A brief history of SAE

 

 

1976

The School of Audio Engineering (SAE) is set up in October 1976 by engineer/producer Tom Misner who, in so doing, develops the first practical/theoretical curriculum. At this point in time there are NO other colleges anywhere in the world offering practical audio education. The first course was mostly held in our own 4 track recording studio.

1977

The first 9 month course commences in February, in Sydney Australia with a Sony 4-track tape recorder and a custom made 12 channel mixing console.

1978

SAE Melbourne, the 2nd college, is established in North Fitzroy, a suburb of Melbourne, with a small 8 track studio and some editing tape machines.

1979

SAE Sydney is upgraded with a Soundcraft Series II console and an Ampex 24 track tape recorder. Tom Misner commences publishing Australia's first professional audio magazine - Australian Sound *amp; Broadcast.

1980

SAE Brisbane, the 3rd college, as it turns out later will move three times in the next few years and our first commercial studio Central Recorder is opened in Sydney.

1981

SAE Sydney commences with the acceptance of overseas students and gains the first form of government recognition - a public service grading. Because we want to give all students individual practical studio time, the first practical audio workstations are designed by Tom Misner. SAE Townsville (Australia), a special SAE college, is designed to operate for one year only to train the local TV and radio station staff in the area.

1982

SAE Adelaide, the 4th college commences operation early in the year. SAE Perth, the 5th college, is established in August.

1983

The year of consolidation and learning. The main expansion this year is in the direction of publishing with the introduction of a number of new magazine titles including the well known UK magazine International Musician and Recording World (Australian Edition). SAE Brisbane relocatse to larger premises and update their equipment. This was to be the first SAE college to be 'purpose built' into an empty warehouse, allowing Tom Misner to lay the architectural foundations for all future design of SAE colleges. The first copies of the SAE concept started appearing in Australia and on the international level in America.

1984

SAE Coffs Harbour (Australia) is set up for one year only to conduct a course on behalf of the local television and radio stations, but, due to surprising local demand, the college stays open for a further year.

1985

On a business trip to London, Tom Misner notices that there are no professional audio colleges at all operating in the UK. This leads directly to the establishment of SAE London, the first overseas college. Operation commences in March. The college is equipped with a Fostex 16 track tape recorder and a Studiomaster console. The new logo (current logo) is used for the first time in our advertisements.

1986

SAE Munich, our first foreign language school, opens in Germany. The course is extended to 15 months part-time. SAE Frankfurt commences late in the year, both German colleges are initially equipped with the TAC Scorpion consoles. The first UK copy of an SAE college opens in Manchester.

1987

SAE Vienna the first college in Austria is opened in February. The first custom-designed program is conducted by SAE Germany for radio station 'Radio Free Europe'. The radio station is controlled from the USA by the CIA. SAE Perth moves premises (to next door) expands all studio facilities and sponsors the Santana Concert in Perth.

1988

SAE Sydney undertakes a major move and equipment update. In London, SAE graduate Tim Simmons (Bomb the Bass) gains success as an artist and producer for dance tracks. SAE Berlin the third German college is opened late in the year with special assistance from the German government. SAE registered the world rights to the 'Tonmeister' label. A new course 'Live Sound Engineering' (another first) is offered by SAE.

1989

SAE London relocates to much larger premises the equipment is updated to a Neve console. SAE introduces the 6 months part-time 'Studio Sound Certificate' course.

1990

SAE Auckland is established with a 24 track studio and the Auckland college is granted full government approval (NZQA). SAE introduces the 'DJ and Sampling' course in London. SAE Glasgow commences operation late in the year.

1991

SAE Amsterdam, our new European operational head office is opened. Our newsletter circulation commences in Europe and is now available in three languages, to assist students in finding jobs. One of the largest orders of Neve consoles ever placed, called for the supply of 11 VR series consoles. The first SAE student CD, a compilation of various student projects is mastered. SAE Singapore commences in September as the first audio college in Asia. It too is based upon the Neve VR console.

1992

SAE Berlin college is updated with a Neve console. SAE Sydney updates the main studio with a Sony MXP fully automated console. SAE Munich relocates to larger premises and installs a Neve VR console. The audio engineering programme is extended to 15 months part-time in all SAE colleges. SAE Kuala Lumpur opens in October with a Jade console and Otari 24 track. The College is based in the complex of King Musical Industries one of the largest record distributors and recording studios in the region.

1993

SAE Paris opens in our own large free standing building. The college has a Neve VR console with Flying Faders, two recording studios and a total of twenty various workstations. Partial government approval and funding for students is given to SAE by the French Government. SAE Melbourne is relocated and updated with a Sony MXP console and 24 track studio. SAE Hamburg opens and commences operation as the first SAE college to teach extensive digital practice. The studios are based upon the Soundtracs Jade console, Sony APR multitrack and ProTools III.

1994

SAE Kuala Lumpur gains government approval (Ministry of Education). The first SAE Book (Practical Studio Techniques by Tom Misner) is published. The first SAE European inter-college soccer competition takes place in Amsterdam - the eventual winner is SAE Frankfurt. SAE forms an official link with the Australian University (Southern Cross University) to offer a joint degree program (BA Music Production). The School of Audio Engineering changes its name to SAE Technology College. Tom Misner opens the only new large commercial recording studio in Australia to be built in the 90's. Known as Mirage Studios it is a world class recording studio (Neve VR with Flying Faders, Studer A 820, ProTools III 32 tracks and four racks full of the latest effects).

1995

The first SAE-ProSchool is established in London teaching the Digidesign ProTools system. Tom Misner purchases the largest studio complex in Sweden - Soundtrade Studios houses five studios. The main studio live room has the capacity to house a full orchestra. SAE Stockholm (Sweden) commences with the first audio course instructed in Swedish. SAE Glasgow moves into the main business district of Glasgow with our own studios based on the Otari MTR 90 multitrack and digital ADAT multitracks. SAE Zurich has now been established in the Technopark industrial complex. The studio is equipped with a Neve VR console and Studer A800 multitrack. SAE Hobart, the 6th college in Australia, opens. The first multimedia program called 'Multimedia Producer' commences in Sydney with SAE Vienna following later in the year. The multimedia program is now also offered in Berlin, Zurich and Singapore. SAE Asia Sdn Bhd is established to promote the franchise concept within the Asia region. Excluding Singapore and Malaysia, all other SAE colleges around the world are not a franchise. SAE Cologne, the fifth German College, opens later in that year and offers both the audio and multimedia programs. SAE Singapore receives government approval and is able to accept overseas students. A new student administration system is introduced into all SAE colleges.

1996

The current Newsletter reaches a circulation of 100,000 copies. The multimedia program is expanded to Zurich and Singapore. The first full university degree programme is launched by SAE Sydney with the co-operation of the Southern Cross University. SAE Singapore is to move to larger premises and is installing a full digital studio. SAE Frankfurt now offers the first live sound program in Germany. SAE Milano, the first college to open in Italy, is based upon a Neve VR console and Otari multitracks.

1997

SAE becomes landlord and purchases all of its Australian colleges and some of the overseas operations. SAE Sydney moves to 4 floor building. SAE London doubles in area. SAE Germany increases the multimedia department. The first multimedia-only college in Stuttgart starts in October. SAE forms the SAE Entertainment Company for professional production of CD ROM, CD extra, CD audio and internet homepages.

1998

SAE Adelaide moves to new premises. SAE New York is licensed and a building is chosen on 40th Street. A major deal is signed with Walt Disney Entertainment. SAE Zurich expands college. SAE purchases 4 SSL G+ consoles. Over 500 Macitosh Power PC computers are installed at various SAE colleges. SAE Athens opens late in the year, and SAE London expands again. Currently there are 1.25 million sq ft rented to SAE colleges used for education world wide, making SAE 10 times larger than the nearest competitor. SAE enters into a collaborative arrangement with Middlesex University, England and the first BA (Hons) degree programmes are run at the London, Munich and Sydney campuses.

1999

SAE Nashville starts operation. SAE purchases Australia's premier recording facility (Studio 301) which is the world's second oldest recording studio, established in 1926 a few months after Abbey Road. SAE Munich is the first college to start the Digital Film Program in November 1999, with Cologne, Hamburg and Vienna to follow in spring. Tom Misner receives his doctorate from Middlesex University.

2000

SAE Munich starts Digital Film Arts Degree. SAE Hamburg starts the Digital Film Program. For the first time in the history of SAE 4 new franchise schools are established in India. SAE establishes a new structure with a Board of Directors. SAE Frankfurt and SAE Amsterdam expands to make room for its new multimedia department. SAE Stuttgart moves to a bigger location. SAE Berlin expands institute for the next Digital Film Program.

2001

Finally we made it: 25 years of SAE. Late in the year saw the opening of SAE Miami, Liverpool and Madrid. Final planning approval has been given for the SAE's new head office in Byron Bay, Australia. Tom Misner purchases the largest recording studio in Germany, which is now part of the the Studios 301 Group. Version 3 of the SAE Audio Book is released and 17 new franchise Institutes are currently under construction and negotiating. Studio 301 buys the first one million dollar mixing console: the Neve 88R.

2002

SAE Adelaide and SAE Perth turn 20. The new Digital Film Making Program is starting in Australia and Europe. SAE Thiruvananthapuram, India, commences operation. A number of SAE colleges are updated and receive new large consoles (SSL). SAE Miami installs a 120 Channels Sony Oxford console. SAE Berlin and SAE Athens are accredited as Degree Centers by Middlesex University, England.

2003

The SAE Alumni Association is founded. SAE Brussels, Belgium, and SAE Yangon, Myanmar, are opened. SAE Berlin is offering the first Bachelor courses. The new headquarters in Byron Bay, Australia, opens with the world's first SSL9000K for educational use. SAE New York moves to a new location doubling in size.

2004

SAE Munich, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Stuttgart and Hamburg all move to new, bigger and improved premises. SAE Leipzig opens. SAE Barcelona opens. Purchase of 200 Apple G5's in one transaction. International Mackie Traction contest. Purchase of 20 Focusrite liquid channels. Purchase of second SSL9000K console to be used by 301 and SAE Sydney. SAE acquires QANTM, Australia's leading production, new media and training company.

2005

SAE Singapore moves premisses and installes new SSL 900 console, our first school in the middle east (Dubai) opens, SAE LA commences operation on Sunset Blv., SAE Group purchases one of the leading mixing console manufacturers AMS-Neve, SAE Alumni hold its first conference in Frankfurt, sadly our Director of Education Prof. Clive Pascoe passes away.

2006

SAE celebrates the 30th anniversary of SAE with a function held at the new Berlin campus. The introduction of new locations include SAE Atlanta in the USA and also SAE Kuwait in the Middle East. Along with the formation of 'SAE consulting', a company specializing in studio *amp; acoustic design the introduction of SAE Corporate Training across the Middle East brings SAE into the corporate B2B world. New state-of-the-art studios are built for SAE Sydney, Brisbane, Nashville to ensure the provision of the latest equipment for students. Towards the end of 2006 SAE also launches the new, fully interactive SAE Institute Global website.