SAE Berlin opened its doors as a purely audio school on Seestrasse in Berlin-Wedding at the beginning of 1988.
The first Audio Engineering course began in September. The digital revolution was still in the future, and a Tascam MS-16 tape machine and a TAC Scorpio mixing console made up the large studio production booth. There was also a small production booth, three editing stations - analog, of course - a drum computer and a mix down station. Ulli Pallemanns, who now manages the 301 Studios in Cologne, was the Head Instructor. The school was directed by Ralph Quick, who later dedicated himself completely to producing Rock & Roll music

Burkhart Schmidt-Moritz took over management of the school in 1997. Multimedia courses were also offered for the first time, with the very first course starting with 20 students. The school slowly outgrew the Seestrasse facility and the first move took place in December - to the Kapweg facility. Since the turn of the Millennium, film and animation courses are also being offered in Berlin.

The next big change happened in 2002. Burkhart Schmidt-Moritz gave himself to the project of creating SAE's own online student management system to be used worldwide. Timo Krämmer, formerly of SAE Stuttgart, stepped into Burkhart's shoes as Head of the school. The first order of business was the school's accreditation as a Degree Center. 2003 graduates were the first to be able to complete the degree-level SAE course of study and earn a Bachelor of Arts University degree. New rooms were rented and a new studio built with an SSL 4000 console. In addition, SAE Berlin was among the first studios in Germany to be equipped with a Digidesign D-Control. The Neve console, which everyone had come to love, was completely refurbished and sent to SAE Amsterdam. The Multimedia Department got new Apple computers and the film students rejoiced over their new green-screen wall and a JVC HDV camera.

The second SAE Alumni Convention was a major defining factor of the year 2006. After the premier in Frankfurt the previous year, Berlin was now to host the event. With more than 1500 guests, the event was a smashing success, as one can read in the SAE Magazine of the day. Developments at SAE Berlin reached an apex in 2007 when SAE Berlin became the largest and most modern SAE facility in Europe - residing in a 5000 square meter facility. A worthy major-city school - right in line with Berlin's trend toward becoming the media capital of Europe. Our students were now able to really let their creativity flow in a total of 15 studios, various postproduction suites and work areas. The recording studio tract alone encompassed about 800 square meters. The half a Million Euro 56-channel Neve 88 RS-Console with Flying Fader Automation, Sourround-Functionality and Total Recall is at the top of the list of new acquisitions. New courses are also being offered. SAE Berlin's first Game Design course began in November. Thanks to the size of the school, SAE Berlin now offers a complete campus with a garden, parking lot, sports facilities, library, lounge and dinning areas

Impressions: SAE Berlin