Does music stir you and make you feel alive? Do you enjoy experimenting with music? And do you imagine one day working in the music industry to work your magic behind the scenes?
If the answer to any of the above questions is a YES, then studying audio engineering is the right career path for you!
There are numerous roles that support artists who sing or speak in music and movies, however, these artists are the only ones receiving recognition most of the time, leaving behind the talent backstage. There is a huge, underappreciated industry that operates in the background. One of these are audio engineers, who are those that create audio technology, put up speakers and microphones at performances and concerts, record vocals and instruments in a studio, mix everything together, and smooth everything out. They are in charge of transferring the artist’s exquisite singing or heart-breaking words from their mouth to your ears, and it’s much more difficult than it may seem.
In our daily lives and in the media and entertainment sector, sound is a vital but often overlooked factor. It all comes down to the sound of an experience, whether it’s a concert that left you speechless, a movie with an effective score, a theatrical show that gave you chills, or even a video game that had your heart racing thanks to the audio effects and music.
For individuals with a passion for audio and sound technology who might be thinking about a career in this sector, the timing is right. In India, audio engineering has been a popular career choice over the previous two decades.
Keep reading to learn more about audio engineering careers, what those in the industry do, what it takes to get there, how you might be able to study it, some institutes that offer audio engineering courses, and more.
What is audio engineering?
Order of the day! Audio engineering: What is it exactly? At its most fundamental level, audio engineering is the act of creating a sound recording of any kind. It is the art of handling the technical aspects of sound reinforcement, audio recording, post-production mixing, and mastering.
Who is an audio engineer?
Although the term “audio engineer” can mean many things, most people who are full-time audio engineers fall into one of two categories. The first is what most readers are probably expecting, but there is a second that is less frequently discussed and nonetheless significant.
Audio engineers, as most people think of them, work with a vast range of equipment and technology to transmit sound from a single source, such as a singer on stage, a recording studio, or an actor on set, to an audience. We could be talking about someone watching TV at home, or we could be talking about an audience in an arena. A person trained in audio engineering is necessary for both of these situations.
The second kind of audio engineer is one who is a research scientist. They develop new technology that enables other sound engineers to enhance live and recorded experiences through study, design, and building prototypes. These are the folks responsible for enhancing the audio quality of TV, movies, and various systems over the years to make sure that even in the worst seats at a performance, you can hear far better now than you would have in previous years.
Fields in audio engineering
While looking at audio engineering careers, there are several subfields or specialities of audio engineering that one can pursue, including becoming a:
Studio engineer
In a studio, a studio engineer collaborates closely with a producer. Sometimes a studio engineer operates alone and doubles as a producer.
Assistant engineer
A studio environment is where an assistant engineer typically works as well. They frequently serve as studio engineers’ apprentices who own or operate huge facilities.
Recording engineer
An individual who focuses solely on the process of recording sound is known as a recording engineer.
Game and audio design engineer
A game and audio design engineer works with the sound engineering team for video games and knows how to add audio and custom audio effects.
Mixing engineer
A mixing engineer concentrates on fusing various songs to produce a new track.
Mastering engineer
A mastering engineer unifies a final audio product by blending and fine-tuning the mixing engineer’s work.
Live sound engineer
A live sound engineer works at live events to ensure that the sound the audience experiences is top notch.
Monitor engineer
To ensure that live artists can hear themselves live onstage, monitor engineers collaborate with live sound engineers.
Systems engineer
A systems engineer oversees every aspect of the audio at live performances. Systems engineers work to set up the full live sound system at live events as well as supervise live sound engineers and monitor engineers.
Audio post engineer
A post-production audio engineer, also known as an audio post engineer, is the one who mixes and edits audio for television and movies.
Roles and responsibilities of an audio engineer
The tools required to record sound for audio or video content are operated by audio engineers. Handling the gear that goes into producing the finest sound for live performances, like concerts, is the responsibility of audio engineers. Even when there is a visual included in the recording, the audio engineer is only responsible for the audio portion.
The role and responsibilities of an audio engineer typically involve the following duties:
- Reduce intrusive sounds
- Regulate sound quality and volume
- Install ambient sound microphones
- Work alongside producers and performers
- Give direction and oversee live productions
- Surpass the quality standards of the client
- Upkeep and repair equipment
Who can pursue audio engineering courses?
To study or pursue audio engineering as a career path, you should look for the following eligibility criteria and various institutes offering audio engineering courses:
Eligibility
There are various institutions when it comes to the study of audio engineering in India and they have their own eligibility criteria. However, there are some basic requirements that are common in all these institutions. Let’s discuss about the basic education needed to become an audio engineer below:
- Candidates may pursue audio engineering at the bachelor’s degree level if they have completed the 10+2 level of study with physics, chemistry, and maths as compulsory subjects.
- Candidates who have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree in audio engineering are entitled to pursue the field at the graduate level at universities in India and abroad.
Top colleges or universities in India offering audio engineering:
- IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal
- Film and Television Institute of India, Pune
- National Institute of Film and Fine Arts, Kolkata
- Asian Academy of Film and Television, Delhi
- Grotek Institute of Film Technology, Kasargode
Top colleges or universities abroad offering audio engineering:
- American University Belmont, Nashville, USA
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, USA
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia, USA
- Lawrence Technological University, Mighican, USA
Competencies & skills for audio engineers
The variety of hard skills that audio engineers use on the job typically result from a combination of education, experience, and on the job training, but they also need specific skills and abilities to be successful, such as the following:
Problem Solving
An audio engineer must be able to locate the issue, fix it, and make the appropriate modifications when equipment breaks down.
Critical Thinking
Possessing the quality of critical thinking will allow audio engineers to devise several potential solutions before deciding which will produce the best outcomes in order to solve issues.
Manual Dexterity
Excellent manual dexterity is required for setting up equipment, tying wires together, and adjusting settings via knobs and buttons.
Monitoring
Volume and audio quality must be regularly monitored by audio engineers.
Communication
Audio engineers need to be outstanding listeners and speakers in order to communicate effectively with other project team members,
Scope of audio engineering
There are many different industries that offer career prospects for audio engineers and technicians, including radio stations, television channels, studios, multimedia design, animation, advertising companies, movies, and more. Technical classes in areas including sequencing, mastering, editing, and recording are available. He or she may manage studios if they gained the necessary experience.
Job opportunities for an audio engineer
A sound engineer might work as a freelancer or on-staff with a production firm, in a studio, or both. Graduates of audio engineering programs can choose from a variety of careers, such as sound recordist, studio engineer, editor, broadcast engineer, music editor, editor of sound effects, recording engineer, mixing engineer, foley artist, or sound designer.
There are a ton of studios scattered across the nation and abroad, so there is no shortage of work for audio engineers. It’s true that the world is your oyster if you have the right and appropriate education and skill set.
Audio engineer salary
Up to Rs. 3.5 lakhs can be expected to be earned annually by entry-level audio engineers. The compensation of an audio engineer rises with experience, as it does in any other job. An audio engineer salary might increase to Rs. 6 lakhs or even more over time with the right kind of experience. Your income is somewhat influenced by where you work; larger studios and production firms pay more than smaller, regional businesses.
Advantages & disadvantages of being an audio engineer
Advantages
- Audio engineers have the ability to work in an artistic atmosphere. You can collaborate with producers, directors, editors, musicians, singers, and composers as well as audio engineers.
- The compensation scale for entry-level employees is satisfactory, and if you work freelance, you are paid per assignment you take on.
- Audio engineers have a wide range of career opportunities.
Disadvantages
- Working unusual hours or even around the clock can be demanding and stressful.
- Working and meeting deadlines during live events can be challenging and tricky.
- A constant need of updating and upgrading your skill sets as and when technology advances.
Is audio calling you?
The career path of audio engineering has a promising future. If you think you have what it takes to succeed in the fields of audio, music, media, and audio engineering, start dancing to your own tune and initiate your journey of being an audio engineer.
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