It can be difficult to find a career path in this day and age. With the advent of technology, it is easy for people to work from home and go job hunting on their own time. However, with so many options available to them, they may not know where to start.
The average person doesn’t know what an audio engineer does or how much they should expect to make when starting out in the profession. What are some of the most important considerations one should take into account when deciding if this is a good choice? Let’s take a closer look at these questions now!
1. What Is Audio Engineering?
Audio engineering is a career that requires deep knowledge of the field. It is the art and science behind capturing, creating, and maintaining sound in any environment. The audio engineer ensures that an audience hears what they want to at the right time and place.
As such, they may work in various types of settings: live events (including concerts and festivals), broadcasting, film/TV, multimedia, or commercial settings. Each of these industries has its own unique challenges that the audio engineer must be able to resolve in order to create a spectacular experience for an audience.
2. Who Are Audio Engineers?
An audio engineer can come from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds. For instance, they may have studied recording arts or even music technology. They could be a musician who has spent years perfecting their instruments and experimenting with sound. Or, they might simply have the ability to discern the best way to get a good sound out of an instrument.
Like most sound professionals, these engineers come in all types of different personalities. While some may be more on the introverted side, others are very social and love interacting with audiences. Some audio engineers love to get behind the scenes and work their magic there, while others prefer being out in front of an audience.
3. What Does an Audio Engineer Do?
The audio engineer is responsible for getting the desired sound from an instrument or instrument combination. This can be tricky when working with multiple instruments in the same song. They may be required to record these sounds and edit them separately, then bring them all back together in order to create a spectacular experience.
An audio engineer’s work could involve:
Mixing sound – This involves manipulating recorded sound in order to bring out the best version of it. Broadly speaking, this means organizing sounds by their frequency, volume, and other factors so that they’ll be heard properly.
Recording live music – It may be necessary to capture live music for a variety of reasons (to share over social media or use in film/TV, for instance). An audio engineer must be able to capture the sound of an instrument(s) as appropriately as possible. This includes making sure that they’re outputting sounds accurately and minimizing external noise interference.
Editing sound – If there are certain parts of a recorded song that need to be adjusted (either because they’re too quiet or too loud), the audio engineer must be able to precisely edit it in order for it to sound correct.
Creating and maintaining a sound system – This can include placing speakers in venues, adjusting volume levels, and making sure that equipment is working at all times. Once again, this requires deep knowledge of how things should sound with different types of equipment.
Working with performers – This is especially true in live settings. The audio engineer needs to be able to show the performer how they need them to sound and provide feedback if something isn’t right.
4. How Much Does an Audio Engineer Earn?
An audio engineer can make a decent amount of money depending on who they are and what they do. For example, an audio engineer working in a recording studio for major artists will make significantly more money than someone who’s mixing live sound for lesser-known performers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for an audio engineer is $55,270 per year (in 2015).
However, these numbers can vary significantly depending on many factors. For example, those working in the motion picture industry make an average salary of over $100,000 per year, whereas a live sound engineer might only earn around $40,000-50,000 annually.
That being said, it’s also important to take into account that audio engineers typically have irregular hours and may be required to work long hours. They may even be on call for emergencies after their regular shifts have ended.
5. The Job Outlook of an Audio Engineer
The job outlook for audio engineers is considered to be good. The BLS states that employment will increase by 7% through 2024, which is slightly lower than average but still relatively high.
That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that the entertainment industry is always evolving, and this can affect how many opportunities are available to audio engineers.
6. How to Become an Audio Engineer?
There are a few ways to become an audio engineer. It’s likely that most will have a bachelor’s degree in music technology, audio engineering, or something similar. However, many get their start in the field through on-the-job training.
It’s also worth noting that an audio engineer typically needs to know how to create sound using specific devices (e.g., synthesizers). That said, it may be possible to work with more than one type of instrument depending on what types of gigs they’re going after.
However, many people choose to start their career as an assistant and work their way up from the bottom. This is a good way to learn, and it’ll likely lead to better opportunities in the future.
As with anything related to technology, it’s important to keep yourself educated and make sure that you’ve got the latest equipment and software. The more knowledge of these things, the better position you’ll be in when looking for work.
7. What Skills Do You Need to Become an Audio Engineer?
There are many different skills that an audio engineer should have. Some of them are relatively universal, while others are specific to their roles.
Communication – This simply refers to being able to express yourself well and tell somebody how you want something done in a clear manner that they’ll be able to see it from your perspective.
Music theory knowledge – This is especially true for recording engineers. It’s also worth noting that this helps with explaining things to performers and providing feedback on how they sound.
Computer skills – Audio engineers need to know how to operate the software that they’ll be using in their daily work. This is typically done through a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or something similar.
Musical talent – The audio engineer may need to be able to play an instrument in some cases. They may even get asked to learn how to play one if they haven’t already (e.g., guitar, drums, etc.).
Listening skills – This refers to being able to perceive sounds that are out of the ordinary. For example, the engineer may need to be able to notice when somebody is playing an instrument slightly off-key or incorrectly.
Familiarity with technical tools/machines – The audio engineer should have a good understanding of the equipment they’ll be using and how to operate it. This is especially true if they’re working with high-tech equipment such as a digital console or other complex items.
8. What Kind of Companies Hire Audio Engineers?
There is a wide range of companies that hire audio engineers. They can be found in the following industries:
Film, TV, and video – The sound engineer is typically responsible for ensuring that the dialogue is heard clearly and sounds realistic. They may also have to ensure that any relevant sound effects are added when necessary.
Radio – Radio broadcasters need someone who can run the station smoothly. This includes making sure that there is enough content available to keep things running smoothly.
Recording studio – The audio engineer will typically work with musicians, singers, and other performers in order to ensure that their final product sounds as good as possible under the given conditions. They may even be responsible for editing songs together or creating specific effects.
Music producer – This doesn’t always refer to microphones and soundboards directly, but they play a major role in the process. The audio engineer will typically need to know how to use them as part of their job.
Festival/concert stage crew – The audio engineer is typically responsible for providing any additional equipment that’s needed on stage. They may even have to switch things out as part of their role if necessary.
Church – The audio engineer is responsible for keeping everything running smoothly during service or meetings. This includes troubleshooting any technical problems that arise as well as switching things over from one speaker to the next if necessary.
9. Best Colleges to Study Audio Engineering
Every college and university is going to have a different curriculum when it comes to audio engineering. This is typically due to the fact that they’re each going to teach things slightly differently. Some of the most common include:
East Tennessee State University – The school offers an Audio Engineering Technology associate’s degree program for students who want to become audio engineers. The major covers topics such as the fundamentals of music, recording studio setups, and live sound reinforcement.
The Recording Institute of Detroit – This school offers a 12-month Audio Engineering & Music Production associate’s degree program. It consists of both online and on-campus courses designed to teach students how to work in different audio environments while maintaining proper equipment and sound quality.
Full Sail University – This school offers an Associate of Science in Audio Engineering degree program for students who want to work as audio engineers. The course covers topics such as microphones, consoles, and other key studio components while emphasizing hands-on learning.
The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences – This school offers a 21-month Audio Engineering Associate of Applied Science degree program. It consists of both on-campus and online courses with the goal is to provide students with in-depth knowledge of all different studio components.
Penn Foster Career School – This school offers an Audio Engineering & Music Production associate’s degree program for students who want to become audio engineers. The course covers topics such as audio equipment and related audio concepts.
Recording Institute of Washington – This school offers a three-month Audio Recording & Production diploma program. It consists of both on-campus and online courses designed to teach students about microphones, consoles, and other studio components, as well as how to work in different music environments.
10. Online Courses for Audio Engineering
The Recording Institute of Detroit – This school offers a 12-month Audio Engineering & Music Production associate’s degree program. It consists of both online and on-campus courses designed to teach students how to work in different audio environments while maintaining proper equipment and sound quality.
Audio Engineering Fundamentals by Udemy- This course starts with an introduction to basic acoustics and moves on to more advanced topics. It’s designed for the beginner with little or no experience.
The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences – This school offers a 21-month Audio Engineering Associate of Applied Science degree program. It consists of both on-campus and online courses with the goal is to provide students with in-depth knowledge of all different studio components.
Audio Engineering (Mixing & Mastering Dance/Pop in Ableton) by Udemy- Students in this course will learn how to use Ableton Live and other DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) to create professional sounding mixes for commercial release.
Diploma in Audio System Engineering by Alison- This course is designed for people who are interested in a career as a professional audio engineer. The course covers topics such as microphone types and their practical uses, analog to digital/digital to analog conversions, and more.
Conclusion
Audio engineering is a great career choice for people who are passionate about music and want to be involved in the recording process. It can be a very rewarding field to work in, and there are many different opportunities for advancement. If you’re interested in audio engineering, it’s important to do your research and learn as much as you can about the industry. There are many schools that offer audio engineering programs, so choose one that has a curriculum that matches your interests and goals. And finally, don’t forget to practice! The more experience you have working with different equipment and software, the better prepared you’ll be for a successful career in audio engineering.
