Music Technology Recording Arts
Upcoming Courses
Whether you want to learn the basics of audio, recording, music production, beat making, MIDI sequencing, game audio production, mixing, post-production, synthesis, or live sound, MTRA can help you turn your passion and creativity into a successful career.
We are the only program in the Santa Cruz-Monterey area offering a degree in Music Tech.
MTRA faculty and staff are dedicated to providing you with the opportunities and skills to succeed in the music industry.
Read more about what MTRA offers on our Why Our Program page including our new certificates, new courses, strong industry connections, and state of the art studios.
You can earn an Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree or one of three Certificates of Achievement, as well as four new non-credit certificates. All courses are designed to give students the skills they need to pursue a wide range of music careers, such as sound design, music composition, audio engineering, live sound engineering, game audio, and music production.
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Master your Craft!
Unlock your creativity with classes in the Music Technology and Recording Arts program! Find inspiration and take your love of music to a new level by using our state of the art studios and joining a creative community of peers.
MTRA students can also pursue internship opportunities during their course of study. The program proudly partners with local venues including Kuumbwa Jazz Center and Cabrillo Stage to give students opportunities to learn and excel outside the classroom.
We host the weekly MTRAK club meeting every Monday during the semester. Learn how to sign up.
Studios and Lab
Cabrillo's MTRA facilities feature state-of-the-art analog and digital equipment. All studios are equipped with cutting-edge Apollo interfaces and plugins from Universal Audio, Mac computers, the latest software tools, and more to ensure that students are using the same tools as industry professionals. The MTRA program also has a great collection of hardware preamps, compressors, equalizers, microphones, and synths including models by Universal Audio, API, Neumann, Royer, Sennheiser, Sequential, and more.
The Cabrillo Immersive Audio Lab features a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos mixing and production space with Genelec SAM monitors. We are one of the only community colleges in the nation with a Dolby Atmos production studio, and one of only a handful in the greater Bay Area. Our students are learning immersive audio production techniques and have access to state of the art technology, preparing them for the audio jobs of the future.
Listen to original music produced by current and former students.
This program has amazing tools that much larger colleges don't even have. It's been great to have their students come intern with us, and then to see them move onto rewarding careers in the field.
Ready to take your love of music to the next level?
Fall 2024 Hands-On Music Recording & Production Classes
Whether you’re a studio musician, professional recording engineer, or aspiring hip-hop beatmaker -- Cabrillo’s got you covered with classes that will seriously advance your ability to digitally make music and utilize production software.
8-Week, In-Person Classes | View Flyer
Fall 2024 Hands-On Music Recording & Production Classes
Whether you’re a studio musician, professional recording engineer, or aspiring hip-hop beatmaker -- Cabrillo’s got you covered with classes that will seriously advance your ability to digitally make music and utilize production software.
8-Week, In-Person Classes | View Flyer
Recording I
MUS 31A (credit) / MUS 431A* (noncredit)
Build basic recording skills learning about analog and digital audio, microphones, eq, recording, editing, and mixing
Music Production I
MUS 57A (credit) / MUS 457A* (noncredit)
Learn digital music production through the use of MIDI sequencing, digital audio, mixing, & editing.
Game Audio Production I
MUS 59A (credit) / MUS459A* (noncredit)
Learn audio production for video games, including creating sound effects, ambiences, and dialogue.
*If you don't need to earn college credit, you can take this class for FREE by registering for the NONCREDIT version of this class. Learn more about noncredit classes and certificates.