Alumni Spotlight - Terry Meighan
Is music in your veins? Can you recognise good sounds from bad and are you motivated to make a listening experience the best it can be? If a career in this thriving industry sounds good to you, you've come to the right place at UHI Perth! You will have the opportunity to study at the longest established audio engineering education centre in Scotland, with a reputation as a centre of excellence. And this is exactly what Terry did! He left his job in a supermarket and started on a new career path as an Audio Engineer 👇🎶
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Terry Meighan and I’m an audio engineer at Euphony Studio Solutions, based in my hometown, Montrose.
What course did you study at UHI Perth, and in what year did you complete your studies?
I studied BSc Audio Engineering and graduated with first class honours in October 2023.
How did you hear about UHI Perth?
I first heard about it from my musician pal years ago, when it was called Perth Rock School and had always been intrigued cos it just sounded cool. I mean who doesn’t want to be a rockstar, right?
What were you doing before you came to UHI Perth?
Before uni, I worked nightshift at my local Tesco supermarket as a general assistant for 12 years.
Why did you decide to pick this course?
There are only so many times you can turn a tin of beans round so the label faces the front. Fed up with a career that was going nowhere, I decided to follow my dreams and put my passion to better use.
What was your favourite thing about the course?
The knowledge and laid-back attitude of the tutors was amazing, and they all ended up being people I really admired and looked up to. The facilities and equipment were also brilliant and really helped capture the atmosphere of the career I wanted to pursue.
Were there any standout/memorable moments from your course?
During the final year of the course, I completed a lifelong ambition of mine by finishing my debut album. The first single called “Settle The Score” has just been released on all major streaming platforms and the album “Life Lessons & Sunday Sessions” will be out in a month or two.
What knowledge, skills and experience did you gain from your course that have helped you since leaving UHI Perth?
I did the NC, HNC, and degree courses and learned so much over the years. My mixing skillset has improved dramatically and learned how to master my own tracks so they can be released to a competitive standard onto the commercial market. Seeing my first track on the likes of Spotify gave me such a boost.
I also noticed huge improvements in my academic writing and progressed so much I started getting regular A grades. Something that seldomly occurred during high school. My confidence was also built up massively, so much so that I was able to teach a lesson to NC Sound Production students in my final year.
Did you undertake a placement or work experience whilst at UHI Perth?
During my placement I worked in a studio with an audio engineer in my hometown. I’m now working with him and have a couple of bands lined up that we are co-producing albums for, so I couldn’t have wished for a better outcome.
What did you think about the styles of teaching, and the support you received from staff?
As I mentioned above, the teaching staff were all fantastic and I couldn’t compliment them enough. They’re passion and drive rub off on you and you get a great insight into the industry by hearing some of their stories of big bands and venues they’ve worked with in the past.
What did you like about the campus? Were the audio engineering facilities good?
The campus layout was great and don’t think I ever got lost. Like I said before, the facilities for a recording environment are up there with the best in the UK and that really helps to immerse yourself into the course.
Were there any other achievements you gained, on your journey?
I gained my digital and analogue studio tickets, which meant I could operate the mixing consoles on my own which I was quite proud of. During the final year, a small group of us were selected to get a tour of the OVO Hydro down in Glasgow, where we got to see The 1975’s soundcheck and stage being built, at the same time as getting a great deal of insight and stories into the process from their European tour manager. Then we got taken for a free lunch… Happy days, haha.
Since graduation, you have been busy making your debut album and building an audio engineering business. Can you tell us about both?
I’ve covered this further back but here’s a couple of links to my business and artist pages if you’re interested in the new single / upcoming album.
Also, if you want to get your own tracks recorded and released then feel free to contact me on any of my socials and I’ll see when I can get you fitted in… Your unfinished tracks aren’t going to sell themselves.
You can also follow my Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Do you feel your studies at UHI Perth have helped you with your new business and album?
100%... If I never started at UHI Perth, neither would have been a possibility and I’d probably still be turning tins of baked beans around.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about studying at UHI Perth?
Ignore your doubts, follow your dreams, and go for it!!!
