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  • Computers with recording software and connected keyboards are connected on Tuesday in a classroom at the Northwestern Michigan College University Center in Traverse City. Record-Eagle/Keith King/Keith King

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  • Michael Hunter, Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) jazz band director and instructor with the NMC audio technology program, uses a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) drum kit and a computer with recording software to demonstrate a digital audio workstation on Tuesday in a classroom at the Northwestern Michigan College University Center. Record-Eagle/Keith King/Keith King

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August 15, 2012

NMC to offer audio program

By Bill O'Brien bobrien@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Steve Quick cut his teeth in the recording business in an era of oversized control boards dropped in the middle of large studios.

These days, Quick can create professional quality music with little more than a computer hooked to a few instruments. Northwestern Michigan College students soon will be able to take advantage of the many high-tech advances in music production and the recording business through the school's new Audio Technology program to be launched in the fall semester. The program opens a variety of career opportunities in music, broadcast, film and related industries.

"With a mouse and a set of headphones, you can create an entire album," said Quick, a recording engineer and musician who's coordinating the new program. "We're teaching concepts so the students can be prepared as the technology changes."

The degree program offers three certification levels, a compressed 18-month format and allows students to test for Apple certification exams. Professional internships are available.

Students also can achieve an Associates Degree in Applied Science by completing the full program. The program is designed to give working engineers, producers and others an opportunity to familiarize themselves with new recording technology in a shorter time frame. Participants can get various certifications in the music industry short of completing the full program.

"We really think we can carve out a niche for ourselves in the music market," said NMC Music Director Jeff Cobb, who helped develop the new degree program. "Nowadays, everything is done in smaller studios."

The college started working on the Audio Tech program almost two years ago.

An initial step was to find adequate space to provide both classroom and studio areas. The college shifted instruction from cramped facilities in the Fine Arts building on the main NMC campus to the lower level of the University Center along Boardman Lake. There, instructors have four separate spaces including a computer lab, a recording studio area, a main control room with a vocal isolation booth and a mastering suite. They eventually hope to construct an acoustically designed recording studio as part of the program.

"We really re-built everything from the ground up," Cobb said.

The college also is upgrading technology at Milliken Auditorium on its main campus so it can be converted quickly to a recording studio if needed.

Quick said the program wants to place students at local live events including the Traverse City Film Festival and National Cherry Festival to get experience handling sound production. It also aims to create partnerships with hardware and software manufacturers in the recording business so students have access to the latest technology in production equipment.

"That will make it so our students can get more hands-on with state-of-the-art gear," Quick said.

For-profit schools with such training can cost up to $75,000 to complete a two-year program, he said. NMC will provide a more-affordable option in a college setting, and officials hope it can gain recognition similar to the college's maritime and culinary arts programs.

"We think we can compete with schools that cost that much money," Quick said.

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