Sound engineer

Sound engineers combine their technical knowledge with creative thinking and an excellent ear to produce high-quality live or recorded sound for film, TV, music, and events

As a sound engineer, you'll be responsible for using your superb knowledge of acoustics and audio, manipulating and mixing sound to achieve a desired result. The nature of your role will depend on which type of setting you'll be working in.

• In a live context: you may be involved in setting up and testing equipment, conducting sound checks, and combining signals from the various instruments and microphones to make a mix for the audience and performers to listen to.
• In front-of-house (live): your goal is audience satisfaction, ensuring everyone attending a performance can hear the show and that the sound is balanced and controlled in a specified way. This may involve adding sound effects, such as reverb. You'll work with monitor engineers, who mix sounds so performers can hear through a stage monitor system.
• As a studio sound engineer: you could be planning a recording session with a band, artist, or musician, setting up the required equipment, recording each instrument separately. You'll then edit and mix recorded tracks, enhancing the overall sound to achieve the best outcome. Your role will include balancing the audio as well as possibly adding in additional effects.

You may be required to master the sound, which involves listening to the mixed tracks in a good acoustic environment and then 'polishing' the edited mix to refine and perfect the audio.

A master engineer strives to ensure consistency of sound across different playback formats and produces a master copy, which is a final and replicable version of a track or album.

Sound engineers are sometimes known as audio engineers, recording engineers, mastering engineers, or audio technology executives.

Types of sound engineering

As a sound engineer it's common to specialise in one area such as:

• live events, including sports ceremonies, music concerts, weddings, and even graduations
• studio recording for commercial music, film, TV, radio, podcasts, advertising, gaming, and interactive media
• front-of-house (FOH) during live performances, such as in a theatre
• monitor or 'foldback' live sound, which allows performers to hear themselves and others who are on-stage
• broadcasts, such as radio or TV
• video games
• advertising
• studio recording
• studio mixing
• studio mastering.

Responsibilities

Tasks vary depending on whether you're working in live or recorded sound. The size of the team you'll be working with can also be a factor. Generally, you'll be expected to:

• communicate with performers, directors, and/or producers to understand their artistic vision and contribute your own creative ideas
• design, set up and test audio equipment including microphones and the speaker system, often with the assistance of a system technician
• conduct individual recordings of each instrument, as well as the vocals, in a studio context
• conduct sound checks for front-of-house and the stage monitor or foldback system before a live performance
• liaise with other departments, such as lighting
• use a mixing console during the performance to create a live mix, which balances sound levels for clarity and consistency across the venue
• add sound effects during a performance such as echo and equalisation
• resolve any audio-related technical problems that arise during the performance
• dismantle all audio equipment after the performance or studio session, reporting and resolving any faults to ensure equipment is safely maintained
• enhance, edit, and mix recorded tracks in a studio
• master the mixed and edited tracks by listening to them and using specialist equipment, such as equalizers or filters, to create a final, completed version, which realises the artist's vision before release
• log and archive the studio recording.

Salary

• Your income will vary depending on which industry you specialise in, if you're working in a small or large studio, a small venue or on a live music tour.
• Mid-level engineers can expect to earn between £25,000 and £40,000, dependent on reputation and experience.
• More experienced sound engineers can earn up to £50,000 a year. Those working with very successful artists may command higher salaries.

Freelance work is increasingly common. As you gain experience, you should expect an hourly rate of £43. Touring is the most profitable way for freelancers to earn a living, where your pay will include travel time and rest days.

Figures are intended as a guide only. See Bectu Ratecards for further salary details.

Working hours

Working hours are typically long and irregular, with 10-14 hour shifts being commonplace. You'll likely be working evenings, nights, and weekends according to the live performance schedule or when artists are in the studio.

What to expect

• Digital technology has resulted in many larger recording studios downsizing to smaller premises and employing fewer full-time staff.
• Most jobs are in live sound and are usually freelance, short-term contracts involving national or even international travel.
• To work as an engineer in performance, you should have a genuine love of live music and not mind travelling for work.
• The environment will be noisy, and a good level of fitness is required for setting up and dismantling equipment, as well as stamina for long shifts.
• Dress codes are casual.

Qualifications

Most newcomers to the industry have a degree in a relevant music technology subject, such as sound recording or audio engineering. The level of knowledge expected is high, as the equipment used is becoming increasingly complex.

An entry-level sound engineering job is possible with an undergraduate degree in music, mathematics, physics, or engineering, followed by a postgraduate qualification in music technology.

A foundation degree or HND may also provide a starting route. However, this is a highly competitive field and additional relevant experience in a studio or on a live tour would be essential.

The Abbey Road Institute offers two diplomas in music production: the Advanced Diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering and the Advanced Diploma in Audio Post Production for Film and TV.

JAMES - Joint Audio Media Education Support offers careers advice and information about courses and accreditation.

Skills

You will need to have:

• a positive attitude with enthusiasm for the role and working environment
• a good ear for pitch, timing and musical sound
• a high degree of technical competence and an excellent knowledge of recording technology, such as Pro Tools
• a creative and logical approach to problem solving
• patience, particularly when working in the studio where achieving the perfect sound may take time
• a calm response to the pressures of live performance
• strong interpersonal skills
• attention to detail
• the ability to respond well to, and act on, criticism
• teamwork, as you will be collaborating with other technical staff, as well as performers
• resilience in the face of setbacks
• an awareness of studio management and financing
• budgeting and negotiating skills, particularly if you're working freelance.

Work experience

Sound engineering is a highly competitive industry where your reputation is important, and experience is essential. Very few structured work experience or training schemes exist, so it's important to be proactive and seek out as many opportunities as you can.

Get involved in student audio visual societies, including radio, TV, and theatre. You may also want to consider volunteering for local hospital or community radio, local music venues, or offer to assist at music events in your area.

If you're a musician, record your own materials or offer to record local bands in a home studio. For live music, attend shows to familiarise yourself with the way sound is engineered for stage performances.

Send speculative applications to recording studios, local pubs, clubs, and theatres. Show enthusiasm for their output and ask if they can offer you work experience.

Sound equipment companies that are warehouse-based and maintain rental stock are also good places to learn and make contacts. You can approach these via speculative applications.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Few jobs in the industry are advertised. Much of the recruiting is done by word-of-mouth. Networking at events through volunteering or work experience is important, and speculative applications to studios are advised. Self-employment is also possible in a home-based studio.

Look for job vacancies at:

• JAMES employment opportunities
• ScreenSkills
• Mandy
• Complete Music Update

Professional development

Keeping up to date with emerging technologies is essential in the fast-moving world of sound engineering. If you're freelance, it's up to you to maintain your professional development. Training courses are a good way to network with like-minded professionals and build up contacts, as well as learn new skills.

The industry has a union, BECTU, which provides conferences, events and information about training for professionals.

Career prospects

There's no set career path to being a sound engineer. Typically, you'll enter the field as a runner or technical assistant and work your way up to the level of an engineer, focusing on a particular specialism either in live or recorded sound.

From this point, you could move up to a senior engineer or master engineer position. You might start in a smaller studio and progress to a larger one over time. Setting up your own studio is also a possibility, and some engineers go into studio management.

In live sound, you might start on smaller shows and progress to large-scale international tours, which may involve management of an audio team. As a freelancer, your rates will increase with experience, reputation, and the success of the artists you work with.

Promotion depends on hard work, the right attitude, and your abilities, but also, to some degree, being in the right place at the right time. Networking, making a good impression, and building a reputation is vital when it comes to developing your career.

Maintaining an online presence is crucial in the modern world, which may include having your own website, portfolio or social media channels.