Audio engineering jobs demand adaptability and the ability to work with a wide range of sound formats and applications. An engineer might be working on an album for a major rock artist one day and editing a film soundtrack the next, or mixing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with a 120-piece orchestra the next. Running live sound at concerts, producing radio and television shows, creating sound for video games, performing audio post production, and even designing entire public address (PA) systems and recording studios are all examples of sound engineering jobs.
Multi-track recorders, mixing boards, microphones, and effects are used recording and mixing engineers to capture and manipulate audio. Working for television and radio stations, advertising agencies, recording studios, film studios, and Internet production facilities are examples of sound engineering jobs for recording or mixing engineers. Engineers who record and mix music are usually supervised a producer.
The engineer’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the sound quality meets the expectations of the customer. Patience and diplomacy are important qualities for a recording engineer to have because this often takes several attempts and different approaches until the sound is just right. Even when things get heated in the studio, an engineer should never lose his or her cool.
Although many larger recording studios may hire one or two full-time engineers to focus solely on recording sessions and other engineers to focus on mixing, most small and medium-sized studios expect audio engineers to be skilled in both recording and mixing. An engineer working on an album project for an independent record label or artist, for example, might be in charge of all aspects of production. Cutting the initial rhythm tracks, overdubbing the vocal and instrument tracks, layering effects, and putting together the final mix are all part of this process.
Working specifically in the video game industry, creating all those sound effects and musical interludes that make the games more engaging and realistic, is another job in sound engineering. As sound and video technology on the Internet has progressed, more sound engineering jobs have become available to talented, web-savvy engineers who can improve websites.
Live sound engineers may work behind the soundboard in local music venues, or they may tour with mid-level and major recording artists on a regular basis. A live sound engineer usually takes care of everything on the local level, including setting up the PA system, speakers, microphones, amplifiers, and effects, as well as running all of the cables to the mixing board. At least one “front house” engineer runs the main sound system in large concert halls and touring stage productions, and one or two monitor engineers focus solely on providing adequate sound levels for the performers onstage to hear themselves.