April 11, 2025
While vinyl may have gone the way of the buggy whip, the sound recording business is still very much alive and well. GRCC alumni Austin Ruhstorfer says his education prepared him to succeed in this constantly-evolving industry.
“I grew up on the east side of the state,” Ruhstorfer said. “I was always in bands as a kid. I even started my own band in fourth grade! So when I was considering careers in high school, music seemed like a natural choice.”
Austin started looking at music production schools on the national scene and quickly discerned they were not the right option for him.
“I considered schools in California, Florida and Arizona,” Ruhstorfer said. “No question…they were glitzy, cool and Hollywood-like. But the tuition for a one-year program was $40,000 back in 2005. I just wanted to learn the fundamentals. Since I didn’t even know if I could earn a living in this field, that investment didn’t make sense.”
He switched his focus to regional offerings, and that’s when GRCC popped up on his radar.
“I found out that GRCC had a recording technology program, so I started researching it,” Ruhstorfer said. “It was closer to home and a lot more affordable. I came for a tour, met the faculty and really liked what I saw. I also appreciated that a two-year program would give me more time to learn and absorb. I got a good vibe, so I signed up.”
Back then, students who were interested in recording technology earned an Associate of Music degree with an applied Recording Technology minor. So that’s what Austin did. He studied classical guitar and pursued his interest in sound technology.
Austin knows, without a doubt, that he chose the right school.
“I am so glad I came to GRCC,” Ruhstorfer said. “The small classes and teaching style gave me lots of one-on-one time to learn the basics of microphone design and studio techniques. It wasn’t thrown at me all at once. I could learn constantly over my two years. We had creative procedures and projects to explore the mechanics of audio recording. That, along with my second year of mixing and learning production details, gave me a good foundation.”
That foundation led to something that Austin freely admits was a lucky break.
“My professor, Tim Heldt, had worked previously at River City Studios as the head engineer,” Ruhstofer said. “He suggested I consider interning there. Since sound engineers almost always need internship experience before landing a job, I jumped at the opportunity.”
Many graduates intern for a year or more before being let loose to record on their own. After only six months of interning, Austin started doing small sessions, such as tape transfers and audio books, on his own. He continued to work hard and earned full-time status in 2010, just two years after graduating from GRCC.
Looking in the rearview mirror, Austin says the foundational skills he learned at GRCC were both essential and sufficient.
“I thought about getting a four-year degree, but it didn’t make sense for two reasons,” Ruhstorfer said. “First, I didn’t have time to go back to school! But I also realized that sound engineers are craftspeople. We constantly have to reinvent ourselves as genres, tastes and technology change. That’s a requirement in order to build relationships and keep clients. I’ve actually never stopped learning.”
Austin credits GRCC with helping him hone his skills in this creative medium.
“People like Tim Heldt, who have been there and done that, were a huge asset,” Ruhstorfer said. “We called him ‘Mr. Help’ because no matter what jam we got ourselves into, he could show us how to back out of it. He and the other faculty members taught us great tricks and helped us learn to avoid a lot of mistakes. That learning paid off when I got to River City and could hit the ground running. Without GRCC, I would not have had the basic foundation and mechanics to be as successful as I was, as fast as I was.”
Fifteen years after graduating, Austin says he has no regrets about choosing a career that, at the time, he wasn’t sure would work out.
“It doesn’t feel like I’m going to work every day, because I love what I do.”
GRCC offers many options for students who are considering a music-related career, including an Associate of Music in Recording Technology and a Digital Audio Specialist Certificate. These options are both geared toward people who have less desire for a musical performance career, and are more interested in the sound side of the business.
Learn more about all of GRCC’s music programs.
This story reported by Julie Hordyke.
First image: Austin Rustorpher working with an artist at River City Studios.
Second image: Austin Rustorpher.