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What does an Audio Engineer do?

Music is an artform that’s as ethereal as it is omnipresent in our culture. For people not involved directly in the production and creation of music it’s something that can appear mysterious and impenetrable. But there are multiple roles within the music production ecosystem. The most common of which is the audio engineer.

Yes, obviously, you have the producer, the studio musicians, and the artist, but the audio engineer is how many longtime industry professionals get their start. We sat down with recording professionals from across the industry to ask them what their perspective is on what a good audio engineer should do and how to become successful within the industry.

“A recording audio engineer records the sound that the artist is making and then he has to manipulate it with the EQ, and the compression, and the gates, and all the other little toys, into sounding like a record when he’s mixing it”

– Rick Camp, RC1 Productions & Master Mix Live – Las Vegas, NV

Credits: Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Usher, Dr. Dre, Earth Wind & Fire

“As an engineer you want to nurture the artist and make them feel at home or special. This is one of the driving forces in creating a great final product, a track, demo, etc. When opening a new studio, your initial business concept should always include this, and it’s a part of my personal philosophy as an audio engineer: ‘Don’t ruin the artist.’ My best advice: Lose your ego. Don’t be a flake. Drop any negativity you may have.”

– Bill Davidow, Virlouise Recording – Anaheim, CA

Credits: Darren Vegas, Israel Houghton, Coca Cola, Powerade, Guitar Center

“The engineer can be employed by the studio or work as a freelance engineer. Meaning that he is completely independent and works for himself. The freelance engineer usually works at many different studios and will establish a name for himself as the engineer to call to get a certain sound. As an engineer that works for a studio, as an example, he will just be there when the studio calls and has a job for him. The freelance guy will have to get own jobs. The business of marketing and actually doing business is important. If you are planning to become an engineer, I might suggest that you also learn business and marketing to help with growing and maintaining your business of being an engineer.”

– Donny Baker, ES Audio Services / Open Call Productions – Glendale, CA

Credits: Beyoncé, Brandy, The Klassics, Alex Cantrall, Silk the Shokker, Candace Glover

“An audio engineer’s principle responsibilities these days are to keep everything connected and moving. There are a lot of different types of personalities in the room at any given time, and their main function if they’re working in the typical configuration, producer, artist, songwriter, is to make sure everybody is connected together and music keeps flowing.”

– Cameell Hanna, Serenity West Recording – Los Angeles, CA

Credits: Justin Timberlake, Adele, Florence & the Machine, Eva Simons, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg

“An audio engineer does, you know, one of two things. He’s got to either capture sound so it’s going to sound like music, or mix it, you know, blend the sounds together to make it like a presentation”

– Mike Johnson, Clear Track Recording Studios – Clearwater, FL

Credits: John Legend, Jeff Berlin, Boyz II Men, The Roots, Alice Cooper, U2, Madonna

“Audio Engineers are typically charged with the task of shaping and controlling sounds. The job varies depending on the specific field, i.e. recording, mixing, post production, live sound, etc… In the simplest sense, the job is about making things sound good. Engineering is a very technical job. Audio engineers draw on their knowledge of physics, electronics, computing, and math, in addition to utilizing their well-trained ears”

– Zach Phillips, Freq Lab Recording – San Francisco, CA

Credits: The Kooks, Talib Kweli, Dnae Beats, Jayleez, J-Banks, The Game, Alice Russell, Comedy Central

Jobs For Audio Engineers

Life as an audio engineer is in many ways similar to being a music producer. Like music producers, audio engineers work in the recording studio. They’re all moving in an industry based on contacts. You’re only getting hired if you know the right people. In many ways their job descriptions are similar, as well. In fact, there are many people who work in both capacities, often at the same time.

Like music producers, audio engineers may record, edit and mix real audio sound in the studio. They’re often the backbone of the recording session. They’re putting out fires, solving creative problems, and making sure everything happens smoothly. They also must work with singers, arrangers, musicians, record producers, artists’ management and everyone else, to try and create the best sound possible.

Generally, however, an audio engineer’s side of the equation is more technically oriented than that of a producer.They’re the person getting their hands dirty and making sure that the trains run on time. While a producer may sit in the booth coaxing singer’s performances and artfully adjusting sound levels to blend best with one another, it is the audio engineer who has generally set up the microphone the singer is singing into. They’re going to be the person setting up any gear, recording equipment, or other physical work that needs to be taken care of.

What is an Audio Engineer’s Job Like?

Audio engineers often work with artists for weeks before a recording begins. Setting up equipment, arriving at good studio sound for voices and instruments, helping musicians and singers feel comfortable in the studio, are all things that must be done prior to actually starting a recording session.

During recording sessions many audio engineers will function as producers or co-producers themselves. Others will merely stay on top of the technical side of things, making sure that everything runs as it should and making adjustments as necessary.

A good audio engineer will learn the studio he or she is working at like the back of their hand. They also should have a good working knowledge of how common musical instruments produce live sound and how best to capture that sound on tape or through digital means.

Life as an audio engineer can be an exciting and very lucrative career for anyone with a burning passion for music. If you’re the type of person that really enjoys problem solving and fixing issues, this could be a great career path for you. It’s also a career that is flexible and allows for different personality types to find the level at which they’re the most comfortable.

Recording Connection Quiz

Contact Information

1. Age *

18 and under19-2526-4040+

2. Which of these are vital to a career in music? *

Passion.Talent.Drive and ambition.All of the above.

Correct! Incorrect! Answer: All of the above. Pure talent alone is almost never enough to make in big in the music industry. It takes passion to keep going, take after take after take in a recording session. It takes drive and ambition to continue when things are not going your way. Put them all together: passion, talent, drive and ambition and you have a shot.

3. What does the term “Pay Your Dues” mean? *

Payments deducted from your wages to pay your union dues.Catching up with old debts.Starting from the bottom and working your way up.All of the Above.

Correct! Incorrect! Answer: Starting from the bottom and working your way up. Historically, that’s how music, television, film, radio work. Nobody starts at the top, not even the first born male child of the owner. Why? Because folks in these media figured out a long time ago that if you learn the business from the ground up, by the time you get to the top you’ll know what to do. This approach also weeds out those who don’t have what it takes very quickly. So, if you want a career in music, plan on paying your dues in the beginning.

4. What is the University of Hard Knocks? *

A small college in Oberlin, Ohio.The real world.An MMA fighter training school.None of the above.

Correct! Incorrect! Answer: The real world. Simply put, the mistakes you make (and believe us, you will make mistakes) lead to some of the better learning experiences you will ever encounter. If you learn from these mistakes, pick yourself up and try again you have the proper attitude. Never be afraid to fail.

5. What is the best way to learn for a career in the music business? *

Learn by doing.A tenured professor.An online trade school.I don't need no stinking teacher!

Correct! Incorrect! Answer: Learn by doing. Text books, classroom courses, online video tutorials, next door neighbors and friends, even trial and error all have their place in the learning process. But to learn the best techniques, the best practices of how things are done in the real world, there is no substitute for learning by doing in the real world.

6. Why do some bands sound so different in concert than when you listen to their album? *

The concert hall's acoustics suck.The live sound engineer sucks.The band sucks.All of the above.

Correct! Incorrect! Answer: All of the above. (but not necessarily all of them all of the time). The concert hall’s acoustics can have a tremendous impact on the sound you hear. I remember attending Bruce Springsteen’s concert at the just opened Staples Center in Los Angeles….the sound was unintelligible. Do I blame Bruce? Hell no, the venue acoustics (since improved) were atrocious. Sometimes it’s the live sound engineer. Just like in the recording studio, if you don’t have the right gear, set up the right way for the room you are in, it can sound like garbage. While auto-tune has transformed many an average singer into someone who can at least hit the notes, once a band is out on the road, performing live, without the aid of recording studio tricks and techniques, their true lack of talent can be exposed.

7. In today’s music business, how important is it to think like an entrepreneur? *

It’s absolutely critical.It’s not necessary if you’re creative.I know how to spell it, but don’t have a clue what it means.It’s actually harmful as it interferes with the creative process.

Correct! Incorrect! Answer: It’s absolutely critical. Certainly, creativity is a great part of being successful in the music business, but if you are not thinking like an entrepreneur you are only limiting the odds of your success. How are you going to get noticed? Where are you going to get fans? Where are you going to get clients. Just making music does not pay the bills. Being an entrepreneur does.

8. When it comes to career goals, which of these is most important to you? *

To make a lot of money.To be famous.To make a living doing what I love.Lots of time off.

Correct! Incorrect! Answer: To make a living doing what I love. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make a lot of money, to become famous or have a job with lots of free time. In fact, if you do get lucky and hit it big in the music industry, you’ll make a lot of money, be famous, and have lots of free time. Realistically, the vast majority of those who work in the music industry have to hustle their ass off to make a decent living. In fact, that goes for just about any career today. Wouldn’t you rather be doing all this hustling for something you love?

9. How important are connections in the music business? *

Extremely important.Highly overrated.Somewhat useful.More trouble getting them than they are worth.

Correct! Incorrect! Answer: Extremely important. You’ve heard the old saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Guess what, it’s true. Sure, you can make it without knowing “anyone” but it’s always a lot easier when you know the right people. What’s your plan for making connections?

10. If you don’t know the answer to something the best thing to do is? *

Ask.Guess.Say nothing.Talk in a foreign language.

Correct! Incorrect! Answer: Ask. If you don’t know the answer to something, ask. How else are you ever going to learn. Would you like to have an audio professional that you could ask questions of whenever you came across something you didn’t understand or know how to do? Guess what, that comes standard when you attend the Recording Connection.

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