Cape Town Academy of Sound Engineering opens in 2016

Cristo Hattingh, CEO of Sound-GP, director and lecturer at the ASE with ASE MD, Keith Farquharson.

In the meantime, skills programmes and short courses are running for the remainder of 2015 and into 2016. In addition, ASE is an accredited AVID Pro School and the AVID qualifications are internationally recognised.

MD, Keith Farquharson, has decades of industry expertise, including his experience as sound engineer for the band Freshly Ground and as tour engineer for well-known African musician Oliver Mtukudzi.

"Our focus is on a hands-on simulated environment in professional recording facilities, where attention has been paid to both equipment selection and acoustic design. Once qualified, students will be able to enter the job market with confidence."

Clearly, the theoretical knowledge gained from the lecturers is essential, but that is only a small part of the learning process. More importantly, it is about being with like-minded people in a classroom of students and lecturers that are all working towards similar goals, sharing knowledge, solving problems and learning from each other. The fun part is forming bands and production teams and that is where much of their learning takes place. Regular guest lecturers who are icons in the industry are firm favourites with students.

"However, there's always a more serious aspect, particularly on the technical side. Our lecturers are all well-known audio professionals. They have vast experience, gained from working, for example, on South Africa's largest and most popular show, Idols, and on festivals, international shows, concerts and films. Technical competence for the tasks required is paramount, and our students have the privilege of tapping into this knowledge."

Experienced lecturers

Industry leader Cristo Hattingh, CEO of Sound-GP, director and lecturer at the ASE, says that courtesy, respect and an impeccable work ethic are non-negotiable. "There is always tension and pressure going on behind the scenes and it is the engineer's job to manage these dynamics and keep the event on track."

EPH Productions MD Danie van Rensburg, who runs one the most successful production studios in the country, agrees. The third-year students who worked with him on the Oppikoppi Festival knew exactly what to do and delivered what they were supposed to.

As part of the elective project, 180 hours of compulsory independent work, not related to ASE, is required. Because of ASE's connections, first-year students receive preference when industry players are sourcing 'gophers' for a gig. At a higher level, production houses need competent students to work on large festivals. Not only are they paid a modest wage but they also gain valuable experience and contacts.

Film is on the rise, as is the events industry, where corporates are turning to promotions rather than investing in above-the-line advertising. This opens the door for audio technicians who are competent in handling PA systems, lighting, stages, bands and music.

"South Africa still falls short in providing enough experienced sound engineers to meet demand within the local film industry, particularly in the area of location recording. Over the years, the Academy of Sound Engineering has been helping to meet the shortage of skills, as a steady stream of graduates enters the industry. However, there is still a backlog. As an educational institution, we will continue to produce competent and qualified professionals who can cope with what the industry demands," concludes Farquharson.

For more information, go to www.ase.co.za.