make it! Audio engineering, Music production, sounds like fun, right? Well it is, but it comes at a cost. A cost, that for me, was money well spent, and a lose of social life. My 1st studio job was 70-80 hours a week! Why have I succeeded? Because I work HARD. Why do some fail? because they do not. Simple. I will agree that not all SAE's are created equal. That is why you go to the college, speak the the staff AND students! Make an informed decision not one base on other peoples opinions of other people in other parts of the world. I’m am a graduate of SAE (Australia). I had a live sound job within 3 months (live sound is abundant in oz!). I got a studio job within 12 months. Travelled the world. Opened my own studio 5 years later.

Unless you are completely focused you will not make it! Audio engineering, Music production, sounds like fun, right? Well it is, but it comes at a cost. A cost, that for me, was money well spent, and a lose of social life. My 1st studio job was 70-80 hours a week! Why have I succeeded? Because I work HARD. Why do some fail? because they do not. Simple.

I will agree that not all SAE’s are created equal. That is why you go to the college, speak the the staff AND students! Make an informed decision not one base on other peoples opinions of other people in other parts of the world.

]]> By: Jimmy http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/comment-page-3/#comment-6836 Jimmy Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:55:05 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/?p=1429#comment-6836 My thoughts about SAE London after 6 months as an audio engineering student. They consider it being a full-time course. In reality it means you have 2,5 hours of lectures (with a 20-30 minutes break), monday to thursday. Every now and then they throw in a practical lecture on fridays (5 so far). So, you are left off with roughly 8 hours of tuition per week. If you want to read up on a subject, and thus making it full-time, that is up to you, the student. Also, the topics are merely touched upon, so further reading is a must. The first 6 months will only be theoretical and taught in a classroom, (no studio-time what so ever) and there will be one exam. There will be a few assignments for the students to finish on their own during this time, but they are very basic in my opinion. At SAE London there is no storage-room for the students to store equipment or musical instruments. I know it is not a music college, but there are no musical instruments to book out. If you need instruments to record, you get them from a rental company with a discount. You can't play/record loud instruments after 10 pm, because of complaining neighbours, (they studios are not properly built for the purpose). There is no such thing as one-on-one tuition at SAE. If you are in a studio and something is not working, for whatever reason, you can ask one of the supervisors on duty for help. The school opens at 10 am on mondays, and closes at 18 pm on saturdays. The school is, and will be closed on sundays. After 6 months you start to learn and manoeuvre two different digital consoles, and after passing a signal flow exam, you can start using those two studios. For the bigger consoles (SSL G+ and Neve Genesys) it seems like I have to wait another 3 months. All the teaching staff at SAE London are former students from SAE. My class started out with 16 people. Now we are down to 10. The reason why people quit is because they felt let down, and not getting their moneys worth. In the hope for change, the rest of us still hang on, but I don't see when things would eventually change for the better. From being interested in music and recording for fun for some years, I have gained some knowledge along the way. I thought that by studying at SAE i would get an hands-on education, filling the gaps of my self-taught knowledge. So far, i don't see that happening. What I have learned so far, is that the SAE only want your money. What they teach, you can teach yourself on your own for free, (no joke or exaggeration). Actually, it is up to you read up on the subjects that are briefly explained by the lecturers. If you still feel like an education like this is the way to go, find all the information necessary from the internet, forums, friends, etc. Don't trust the advertisements from colleges or universities, (that is what they do best). Since i have paid in instalments, I have decided to quit the course, save my money, and look for studio work as an apprentice instead. My tips is to buy yourself a couple of good books on various suitable topics, buy some decent equipment and try it out yourself. Search the web for free online tuition. Call a few studios and see if they would consider taking you in if you were an SAE graduate. My conclusion: I don't think studying at the SAE institute is worthwhile. My thoughts about SAE London after 6 months as an audio engineering student.

They consider it being a full-time course.
In reality it means you have 2,5 hours of lectures (with a 20-30 minutes break), monday to thursday.
Every now and then they throw in a practical lecture on fridays (5 so far).

So, you are left off with roughly 8 hours of tuition per week.
If you want to read up on a subject, and thus making it full-time, that is up to you, the student. Also, the topics are merely touched upon, so further reading is a must.

The first 6 months will only be theoretical and taught in a classroom, (no studio-time what so ever) and there will be one exam.

There will be a few assignments for the students to finish on their own during this time, but they are very basic in my opinion.

At SAE London there is no storage-room for the students to store equipment or musical instruments.
I know it is not a music college, but there are no musical instruments to book out.
If you need instruments to record, you get them from a rental company with a discount.

You can’t play/record loud instruments after 10 pm, because of complaining neighbours, (they studios are not properly built for the purpose).

There is no such thing as one-on-one tuition at SAE.
If you are in a studio and something is not working, for whatever reason, you can ask one of the supervisors on duty for help.

The school opens at 10 am on mondays, and closes at 18 pm on saturdays.
The school is, and will be closed on sundays.

After 6 months you start to learn and manoeuvre two different digital consoles, and after passing a signal flow exam, you can start using those two studios.

For the bigger consoles (SSL G+ and Neve Genesys) it seems like I have to wait another 3 months.

All the teaching staff at SAE London are former students from SAE.

My class started out with 16 people. Now we are down to 10.
The reason why people quit is because they felt let down, and not getting their moneys worth.
In the hope for change, the rest of us still hang on, but I don’t see when things would eventually change for the better.

From being interested in music and recording for fun for some years, I have gained some knowledge along the way.
I thought that by studying at SAE i would get an hands-on education, filling the gaps of my self-taught knowledge.
So far, i don’t see that happening.

What I have learned so far, is that the SAE only want your money.
What they teach, you can teach yourself on your own for free, (no joke or exaggeration).
Actually, it is up to you read up on the subjects that are briefly explained by the lecturers.

If you still feel like an education like this is the way to go, find all the information necessary from the internet, forums, friends, etc.
Don’t trust the advertisements from colleges or universities, (that is what they do best).

Since i have paid in instalments, I have decided to quit the course, save my money, and look for studio work as an apprentice instead.

My tips is to buy yourself a couple of good books on various suitable topics, buy some decent equipment and try it out yourself.
Search the web for free online tuition.

Call a few studios and see if they would consider taking you in if you were an SAE graduate.

My conclusion:
I don’t think studying at the SAE institute is worthwhile.

]]> By: B http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/comment-page-3/#comment-6831 B Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:22:02 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/?p=1429#comment-6831 Point Blank does not offer a degree, whereas SAE London offers a degree validated by middlesex university. (I have nothing against Point Blank and am not saying it isn't worth while). Anyway what I wanted to mention is that my teacher at SAE who, yes IS a former student has recently completed recording projects at Abbey Road and The Way Studios. We also have guest lectures from industry professionals every couple of weeks so we don't exactly miss out on industry teaching. I think that people who come on here and slag off SAE even though they haven't even studied there are a little sad. people should make there own decisions. I'm not sticking up for SAE because i'm a student there. Simply because I believe that it is worthwhile. P.S Another good reason to go is to take advantage of the great studios they have there. I chose to go to SAE london and have not regretted it. Point Blank does not offer a degree, whereas SAE London offers a degree validated by middlesex university. (I have nothing against Point Blank and am not saying it isn’t worth while). Anyway what I wanted to mention is that my teacher at SAE who, yes IS a former student has recently completed recording projects at Abbey Road and The Way Studios. We also have guest lectures from industry professionals every couple of weeks so we don’t exactly miss out on industry teaching.

I think that people who come on here and slag off SAE even though they haven’t even studied there are a little sad. people should make there own decisions. I’m not sticking up for SAE because i’m a student there. Simply because I believe that it is worthwhile.

P.S Another good reason to go is to take advantage of the great studios they have there. I chose to go to SAE london and have not regretted it.

]]> By: Brian http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/comment-page-3/#comment-6828 Brian Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:13:30 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/?p=1429#comment-6828 POINT BLANK is so much better than SAE, industry teachers (not former students) I can highly recommend it as I studied there myself and now working as a programmer in a studio. I have a friend who did the SAE course and he applied for more than 50 jobs, he got 7 replies saying something like: "they would never accept anyone from SAE as their diploma/degree courses are worthless. He now works as a salesman and thinking of doing another course at Point Blank. He's really unhappy about having wasted nearly £20000 on his degree at SAE. Brian POINT BLANK is so much better than SAE, industry teachers (not former students)
I can highly recommend it as I studied there myself and now working as a programmer in a studio.
I have a friend who did the SAE course and he applied for more than 50 jobs, he got 7 replies saying something like: “they would never accept anyone from SAE as their diploma/degree courses are worthless.
He now works as a salesman and thinking of doing another course at Point Blank. He’s really unhappy about having wasted nearly £20000 on his degree at SAE.

Brian

]]> By: Gerald http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/comment-page-3/#comment-6820 Gerald Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:40:35 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/?p=1429#comment-6820 Hi my suggestion is get the software and teach yourself. I have never had a lesson in my life everything I have learned is through the experience of doing it, trial and error. I would not go on a course unless I had the software because if you cant practice forget it. I have been using Cubase for the last 15 years and I looked into learning Ableton Live, very expensive so instead I got a cut down version of the program a couple of videos from Groove 3 and learnt the basics then I went to Covert Operators and some other sites like Tom Cosm.com and checked out some other videos to learn the tricks and tips that I need to put across our live set onstage and create and produce my ideas By the way I am a teacher, but you dont always need one is what I am trying to say. All the best in your search Gerald CLING Hi my suggestion is get the software and teach yourself.
I have never had a lesson in my life everything I have learned is through the experience of doing it, trial and error.
I would not go on a course unless I had the software because if you cant practice forget it. I have been using Cubase for the last 15 years and I looked into learning Ableton Live, very expensive so instead I got a cut down version of the program a couple of videos from Groove 3 and learnt the basics then I went to Covert Operators and some other sites like Tom Cosm.com and checked out some other videos to learn the tricks and tips that I need to put across our live set onstage and create and produce my ideas
By the way I am a teacher, but you dont always need one is what I am trying to say. All the best in your search Gerald CLING

]]> By: Sean http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/comment-page-3/#comment-6806 Sean Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:56:11 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/?p=1429#comment-6806 Hi, You will need to make your own comparison. I visited all 3 (and more) and was most impressed with SAE. I have applied and will join their April course. Also spoke to students and ex-students who all had a good time there despite a few realistic criticisms here and there. Good luck, Sean Hi,

You will need to make your own comparison. I visited all 3 (and more) and was most impressed with SAE. I have applied and will join their April course. Also spoke to students and ex-students who all had a good time there despite a few realistic criticisms here and there.
Good luck,

Sean

]]> By: MARY http://www.wiretotheear.com/2008/10/25/is-learning-at-the-sae-institute-worthwhile/comment-page-3/#comment-6798 MARY Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:54:35 +0000 http://www.wiretotheear.com/?p=1429#comment-6798 HI, firstly I want to excuse me for my elementary language, but I'm a nineteen italian student with a basic level of english. Next year I've decided to move to London to study audio engineering. I've worked in these last 3 years as a live sound engineer, but I've also ascertained that it's impossible to continue these type of work in Italy. this profession is not recognized as a real work here. I'm confused, becouse I have no idea of what is the best school in England to study sound engineering. In Italy, for exemple SAE have not a good reputation, and it is too expensive for me ( 9,000 Euro each years). Can you help me? I've contacted the London School of Sound, what do you think about it? and SAE in London? or Point Blank (http://www.pointblanklondon.com/ ) ? from here it's difficult to choose the right school... thank you! Mary HI, firstly I want to excuse me for my elementary language, but I’m a nineteen italian student with a basic level of english.
Next year I’ve decided to move to London to study audio engineering.
I’ve worked in these last 3 years as a live sound engineer, but I’ve also ascertained that it’s impossible to continue these type of work in Italy. this profession is not recognized as a real work here.

I’m confused, becouse I have no idea of what is the best school in England to study sound engineering. In Italy, for exemple SAE have not a good reputation, and it is too expensive for me ( 9,000 Euro each years).

Can you help me?
I’ve contacted the London School of Sound, what do you think about it?
and SAE in London? or Point Blank (http://www.pointblanklondon.com/ ) ?

from here it’s difficult to choose the right school…

thank you! Mary

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