The Certificate of Achievement in Audio Production Technology is designed to provide students with practical, career-oriented skills in professional audio production using current music industry technologies. The certificate emphasizes basic musical fundamentals, live sound reinforcement, microphone and recording techniques, mixing and mastering skills, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)sequencing and programming, audio software and hardware development, audio postproduction for video and gaming, and audio for multimedia. In addition, students are introduced to, and guided through, self-promotion skills using multimedia and social networking tools specific to the music industry.

Based on 2018-2019 and2019-2020 enrollment data, the estimated enrollment completer projection of students to earn the award annually is 20 students.

The Music major at San Diego City College is one of six programs in the Visual and Performing Arts. The Commercial Music program is designed to provide students with the practical career-oriented skills required to enter the commercial music industry. Students receive hands-on experience in professional music production, audiosoftware and hardware development using current music industry technologies.

This program is ideal for students seeking to be trained in a field different from their previous work experience, and offers an affordable alternative to more costly private college and university programs in this field of study. In addition to new employment and career opportunities, the study and practice of writing, producing, recording, editing, marketing, promoting, and performing music and audio for a variety of media encourages students to be more fully engaged in public affairs and to participate as citizens in local and global communities.

San Diego City College is a certified Avid Learning Partner with Avid Technology, Inc. Students will gain hands-on experience with Avid products that are now used in the television and video industry. Under the guidance of certified Avid Instructors (ACI),students will benefit from courses that specialize in audio products and solutions such as Pro Tools digital audio software and workstation solutions. These products help to facilitate the audio production process, including music and sound creation, recording, editing, signal processing, integrated surround mixing and mastering, and reference video playback; and a range of complementary control surfaces and consoles, including the System 5 and System6 modular consoles, as well as Sibelius-branded notation software. San Diego City College plans to incorporate the VENUE live-sound systems as part of the students’ academics in the near future. Students who complete Avid Learning Partner courses at San Diego City College will belong to a national Avid database of trained users and potentially find employment while completing their certificate or degree requirements.

The certificate requires that students complete 18 units earn the degree.