AUDIO ENGINEERING

Audio engineering is a profession that involves the scientific, aesthetic, and technological aspects of manipulating, recording, and reproducing audio. It's the process of applying electronic, digital, acoustic, and electrical principles to the recording and production of music, voices, and sounds

What do audio engineers do?

Audio engineers are responsible for capturing, mixing, or reproducing sound using electronic audio equipment. The field is broad, since it’s applied to music, television, film, and other media channels.

Audio engineers could work in many different settings and with several types of artists or clients. While most audio engineers work in music recording studios, you can also find work in other areas such as:

• Film production (sound effects and tracks)

• Movie theaters (sound designers)

• Broadcasting (audio production)

• Colleges and universities (teaching audio engineering

• Live theater (audio playback and live sound management).

As an audio engineer, you may have the following duties:

• Recording: Recording sound or capturing audio data is the first step in creating a finished piece of music or other audio.

• Editing: You’ll use computer software to edit and manipulate recorded sounds. You’ll combine these sounds with effects like reverb, delay, or distortion to make them fit for the intended purpose, such as movie soundtracks or commercial jingles.

• Mixing: You’ll use mixing techniques, such as equalization (EQ) and compression to alter the timbre of an instrument, voice, or track. You also may use dynamics processing, such as gating or limiting, to control volume levels within an audio track.

• Mastering: Mastering is a process used by many musicians and audio engineers to ensure tracks are compatible in various media formats for commercial distribution. Mastering also encompasses other technical aspects, such as creating tracks that will sound good on various playback systems, such as car stereos, home stereos, laptops, and portable devices.

Audio engineers can specialize in certain types of media productions, like music, film, TV, or radio broadcasting. You may want to gain proficiency with specific types of equipment and software to succeed as an audio engineer. For example, if you're an audio engineer working in radio broadcasting, you'll need to learn to use computer hardware and software for editing and broadcast automation.

As an audio engineer working in live sound systems, you’ll know how to manipulate sound using equalizers and other control devices to create quality sound output from loudspeakers to reach throughout the venue.

Typical tasks

Audio engineers use many audio engineering software programs, techniques, tools, and equipment to fit each project. As an audio engineer, you may perform some of the following tasks:

• Operate equipment that records, copies, synchronizes, or mixes voices, music, or sounds

• Work with producers to determine to organize music and sounds

• Place microphones around a set and work with boom operators so that actors can be recorded clearly during filming

• Edit audio by removing unwanted sounds or adding extra effects

• Investigate new technologies by reading trade journals or attending meetings and seminars

• Record, edit, mix, and master music

• Create sound effects for films, radio, television, and video games

• Develop and set up sound systems for live concerts

• Design and install audio equipment in theaters

• Choose and set up microphones to record instruments or vocals in studios