Careers in Recording

Do you love music? Do you dream of working in a recording studio, helping to create an album? The recording industry is always in need of talented professionals who can help bring music from notes on a page to a thrilling recording that listeners all over the world can enjoy. Although it’s the musicians who make the music, it's everyone working behind the scenes that make any song sound its best. Depending on your talents and interests, there are a whole host of careers in the recording industry that may be right for you. Here is a sample of some of the most exciting jobs in the recording business today:

1. Music Producer. The music producer oversees every aspect of a recording. On the musical side, this means knowing how to communicate with musicians to elicit the best performances, lay down beats, monitor the mixing process, and understand songwriting and music theory. On the business side, it means working within the budget, hiring session musicians, and having an eye for up and coming talent. Music producers can get as much fame as the band--think of producers such as Timbaland, Quincy Jones, and--most notoriously--Phil Spector.

2. Studio Manager. This position is in charge of running the actual studio. You'll be in charge of booking the studio, hiring and overseeing personnel, and making sure the facilities are always in top condition. You must be comfortable working with big stars and their even bigger egos, striking a balance between satisfying their demands and maintaining a responsible and professional working environment. If things aren't going well during the recording, the studio manager is likely to be the one everyone runs to to fix the problem. A diplomatic attitude and ability to soothe temperamental creative types is a must.

3. Recording Engineer. The recording engineer sets the stage to create the most ideal recording experience and capture the sound cleanly. This means perfecting the mix for the headphones that the musicians will be wearing, and setting up where the microphones and instruments will be during the session.

4. Audio Engineer. The audio engineer is responsible for producing and manipulating the sound generated in the studio to create an ideal recording. It requires a great deal of technical know-how, as the audio engineer must be thoroughly knowledgeable about microphones, audio mixing, how to work with both digital and analog consoles, and a vast array of recording techniques. The engineer must also be able to communicate effectively with everyone from the band's manager to the singers themselves, translating what may seem like technical mumbo-jumbo into clear explanations and directions to achieve the right musical effect.