CRAS – Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences Tempe Campus, Tempe | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

Simeon Walther’s Cras Review

CRAS has been a transformational experience for me. Upon graduating college, getting involved in the audio production/music scene is the only thing I could picture myself doing in the near future. This school has given me the opportunity to learn a solid introduction to all facets of the audio industry at a professional level.

The condensed educational program at CRAS for live sound, video games, cinema, music production, broadcast, etc. focuses largely on the fundamentals of recording and signal routing on multiple platforms (whether it be software or circuitry based) to work seamlessly between the analog and digital worlds of audio. Furthermore, these fundamental skills help make you prepared to do what most people can’t do… setting up and running professional recording/live/broadcast sessions as well as properly mixing and mastering tracks associated with these sessions. Furthermore, file organization and time management is drilled throughout the experience at CRAS.

The reward for all this training is that when the opportunity for creative application of audio production knowledge and practical skill presents itself, the quality of recording and making projects at a high level manifests itself in creating a product that you can add to your portfolio to impress potential employers and clients. More than that, attending CRAS plugs you into a network of hundreds of students and professionals that are pursuing the same sorts of things that you are in the audio industry! This network of friends and colleagues that one has the opportunity to build at CRAS gives each student the support and connections they need to succeed in the long-term for their respective field(s) in the audio world.

The internship program at CRAS separates it from most other schools since the employees at CRAS will not only invest in each student while they attend the school; but they will vouch for you even after you leave to help you get a ‘foot in the door’ of the audio industry. The leverage that CRAS offers in the audio industry is made possible by their extensive music studio, post production, live sound, and broadcast connections across the country in all of the powerhouse cities and other various sites for audio services.

Finally, CRAS graduates are leaders, educators, and innovators in the audio world. And I am thankful to be apart of this program as well as the continued growth that will come from it.

Simeon Walther (aka Uncommon1)

I absolutely love CRAS! My experience has been nothing but positive at this school. As someone who went through the traditional college route and got my Bachelor’s, I can confidently say that being at CRAS has kept me consistently motivated by creating a rewarding learning environment where I feel fulfilled. If you love audio and want to be with other audio nerds, this is the place to be! The teachers and staff are probably some of the coolest people I’ve ever met, and the students here truly make you feel at home. The best decision I have ever made has been to pursue my dreams in working with music, and attending CRAS was the catalyst in making me feel like they will come true. (I took these photos after learning how to record on tape!)

I met some really great people at this school but hip hop lovers be ware, the instructors openly mock hip hop music and used to call them “dope, digital beats” in a very condescending tone. Perhaps Full Sail is a more inclusive environment. With that aside, the equipment is top notch. Having access to book studio time and practice your craft is amazing. Job placement with assistance from the school is also lacking so be prepared to hit the streets to find an internship. Good luck to you