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

We offer two distinct degree paths to align with your specific professional and academic goals:

Professional Option: Music Technology

This intensive degree is designed for students seeking advanced technical competence and integrative artistic skills. It is the primary choice for those preparing for professional practice in the audio industry or elite graduate study. Key features include:

• Professional Readiness: Includes an internship or "Bridge Experience" to provide real-world experiential learning.
• Applied Artistry: Requires an audition and includes upper-level individual (one-to-one) applied studies in instrumental or vocal performance.
• Comprehensive Theory: Advanced coursework in music theory, history, and literature to ensure a deep understanding of the musical craft.

Liberal Arts Option: Music Technology

This pathway offers a versatile foundation in music technology paired with a broad academic experience. It is ideal for students who want to explore a range of post-baccalaureate pathways or pursue a double major. This option emphasizes:

• Foundational Musicianship: Core training in music recording, acoustics, and production.
• Broad Exploration: Increased flexibility with free electives outside of music, allowing students to tailor their education to diverse interests like computer science, communication, or business.
• Accessible Entry: No audition is required for admission, making it an ideal path for students with diverse musical backgrounds who are focused on the technology and production side of the industry.

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