Music Production and Audio for Media Associate Degree

Associate of Applied Science in Music Production and Audio for Media
If you’re looking to push your technical skills to the next level through intricately designed courses that further your recording and engineering abilities, then the Associate of Applied Science in Music Production and Audio for Media Program is perfect for you.
For those wondering how to get a degree in music production, the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media provides a comprehensive music production degree.
Atlanta Institute of Music and Media provides a degree in music production to students with the instructional environment necessary to develop both their technical and creative talents. This approach to education ensures students acquire the skills necessary to advance their musical aptitude and gain knowledge in the field of Music Production and Audio for Media.
The curriculum accomplishes this through both in-person, and we also offer online music production certificates, which include class and practical application instruction, lab instruction, and live clinics featuring today's most well-known and innovative engineers, producers, and music production industry professionals.
Atlanta Institute of Music and Media's Associate of Applied Science in Music Production and Audio for Media is taught by professionals whose work experience, certification, and/or music/engineering degrees give each instructor the background to teach the challenging curriculum.
It is the belief of the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media that music, along with its many music technology facets, is the universal language and, therefore, welcomes students from diverse backgrounds.
Atlanta Institute of Music and Media serves students without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, age, religion, or sexual orientation.
The program's stated objective is to provide the knowledge and practical experience in generating a post-production portfolio needed to obtain employment or self-employment in music and/or production as used in film, television, and gaming.
Master Music Engineering
Graduates finish their degree in music production (Music Production and Audio for Media degree) with an in-depth understanding of:
- Recording
- Mixing
- Mastering
Along with their musical education, students receive training in Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR), Location Sound, and Sound Design for Film and Gaming.
The MPAM program caters to a student looking to maximize their income streams by capitalizing on all aspects of music production in the modern audio field.
The program consists of courses designed to provide graduates with the ability to obtain Pro Tools Certifications in music production and audio for film and post-production.
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Music Production Student Success Timeline
Careers Students Can Pursue After Graduation
A degree in music production from the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media equips students with the technical expertise and hands-on experience to pursue a variety of careers in music production and audio recording.
Graduates can explore roles as:
- Music Producers
- Sound Engineers
- Audio Engineers in state-of-the-art recording studios
- Digital Audio Workstation specialists
- Music Production Industry professionals
With a foundation in music technology and audio production, graduates are well-prepared to navigate the entire music production process in a hands-on studio environment.
Whether aiming for a career in sound engineering or as a music producer, the degree option at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media provides the expert-level education needed to excel.
Associate of Applied Science in Music Production and Audio for Media
Music Production Technical Courses
Core Courses — Students Must Complete 53 Credits
Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
RCD100 | Pro Tools 101 * | 2 |
RCD101 |
Critical Listening Skills *
|
1 |
RCD110 |
Basic Keyboarding Skills *
|
2 |
RCD120 |
Music Theory Basics *
|
2 |
RCD130 |
MIDI: Synthesis and Sequencing *
|
4 |
RCD140 |
Introduction to Audio Production I *
|
3 |
RCD150 | Skills Lab * | 1 |
RCD200 | Pro Tools 110 * | 2 |
RCD205 |
Studio Interconnect Basics *
|
2 |
RCD220 |
Studio Acoustics Basics *
|
1 |
RCD231 |
MIDI: Sampling & Composition *
|
2 |
RCD240 |
Introduction to Audio Production II *
|
3 |
RCD255 |
Applied Computing Basics *
|
2 |
RCD300 | Pro Tools 201 | 2 |
RCD320 |
Electronic Music Production
|
4 |
RCD330 |
DAW Editing and Processing *
|
2 |
RCD340 |
Introduction to Music Production
|
4 |
RCD410 |
Science & Art of Mastering
|
1 |
RCD430 | Music Business * | 1 |
RCD460 |
Introduction to Audio Post Production
|
4 |
RCD360 |
Sound Design for Game Audio
|
3 |
RCD401 |
Audio Post-Production Techniques
|
2 |
RCD 500 | Location Sound I | 3 |
Total | 53 |
Elective Courses — Students Choose 15 Out of 35 Credits
Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
RCD470 | ADR and Foley In this course students work on recording and performance of both Foley and Automated Dialogue Replacement (ADR), emulating the professional skills having to do with microphone technique, proper dialogue recording for post; both single ADR and group ADR; and recording and performing Foley. Props, surfaces and performance techniques are emphasized. Prerequisites: RCD100-300 Pro Tools 101, 110, 201 |
2 |
RCD510 | Sound Design for Film Audio In this course students will gain a deeper understanding and awareness of Sound Design methods used in modern day films and entertainment. Techniques in sound synthesis, editing, creating, and mixing will be explored and analyzed as well as critical listening and basic understanding of the history of sound design in film. |
3 |
RCD530 | Portfolio and Web Media* In this course students will gain the knowledge necessary to market themselves in the ever changing audio industry. This course will help students connect their academic work and studio experiences to a digital environment where they can present themselves to employers in a professional manner. The students will analyze and create business card templates, digital showreel demos for online platforms, and deliver an electronic portfolio for completion of the program. Prerequisite: RCD130 MIDI: Synthesis and Sequencing |
3 |
RCD520 | Location Sound II In this course students will use the knowledge gained from the Location Sound I course to record location audio for both mock and real production sound situations. The student will record dialog for actual filming scenarios that reflect professional demands and applications. Prerequisites: RCD200 Pro Tools 110; RCD460 Introduction to Audio Post Production; RCD500 Location Sound I |
4 |
RCD540 | Mixing Audio for Post Production In this course students will gain a deeper understanding of multi-channel setup and techniques for dialogue, sound effects, and music, in relation to monitoring, mixing, and delivery formats for working with film, television, and other forms of visual media. Prerequisites: RCD100-300 Pro Tools 101, 110, 201 |
4 |
RCD350 | Introduction to Live Sound This course introduces all aspects of live venue sound systems and production, including signal flow for live applications, front of house and monitoring sound systems, speaker set up and rigging, microphone techniques for live applications, mixer routing and controls, proper power requirements and set up, room EQ, and communication with artists/musicians. The class is comprised of a one-hour lecture paired with a one-hour lab where students will practically apply the skills covered in lecture. |
2 |
RCD444 | Advanced Music Production In this comprehensive, hands-on course, students utilize any & all subject matter from previous courses while introducing advanced music production techniques and approaches such as multi-microphone drum tracking to guitar reamping, compositing, editing, and mixing. The student will create and deliver an original music production, from initial composition to tracking all necessary instruments utilizing engineering techniques and a final product delivery, evolving the setup of a DAW session to meet the needs of a professional music production scenario. The product generated in this course can be used in the student’s audio portfolio to aid in securing job opportunities in the industry. Prerequisites: RCD140-340 Introduction to Audio Production I-II; Introduction to Music Production: |
6 |
RCD400 | Pro Tools 210M This course covers specific techniques for working with advanced professional Avid Pro Tools systems in a music production environment. The main topics in this course are followed by exercises that allow the student to practice concepts taught in class. Included with the course textbook are media files for Pro Tools 210M exercises and hands-on projects. Students in good standing will have the opportunity to take the Avid Pro Tools 210M Operator Certification exam upon course completion. Prerequisites: RCD100-300: Pro Tools 101, 110, 201 |
2 |
RCD435 | Methods of Mixing This course covers the history, psychology, and mechanics of mixing including topics such as balance and arrangement of the mix, use of stereo field, equalization, effects and dynamics, monitoring, printing various common versions of the mix, and digital mixing with plugins. Prerequisite: RCD200 Pro Tools 110 |
5 |
RCD550 | Media Composer Fundamentals I | 2 |
RCD560 | Media Composer Fundamentals II |
2 |
Total | 35 | |
Minimum Number of Elective Credits Required | 15 |
Required General Education Courses — Students Must Complete 24 Credits
Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
HUM110 | Creative Writing* This course covers different kinds of writing across multiple genres, including—but not limited to—poetry, fiction, nonfiction and hybrid forms. Students will be encouraged to experiment with these forms of writing, to step out of their comfort zone and challenge their own preconceptions of where writing can take them. The great Russian writer Anton Chekhov once said, “don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” In essence, Chekhov is illustrating one of the most important principles of creative writing: the act of describing through imagery rather than simply “telling.” This course will take Chekhov’s dictum to heart by practicing reading and writing in each genre with an eye towards drafting, writing, and revising original compositions. |
3 |
HUM115 | English Composition* This class introduces students to the fundamentals of writing. Students will study standard English grammatical and syntactical conventions to ground our composition skills in the systems and structures that will make our writing legible to a general audience of standard English readers. Students also practice brainstorming, drafting, and revising in order to learn about the writing process, identify what works for us individually, and work towards making our processes more productive. Students will regularly apply what we have learned to different formal and informal genres to understand the transferability of standard English writing conventions and the praxis of writing texts across varying styles, forms, and purposes. |
3 |
HUM120 | Music Appreciation* |
3 |
MAT110 | Accounting* This course teaches the fundamental accounting and tax information needed to create a successful sound career in the music industry and digital media industries. It will include basic accounting and tax elements, information on setting up a business, selecting the appropriate type of business entity, and accounting aspects as related to various music and intellectual property transactions. |
3 |
MAT120 | Mathematical Modeling* This course covers applied algebra, linear, piecewise, exponential and quadratic functions. It focuses on logical problem-solving techniques required for critical thinking. Statistical analysis and probability will be used to analyze and explore real world data. In addition, students will develop a clear understanding of the role and function of quantitative analysis. This unit also focuses on skills needed to ensure students acquire better decision-making processes for money management in their personal and business lives. |
3 |
SCI110 | Principles of Electronics* |
3 |
SCI120 | Physics of Sound* This course introduces students to the physical nature of music and sound. Waves, sound propagation, harmonic content, the human hearing mechanism and musical instrument tone production are discussed. Psychoacoustics and perception of sound are included. |
3 |
SOC110 | Cultural Anthropology* Anthropologists take a broad approach to study and understand different aspects of the human experience. This course explores how people in different places live, use music, and interact with the world around them. Students will analyze select case studies from around the world. They will study the perspectives, practices, and social organization of other groups whose values and lifeways may be very different from their own.The knowledge they gain will enrich human understanding on a broader level. Special importance will be placed on global music styles that impact contemporary music including Indian classical music, West African Music, Brazilian Samba, Cuban music styles, and African-American folk music. |
3 |
Total | 24 | |
Program Total | 92 |
Additional Music Program Options
Program Features
- Courses 38
- Credit Hours 92 hours
- Skill level Intermediate
- Language English
- Currently Enrolling Yes