SOUND ENGINEER
LEVEL I ACADEMIC COURSE
Sound Engineering – Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor’s Degree in Sound Engineering trains highly qualified professionals in audio production, recording, and sound design. This comprehensive, cutting-edge program integrates technical skills, practical experience, and mastery of analog and digital technologies.
During the three-year program, students cover all the main techniques used by music producers and sound engineers in professional settings, both in recording studios and in live performance environments. Students work with analog systems and advanced digital environments, with a particular focus on Avid Pro Tools HD, participating in recording, editing, mixing, and record production sessions.
The program includes official Pro Tools 101, 110, and 201 certifications, strengthening the graduate’s professional profile in the national and international professional audio market.
Duration 3 years
Attendance 350 hours of classes per academic year
Where Rome and Milan, Saint Louis College of Music
Language Italian and English
The Bachelor of Arts in Sound Engineering course has a limited number, aimed at a maximum of 60 students each academic year, coming from Saint Louis’ pre-academic courses or selected from external candidates by audition.
The three-year Bachelor’s degree program in Sound Engineering is a professional training program designed to prepare qualified sound engineers capable of working in both live performance and recording studio settings.
The program includes over 1,200 hours of theoretical and practical training, with ongoing hands-on practice at the mixing console and direct mentoring by professional instructors in the field. The curriculum integrates technical skills, knowledge of analog and digital technologies, and immediate application in real-world operational contexts.
Throughout the program, students tackle all phases of audio production: multitrack recording, editing, mixing, mastering, live sound management, audio system design and cabling, use of professional DAWs, and advanced digital workflows. Practical experience in studio and live environments allows students to develop operational proficiency, technical problem-solving skills, and professional autonomy.
- Recording, mixing, and post-production in a recording studio. Studio management, microphone techniques, use of analog outboard gear and “in-the-box” digital processors, analog and digital mixing consoles, editing, mixing, and finalization of the audio product.
- Live sound engineering and concert management. Live miking, digital live mixing, cabling and setup, amplification systems, preamps and power amps, design and use of Point Source, Sub Array, and Line Array sound systems.
- Professional use of Avid Pro Tools HD, with official Avid certification (Pro Tools 101, 110, and 201), the international standard for audio production and post-production.
- Music production, sampling, and sound design. Use of Cubase, virtual instruments, modular and compact synthesizers, sampling techniques, and sound design for studio, media, and live performance.
- Acoustics and sound technologies. Sound propagation, soundproofing and acoustic treatment, mechanical and electrical operation of transducers (microphones and loudspeakers), electroacoustic instruments (Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Clavinet), and physical modeling of acoustic instruments.
Upon completion of the three-year program, students earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Sound Engineering, a qualification recognized by the Ministry of Education (MUR).
The program provides direct access to two-year Master’s programs (authorized by the MUR), with the option to pursue specialized studies in Mixing & Mastering, Sound Design, Live Electronics, and Music Production.
Continuing on to the two-year program allows students to delve deeper into advanced techniques in audio production, post-production, sound design, and the management of complex systems for studio, live, and audiovisual media, thereby strengthening their professional profile in the professional audio sector.
Career Opportunities for the Bachelor’s Degree in Sound Engineering
- Live Sound Engineer and Stage Sound Engineer. Technical sound management for concerts, tours, festivals, and live events, with expertise in digital live mixing, line array systems, and audio system design.
- Studio Recording and Mixing Engineer. Sound engineer in a recording studio, specializing in miking, editing, mixing, and post-production for music and audiovisual productions.
- Audio Technician for multimedia events and installations. Management and design of audio systems for performances, immersive installations, ambient sound systems, and cross-media productions.
- Audio Technician for broadcast and audiovisual productions. Sound engineer for television, web, streaming, and video productions, with expertise in audio-video synchronization and professional digital workflows.
Saint Louis is an authorized Avid Pro Tools center for issuing international Pro Tools User certifications.
Students in the Bachelor’s Degree program in Sound Engineering follow the official Avid “Pro Tools Fundamentals” curriculum and can take the exams on-site to earn Pro Tools 101, Pro Tools 110, and Pro Tools 201 certifications, which are internationally recognized standards in audio production and video and broadcast post-production.






















