Studies & Degrees in Sound Engineering
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Sound Engineer
A Sound Engineer controls and maintains various equipments utilized for concerts, theater, film and TV. A Sound Engineer is employed by a client to ensure that audio effects for the event, performance and recording meet the necessary standards. This is a progressive industry with a boost in employment opportunities predicted in the year 2016 by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A Sound Engineer is in charge of what spectators hear. Depending completely on the kind of recording, they might:
- plan recording meetings with artists and producers
- operate equipment to be used for recording sequencing and mixing
- position microphones
- balance sound and supplement effects
A Sound Engineer records the sound into a hard disk drive or a multi-track tape machine, prior to combining and mastering of the last production master. Then, the master could be completed into different formats like the Digital Versatile Disc-Audio or the DVD-A, mini disc, Compact Disk (CD), Super Audio Compact Disc or SACD, digital audio files in various formats or MP3.
Hours of work could be long and extensive and evening and weekend works are very ordinary. A Sound Engineer has to be versatile because their working hours might depend on the free schedule of the producer or the artists in addition to the requirements of the project.
Majority of the work is performed in recording studios or post production offices which could be air-conditioned, well–equipped and spacious. Usually, Sound Engineers are not able to work well in small studios as it can tend to be very uncomfortable for them.
The average salary of a Sound Engineer may range from $20,000 to $60,000 per annum.
A sound engineer must possess:
- exceptional hearing
- capacity to listen and make a distinction between sounds
- an excellent sense of timing, rhythm and pitch
- a skill of sound recording as well as post production procedures
- an excellent skill of and knowledge in various genres of music
A Sound Engineer is hired by business recording and audio post-production agencies. Majority of the top employers are based in the United States and London however there are also smaller independent agencies on other key cities. Most Sound Engineers work as a freelance. Employment competition for Sound Engineer is tough. Networking or the ability to create personal contacts and also experience in the field is a significant.
It might be probable to enter this industry without formal education. Several business studios and audio post production amenities include take on assistants or runners who execute routine duties. If they are able to show potential they might finally hone their way to becoming a Sound Engineer. There is a broad selection of related courses at various levels. The best example of this is the Sound Professional program.
A Sound Engineer who has developed a name might become producers. Others might specialize in a specific area or decide putting up their own independent recording studios.
It is also vital that a Sound Engineer is able to adapt to the new technology because equipment modernizations frequently take place. For someone who has a degree in Sound Professional, it will never be a problem as technology modernization is always tackled in every step of the way.