CNM Sound Academy Trains Technicians to Hear the Details in SoundThe sounds of life – the clink of a coffee cup on a desk, the ticking of the clock on the wall, the tapping of rain on a window – are important details in movies, television and radio. For Central New Mexico Community College instructor Doug Geist, sound is a powerful element, especially with the leaps in technology such as surround sound and digital quality.
Geist, who has been nominated for five Grammies and won one, teaches students the skills they need to enter fields such as the movie industry and the advertising world as sound editors and mixers. Geist teaches the Sound Academy at CNM’s Workforce Training Center that begins March 4. The intensive 10-week program is built around modules that focus on recording techniques that range from the use of microphones to listening labs. The Sound Academy is a great opportunity for those who play in garage bands to those who want to work in the professional world of sound.
Geist is the owner of Santa Fe Center Studios in Albuquerque and has added a Native American Music Award for excellence in sound engineering to his list of awards.
Sound is a powerful detail whether it’s a shoe smacking the pavement in a movie or the music jingle in a commercial. Without state-of-the-art sound projects, movies, TV shows and commercials can fall flat, Geist said.
“It’s like looking at a word processor, but not getting to punctuate anything or not getting to change the font,” he said.
As the New Mexico film industry continues to grow, so will the need for sound engineers.
For more information on the Sound Academy, call the Workforce Training Center at (505) 224-5200.
