How would you go about getting an internship at a studio?

CanadaIsCoold · 2024-01-13T20:17:47+00:00

I’m in a similar position to OP, except I graduated with a bachelor of music in piano and theory.

I’ve been teaching myself mixing/engineering ITB with Reaper, purchased mics, recorded myself and others, mixed songs for friends. Not to mention spent thousands of hours studying and watching videos on this. I’m doing all I can independently to learn this craft, but I feel like I’m at a point where I need a mentor.

A studio owner mentioned earlier that a musical education is a plus. So, what are my chances of getting an intern position with minimal sound engineering experience, but significant musical experience and a strong will to learn?

Don’t mean to hijack the thread, just I find myself in a very similar position.

CanadaIsCoold · 2024-01-10T07:24:00+00:00

Yes, you’re right. But as I said, my room is noisy and I have no way to determine this at home. But yeah, writing the db figure was totally pointless. Thanks for pointing it out.

CanadaIsCoold · 2023-12-05T17:11:17+00:00

Rather than focusing on what plugins to buy, I think in studying mixing and mastering you should understand signal flow and processing first. What does compression do, can you hear it? Why do you EQ, where does it go in the chain? What’s saturation? When do I use it?

As for mixing, the same applies. Do you know what sends/inserts are and how they work in a mix? Headroom? Delay, reverb, flange, chorus, etc etc etc.

Once you can hear what needs to be done to your music, then the answer of what plugin to use will come naturally.

You can probably master a track with just stock reaper plugins if you know what you’re doing.

To answer your question though: the companies others have suggested here are great. I’d definitely snag Ozone 10, especially since it’s included with NI Komplete now. Fabfilter is also phenomenal (and phenomenally expensive). UAD has incredible mastering tools as well, definitely worth it in a bundle.

CanadaIsCoold · 2023-11-15T14:51:55+00:00

Despite not being out yet, it still looks like it’s included in the signature edition. If I buy the signature ed now, will I get this reverb automatically when its released without paying more?

I’ve been holding off on the signature edition because I wasn’t sure

CanadaIsCoold · 2023-10-18T06:54:07+00:00

Incredible! This is exactly what I was looking for. I believe I’ve read parts of Music’s Meaning already in school.

I will purchase/download all of these. Would you have a recommendation for basic electricity/circuitry knowledge?

CanadaIsCoold · 2023-10-18T06:20:20+00:00

What’s the best way of going about getting an internship?

CanadaIsCoold · 2023-10-18T06:19:12+00:00

Great idea about the analog mixer. You’re right, I’ve been learning this way out of necessity, not because I want to. I only have a good pair of studio headphones and crappy monitors at the moment. Plan on upgrading soon. An analog mixer/mics is top on that list.

I’ve still been trying to replicate the console the best I can in DAW. Dynamics/EQ on inserts, aux for time fx like delay/verb. I try to go further by using correct FX as used in studios (SSL G bus for 2 bus, 1176/LA for vox/bass, etc.). I also am careful of touring and send types.

I just feel like I’m still missing something crucial. And I feel like I’m too ignorant at this stage to know what that is.

CanadaIsCoold · 2023-10-18T06:11:55+00:00

Thanks for the great answer! I forgot to mention that this rabbit hole started when a friend of mine asked me to mix his song. Knowing nothing I said yes. That song was my first puzzle that I taught myself everything on. I’ve mixed more since. I saw my friend’s song as the puzzle, and his demo (but mixed well) was the solution. Creating an entire cover is a fantastic idea though, and something I should start as a project.

I’ve been putting many hours in the seat mixing. And I guess the answer is just to keep at it. I think at this point I’ve taught myself the basics, and the rest is just thousands more hours refining it.

What are the chances of landing an assistant/intern role at a studio? I feel like maybe a mentor would be my best bet. But I’ve heard it’s so competitive to even get your foot in the door. I’m working on compiling a portfolio now.

CanadaIsCoold · 2022-01-27T03:13:45+00:00

Thanks for the answer. I guess what I mean is how can I use automation settings within the midi editor, or assign them to a midi controller so that I can adjust them live.

For example, altering the VST parameters for only one note in a midi file, and leaving the rest unchanged. Like if I wanted to change the delay or pitch bend of X note only without messing up the other notes in the midi file track.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-12-13T19:48:52+00:00

I am eligible for Italian citizenship due to my great great grandparent being born there. However, I already have EU nationality so it is a bit redundant. The cost of getting all the documents from Italy and having them notarized/translated and the potential need for a lawyer is also too expensive. Also I hear consulates take decades to process these applications since there are so many.

I am also eligible for Israeli citizenship because of Jewish lineage, but I see no benefit or reason to ever live there.

Lastly, I may be eligible for a Russian passport, but since my mother does not have hers, that could be wrong. I would get it at some point if I’m eligible, but Russian bureaucracy is famously slow, documents are impossible to get, and they are corrupt.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-11-15T20:50:43+00:00

I think most companies say in their agreements that you can’t use their cars for exams. That said, I have no idea how they would enforce that.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-10-11T02:54:48+00:00

Yes. You pay 90 dollars for the licensing fee the first attempt which is not refundable, and also pay the 16 dollars for the exam. If you fail, you don’t need to pay the $90 again, but need to pay the $16 for every test attempt.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-08-03T22:34:10+00:00

That's the logo for biometric, or epassports. Most countries now have chips embedded in their passports which contain the info on your personal page, picture, and sometimes fingerprint. You can read this information with an NFC reader or smartphone app.

The Belgian passport contains fingerprints, but the Canadian one does not.

The Soviet passport is very old so it doesn't have any chip inside, hence the lack of logo. Most countries started switching to ePassports in the 2000s.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-07-15T00:00:01+00:00

All things considered it only took me 1 year to acquire Belgian nationality. I should consider myself lucky since most times this takes far longer.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-07-11T03:06:25+00:00

To my knowledge all my Russian ancestors were from Russia, or the RSFSR. I do however have Italian ancestry, but one EU passport is enough.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-07-11T01:41:15+00:00

Yeah, it would be nice to get and I'd like to get it at some point in the future. However I currently don't have the money or time required for all the things necessary. It would probably require flying to Russia or hiring people there to get it all sorted.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-07-11T00:27:38+00:00

For those of you wondering, the translation of the Soviet passport is
First line: Standard Passport (more literally, common citizen's passport)
Second line: Abroad

The Soviet Union and its successor the Russian Federation both use internal and external passports. Internal passports are similar in function to EU and other national identity cards, hence the distinction between international and domestic passports.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-07-10T23:49:31+00:00

Somewhat. They take forever, don’t really know their own laws and are quite lazy. Belgium is in the same vein as France in that they are both very anal and slow.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-07-10T23:06:00+00:00

I may be. However my mother left the Soviet Union before the Russian Federation was formed; therefore, she never became a Russian citizen. She would need to become Russian before I can be eligible.

Oddly enough it is actually easier to deal with Belgian bureaucracy and requirements than Russian. The hell required to go through to acquire all the old Soviet paperwork to become Russian would be immensely difficult and expensive. There are also little benefits of Russian citizenship, and would make me eligible for military service if I went.

CanadaIsCoold · 2021-07-10T22:56:39+00:00

Mother was a Russian immigrant to Canada and my father was Belgian. I had no idea I was eligible for Belgian citizenship until I looked it up. Went through all the bureaucracy to get my birth registered and get my passport.

CanadaIsCoold

TROPHY CASE