Testimonials

Dave Meszaros is one of the most well rounded and knowledgeable engineers in Vancouver.  His studio credits include Eric Bibb, Chilliwack, John Reischman, Alpha Yaya Diallo and Craig Northey. His live (front of house) accolades include Theatre Under the Stars, Nick and Sophie Simmons, The Aboriginal Pavillion at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and repeat seasonal audio tech for the Banff World Media Festival. Dave is the Owner/Producer/Engineer at Watershed Studios.

Dave Meszaros on Harbourside IT:
Harbourside IT was a fantastic place for me to begin my career working in music and audio production. The instructors were excellent and I gained valuable skills and contacts that I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else. Since graduating, the school has been very supportive and still to this day plays a role in my career.

Two months into my first semester at HIT, I was working in the industry, and have been ever since. I learned how to properly display myself in the industry, proper application of current industry-standard digital audio programs and analog gear, and most importantly, learned to understand practicality when producing music. It’s important to realize that the audio industry nowadays is slowly entering a digital “do-it-yourself” era, where the technology allows us to work from home, using a lot less expensive equipment. A lot of audio schools seem to be solely focusing on how to use massive analog consoles and work in an entirely pro-studio environment. I definitely got that at HIT, but I also graduated with the knowledge to achieve professional results, using extremely accessible tools. I would highly recommend HIT to anyone with a passion-driven determination to enter the music industry.

Attending Harbourside Institute of Technology was probably the best decision I have ever made. I left my life in Venezuela to attend HIT for a year and I will never regret that. After my first semester at the school I was already helping in the studio and participated in the production of the first SVT album – great band from Vancouver Island. I also worked with live sound at the Olympics and many other audio projects that came along. HIT gave me the knowledge and skills that I needed to work in the audio industry, and  the opportunity to get my 101,110,130, 201 and 210 Pro tools certifications. The blend of the practical hands on tutoring, and informative lessons left me motivated because of the amount of input I was getting. While studying at HIT, I was also preparing myself for further studies in electronic and systems engineering which I am currently studying back in my country. I am also working on some recording and editing, and of course still playing the drums. HIT has opened so many doors for me in my professional life. I am hoping to go this year to the UK to study and work in the multimedia, audio systems and electronics industry.

To the director of the Harbourside Institute of Technology:

I just wanted to say “thank you” for the wonderful experience my music students at Bodwell High School had last evening with your sound engineering students. We were treated kindly, patiently, and so professionally. It was great fun, and, as my students said, “cool” to see the equipment and get a feeling for the effort that goes into making quality recordings. Mario was the main person in charge of our group, and though he worked very hard, he also kept the atmosphere relaxed with his quiet sense of humour. The other young man (I’m sorry I don’t recall his name) put in an enormous amount of time and effort as well, and was equally welcoming.

Thanks again! We now have an “up close and personal” memory of HIT, one that will stay with us for a long time to come.

Harbourside Institute of Technology is a great school. A high paced informative curriculum that offered me a variety of different tools to be able to use in the world of audio engineering and producing. I have created a production, promotion and management company with a division of an independent label called “Elevated Music” which is going extremely well with the help from the teachers at harbourside. Along with the extremely motivating music Business class taught by industry veteran Brain Watson I am well on my way with my company and am extremely excited about what the future holds. Updates on Facebook and website www.elevatedmusic.ca will show the artists that are involved with the Elevated Music crew. Now a graduate from Harbourside, I recommend the school to any aspiring musician or anyone who would like to further there education in the world of audio engineering and production.

Things are going quite well with me currently I graduated July 2010, and since then I’ve been working independently as a producer/engineer out of my home. I have five clients currently, mostly singer/songwriters. I have also been really busy with composing music for short-films, generally for VFS and CAP students. I’ve finished 4 scores so far, and since they’ve been heard, I’ve had quite a few people ask me to score their films! I am almost done my own album too, just vocals and some final touches and then its all done, and while that album was being worked on I wrote another! I’ve also been included on an album called “A Very Vancouver Christmas” it is the 5th year of the album, the producer, Jenn Ashton, sought me out after hearing one of my songs. It was released world-wide November first of this year, and I guess I will be getting some radio play on CBC sometime later this year, closer to Christmas. H.I.T. was a great learning experience for me, I would have had no idea what I wanted to do in this industry if it weren’t for H.I.T. at first I really dug the idea of being an engineer in a big fancy studio, but school made me realize I prefer working one on one with people like myself, in a small, yet professional environment. School also made me realize how much I wanted to pursue my own music career, overall, I learned more in that 9 month period than I could ever have imagined. A big thanks to you for making it all possible, and a personal big thanks to Mike Rogerson, I don’t like singling people out, but he taught me the things I use the absolute most, every day. Great guy and an amazing ear.

Being a student of HIT has really had a lot of benefits – The diverse program they offer has really given me a lot of options and tools when it comes to music. In fact, because of HIT, I was able to discover exactly what I wanted to do as a drummer/producer and it allowed me to grasp the information so that I can apply it to whatever area of music I am dealing with. I now have the tools I need to stake out a future for myself within the music industry.

The name of the band I am playing with is, Sons of Granville, which is a trio, with  me on Cajon, a 12 string acoustic guitarist, and a classically trained electric viola player. We just sold out the backstage lounge last month. We are planning to busk and gig in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and London for the 2012 Olympic  Games.

Choosing to go to HIT for my Music Production and Audio Engineering training was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The balance between formal training and hands on experiences was invaluable for my development as a music producer.

I’m currently teaching courses in live sound engineering, and using multimedia technology in the church services at Summit Pacific College in Abbotsford, BC. I am also building and managing a project studio for the music students to use. I continue to work with the artist, Gina Williams, that I recorded and produced for the HIT Sessions Vol. 1 student compilation, as Global Media Music Group Canada has expressed interest in hearing more of her songs. I recently founded Windsong Music Group which will be the first Canadian production company to offer Christian Music a true “grass roots to major label” business model. Windsong Music Group  has gone about establishing strategic partnerships both with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada – BC Yukon District (bcyd PAOC), belonging to one of the biggest Evangelical Christian organizations in Canada, and with Maximum/EMI Music.

I came from Victoria, BC, to attended HIT,  from October 2010 – June 2011. Over the course of that time I really found myself growing as an engineer and producer, with the help of the  great teachers that surrounded me.
I find myself actively using all of the skills I learned at HIT, on a daily basis, especially what I learned in Mike Rogerson’s class in the first and third semesters. Mike gave us a very real world studio experience which has prepared me for the industry and there were no surprises, as I already knew what was expected of me.
It was also great to be taught by Brian Watson as he runs Maximum Music (EMI), and to see, in action, the strategies that he was implementing in his own business. As well as a recording engineer I am also a session drummer and with the DIY and Social Media Marketing training I received from Brian I have managed to get my self very active, drumming on many projects.

I have been working as an engineer and producer at Lemon Tree Studios in Victoria, BC  for sometime now.
My big news for 2012 – I now also have a job as an engineer at  100.3 The Q (The Islands Rock) Victoria and will be getting my hands dirty at the desk.

After graduating from HiT Adam started working with local talent until he made contact with an animation/comic studio called ‘Arcana‘, for whom he did some dialogue recording. They loved his personable attitude and studio know-how and decided to hire him on a permanent basis for all their upcoming projects. That, along with his independant recording of artists, have gotten him to the place that he envisioned he’d be when he first enrolled at Harbourside Institute of Technology.

Adam on Harbourside IT:
Harbourside I.T. gave me the skills and confidence I needed to succeed in the world of sound. The teachers involved did an exceptional job of nurturing our talents and getting us to the point where we can be an asset to any audio project, and more than that, they are great people with some great experience. It took a lot of hard work, but none of it could have been possible without the skill boost from HIT.

Prospective Student’s E-mail to Paul Baker:

… I plan to attend a sound engineering school in the Vancouver area. There are a lot of schools offering audio based programs and I was wondering what institution, if any, you prefer to hire graduates from. Any information regarding positive or negative experiences you’ve had hiring from particular schools would be very helpful in making my decision. Thank you for your time.

Answer:

Hi John. I hire solely from Harbourside Institute. They are the very best, with very good instructors used to the activities in modern studios.

Wish you the best.

Paul

Going to Harbourside was the best decision I’ve ever made. The instructors are great and very knowledgeable. The music business portion of the class is second to none. It not only helped me understand the business side of the music industry, but gave me the tools to take my own business to the next level.

By providing a fully equipped recording facility with industry standard technology and an extremely knowledgeable and dedicated faculty, The Harbourside Institute gave me the tools necessary to take my passion for audio production to a professional level. Before I had even graduated the 9 month program, I had paid work, engineering and producing for local vancouver musicians. From Producer to Songwriter, Foley Artist to Musician, Dance Hall DJ to Video Postproduction, HIT will give you the knowledge and instruction you need to become a professional in your audio field.

Deciding to attend HIT was the best decision I could make. With the top of the line education you can obtain with cutting edge technology and instructors who are professional and on point, you will walk away with all the tools you need to compete in this industry. Learning from the best, I have the confidence through my education and guidance to SUCCESS.