Music Technology

About the Program

Music Technology at Virginia Tech combines traditional instruction in music recording, mixing, and production with direct experience working in a professional recording studio environment. The curriculum emphasizes strong foundations in multiple areas, such as acoustics, critical listening, microphone technique, studio and location recording, audio mixing and mastering, and includes a pathway for Avid Pro Tools User Certification. Whether planning to seek employment directly after graduation or pursue graduate studies, the Music Technology program at Virginia Tech provides a comprehensive foundation and many opportunities for hands-on experiential learning, self-discovery, and a unique flexibility to meet specific or unique academic interests and potential career goals.

Contact Michael Dunston for more information. 

Degree Options

Two degree options are and one minor are available. Music Technology Liberal Arts (MTLA) and Music Technology Professional (MTPR), as well as a Minor in Music Production, Technology, and Composition (MPTC) for students not pursuing a major in Music. The core six-semester sequence of courses is generally open to all students at Virginia Tech, however individual applied (one-to-one) studies and a senior capstone experience are additional requirements for majors.

MTLA option allows more free electives outside of Music and offers greater flexibility for double majors, whereas MTPR adds addtional courses in Music and is often the choice for students expecting to pursue gradudate studies.  The additions to MTPR include courses in advanced music theory, history, and literature, upper-level individual applied studies in instrumetnal or vocal performance, and an internship or Bridge Experience to provide experiential learning opportunities

Advanced Studio Facilities

The School of Performing Arts Recording Studio is a 4,500 square-foot music recording and production facility with acoustically isolated rooms designed to support academic instruction and hands-on experience in multitrack recording, audio mixing and mastering, ADR/dialog and Foley recording, audio for post, sound design, music arranging and composition, and more. The main studio is equipped with a 32-channel SSL Origin large-format analog console, combined with the Metric Halo 3d ULN-8 audio hardware and software platform, Aviom headphone distribution, and a 7.1.4 Genelec Smart Active Monitoring system for recording and mixing in stereo, surround, Dolby Atmos, MPEG-H, Ambisonics, and other immersive audio formats.

Additional rooms are configured as smaller studios with SSL UC1 and SSL UF8 hardware control surfaces for multitrack audio recording and mixing, dialog and Foley recording capabilities, and video editing and post production. The studio microphone collection includes a variety of large and small diaphragm condenser, tube, ribbon, and dynamic microphones from manufacturers such as DPA, Neumann, AKG, Earthworks, Peluso Labs, RØDE, Royer, Shure, Audix, Sennheiser, and Soundfield B-Format and ambisonics recording systems for three-dimensional recording of acoustical events for reproduction in traditional stereo, periphonic, and multichannel immersive audio environments. 

Software available includes Avid Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Dolby Atmos, MPEG-H Audio, Final Cut Pro, Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve, Steinberg Wavelab, and a wealth of audio plugins from Metric Halo, Solid State Logic, iZotope, FabFilter, Audio Ease, LiquidSonics, and Exponential Audio.  Studio instruments include a nine-foot Yamaha CF III concert grand piano, a 1976 Rhodes Suitcase 73 Mk I vintage electric piano, a Gretsch drum kit, and a variety of MIDI keyboards, synthesizers, samplers, and virtual instruments.

Community

Virginia Tech music students enjoy the advantages of being at a major research university while studying in a close-knit academic community with student-centered faculty. Students will find faculty and staff who push them to succeed, support their learning, and advocate for them throughout their careers, along with diverse peers and many opportunities for collaboration within Music, the School of Performing Arts, and across the university.

Music Technology Faculty