Have you ever wished you were a fly on the wall in one the world's best recording studios? Seeing how these engineers work, confirming what you already knew (but you weren't too sure of), learning new tricks and techniques directly from the people who are behind what is being played on the radio right now? We have decided to create this opportunity to complement our comprehensive Music Production and Audio Engineering Diploma courses, developing this special Workshop in collaboration with Miloco Studios.
Anyone who has graduated from a course in sound engineering or music technology, as well as aspiring producer, and self-taught engineer (see entry requirements). This workshop offers the unique possibility to gain first-hand experience in a top recording studio, learning directly from the same engineers that work every day with Britain's most exciting bands, and the chance for one in eight participants to be offered a month's work experience at Miloco.
To make the best of this experience you should already have familiarity with basic sound engineering, from microphones to mixers. We will require evidence of this knowledge in the form of a certificate equivalent to our MP101 or MP261, or via a brief interview. LSS and Miloco reserve the right to refuse access to anyone who is considered too inexperienced for this workshop, without having to provide explanations for this decision.
This is not going to be just a nice chat in the suggestive environment of a recording studio. The eight participants in this workshop will be actively involved in the recording of three session musicians and in the final mixing of this project. The sessions will be mostly hands-on, while the engineer illustrates every step of the process with clear and simple explanations. To back this practical experience with the necessary theory, course notes will be available from the LSS website, so that refreshing your memories of what was said during the sessions will be as simple as logging in, even long after the event.
The workshop is not particularly geared towards any musical style: as you learn the tricks and techniques that make all the difference between an award-winning sound and a badly recorded demo, you will be able to ask questions specific to your favourite musical style and gain some insight in how Miloco's engineers work on different projects.
One of the key factors in the incredible success of Miloco Studios (nine locations in London, a stunning new studio in Spain, a management company, and they keep growing every year) is their amazing staff.
Word of mouth is a powerful thing in this industry. You can have the best equipment in the world (and they have some) but equipment is worth nothing without skilled engineers, and clients keep coming back because the personnel at Miloco is the best.
Kate Nash, Arctic Monkeys, Lily Allen, Mark Ronson, Chemical Brothers and many others work here regularly (for the full list of 484 names – yes, 484 names – see http://www.miloco.co.uk/clients/ ) and if you fancy one day having a record in the charts yourself, where better to learn how to do it ?
Not to mention that if all your experience is limited to some practice you did at school, taking part in a few sessions in a real studio with a worldwide reputation can give you a extra boost when applying for a job.
Quite simply, this workshop doesn't replace a complete course in sound engineering, but instead it's the perfect topping for anyone who has done all the theory and not enough practice. After all, there is nothing like seeing things with your own eyes. And too often the knowledge you get from certain schools comes from people with zero practical experience (scary but true).
The best student from those attending the five-day workshop will be offered the chance to stay for a month of work experience at Miloco. The position is unpaid but it could lead to further job opportunities, and the experience gained working with Miloco's regulars will prove extremely valuable should you choose to work in any other studio.
Miloco's management reserves the right to offer a month of work experience to just one student out of eight, without having to provide explanations for its choice; the time and details of employment will be communicated to the interested party in due time. Only students of the full five-day workshop are eligible for this position.
| course name | Recording & Production Workshop |
|---|---|
| course code | WM503 |
| level | Semi-advanced |
| platform | Mac |
| software | Pro Tools |
| admission requirements | Foundation course in sound engineering or equivalent practical experience (subject to interview or entrance exam) |
| technical requirements | None |
| course frequency and length | Five sessions, spread across two weekends: Saturday, Sunday and Saturday, Sunday, Monday (Bank holiday) |
| class size | Eight students |
| course fees | £895 |
For more information about Miloco Studios visit http://www.miloco.co.uk
Check also the Music Production Summer course (six weeks full-time), and the weekend courses on Logic Pro and Ableton Live