New recording studio to open next semester

The $612,000 construction of a new sound recording studio and control room in Mason Hall is nearly complete and President Dennis L. Hefner has scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Friday, Jan. 19. 

The project includes a control room, two rooms for live performances, and an equipment room, with supporting mechanical and electronic components. Balancing of the mechanical equipment began in November.

The studio will be fully inaugurated for student use when classes for the spring semester start on Monday, Jan. 22.

The facility is the center of SUNY Fredonia’s Bachelor of Science degree program in Sound Recording Technology, which is one of the few such programs anywhere in the Northeastern U.S.

The program is highly selective, admitting 10 to 15 students from an application pool of 60 or 70. Students are admitted based on academic and musical achievement, and a music audition is required.

Fredonia’s students are trained as audio engineers and as musicians, ensuring that they graduate with a broad range of artistic, scientific, and engineering skills.  They are trained in both analog and digital recording and editing, sound reinforcement, automation, and signal processing.

The program also provides recording services for the School of Music, the community, and the region.

Many  graduates enter the business as recording engineers, studio managers, mastering engineers and broadcast engineers. Some eventually open their own recording/production companies; some pursue graduate studies and become teachers; and others spend some time pursuing their elusive rock star/singer/songwriter career.

For more information, contact the director, Bernd Gottinger, or the Office of Admissions.