Dark Horse Recording Offers Free Recording Studio Time | 252
DIY With DHI: Studio Time
Dark Horse Studios for Recording
There are literally hundreds of Recording Arts grads asking for recording studio time every year, I’m not kidding. One of the most often inquiries I have from both parents and kids is, “So, how saturated is the market for people who do this kind of thing?” My response is brief. For anyone hoping to enter into our profession, I always try to present the most realistic image possible; I tell them it’s not about how many people there are out there attempting to accomplish the same goal. Opportunities are more likely to present themselves depending on your personality as a businessperson and your willingness to network. Likewise, I typically conclude with a fun fact about Dark Horse Institute, and each program graduate is entitled to a full year’s worth of unrestricted studio time. Just to be sure we’re on the same page, let me to reiterate. I said:
Every single graduate of the Dark Horse Institute has the chance to record at the renowned Dark Horse Recording for FREE for up to a full year after graduation.
Where was I before? Oh yes, I was referring to recent graduates of the Recording Arts program who are frantically seeking studio time to polish their abilities in a genuine, operational recording studio. If you’re referring to the market, then? The true question for the 600+ graduates who will leave the “Big Box” recording school this year is where they go. Considering DHI students? So, that’s it.
where the audio engineering program’s real work begins. When I was in recording school, I can speak for myself when I say that just because I worked for eight hours in a lab with some of the best equipment on the globe at the time, it didn’t mean I could utilize it after I graduated. I didn’t have many chances handed to me once I went to Nashville, set up a temporary studio in a two-bedroom apartment, and got an internship. As an intern at one of the trendiest studios in town, I definitely didn’t have the chance to go in front of the gear. In fact, many a 10-hour shift was spent exchanging wistful looks with the control room doors as they gradually closed.
when I replaced the garbage bags.
What’s the point of this DIY?
Music recording is a hands-on activity. It’s not for individuals who are weak of heart or want instant pleasure. I’ve never read Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, but I agree with its “10,000 hour rule” thesis. He contends that mastering a particular skill for a total of about 10,000 hours is the secret to success in any industry. So you want to become a “expert” in your industry and a Grammy winner? Work for 10,000 hours. Want to be paid as much as Chris and Tom Lord Alge do for mixing more than half the top 40 songs? any day of the week? Son, locate the sign-up form and log your hours. Is that it? That’s it? Actually, not quite. A lot of the big dogs will advise you to immerse yourself in music creation, but proper instruction and absolute understanding of the fundamentals grant you the right to begin punching your ticket. Pose inquiries. Invite guests to a coffee shop. Be persistent! And what’s this? You may start working at one of the most renowned studios in the world for FREE if you graduated from Dark Horse (or are considering attending—as well you should!). So stop whining about all the obstacles in your way. Save them. In fact, they may even assist you in beginning to construct your own castle.
Cheers!
-Sean
Instituto del Dark Horse de Sean RogersSean Rogers is a seasoned producer and audio engineer in addition to serving as the director of student services at Dark Horse Institute. He is recognized for his work on big label projects for artists like Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, and others. He has more than 7 years of expertise in career advising.