What is Sound Recording?: Course Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

A sound recording course is a program that is designed to teach individuals the art and science of capturing, manipulating and producing audio. It covers a wide range of topics from the fundamentals of sound waves to advanced techniques in audio engineering.

A professional course in Sound Recording opens doors for a career in Sound Editing, Sound Engineering, Sound Recording, Sound Effects Designing, Sound Mixing etc.

Hello Rashmi There are many colleges/ academy/ institutes /university that offers short term courses for sound mixing and recording. If you have decided to do this than your job is to find the academy/institute of your choice that offers this course. You can pursue the certificate course in this or if you have time than you can go for Diploma. Its upto you that how you will handle both the courses.

In the present day scenario, a lot of crash courses or short term courses of maybe a month or two are offered for the programme. Make note that these courses hold no value in the market. So, first complete your school education and then pursue a course from a recognized institute.

Here are some important documents you must carry during a BA in Sound Recording application process:

• Class 10 and 12 marksheets
• A valid Photo ID proof (Adhaar, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, etc.)
• Passport-sized photographs (at least two)
• Migration Certificate

Sound Recording courses are offered at various levels, including undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), Diploma, and Certification. The course fee structure for these course levels also varies. The fee structure can also differ depending on the college's rating, faculty rating, placement records, etc. However, the average course fee structure for UG-level courses is from INR 20,000 to INR 13.04 Lakh, and for PG-level courses, it's from INR 1.45 to INR 11.04 Lakh.

To be an authentic sound recordist one must have these basic skills like troubleshooting and problem-solving know-how, knowledge of shooting format, Multi-Tasking etc.

Hi Tina,

Listed below are some of the subjects you need to learn in a course for sound mixing :

• Acoustics
• Audio Terminology
• Electronics
• Simple and Complex Wave Forms
• Vibrating Systems
• Properties Of Sound Waves
• Resonant Modes 
• DAW and ProTools
• Digital Audio Basics
• MIDI
• Digital Editing Basics
• ProTools
• Editing Tools 
• Sound Design Audio For Pictures (Elective)
• Critical Listening
• Auditory Perception
• Timbre Sound And Narrative

All the best

Yes, there are many popular Sound Recording books available online apart from the regular syllabus:

• Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles Huber and Emiliano Caballero.
• The Recording Engineer's Handbook, 4th Edition by Bobby Owsinski.
• Recording Sound: A Concise Guide to the Art of Recording by Mark Brocklesby.
• Perfecting Sound Forever: The Story Of Recorded Music by Greg Milner.
• The Location Sound Bible by Ric Viers.

Some of the popular Sound Recording colleges in India are –

• Film and Television Institute of India
• Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute
• Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Film, TV and Animation Studies
• ICE Balaji Telefilms - Institute of Creative Excellence
• TGC Animation and Multimedia

The minimum qualification to pursue Diploma in Sound Recording and Audio Engineering is High School Pass or +2. Admission for lateral entry is given on the basis of merit.

Yes, a few colleges in India offer Online Sound Recording courses. Here are some of them:

Note: The information is sourced from the official/counselling body of the institute/exam.

A sound recordist is responsible to record the sound on the location. He/she listen to it to ascertain whether anything is wrong with the take and whether it needs to be re-recorded.

All the colleges have a different criteria for admission in Sound Recording course. But usually for a Bachelors Degree and Diploma courses, candidates must have completed their 10+2 in any subject from a recognized board.

The Salary of a Sound Recording graduate may depend upon the location they work in and their skills but the common average salary range may vary from INR 5–6 Lakhs per annum. 

Yes, only FTII takes entrance examthat is  FTII JET (Joint Entrance Test) but most of the colleges give admissions on the merit basis.

To become a sound mixer, you should go for Diploma or degree courses in sound design. Satyajit Ray Film institute, Biju Patnaik Film and Television Institute of Odisha etc. are the best for sound design courses. If you are able to get an opportunity in reputed production houses, then you will start with the salary of INR 20,000-40,000.

A course in Sound Recording requires skills that are similar to those required for most of the Mass Communication & Media specializations. Candidates pursuing a career in this field should have the following skillsets:

• Musical Aptitude
• Interpersonal Skills
• Familiarity with audio equipment
• Software knowledge like DAW
• Creative mind
• Sound mixing skills
• Post-production skills
• Troubleshooting and problem-solving know-how
• Project Management
• Creating & fostering client relationships

Candidates interested in having a career in the field of Sound Recording can pursue the programme at certification, diploma, and degree levels. The time duration for the courses can be as short as 3 months and as long as 3 years. Popular courses under the programme are given below:

• Diploma in Video Editing and Sound Recording (EDT)
• Certificate in Sound Recording
• Advanced Certificate in Sound Recording
• PG Diploma in Sound Recording & Sound Design
• Certificate in Sound Recording & Editing
• Certificate in Sound Recording & Radio Production
• PG Certificate Course in Sound Recording & TV Engineering
• NCVTE Diploma in Sound Editing in Computer Dubbing- Recording
• BA in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology