| A music studio contains more equipment than just | | | | what the sound is really like. Over the years he |
| microphones and a keyboard. To produce a world | | | | has developed a talent for hearing tones that |
| class album, you need to get the best sound out | | | | should be projected more and voices that need |
| of the artist and the music. One person whose | | | | to be stronger. |
| job it is to do this is the music recording engineer. | | | | Every engineer needs an assistant. If you are the |
| When I think of an engineer, I think of an | | | | assistant engineer, keep your wits about you. This |
| architect or someone who tinkers with wires and | | | | could be the final step towards your big break. An |
| circuits all day. In the music business, they use a | | | | assistant performs the usual duties: gopher for |
| different type of engineer. He is called a recording | | | | the artist and engineers, working with the |
| engineer and his job begins as soon as the artist | | | | recording and mixing agent, and learning as much |
| starts to sing. | | | | as they can about the business. |
| The area that the recording engineer occupies is | | | | The assistant learns to operate equipment and |
| called the digital audio workstation, or DAW. This | | | | practice their sense of hearing. Music is important |
| workstation contains all of the technical gadgets | | | | because the instrumental sounds and lyrics create |
| an engineer needs to fine tune the sounds he | | | | a mood in people. It is a form of artistic |
| hears. The engineer works with the artist to lay | | | | expression that everyone can appreciate. I love |
| down the best sound they can get. This may | | | | listening to good music and a crystal clear |
| involve the artist recording certain parts of the | | | | recorded song is that much better to listen to. |
| song several times until just the right sound is | | | | Employers will expect a recording engineer to |
| achieved. | | | | know something of the equipment when they |
| The recording engineer may have additional | | | | accept the job. In the music industry, there is no |
| teammates to collaborate on the performance. | | | | substitute for learning and gaining experience. It |
| They are mostly a part of larger projects with | | | | used to be a catch-22 of sorts. No one wanted |
| big budgets. Smaller projects use the recording | | | | to take a chance on you if you hadn't had any |
| engineer in several roles to compensate. Learning | | | | practical time using the equipment. Then again, it is |
| all aspects of music engineering can help you land | | | | hard to get the experience if no one will hire you. |
| a job in a smaller studio that needs a multi-tasking | | | | Take a course or apply for a degree program |
| engineer. | | | | that will give you the necessary hands-on training. |
| Let's move on to the mixing engineer. This person | | | | You will need it to get into the door of a music |
| takes the best tracks and mixes those together | | | | studio for an interview. Where once this |
| into one blended sound. He uses the best musical | | | | equipment was rarely seen in a classroom, many |
| tracks that the recording engineer has produced. | | | | music schools have all of the resources they need |
| The recording engineer can hear how the sounds | | | | to hold labs where everyone gets to utilize the |
| mesh with each other. If it is less than optimal, | | | | equipment to do some real work. |
| the recording engineer is back in the studio with | | | | Do you desire to be a recording engineer? Learn |
| the artist recording new sound tracks. Being a mix | | | | how to do all the jobs of every engineer in case |
| engineer is kind of like putting together a | | | | you will be the only one. One way to know if this |
| performance. | | | | is right for you is to apply for an internship and |
| A mastering engineer depends on their ears to | | | | try a variety of jobs. |
| enhance their experience. He will listen to see | | | | |
