Is mobile dynamics worth the money?

I really would love to take the course.. and all id have to save is around another 1-1500$..

looking through the toronto site.. it looks quite fun, and an interesting experience.

has anyone taken the course lately? if so.. what was your opinion on it?

its a waste of money, you could learm more practical, useful things on this forum and that a scary thought. mobile synamics is the puppy mill of the car audio industry. its designed to separate you from your money and leave you with little to no hands on knowledge. you will learn the basics of car audio which is usefull for sure, you will leave mecp certified as well, which is important to future shop, best buy and places like that. the mecp certification program is good in some respects, but i would hire a person with no mobile dynamics/mecp anything that i felt had potential over some kid who just "graduated"(use that term loosely) from any of the install schools. i have taken the course and learned more in 1 week working with a great installer, james tully, than that course could ever teach you. get youe foot in the door at a good reputable shop doing whatever they ask you to, lunch/beer runs, sweep, clean toilets, whatever, its the best advice i could give you, from a guy that has been hiring people for over a decade, ive never hired 1 single mobile dynamics "graduate"(terms used loosly) and many resumes come across my counter. i regularily advise peole against this course for 2 reasons, 1- its outrageously exspensive, 2- the things learned are basic and could be learned for far less by getting your foot in the door of a local shop or even by hanging around, not being a pain in the a$$ by hanging around, at a local shop.

heres a little story about a top graduate(termed used loosly) from mobile dynamics. comes in, wants a job, i ask what his experience is, he says, i graduated top of my class from mobile dynamics, i said "so", he says i learned alot and feel that this blah blah blah means i can work on cars for you, i say "is that right", he say, uh huh. so i test him. i give him a meter, take him back to a civic and ask him to check and see why the amp isnt working, after i show him how to get the meter to dc because he couldnt do it, remember hes a graduate, he comes to me and says he cant figure it out, i say "really", he says uh huh. i wish had a pic of the amp, it was mounted on the back seat of the car with rca cables plugged into it, and speaker wires coming off of it to a subwoofer box, no power, no ground, no remote, he couldnt figure it out, and this was a graduate, tops in his class. how could someone like this a) graduate and b)be tops in his class, i dunno.....

i should add that if the course was $399 or something like that, there would be some value to it

[ October 26, 2005, 09:18 AM: Message edited by: defro13 ]

if you know how to run wire ,fglass ,get a deck in/out of a car ,get an amp to run,and get a set of speakers in/out/play then keep your cash and ask for a job at a good shop [img]graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

lol even i know that stuff. lol still trying to figure ut this dang mutimeter. lol that's to funny couldn't figure out why it would not work. lol no ground, no power, and no remote. lol. thx that just made me a bit more happier.

yah i was talkin to a guy who works at futureshop out here.. he said its hard to get started if you dont have a cert, so its hard to get started in the first place

id love to be a installer.. i just dont know where to start? and i think mobile dynamics might be an interesting experience.. [img]graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

this topic has been debated a million time on this forumn and others.

as dave said , it is as useless as a third nipple......to him. as he can make make a better installer from anyone with the drive and dedication. most guys on here can grab a young man turn into a fabuloud installer and car audio guru. there are many on this forum that can.

Mobile dydnamics teaches you theory not practical. there is some practical involved but it is all theory.

here is another story ive said many times.

young guy goes to all the shops in vancouver and applies with a great resume and great attitude. really shows that he had mechanical and practical skills that are very transferable . but could not get a foot in the door because he had no actually experience. most common excuse." sorry how can i trust a 30 000 car with you when you never even touched a a car. dude goes to moile dynamics and learns theory. comes back and has a job when he gets back to bc. why cause the company that hired him wanted someone that has the discipline to attend a course and that coupled with his attitude and that great resume got his foot in the door.

that student has had multiple offeres for work. now. cause his passion and dedication not only are apparent but it is reinforced with a certificate. that made it easier to get that apprenticeship or to get into that shop now.

its true you dont need mobile dynamics to get a job. but it is a a clear and easy chioce to add value to what you can bring to a shop. there is no doubt in my mind that i would not be where i am were it not for mobile dynamics.

research it some more and get both side of the coin. good luck

[ October 26, 2005, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: Team Shadow ]

I talked to at least 3 or 4 guys at Importfest in Toronto last weekend that had gone through Mobile Dynamics. Talked about a bunch of stuff regarding audio and installation. They seemed to know their stuff and gave the course 110% two thumbs up. I've also had a tour of the place and it's well equipped and spotless when was there. Furthermore, the guys that run it are great in my books and they know their stuff. Some of the results that come out of there are awesome. Are they the best in the world and the ultimate authority.......... probably not. But they are very good.

Ok, that being said, Mobile Dynamics is a resource for those who want to learn and improve themselves. But how good you are depends on you. If you take the course and do nothing with it, you will become cold and stale. Just like with any career field, you have to stay on top of things and remain current and practiced. That's your responsibility. Anyways, that being said, I think to label the operation as crap is a mistake.

Furthermore, as I've said before, awesome installers that are willing to teach and share are incredibly hard to find. A. Most have an incredibly huge attitude problem B. Don't give a shiate about teaching anyone anything useful as it threatens their future to give up their secrets C. Usually are too busy either working on something or whining about something else to have any time to share. So yeah, you may be able to find a shop that may have a decent installer willing to teach you something, but the odds are HUGELY against you. The danger is you may end up bouncing around never learning anything useful and be no farther ahead.

Give MD serious consideration if you can afford it. Check them out closely. Get the course curriculum and find out exactly what you will learn. Then find out where their graduates have gone and talk to them. The more information you have infront of you, the easier it will be to make a good decision.

[ October 26, 2005, 11:35 AM: Message edited by: dawgsbreakfast ]

thank you for the words Pat.

i've ordered the free brochure from them, should be here tomorrow or friday.

Its really got me thinking.. cause id love to get into mobile audio, i love it.

but another thing is, id love to follow my dads footsteps as a IT computer tech....but if i could go car audio.. then ill go with car audio.

once the brochure pops up at my house.. itll make things a lot easier

I also feel that there are better ways to spend your time and your money than on Mobile Dynamics.

Hell pay me $300 a day and I'll teach you whatever you want [img]tongue.gif[/img]

lol. before i even posted on this board i heard good about you from my buddy in toronto who rarely uses the boards.

lol - I'm famous :cool:

Yessir Folks - line up over there to sign up for "A Day with Dukk". Learn kickpanel fabrication, amp racks, fibreglass spare tire well enclosures, door panels, custom radio install, proper wiring techniques, enclosure design (my favourite), upholstery, and how to be cool. Even better - you will learn using your OWN car and you get to keep what you make!! Even EVEN better - I'll print ya up a CERTIFICATE :eek:

Lesson Prices vary [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[ October 26, 2005, 01:59 PM: Message edited by: Dukk ]

Isn't/wasn't there a school in Coquitlam? I remember seeing a pamphlet at an import show a couple years back.

How to be cool....come on noone on this board knows how to do that.We are all car audio geeks!!!!! :D

where do i sign up ;) only if the certificate is goldleaf

LOL dukk.

do you own a shop in abby?

I've been to Mobile Dynamics on a few occasions, and they have a very well equipped shop and training facility.

Certainly not everyone that passes through their course will have the apptitude to be a good installer.

If you have the apptitude, and can't find a real pro to give you a shot, and you really want to be an installer (given the proper education, someone with the apptitude could easily be a dentist, doctor, mechanic, or something that actually pays $$$) then I'd say taking the course will pay off.

All things being equal, I'd hire the guy that took the course, just 'cause it proves his dedication.

I've seen lots of graduates, however, where the only thing they know is "I got it in a book, at home"

i have been there twice for dei training
the only think i got of any value was a piece of paper to stick on the wall that says i was trained to do something i already knew how to do
i was amazed that i knew more techanically than the trainers did
i questioned there logic on a couple of why you should do this as apposed to that
funny thing was he didn't even know what he was teaching when i challenged him on several topics
both times i was there they didn't even have enough tools for everybody to get there work done
you had to stand around waiting for somebody to finish with there tools
i also had a former worker take the course and the only thing he came back with is a blowup ego

I wanted to throw my 2cents in on this subject.....................

MD and MECP..........won't get you a job most of the time, I won't hire them...................

If you have the money and want to learn some theory that you may or may not use it's a good deal, if you have no clue about the basics or even the law of physics it's a good deal..............it has many plus's................

BUT...............are you qualified to be a installer just cause you take the course...........no...............will it help, maybe...............so long as you come back with a open mind and know that the MD way is one of a million ways to do the millions of things we do in car audio you should be ok....................

Passing MD and MECP means you can read a book and pass a test.......................

Hang out at some shops...............volunteer at some local shops in your free time...............if you stop by the shop someday.......you never know what might happen......

It's not like it is on TV.............. :D

you know, i was thinking about your shop and how you were looking for an installer.

being you, your work amazes me, ive never thought of my self anywhere near that level of skill.. or even having a shot being at a job site like yours.

id love to peep out there.. just gotta get my road test..

another way to learn is to go to all the local shows. The information and knowledge that flows out of most of those guys is very overwhelming, but try and grab some useful tips and try it out on your car.

I only competed for a couple months but at the shows I studied a lot of the cars very closely trying to see just how everything was done. And if need be, ask questions to the owner.

Well, there's more, and I think someone touched on this above. Just because you went to school doesn't mean you will succeed. School-ing gets you started but it's your attitude, work ethic, dedication, etc that will get you respect and allow you to succeed. You'll learn something new every day while you are out building your career. Like I've said a million times, I have yet to meet someone that knows everything about everything. So have an open mind and learn to listen.................

bentsa.
would you trust your teeth to a dentist that didnt have certification. would you trust your health to a doctor without certification? probably not. but there are still malpractise suits all over the place. even if they have certification. its like anything else. you can have certification and not be 100% accurate. or know everything. MD is 100% theory. tim is right. if you are good at reading and listening and you are good in school then you will do well. you will learn basic and imtermidiate electricity, security, acoustics, lighting, fiberglassing, etc. i did find that when i went there that toold were scarse only because boneheads help themselves to them. we got a brand new set at the beginning of the course and hand tools went missing cause they trust the students and students helped themselves.

there were dudes in that class that didnt know what tools were called. there were some that been installing for years. they teach you basic and intermediate theory. the advanced is up to you. that is why there are different levels of installing certificated too. all graduate as basic installer. and you need 1 year or experience as a first level and 3 if you want the master level. your pamphlets will show that.


but go see if any one will hire you. go to 10 shops with a good resume and dress accordingly and bring your car to show them your install and tell us the result of the interview. at the end of the interview. ask if any one there is mecp certified? ask what would be the outcome if you were mecp certified? ask for thier opinion about going to MD? ask the actual shop that you want to work at.

bensta if you want to start working in car audio email me and i can line up some interviews for you. i know a few manager here and there that are looking for newbies.

Patrick
westcoastextremespl@hotmail.com

[ October 27, 2005, 08:21 AM: Message edited by: Team Shadow ]

its 6000!!!!!!!!!, does nobody else find this insane. you spend 6k, read some books, sand some stuff, comback with little hands on knowledge but some academic knowledge that you, judging by the "graduates"(term used loosely) that ive spoken to over the years, may not even really know. 6000$!!!!!! is madness

$6grand? [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img] Holy crap. And it's what, just a few weeks? Wow my tuition at BCIT per semester, 32 hours of class a week, was $1100 as I recall.

$6k can buy a nice amount of gear for someone to install in their own car to act as a showpiece of their talents.

6k is more than my university tuition for this year [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]
That's madness.

I would far rather teach my employees the way I want things done and have them learn hands on as compared to having some a$$clown with a certificte show up and need to be retrained again and explain to him why he just wasted his money. Hell, $6000, I'll knock that in half and then you are assured a place in this industry.

Pat, i definately will.

I just gotta wait for my road test.. if i get my N.. ill email you my resume etc.

thanks for the help. living in mission doesnt help.. my closest shop is futureshop.. and go figure, my sister works there so i dont have any chance..

then theres a&b sound but their installers are quite rude.. wont even let me sit outside and watch..

I believe $6000 is what Hybrid charged at one time......... But Its no longer around now. and just think getting a certificate from a school thats no longer around..... not sure that'll get you a job. But the dedication & commitment for spending $6000 might.

Like some has mention above.. learn doing a nice install in your own car. (bi-amp system, kicks, subs amp rack etc) and use it as a resume would work better..... As it would show your workmanship and capability etc......

well ive done everything but the deck in my civ..

id love to explore, but we badly lack tools..

so i guess thats my gift to my dad... lots of tools.. lol

nah - I wanted to at one point but that was a long time ago. I just have a decently outfitted garage. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

I work Saturdays for FS as well for kicks.

really? i was talkin to jason at FS in abby about Mobile dynamics..

infact.. i got my deck installed there about a month ago on a friday.. lol

we will be holding some spl seminars over the winter, most likely a sat or sunday all day seminar. i will be posting them on here if allowed if not i will inform you.

Jason is the first guy I know that took MD and actually knows his ass from a hole in the ground.. I don't attribute much of that to the course either.

[ October 27, 2005, 02:46 PM: Message edited by: Dukk ]

lol, im not sure if you walked by.. i know a guy walked by.. it was first install of the morning..

baby blue civic hatchback (1990).

and pat, any info would be much appreciated. thanks a ton for all your help.

nah - I only work Saturdays and while I used to be in Abby I have been out in Chilliwack for a while now. I tend to bounce back and forth every 6 months to a year.


Having your deck put in doesn't look so good for your budding install career though ;) 90civic is an easy one.

well.. the wire harness on it was snipped off by the previous owner so im like.. weary about hard wiring lol.

hence why id love to get experience.. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Experience then would have been busting out the multimeter and finding which wires are your ground, constant and ignition wires. And also knowing how to track down a wiring diagram for your car.

I had to find a short in my 90 Daytona. It really sucked until I started digging into the wiring schematic for it. Turns out the electric cooling fan that kept blowing a fuse was tied into my voltage regulator circuit (the factory likes to double-up on circuits so 1 fuse does a few things). Somewhere between the computer, the fuse box and the alternator was a short. Replacing the wiring fixed it.

OK, now my $0.02 cents worth.
I've taken Mobile Dynamincs a long time ago, got the certificate and all. After I left, I did feel like I wasted my money, mainly because I had already taken basic electronics 101 and 102(basic DC theory, and AC/DC theory). I know that a few in my class, were having a hard time grasping the electronics part of the course, because I helped them. And I felt that some important issues were being "rushed" through(something I think has improved). As for the practical side of it, that's where I felt I gained some experience in fabricating techniques. But I had already been an installer for a few years.
I feel that if you take the course, remember one thing ASK QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME. The reason I say that is because some people are too SHY to ask, trying not to feel inferior.
As far as a job, I agree with Pat and Dave, I'd sooner hire someone willing to work, and learn, than someone that thinks they know it all.
Show me pictures of your work, even if it's your own car, or friend's car, that will show me you're not afraid to explore the unknown.
I've even taught a couple of installers, and I must say, that most installers will come to the point of becoming a "know-it-all" after their 2nd year of apprenticeship, and that's when they become "nomadic", from job to job.
It is rare indeed to find an experienced installer willing to teach, if you find one, listen carefully, you will become enlightend, not just "know-it-all".

Dukk, why don't you start a "wet" coast install school? [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] I'd be glad to help as I'm sure some members on this board.

well. its a basic install.. 4 gauge power/ground, ran through the firewall then under the carpet back, behind a rear panel then out through the middle of the 2 back seats..

https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/IMG_0002.jpg

https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/IMG_0014.jpg speaker install done by me.. next i wanna sound deaden.

i like to keep tidy, i hate having messy wires etc. same goes with my computer, cleaned it all up to maximize airflow, plus it just looks alot better.

I agree 100%. In fact, I got my installer job in BC while living in Alberta without ever even meeting my 'new boss'. My g/f at the time (now wife) was going to school out here so I did a clean, sorta flashy (for 1991) install in her car and she drove from shop to shop [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] I wound up working for Eli's brother in law [img]smile.gif[/img]

Total agreement here too. I once was the 20 year old installer that knew everything. Then I got older, and wiser (still know everything though :D ) Plus I still see these 2-4 year guys all the time - usually trying to prove they know everything :rolleyes:

Eli - who's saying that my "ad" above was totally in jest... :cool: