An area of the creative industries that interests me a lot is becoming a sound engineer. To become a sound engineer, qualifications aren’t mandatory, but could help to become one as it would show that you know what to do. While researching this field of work, I found out that a degree is not nearly as valuable as practical experience. For example, even if you have a degree in sound engineering, you could find yourself lacking certain skills when in front of an analogue console, especially if your educational background mainly involved digital workstations. But it goes without saying that having a degree in music of any kind will give you an advantage over those who haven’t. However, experience in the position you are offering is what employers value most. When trying to apply for jobs that have anything to do with sound engineering, most employers always say the most important thing is that their worker is experienced. This is because you can save days or even months of effort if you don’t have to train the individual you are hiring to do the job. When giving someone a task, the most crucial factor that is considered is their ability to complete it to a high standard. It goes a long way if they have prior experience in the field you want to hire them for. But all of this doesn’t mean qualifications aren’t useful at all, as any certificate you can get in music shows that you are skilled, and will benefit you. It is just that most firms would rather recruit someone who already possesses the necessary skills and knowledge than try to train them.
To become successful within the realm of sound engineering, one would be expected to have many important skills. For example, having a positive attitude. This would be greatly beneficial to have during the job, as you will be talking a lot and working with others so bringing the mood down will cause others to be less productive and would cause a sour environment. Also, being enthusiastic while having the role makes people become more happy around you, as it makes people know that you are friendly to talk to, and you are passionate about the subject. Another quality which would be very beneficial to have would be having a high degree of technical competence, and to have an excellent understanding of recording technology, such as Pro Tools. This would be one of the most important factors as working with technology is one of the main activities you would do working as a sound engineer. Also, learning Pro Tools before you apply for the job would be a must as it is the industry standard application for this job, meaning, if you know how to use Pro Tools, you will become an important figure in the job. Another important skill to have is having a good ear for pitch, timing and musical sound. This is because it would greatly help you while you are working, as you are constantly using your ears to pay attention to detail within the project you are working on. Having this skill is something you only truly get after having a lot of experience in the job as you have to do this all the time while working. This is because you are the professional in this job, so you have the final say of whether you would want to change anything when making the project sound better for your client or customer.
Working as a sound engineer, you will be required to use your wide range of skills relating to subjects like acoustics, audio, manipulating and mixing sounds to achieve a desired result. There are many different types of roles you can be sorted into, depending on what sort of setting you will be working in. For example if you are working in a live context, you would be involved in setting up and testing equipment by: conducting sound checks, and combining signals from several microphones and instruments to create a mix that the artists and audience would want to listen to. If you are working as a studio sound engineer, then that could require you to be skilled in planning as you would be arranging times where you would record songs or podcasts with bands, musicians, or artists. Being required to set up the right equipment and to record each instrument separately. That also includes post producing mixing, where you would then edit and mix the recorded tracks, which would then add to the overall sound to produce the best mix. This also includes balancing the audio as well as adding in additional effects to it. But however if you were working as a sound engineer which is in front of house, you would then try and achieve satisfaction among everyone in said area, making sure everybody can hear and see the performance, ensuring that it is balanced and controlled in the way the employer would want.This could include adding sound effects to it which suits your customers needs. You would be with monitor engineers, who would mix sounds so performers can hear through stage monitor systems. In all of these types of jobs, you may be required to have knowledge on how to master the sound, which will include having skills to listen carefully to the mixed track, and then having the right knowledge to edit the mix to refine and perfect the audio. Working hours in this job can typically be long and times are irregular, with 10-14 hour shifts being common. Also you would be following the live performance schedules of your customer which could include evenings, nights or weekends.
One of the major financial issues that tends to impact a lot of sound engineers that just start this profession is the salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2020, the median yearly salary for broadcast and sound engineering technicians was $45,510. The lowest 10% of workers might earn as little as $23,960, while those in the highest 10% can earn as much as $90,130. But this figure isn’t just for those who are only sound engineers, but it also branches into those who are sound engineer technicians, which means you could be earning slightly more or less depending on where you work. This statistic also doesn’t account for those who are freelancing and are not on a set pay. Which can also add more uncertainty depending on whether you are part of a company or not. Another financial issue that a lot of sound engineers have is that this is an expensive job as new equipment keeps getting released, meaning you will have to spend a lot of money to keep up with the latest software. This tends to be a big problem as especially if you are freelancer, there will be long periods where you won’t be working as the job is very inconsistent so you will not be getting any income at that point meaning there will be no money for the new equipment you would want to buy. There are also a couple of legal issues which come under being a sound engineer. The main one is copyright laws on ownership of songs and royalties for recordings. Generally many clients require sound engineers to sign “work for hire” contracts, in which the client gets all intellectual property rights and is free to alter and reuse the content as they see fit.
To develop a brand and to draw in customers, sound engineers can advertise their services by using a combination of networking, internet presence, and also by showcasing the highest quality work. Building a strong online presence as well as a successful music marketing plan is the first step towards gaining attraction in this field of work. Creating a professional website, putting posts on a blog, announcing gigs, promoting your own music website, and even selling items are all things that sound engineers can do to promote themselves. One of the best ways today to market your work is through social media platforms such as Facebook, Tiktok, X (used to be known as Twitter), Instagram and YouTube. As they are platforms that fans and businesses can also communicate on at the same time, this is a great way of marketing yourself to the world. By doing all of this, you will start to create a unique brand identity, which will attract customers and potential business employees. As this career path is a very social one, networking is extremely important as recommendations from other people will invite you to opportunities that would not be possible if you did not have such connections. As sound engineers tend to collaborate with other people, you will tend to automatically be expanding your business through those connections, this greatly benefits you as it brings more job opportunities your way.
There can be lots of personal challenges presented by becoming a sound engineer. One example could be from the irregular, long hours that this job requires you to do. Normally this job can include nightshifts, weekends, and holidays which can drain your physical and mental stamina a lot, requiring sound engineers to be well rested and fit to meet the tight production deadlines that are scheduled. Another challenge which can be undermined is that the role of a sound engineer can require you to have a lot of physical strength as you will have to transport heavy equipment and set it up as they are used for gigs and other activities. This can be long and strenuous work which means you will have to always be physically fit. You will sometimes also be living a touring lifestyle, as when you work with famous artists and producers, sometimes you will be required to travel to various countries and destinations which can be quite tiring. Normally you will be spending long periods away from home, and you will be having rigorous schedules which can put both a physical and mental toll on your body. After a while, a lot of sound engineers also struggle with auditory health, as they are working in environments which are very noisy for long periods of time. So when in those environments, it is recommended that you always wear ear protection throughout the long periods of noise to maintain acute hearing which is a crucial asset for the job.
When becoming a sound engineer, a lot of development opportunities are available for you. For example, live sound engineering is said to be one of the most exciting employment options for graduates in audio engineering. Their job is to be in charge of maintaining the audio quality at events, seminars, and live music performances. You normally work in theatres, concert halls, and even at outdoor events as a live sound engineer. Setting up sound systems, mixing the audience’s audio, and promptly resolving any technical problems are all part of the job. For graduates of audio engineering, live sound engineering is said to be a fulfilling career choice because of the thrill of working live events and the satisfaction of producing high quality pieces of work. In addition to the technical skills required, live sound engineers must also demonstrate strong communication and problem-solving abilities to collaborate effectively with artists, event organisers, and other technicians under pressure.Another opportunity can be for you to become a broadcast technician. Broadcast technicians are responsible for setting up and maintaining the electronic equipment needed to transmit radio and television waves during live or recorded broadcasts. Their role is very important because you would be ensuring that the audio and visual elements are synchronized, enhancing the viewing experience for audiences. The job description also includes sound monitoring, which ensures quality control during transmission. A lot of audio engineers end up becoming studio managers. Their job is not only to oversee recording productions in studios but also to manage the studio’s budget, coordinate recording sessions, and help draft contracts between your studio and clients. Additionally, studio managers are often involved in the creative process, collaborating with artists and producers to achieve the desired sound, thereby playing an integral role in the success of music projects.
Bibliography:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/studio-sound-engineer
https://darkhorseinstitute.com/sound-engineer-career-paths-complete-guide
https://www.soundonsound.com/music-business/alternative-careers-sound-engineers
