Career in Sound Engineering

Engineering is the most sort after career choice after class 12th. With the advent of different types of Engineering courses, it has become easier for students to find the right one for themselves. audio Engineering is a new age branch of Engineering that deals with the study of sound dynamism, music, movies and theatre recording, manipulation, mixing, and reproduction. It is definitely on the list of best Engineering courses for the future. If you are someone intrigued by music, beats, and technology, then read this blog to know all about a career in Sound Engineering!

What is Sound Engineering?

Sound Engineering is a 4-year UG course available for Science stream students. Professionals in this field play an essential role in the Entertainment and Music industries. They ensure the overall sound quality of a particular show, track, event, or recording. Their role can vary depending on the expertise and can be broadly categorized into the following:

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

Find out the ways of making a career in Music Engineering!

Popular Sound Engineering Courses 

To make a successful career in any field, it is mandatory to acquire a degree for the same. Due to the advent of various Engineering branches, it has become easier for students to find a suitable course that matches their dream career. Given below are some of the popular Sound Engineering courses distributed as per the academic levels: 

UG Courses

• BSc (Hons) Sound Engineering and Production with a Foundation Year
• (Hons) Sound Engineering and Music Production
• BSc (Hons) Sound Engineering and Production with a Foundation Year
• BSc (Hons) Sound Engineering and Production with Professional Experience
• Bachelor of Science in Sound Engineering
• Foundational Course in Sound Engineering and Audio Production Program for High School Students
• Sound and Live Event Production (Including Foundation Year) 
• BSc (Hons) Music and Sound Design BA (Hons)/BSc (Hons)
• Bachelor of Science in Musical Audio Engineering

PG Courses

• Digital Music and Sound Arts MA
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Sound and Vibration
• MSc Sound Design
• Sound Design and Audiovisual Practice MSc
• MA in Experimental Sound Practice
• Master of Science (MSc) in Sound and Vibration
• Sound Practice and Composition MA Sound Design and Production (Postgraduate) Program
• Sound Arts MA

Doctoral Courses

• PhD – Doctor of Philosophy in Sound and Vibration
• MPhil Acoustics and Audio Engineering Postgraduate Research
• PhD Acoustics and Audio Engineering Postgraduate Research
• PhD Music (Electroacoustic Composition)

Here is the list of degree courses after 12th Science!

Sound Engineering: Entrance Exams

Sound Engineering degrees are available at several colleges in India, including IIFA Multimedia in Bengaluru, Clusters Media College in Mumbai, Government Polytechnic in Mumbai, SAGE University in Bhopal, and CMR University. Some of them provide merit-based admissions, while others require students to take an entrance exam. The following are some of the admission tests for Sound Engineering courses offered by well-known colleges:

• SOFT CET
• BHU UET
• NID Entrance Exam
• MET
• FTII JET

Sound Engineering: Syllabus & Subjects

Sound Engineering Subjects
Fundamentals of Audio Production	Basic production techniques (camera, mic, and other related equipment)
Technical & aesthetic aspects of Sound	Foley recording & Dubbing
Recording, editing, and mixing sound	Sound manipulation techniques
Recording technology, from analog tape to digital multitask recording programs like Ableton or Protools	Training in listening & analyzing sound

Sound Engineering: Eligibility Criteria

Courses in sound engineering are comparable to those in any other branch of engineering, including Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and others. There is a general eligibility parameter for it, just like there is for these programs, and it is given below:

• For bachelor’s degree: Candidates who passed their 10+2 exam with Physics as one of their primary topics are eligible to apply for the program.
• For Masters’s degree: Candidates who have completed a Bachelor’s degree in Sound Engineering are eligible to apply for the Master’s program.
• For Certificate courses: A bachelor’s degree in any field is sufficient (not in all cases)

Skills For Sound Engineering 

Sound Engineering Skills
Sound knowledge of Musical/ Instrumental	Creative mind
Motivation	Perseverance
Troubleshooting and problem-solving know-how	Knowledge of scripting systems
Self-confidence	Sound knowledge of software like Protools, Ableton Live 10, Logic Pro X, etc
Post-production skills	Sound mixing skills

Popular Sound Engineering Universities Abroad 

A university is a place where students live the best time of their lives, thus you must pick one very carefully. Given below are some popular Sound Engineering universities:

• University of South Wales
• University of Portsmouth 
• Bangor University 
• London South Bank University
• The University of Alabama 
• The University of Western Australia
• Queen’s University Belfast
• Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Edinburg Napier University 
• University of Glasgow
• University of Derby
• University College Cork
• DePaul University
• Birmingham City University
• University of Salford 
• University of Lincoln 

Here is the list of Audio Engineering Courses and Universities!

Colleges for Sound Engineering in India

• IIT Kharagpur
• National Institute of Film and Fine Arts NIFFA, Kolkata
• Government Film & Television Institute, Bangalore
• Film and Television Institute of India, Pune
• College of Applied Science, Vadakkencherry
• Rayat Bahra University, Mohali
• Department of Music, University of Mumbai
• Zee Institute of Media Arts
• Deviprasad Goenka Management College of Media Studies
• CMR University

Scope of Sound Engineering

Sound engineering is a vocation that has a lot of potentials. As the broadcast media and entertainment sector has grown over time, audio engineering hopefuls have had a plethora of options. To get a full-time career in the sector, candidates must be adept at sound recording, mixing, and editing. audio engineering degrees are in high demand in the music business. Other fields provide good chances, such as cinema, radio, computer games, corporate events, athletic events, theater, and so forth.

Sound Engineering: Upcoming trends

High-Resolution Audio: The phrase “high-resolution audio” refers to audio that has a higher sample frequency and depth. As a consequence, sound accuracy has improved when analog sound waves are converted to digital. Virtual and Augmented Reality: audio engineers are tasked with complementing the unique experience provided by virtual and augmented reality technology. audio engineering’s future lies in such fresh developments and trends.

Sound Engineering: Job Prospects 

After completing a degree in audio engineering, what comes next is the job profiles. As it is a multidisciplinary course, you will have a wide range of career options. Given below are some of them:

• Monitor Sound Engineer
• Live Concert Engineer
• Sound Technician
• Audio Engineer
• Recording Engineer
• Broadcast Engineer
• Acoustics Consultant
• Sound Designer
• Music Producer
• Remixing Engineer
• Systems Engineer
• Digital Remastering Engineer
• Research and Development Audio Engineer

Monitor Sound Engineer
These are the professionals that work in live shows, band performances, and related events. Their major role is to maintain the sound quality of the entire event. Equalization and audio effects, mixing, reproduction, and reinforcement of sound are some of their common tasks. 

Systems Engineer
The main purpose of the system Engineer is to look after the complicated PA systems, speakers for banks as well as other sounds. They track all the activities about the installation of operating systems, application software along with system management tools. They make sure that the greatest level of infrastructure is available. 

Digital Remastering Engineer
The main job roles of the digital remastering engineer are to make use of audio software to bring clarity. They get sound clarity from old movies and reel-to-reel tapes. It needs meticulous hearing skills to produce clear music from original vinyl recordings.

Research and Development Audio Engineer
To enhance the art of audio engineering, new technologies, as well as various types of equipment, are being developed by the research and development of audio engineers. They research new products that have the potential to enhance the audio industry. 

Average Salary for Graduates in Sound Engineering

The average salary for audio engineers in India is somewhere between ₹28,950- 30,000 per month in India. This is for fresh graduates and the compensation increases with experience and the type of company one works with. 

Books on Audio Engineering

• Modern Recording Techniques by David Miles Huber
• The Recording Engineer’s Handbook by Bobby Owsinski
• The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook by Bobby Owsinski
• Best Sound Reinforcement Handbook by Gary Davis & Ralph Jones
• Handbook for Sound Engineers by Glen Ballou

Hopefully, this blog has helped you understand all the essential components related to a career in Sound Engineering. Are you aiming at overseas education? Get one-on-one free counseling sessions with the team of experts at Leverage Edu and make your entire study abroad journey hassle-free. Book 30 minutes of e-counseling with the team now!