How to Become a Sound Engineer?

If you are aspiring to pursue a lively profession that is full of adventure and gives you an adrenaline rush every time you engage with it, then there is nothing better than pursuing a career in Music Engineering. The unimaginable growth of the music industry with thousands of tracks and albums launched every year has given rise to the need for professionals who record, edit, and produce music. In this blog, we will walk you through the process of becoming a Sound Engineer.

What Does a Sound Engineer Do?

If you have been to a concert and have been impressed by the clarity of a soundtrack, applause is to be given to a Sound Engineer. Known as a Recording or Audio Engineer, the professional carries out a list of tasks like recording, mixing, editing, producing etc. Whether it is managing sound at a live concert or manipulation and equalization of sound in a studio recording, the Audio Engineering professional’s painstaking efforts are behind it. Expert-grade technical skills and a strong understanding of music are prerequisites for the job.

The role of an Audio Engineer can vary depending on the expertise and can be broadly categorised into the following:

• Monitor Audio Engineers
• Systems Engineers
• Wireless Microphone Engineers
• Game Audio Designer Engineers
• Research and Development Audio Engineers
• Studio Recording Engineers

Steps to Become a Sound Engineer

Choosing to pursue a profession in Music Production should be a conscious and calculated one as it can be highly demanding. Managing sound at a live concert with thousands of participants audience is a challenging task that requires a blend of technical skill, knowledge of music and a high level of confidence. As a Sound Engineer, you must be able to give your best in a high-pressure situation. If your passion is too great to outpower the challenges, then you are set to make a promising career in the field. The fame, high social interactivity and a luxurious lifestyle are characteristic of the profession.

Choose the Right Education

Though formal education is not required to pursue a career in Sound or Music Production, having technical expertise and working experience comes in handy while approaching a position. Being highly competitive, the job demands a great level of skills and taking up one of the Sound Engineering courses from the top universities could be the easiest way. The Music Production courses equip students with professional skills in an organised manner, giving them an opportunity to interact with other students from different cultures which is crucial to understand the various genres of music. The best universities that are reputed for having hi-tech recording labs offer comprehensive courses in the field to give students hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge for improvisation in the field. Some of the renowned universities that offer Audio Engineering courses include:

• Middle Tennessee State University
• New York University – Steinhardt
• The Los Angeles Film School
• Berklee College of Music

Look for an Internship 

After completing the education for a Sound Engineer, the next step is to find an internship. Having experience plays a central role in starting a successful career in the field. The easiest way would be to approach a recording studio for an internship or find an experienced professional to apprentice with. Taking small projects can also be helpful if you have the basic set of skills required for the job. If you are studying in a top music school, then you do not need to worry about the experience as the schools have rigorous training sessions. 

Obtain a Certification 

To be a certified professional in the field means wider career opportunities and worldwide recognition. The Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) offers an exam for the certification of the professionals in the field. To be eligible for the exam, a candidate needs to have 5 years of working experience in the field. A bachelor’s degree in the relevant field counts as four years while an associate’s degree counts as two.

Sound Engineer scope and salary

Sound Engineers have a wide range of career scopes, ranging from SFX editor, Mix Engineer, Foley Artist, Music editor, and Re-recording Mixing Specialist to Sound Recordist. The salary may vary for different roles but the average salary of a Sound Engineer in India is INR 3-4 Lakh per annum.

FAQs

The job of a Sound Engineer has many perks associated with it. Travelling the world with singers and recording studios, lucrative salary packages and unmatched fame are few of them. If you are eyeing top music schools abroad, we at Leverage Edu can make it happen. Book a 30-minute free counselling session with the industry’s top experts to kickstart your career.