This page is dedicated to providing course-specific information relating to your start with us in September. New information will be added to this page over the coming weeks and we will inform you when this becomes available.

Will lessons begin on Monday 12th September?

No, your first week at dBs Institute will be Induction & Freshers' Week and will focus on getting everyone prepped for their first week of study and engaging in a range of workshops, guest lectures and other activities. You can find more detailed information on the dedicated Induction & Freshers' Week page.

What do I need to bring for the start of term?

A personal computer, be that desktop or laptop is advisable. This can be either Windows or Mac, but you will need to add Bootcamp (or VirtualBox etc.) to a Mac as some useful software currently runs on the Windows platform only.

You will need the following items for the practical elements of this course, which you can either purchase in advance or discuss during Induction week.

• Professional quality closed headphones (Sennheiser HD-25 or similar)

• USB stick (as large capacity as possible)

• Steel toe capped boots

• Ear plugs (you will have an opportunity to purchase discount ear protection from ACS Custom during Induction Week)

In addition to the above, we would also recommend that you have both a webcam and a microphone, as we foresee that 1-to-1 tutorials will continue online, and having these items makes sessions much clearer and more productive.

Is there anything I should be doing between now and when I start?

As recommend by Tom in his welcome video, you can use the time between now and September to focus on two areas. If you're already well-versed in industry experience, it's a great opportunity to read up on some of the core texts around live sound, particularly Yamaha's Sound Reinforcement Handbook (link to the free PDF below). Additionally, if you have access to softwares such as Pro Tools or Logic Pro X - free trials can be found below in Useful Resources - see if you can download some multi-track recordings of live bands and just have fun with mixing it.

We've provided a list of books and online resources below as well, which will be useful in preparing for your start at dBs.

Good books on Live Sound are rare and can be very quickly outdated however the following are useful as a general source of information.

• Davis, G and Jones, R. (2011) – Sound Reinforcement Handbook (2nd Ed.) Hal Leonard Corporation [PDF Link]

• Gibson, B. (2011) – Ultimate Live Sound Operator’s Handbook: Music Pro Guides

• Hunter, Stark S. (2005) – Live Sound Reinforcement: A comprehensive guide to music reinforcement systems and technology: Mix Bookshelf/Mix Books.

• White, P. (2000) – Basic Live Sound: Sanctuary Publishing

*It’s important to note that there isn’t any expectation that you’ll buy these books before starting your course. However, if you would like to do some reading in preparation, one of these is a good place to start!

Software

• Pro Tools Trial: https://my.avid.com/get/pro-tools-trial

• Logic Pro X Trial (Mac only): https://www.apple.com/uk/logic-pro/trial/

Websites

• Live Sound International Magazine www.livesoundint.com

• Lighting and Sound International http://www.lsionline.co.uk

• PLASA https://www.plasa.org/

• Head First Bristol - Live Music Venue Guide https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/#venues

• dBs Institute YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/dBsSoundMusicInstitute

• dBs Insider

Forums

• ProSound Web Forum http://www.prosoundweb.com/live

• Speaker Plans Forum https://www.speakerplans.com

If you are currently holding a conditional offer and do not achieve the results you needed please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Call us on 0117 325 9290 or email admissions@dbsmusic.co.uk