If you call Recording Institute of Detroit about classes this fall, the end of the conversation will be real interesting.  After the receptionist gets address information to send out a catalog, the call goes something like this: 

Once the new "free training subscriber" receives the e-mail, they have access to the first seven lessons of a licensed training course.  If they complete these lessons and send in a feedback form, they get access to the next section of the course within 6 weeks.  Repeating this process, the subscriber can study all 57 lessons in the course over a 12 month period without paying a dime.  In addition, the subscriber  can use a 1200 definition recording glossary, listen to online audio demos, and have access to over 200 recording training articles fully indexed by title and subject matter.  This access is all free for a full year. 

The obvious question is, "Why would there be so much free?"  Robert Dennis, the Recording Institute's administrator explains:  

The subscriber can then decide to get the "full package" of web training materials at a cost of $299 for two years of access to over 7800 training files through the institute's affiliate, www.alexandermagazine.com.  In addition to full texts and reference materials, the subscriber will find interactive step-by-step study modules containing the material in the exact sequence of study, including pre-tests, audio demonstrations and interactive equipment drawings. "Interactive" means that clicking on a control shown on the equipment drawing will bring up an explanation of the control.  The subscriber can study all of the theory for recording and production courses on the web, plus get a CD that they can use when they are are stuck with no or slow Internet access.  The subscriber could then become a Recording Institute Of Detroit student completing course requirements by attending the hands-on portion of the campus courses.    

Beginning October 2001, Recording Institute of Detroit and Alexander Magazine begin worldwide job placement services through the Internet at www.recordingjobsconnection.com.  Here the online subscribers and campus students can be exposed directly to studios and other employers.  The site will present this in a "magazine" format that features both graduates and studios with "help wanted" and "position wanted" postings.

In the fall of 1975 the first Recording Institute Of Detroit classes were held in the Disc Ltd. recording studios.  At that time it was a ten week very informal endeavor without things like graded assignments.  In 1978, when the institute was faced with the decision of becoming a fully-licensed school or ceasing training activities, the decision was made to get licensed and restructure the programs to meet Michigan Department Of Education requirements.   The school remains fully-licensed in Michigan.

By the late 1980's, the Recording Institute of Detroit had its largest student body, when the decision was made to strive for the best education by limiting the number of students, keeping classes small and the providing the extra student attention that comes with this.  To this day, the Recording Institute of Detroit maintains about a 10:1 student/teacher ratio and provides "lab time" with one or two students in the student control room for very individual hands-on practice.  

Late 1995, Recording Institute of Detroit had a web presence and Robert Dennis (RID's founder) began updating educational materials with an eye toward Web study of recording theory.  By early 1998, Mr. Dennis took over webmaster duties and began the online magazine called Recording Engineer's Quarterly (www.recordingeq.com).   Although new educational materials began to be marketed via the Web before 1999, complete theory study of recording on the Web was introduced with the launch of Alexander Magazine by Mr. Dennis in January, 2000.  

Today, Alexander Magazine, posts over 7800 training files to the web for its paid subscribers who wish to study Recording Institute Of Detroit course materials content as well as other educational content about the Recording/Music field.